Andor, with eight episodes released on Disney+, is nearing the end of its first season. However, despite expectations at the time of its release, The series is a real disappointment for viewers..
Cause? It is still not very clear what causes Andor, considered a sophisticated production aimed at new Star Wars audiences, failed to win over fans. Even that it is considered a failure among the franchise’s ambitious plans for the future.
Show Andor that the stories associated with the Lucas universe have certain limits? That the world, deepened in books, games, and films, has an identity so concrete that it restricts the freedoms allowed in its stories?
Awkward failure Andor and his dialogue with other Star Wars stories
So far, the Tony Gilroy series has shown its quality as Atypical Star Wars production. Especially since it doesn’t delve into the traditional themes of the franchise. The sight of several alien races, lightsabers, even a simple manifestation of the Force is not part of the story. There is also no connection to several of the great narratives of the saga.
Which could to some extent explain the low success of the series among many fans of the intergalactic saga. Despite its undoubted narrative qualities, Andor it differs significantly from the identity of the world imagined by George Lucas.
So much so that its plot, which takes off in the early years of the Rebellion, seems to undermine the way Star Wars takes its stories. Cassian Andor, the protagonist of the sensational outcast one, in the series that bears his name, is an exceptional witness to an important event. The premise will take you through the layers between the political and complex ramifications of the Empire as a bureaucratic structure.
But is such research enough for Star Wars? Much of the saga was based on an effective combination of fantasy and well-constructed emotional storytelling. From the Skywalker family dilemma to the various aspects of loyalty, love and hope. The franchise has grown in its ability to be funny, sincere, and touching enough to engage fans on an emotional level with its storyline. But at the same time, it includes battles in deep space, weapons, unexplained creatures, exploration of different cultures and alien beliefs.
Andor, whose episodes take place between tense conversations and scenes worthy of a full-fledged suspense thriller, this duality is lacking. So much so that it has been commented that this is a Star Wars production that completely strays from its usual formula. What could be the main obstacle for him to become as successful as he was supposed to be.
Communication between Andor D outcast one
Gilroy, screenwriter outcast one, adopted the film’s approach to the series. A tragic story with an atypical ending, in which the human element deepens in an adult way and with a little regard for science fiction. so much so that both works complement each other. At least that’s the intention of the screenwriter, who commented before the premiere that Andor it is a “new vision” of the original plot.
But the film is a celebration of a very important event in the Star Wars universe. In fact, his script is based on the famous line from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. The destruction of the Death Star marked the before and after in the perception of the Rebellion. In addition to showing how far the hardworking men and women who supported her are willing to go. Cassian Andor was part of a suicide mission that eventually managed to get the information that allowed the sabotage group to achieve their most symbolic triumph.
But Andor focuses on the internal transit of its titular character. He shows him from childhood and then as an almost unwitting mercenary. Increasingly complex situations follow one after the other around him, which tells how the Empire tried to counter the newly emerged threat of the rebels.
However, instead of scenes of cosmic collisions, colorful planets, or even a hint of inexplicable forces, the series focuses on intellectual conflicts. Little by little, the analysis of moral, ethical and spiritual battles turns into a complex landscape that becomes more and more unique. Something that takes him completely away from the emotional space opera version of the original franchise and gives Andor his unique personality.
A failure that heralds a step back in new projects?
As he commented in an interview Vanity FairGilroy wrote the series for “people who haven’t been obsessed with Star Wars all their lives”. Which makes clear its strong independent atmosphere and the argument’s reluctance to tie into more symbolic narratives. Andor, chronologically prior to the appearance of Luke Skywalker on the scene, completely disappears from the scene of the symbolic Star Wars family. A lot more, decides to go into completely new areas on how to understand the franchise.
“There are billions and billions of beings in the galaxy,” Gilroy explained. Vanity Fair. “There are electricians and carpet cleaners. All these people are there. Not everyone knows about the Force, the Jedi, or the royal family. The empire affects them in the same way (as it does for other characters). My approach is this, but what about them? What about what’s going on in the kitchen? I guess I’m always looking around the corner. What are these other people doing?
This is an interesting experiment, which in the first three chapters Andorsurprised by his sensitivity. But as the series progressed, this radically separated it from the rest of the saga. So much so that even the creator himself defined it as a “Star Wars spy movie”.
This forced Gilroy to sacrifice pure entertainment that has always been part of the usual Star Wars formula.. No humor, mistakes, winks, or Lucas-universe phrases, Andor seems a far cry from the usual tone of set narratives. Which seems to be reflected in how viewers relate to his story.
Andor and the dilemma of a new generation of fans
Four chapters from the end Andor it is a rarity. Both in his understanding of the vast world of generations, and in his slightly pessimistic message. The story of a hero who is destined to die may seem surprising against the backdrop of many other great personalities trying to survive.
Is dissonance between messages a reason for a possible rejection Andor how is the premise? It remains only to analyze the last twists of the plot in order to fully understand the phenomenon that surrounds it.
