After three long years of waiting, the series Andor (recently renamed Andor: a Star Wars story) will return this Wednesday, April 23, 2025, on Disney+ with the first three episodes of season 2. We were able to see the entire second part of the adventures of Captain Cassian Andor. So, what's the verdict?
Andor season 2: the greatest Star Wars work?
In 2019, Lucasfilm launched its first live-action Star Wars series on Disney+ with The Mandalorian; Reconnecting with the codes of spaghetti westerns and jidai-geki that so inspired George Lucas in writing his galactic saga, the series immediately won the support of fans and critics, who were nevertheless reluctant to forgive Lucasfilm for the mistakes of a disappointing postlogy in every way. Was the future of the license going to be on television? The next series, The Book of Boba Fett, dampened the spirits of fans who had placed too much hope in this new format. Since 2019, six live-action Star Wars series have been distributed on the platform; only one has received unanimously rave reviews; its title: Andor.
Directed by Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Identity), the Andor series is conceived as a prequel to the film Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), directed by Gareth Edwards and written by the same screenwriter. The objective of the series is to tell the story of Cassian Andor - the captain who led the suicide mission to Scarif in order to steal the Death Star plans and thus enable the Rebel Alliance to win the Battle of Yavin-4 -, up to the beginning of Rogue One. After recounting his entry into the Resistance throughout season 1, season 2 immerses us in the last four years of its hero, whose tragic destiny we know only too well.
On paper, season 2 of Andorworks along the same lines as the first season: four narrative arcs of three episodes each; one difference, however: while the first season was compressed into a very tight period, season 2 is spread over four years. In each arc, we follow Cassian Andor carrying out a mission, positioning himself politically in relation to the different tendencies of the Resistance, and then assuming the consequences of his choices. At the same time, the viewer witnesses, helplessly, the establishment of an infernal machinery, developed by the Empire like an insidious poison... The series Andor assumes to be a tragedy in the ancient sense of the term; like a play by Sophocles set in another galaxy, the characters struggle against forces beyond their control while foreshadowing their inevitable end. It's the story of Antigone, who defied her uncle Creon's authority, knowing she would die as a result.
Star Wars more political than ever
Moreover, season 2 of Andor: a Star Wars story is certainly the most political work you'll see this year on Disney+. Not only because it reveals the Senate's backroom and its machinations, but because it dares to directly address some rather surprising themes in a Star Wars series broadcast on the Disney platform. It's about "genocide," "post-truth," and "sexual violence." The fact that these highly semantically charged words are clearly pronounced in the series reminds us that the first two Star Wars trilogies were precisely about this: when the Death Star annihilates a planet, it also annihilates its population, which the Empire deemed undesirable; when Leia is held prisoner by Jabba the Hutt, her metal bikini underlines the objectification of which she is a victim. Finally, Chancellor Palpatine's numerous lies that allowed him to gain full power in Revenge of the Sith show how post-truth is the ultimate weapon for killing democracies.
Also, given the importance of politics in season 2 of Andor, Mon Mothma's character gains even more substance, much to the delight of fans. The senator is at the heart of several of the season's best scenes, including a completely crazy dance scene in episode 3. (We also had the opportunity to interview Genevieve O'Reilly, who plays the character; our interview will be published soon on our site.) The series also takes full advantage of its supporting characters, starting with Mon Mothma, Luthen Rael, and Kleya Marki. Elizabeth Dulau, who plays Luthen's cunning assistant, steals the show and rivals Stellan Skargard in charisma. It also has some unforgettable scenes that will remain etched in the memory of Star Wars fans.
Irreproachable artistic direction
While politics and discord within the Rebel Alliance occupy a large place, and this from the first episodes of the season, Tony Gilroy and his teams have not skimped on the action. Although it is less present than in other Star Wars works - such as The Mandalorian - some sequences are simply impressive. We are thinking in particular of the chase that opens the first episode and which is already among the most exciting in the history of Star Wars. This is made possible thanks to impeccable artistic direction and staging, which makes some of Lucasfilm's mistakes even more unbearable (yes, we're thinking of the famous scooters from The Book of Boba Fett).
As you can see, we loved season 2 of Andor: a Star Wars story, from its first scene to its heartbreaking final shot. We can't wait to talk more about it with you. We'll of course cover the different episodes as they are released on Disney+. And if you like Star Wars, here are the 14 current projects sorted by our interest in them.
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