Andor (2022)

The critic lauds the series for seriously treating the Star Wars world as a tangible place with material consequences and for radicalizing the hero's journey into a story of political awakening. They single out its rich political ideas, production design, score, and dialogue as standout elements that make it a breath of fresh air.

The critic praises the gritty, different tone and expansive world-building in this prequel to Rogue One, highlighting its ambitious exploration of rebellion and grey areas in the Star Wars universe. They single out the production values and score for making it feel markedly distinct.

The critic highlights the series as a welcome departure from typical Star Wars TV, praising its rich, patient storytelling focused on ordinary people sparking rebellion rather than lore or fan service. They single out the tangible worlds and character focus for praise.

The critic praises the series for its grounded, working-class vision of the Star Wars universe and its pointed real-world parallels in depicting underdogs and uprisings. They note structural issues and prequel knowledge as minor drawbacks but highlight it as the most deeply felt Star Wars series yet.

The critic describes the series as a slower, grounded origin story emphasizing economic desperation and ordinary lives under the Empire, appreciating its distinct approach but noting the initial episodes feel formless. They single out the focus on non-heroic characters and new corners of the galaxy.

The critic finds the series ambitious and visually stunning with strong performances but criticizes its plodding pace and lack of interesting story due to canon constraints.

The series is shaping up to be the best Star Wars show since The Mandalorian. It offers a gritty, kinetic spy thriller with strong world-building and action sequences after an initial focus on thoughtful setup.

The review calls Andor a refreshingly grown-up and taut prequel to Rogue One with intelligence and passion. It singles out the gritty noir thriller tone and Tony Gilroy's oversight for praise while noting some plodding moments.

The prequel to Rogue One is a pleasantly surprising gritty human drama that feels relatable and un-sci-fi. It works on its own terms without relying on Star Wars lore or in-jokes.

The critic praises the series as a mature, slow-burn Star Wars entry that excels in character origins, world-building, and thematic depth around rebellion.

The critic calls it the best Star Wars show yet, a grown-up noir thriller that pushes the franchise into new, mature territory with realistic characters and themes.

The critic calls the premiere episodes a refreshing, anti-nostalgia Star Wars story that feels like a great novel, with strong world-building and multifaceted characters like Cassian. They highlight the grounded realism and efficient storytelling in the first three episodes as a major strength.