Andor Season 2 Review: Star Wars’ Most Daring Series Goes Out With a Bang

If there was ever a Star Wars series that could say it was absolutely amazing all the way through, it would have to be Andor.

Despite having only two seasons, it’s managed to give an incredible amount of depth not just to its leading character, but also both old and new ones. With Andor Season 2, it caps off this series beautifully.

While Andor Season 1 served its purpose in being the origin point for Diego Luna’s Cassian, Season 2’s structure offered much more. As each triplet of episodes were contained within a set point in time, it left this intrigue as to how Tony Gilroy and his team would integrate the narrative of Rogue One here.

Fortunately, the thematic ideas Gilroy implements into the overarching story with Andor‘s political thriller tone naturally brings Season 2 to life.

As each group of episodes on Andor Season 2 focuses on a particular time in Cassian’s life during the Rebel Alliance’s rising, so too does the focus on a specific theme.

Andor Season 2 Episodes 1, 2, and 3 see Cassian finding himself trapped on a forest planet after nearly escaping with one of the Empire’s latest experimental vehicles. However, he’s put into the middle of a tiny civil war when a guerrilla team disagrees on what to do with Cassian.

While these episodes mostly feel like they’re here to reintroduce us to the world of Andor, they’re trying to tell us how trust can be construed and manipulated.

Sure, some of the moments, like some resounding gunfights, can be somewhat comical. Yet, both sides are too reliant on Cassian’s knowledge to kill him.

The idea of trust plays a big part of Season 2, especially with how Cassian is brought back into the fold through Luthen Rael. Throughout these beginning episodes, he clearly shows that he doesn’t want to be in the mess like on Ferrix.

Furthermore, it plays a role in Bix Caleen’s through Season 2 as well. In the beginning, she’s still coping from being tortured and assaulted by the Empire. She doesn’t necessarily know if Cassian can help resolve her personal tormenting, but the soft moments we get between the two prove their unrelenting faith in each other.

While it may have felt short given its run-up to Season 2 Episode 6 “What a Festive Evening”, Bix’s arc of suffering is written with a high respect for victims. Every detail not only fleshes out Bix as a character but also helps her journey resonate with viewers.

Nonetheless, Cassian’s trust in Luthen goes a long way as Season 2 progresses into the future. As Cassian gradually believes more and more of Luthen’s “grand plan”, unknowing of Mon Mothma’s public-facing involvement, the more and more Cassian’s actually invested.

The whole Cassian-Luthen-Mon Mothma system may not initially appear interconnected at first, but the way it’s been executed is tightly woven.

Each decision made between these three never feels too out of line, but rather brave enough to make their motivations and personalities realistic.

Mon Mothma showcases this in her arc throughout Andor Season 2 Episodes 3, 4, 5, and 6. Within these four episodes, Mon may showcase a slight desperation as her familial life gets turned upside down by Luthen’s influence.

However, Mon’s resilience against everything, even Luthen’s brooding guidance, makes her a character you truly want to root for.

Ever since she began laying the groundwork for the Rebel Alliance with Luthen’s help, she knows that any attempt at normalcy is impossible. By having her affluent facade slowly fall at the seams, it gives her this vulnerability that can help prove she’s more than just someone who holds a political status.

By Andor Season 2 Episode 9 “Welcome to the Rebellion”, Mon proves that point through some of the most heartfelt, yet harrowing moments of this series. In comparison, Mon’s speech is up there with Kino Loy’s “One Way Out” speech on Andor Season 1 Episode 10.

Serving as a minor middle ground between Mon and Luthen is Kleya, who really steps into her own independence. She particularly shines on “What a Festive Evening”, being put between a rock and a hard place when Krennic steps up.

Of course, it can’t be stated how Krennic plays a role given how he’s the main antagonist of Rogue One.

With this series, he feels somewhat more flamboyant in his attitude, yet always commanding with every declaration he makes to his Imperial underlings. However, he’s absolutely terrifying, especially when he confronts Dedra.

Dedra and Syril are perhaps two of the most peculiar characters that I’ve seen on Andor. They both work for the Empire with good choices, but where Syril is slowly disillusioned by what’s really going on, Dedra is just too into it and too desperate for success to back out.

This is especially so in the Ghorman arc of Andor Season 2, which is perhaps one of Star Wars‘ most tragic sequences put to screen since Order 66.

From the slow build-up from the Ghorman rebels gathering supplies to the eventual massacre that occurs, this entire scene truly speaks louder than words about resisting an oppressive power.

In a way, it feels like Andor is Star Wars‘ version of Arcane. Both series may have ended with only two seasons. However, they pushed their characters to new heights while retaining the spirit of what made their first seasons amazing.

Plus, it’s clear how both deal with wars and the repercussions caused by darker powers at play.

Andor Season 2 proves that this show is Star Wars‘ most ambitious stories put to screen that works to a high degree, invigorating the Star Wars universe with a powerful, yet grounded narrative through deep characters that have certainly resonated for fans, new and old.

Though Season 2 marks the end for Cassian’s story, his legacy will certainly live on.

Stray Thoughts:

• Another standout is Wilmon, who really digs into the Rebellion stuff quickly thanks to Saw. He’s basically a mini-Saw to me!
• The way that the Imperial officer tried to assault Bix on “Harvest” probably made me the most uncomfortable a Star Wars show has ever made me.
• Mon Mothma’s Senate speech on “Welcome to the Rebellion” will still feel extremely relevant in the next few years even if Andor ended.
• The whole “Cassian escorting Mon from her speech” sequence felt both surprising and a little bit funny with some of the quick moments, but I liked how it kept the action flowing smoothly.
• I have to say that K-2SO never lost his pessimistically sarcastic, robotic touch. I still love him after all this time!
• Seeing most of the original Andor characters, like Luthen and Syril, die really worked in making me feel sad, but it does make sense that Star Wars is moving on from them.
• I am absolutely SO HAPPY that Bix got what looks to be a happy ending despite what happened to Cassian on Rogue One.

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All episodes of Andor Season 2 are now streaming on Disney+.

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