Andor season two marks the return of the most critically acclaimed Star Wars entry in recent history, and thankfully it's just as compelling, dense and dynamic as fans will have hoped.
This will come as a relief since those same fans have had a challenging couple of years. The Star Wars sequel trilogy divided viewers and the franchise's foray into streaming shows has been a mixed bag, to say the least.
For every Mandalorian season one or Star Wars: Visions, there's been an Obi-Wan Kenobi or Book of Boba Fett – while more recent entries like The Acolyte, Ahsoka and Skeleton Crew have struggled to attract wide enough audiences to justify their (presumably) big budgets.
The bright spark in this galaxy of turmoil was Andor. With the first season debuting back in 2022 to thunderous applause, critics and viewers praised the series, helmed by director Tony Gilroy, for being a grown-up show stuffed with political intrigue, deeply flawed characters, and genuinely engaging personal stakes.
All of those things are back for the second season, only this time we're that bit closer to the tragic events of Star Wars: Rogue One – and everything is imbued with an urgency that propels the show forward at 100mph right from the very beginning.
Andor season two's opening sequence catches us back up with Diego Luna's Cassian, more able and willing to convince people of the cause than last time around, all the while still remaining charming and flirtatious.
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Across the season's 12 episodes, Luna's nuanced performance once again carves out space in an increasingly crowded genre of 'hot Star Wars rogues'. Cassian Andor might be our hero, but he's also a deeply human mix of uncertainty, desperation, wit, and resolution.
Episode one's opening moments also set the visual tone of the show, and Andor's now-trademark blend of digital imagery and physical spaces remains eye-popping for the length of the season's twelve episodes.
Much has been made of Tony Gilroy and the team's avoidance of big CGI sets that lots of modern genre shows tend to opt for, and Andor's second season once again proves that often the simplest way to make a place feel real is for it to be real.
This impressive production design and location work is consistently underscored by engaging cinematography and direction. A moment in Andor season two's opening sequence sees dark red light flood a TIE fighter hangar, while alarms wail and troopers march in, and is an early example of the sort of impact that you get when the show fires on all cylinders.
The same impact is felt across Andor's vision of the galaxy. This is an ensemble show after all, and all the key players from season one get a chance to shine almost immediately.
We quickly rejoin Imperial Agents and star-crossed (fascist) lovers Syril and Dedra to witness their truly unhinged domestic situation occurring on Coruscant – including a truly stand-out moment with Eedy, played by Kathryn Hunter. Elsewhere, Mon Mothma frets on the eve of her daughter's traditional Chandrilan wedding, accompanied by rebel agent Vel.
These early scenes on Chandrila also give Andor's impeccable costume department, led by Michael Wilkinson, so much room to shine. Elegant gowns and waistcoats, plucked and preened and de-bobbled, contrast with the worn and grubby farming overalls worn by characters like Bix and Brasso and, like almost every element of Andor's production, make the whole thing feel suitably grounded.
We don't want to spoil too much so we won't divulge just how everybody interconnects, but one significant addition to season two is Ben Mendelsohn's Krennic. The actor is reprising his role from Rogue One, the film that follows directly on from the plot of Andor, and brings a new dynamic to the Empire's portrayal on the show.
Another element that's different for season two is the show's release schedule – which generated a fair amount of discourse when announced. Despite initial concerns, the cadence of three episodes each week for four weeks will work surprisingly well. Andor is already broken up into mini-arcs, each set one year apart, which often feel like four distinct movies.
That said, stretching the show out over 12 weeks perhaps could have been a richer experience given how much our enjoyment of season one was shaped by the genuinely engaging and interesting conversation around the show.
The release schedule also means that Andor will come to an end for good in four short weeks, which might just signal the end of its short-lived legacy.
The show is unlike any other major franchise entry in recent memory. It's confident and grown-up and, despite being a movie spin-off, feels like prestige TV. The themes and plots are dense, diverse, and nakedly political. When it's all wrapped up the question will remain – is Star Wars capable of taking a swing this big again?
Not just in terms of genre, but in the confident way it executes on a vision at every single opportunity. Whatever the impact, there's no denying that this galaxy, and ours, will be lesser without Andor in it.
Andor season two is available now on Disney+ with new episodes releasing each Wednesday.
Ali is Hearst UK's deputy social strategy director. He has been covering TV and movies for more than six years, all while wrangling Digital Spy's social media and video channels - for which he received a PPA 30 Under 30 award. He specializes in writing about anime, LGBTQ+ representation, science fiction, and comic book adaptations. Recently he's begun collecting Star Wars interviews like Infinity Stones and has spoken with The Mandalorian's Pedro Pascal, Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy and the creative team behind The Bad Batch. Dave Filoni, you're next.
