‘Andor’ Is The Best ‘Star Wars’ Entry Since ‘The Force Awakens’

2015 was an important 12 months to be a “Star Wars” fan. “The Drive Awakens” got here out in December, and, within the months that adopted, everybody was speaking in regards to the newest installment within the Skywalker Saga.

And I do imply everybody. I keep in mind Daisy Ridley showing on Good Morning America to debate her function as Rey, and the panelists all hotly debating whether or not she might be a Palpatine or a Solo. One lady proudly instructed her that her son believes that Rey is a Ken-ob-i, ensuring to make clear, “Am I announcing that proper?”

The thrill round “Star Wars” stayed for about two years and generated pleasure for “Rogue One,” largely including to the success of the spin-off movie. There have been a number of nay-sayers who felt that “The Drive Awakens” was too just like the unique trilogy, however by and huge, everybody was excited to see Luke Skywalker again in motion.

Till “The Final Jedi” got here out in 2017 and all sh-t hit the fan. There have been cries that it was each “too woke” and but in some way “too racist” coming from opposing sides, with a social media slugfest that appeared similar to a U.S. Presidential election. Both it was “the most effective ‘Star Wars’ film ever” or “the worst ‘Star Wars’ film ever” and there was no in-between. The “ardour” has luckily died down in recent times – we’re all too exhausted by all the things else as of late – but it surely basically stole any goodwill that ever existed for the sequel trilogy.

That inertia shortly contaminated “Solo,” a Han Solo origin story that completely nobody had requested for, and made audiences hesitant to see “The Rise of Skywalker” when it summed up the 9-episode Skywalker Saga in 2019. In spite of everything, a lot of the thrill had already been sucked out of the story. Who’s Rey? Oh, she’s nobody vital. Who’s Supreme Chief Snoke? Oh, properly, he is useless, so I suppose that does not matter a lot. Keep in mind that “Sport of Thrones” actress you liked who’s now enjoying Captain Phasma? Oh, she’s useless too.

The questions that you simply have been hoping to get answered? Gone. The destiny of the Resistance? Confined to the characters left standing on board the Millennium Falcon on the finish of “The Final Jedi.” At the least, within the unique trilogy, you bought the sense of the Insurrection and the bigger combat. The ending of “TLJ” instructed that a corporation reborn from the Empire was dealing with Resistance from… all of about twelve individuals.

It was clear that the expectations for “The Rise of Skywalker” have been low, and so they sank even decrease after Colin Trevorrow parted methods with Lucasfilm, leaving J.J. Abrams to select up the place he left off. It appeared his power for ending up the franchise additionally waned; not solely did he did he retcon the concept that Rey was a “no one” by making her a Palpatine, he additionally retconned the backstory of Poe Dameron from what had already been established in different media. And do not even get me began on the road, “By some means, Palpatine returned,” which continues to be mocked to at the present time (it actually does worsen each time you hear it).

Disney struck a win once they launched “The Mandalorian,” which was a recent new tackle “Star Wars” that existed exterior of the Skywalker Saga and did not characteristic the long-lasting lightsaber battles or tales of the Drive that so many have related to the franchise. It allowed Lucasfilm to get within the sandbox and mess around with a variety of different concepts. Some paid off, whereas others, like “The Acolyte” and “The Ebook of Boba Fett,” crashed and burned.

Even the primary season of “Andor” wasn’t met with a variety of love. It was labelled long-winded and boring, similar to the tax debate proven at the start of “The Phantom Menace.” The primary season picked up and led to a satisfying finale that drew audiences again for a second season. It is a good factor that they did, as a result of Tony Gilroy made certain to throw all the things on the wall and in some way nonetheless managed to stay the touchdown.

Drawing off of World Struggle II historical past and real-world occasions concurrently, Gilroy managed to create a brand new form of “Star Wars” story that felt trendy, and but nonetheless invoked the nostalgia of the unique trilogy. The second season consisted of 4 units of three episodes, every set a 12 months aside, main as much as the primary minutes of “Rogue One” in order that followers may create a transparent timeline of Cassian Andor’s journey to becoming a member of the Insurrection.