‘Andor’ season 2 review: A gut punch of political intrigue
5/5 K-2 droids
Andor cemented itself as one of the best things that Star Wars ever gave us after a stellar season 1. But season 2 leans heavily into the political intrigue that had audiences captivated by Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) in Rogue One and it is a beautiful sight to behold.
Tony Gilroy, who was one of the screenwriters on Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, created the series and I distinctly remember a time when people asked who would care about a show based on Cassian. As someone who was fascinated by the rebel spy in the film, I was interested to see what the show would explore and while season 1 focused heavily on the moments that finally brought Cassian into the rebellion, season 2 throws audiences into the weeds of the rise of the Rebel Alliance.
The series can feel like a slow burn. Breaking down the release scheduling in chunks makes sense as each section of the series is broken down into a year leading up to the stealing of the Death Star plans and, ultimately, Cassian Andor’s death. But what I think is beautiful about season 2 of the series is that my interest in what was happening wasn’t rooted in knowing Cassian was operating on a ticking time bomb. Instead, I was more interested in seeing the beginning of the Alliance as we know and love it.
We’ve met so many of these characters as separate beings. Cassian and Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) know each other by Rogue One but season 1 of Andor kept them apart. Things like that were always on my mind as I was watching season 2 and it led to a thrilling watch from beginning to end.
Politicians do fight back
Political figures like Mon Mothma were always an exciting part of Star Wars. We knew in our hearts that if Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) was still alive, she’s be fighting against the Empire. Granted, the Empire might not exist but you understand the point. There were always political figures in Star Wars willing to work with the Rebellion. What we see in season 2 of Andor is how their arms are twisted.
Mon was, from the start, working with Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) to try and put a stop to the power the Empire wanted. In season 2, Mon isn’t allowed to have a more hidden role in the Rebel Alliance. We get to have glimpses of her relationship with other rebel figures and how it changes throughout those years leading up to Cassian’s death.
While we had seen a Rebel Alliance well on its way to getting answers with backing and support from figures like Mon Mothma, Andor shows a different side of the coin. It brings us a team who doesn’t know what they’re doing and even when Mon Mothma knows she has to make a stand, it comes with pushback from those closest to her. And it is thrilling to watch.
A big compliant I think fans had with Padmé’s arc in Revenge of the Sith is that many of her scenes were based in the Senate. But Gilroy and company does a great job of making Mon’s arc thrilling. We know where she ends up but getting to see her grow as a Rebel leader throughout the season is a beautiful arc that, despite knowing where it ends (much like Cassian’s), her storyline was one of the more intriguing parts of the series as a whole.
Rebellions are built on hope
A line in Rogue One that meant a lot to me (and was ultimately cut) was “I rebel.” It came from a trailer where Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) asked those before her “This is a rebellion, isn’t it? I rebel.” Ultimately, it was changed to Jyn using Cassian’s words to inspire the Alliance. She says “Rebellions are built on hope.” Cassian head that phrase from a civilian on his travels in Andor and it was surprisingly beautiful to be reminded that this is what Star Wars is all about.
From its conceit, the franchise has been built on the idea of fighting back against fascism. There are those in the world who thinks we should keep politics out of the franchise. But that makes no sense given the “Wars” part of the title. But Andor does a great job, especially in season 2, of unpacking the rise of fascism within the Empire and how these characters adapt to survive.
Characters like Cassian need a push from time to time to fight. He’s a great spy but we watch him fall in both seasons. Season 1, it was Maarva Andor’s (Fiona Shaw) death that allowed him the will to fight. In season 2, he’s in the thick of it but often loses that will again and he has to be reminded of what they’re up against. And it is honestly beautiful to see a character in Star Wars wavering.
So often we see Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) constantly fighting or even Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) right in the midst of the fight. But to see the pain and what the Empire is doing to these rebels was captivating. But the show also highlights what that power does to even those who think they have it.
The destruction of power
In season 1, characters like Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) and Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) were at the height of their power. Empire employees who would do anything to be seen as “good.” They wanted their praise and they’d do anything to get it. Season 2 didn’t change much about the two as characters but it does highlight how that power is subjective.
Dedra is still in a position of power throughout the season. She has leverage and answers that Syril does not but the two must, at different points in the season, face the realization that whatever “power” they thought they had was foolish. Which, I think, is such a beautiful way of looking at what fascism can do to people. By its definition, no one but the person in “charge” has power in those situations and yet they allow people, like Dedra and Syril in this case, to think they have a voice.
Season 2 does a really brilliant job of showing that rise and fall of those who think they’re gaining some kind of advantage under a fascist rule.
New old friends
One of the joys of season 2 for fans of Rogue One was the knowledge that K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) was returning. In Rogue One, Cassian’s faithful reprogrammed Imperial security droid helped them gain access and succeed in their quest to get the plans for the Death Star. But Andor allows us time to see how Cassian and K-2SO became the duo we knew and loved in Rogue One. And it wasn’t an easy journey to get there.
What is great about their “origin,” if you will, is that both Cassian and K-2 started their journey off fighting each other. But they grew to be a team and that is, in a lot of ways, what makes the Rebel Alliance such a beautiful thing. These beings from all different walks of life are forced together to take on the Empire and they do it through trust.
There is no world where Cassian is forced to trust a K-2 droid and yet the two find a fun balance with each other, even in all the darkness that surrounds them. And getting to have that friendship back is a beautiful thing.
This is a tragic love story
I have saved the best for last. Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) is my beloved. She’s a fighter, she has been through a lot, but she is dedicated to the rebellion. we see that in multiple ways throughout season 2 of Andor and I love how they allowed Bix and Cassian, who have always been there for each other, to grow.
We did not know much about Cassian’s life prior to Rogue One. He was a spy and many thought he had feelings for Jyn Erso. We’ve obviously seen the shift in that throughout Andor season 1 and into season 2 but what I love about the people in Cassian’s life is that they always encourage him to keep fighting. When he wants to stop, they’re there reminding him that this is bigger then them or their feelings and it is about stopping the Empire, whatever it takes.
His relationship with Bix is beautiful and I love it but I love Bix more than her connection to Cassian. She’s a survivor. It would be so easy for a woman, who goes through what Bix does, to give up. Instead, when she is on the verge of losing herself, she listens to those around her and ends up being stronger as a result. I feel for her, she doesn’t deserve the pain she’s endured through both season 1 and season 2 but still, she knows what to do and what the right move is and it makes her one of the best Star Wars characters to date.
Andor is what makes Star Wars so beautiful to me. You can have shows like Skeleton Crew, which is a bit more fun, and you can have things like The Acolyte, which creates new lore for fans. But then you can have Andor that shows the direct destruction of the Empire and those Rebels willing to risk their lives to stop them.
This show is everything I wanted for Cassian Andor and then some. I found myself broken at the end, sobbing for characters I know and love. For the loss that we all will have with Rogue One but the hope that men like Cassian Andor brought to the Alliance. Andor is what makes Star Wars beautiful and it was, in my opinion, absolute perfection.
(featured image: Disney+)
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