Something about Cassian
Five Things That Have Me Hyped For Andor's Second Season
Andor is easily the most critically acclaimed show released under the Star Wars banner since the streaming era began in 2019, and in one week, it returns! I want to write whoo-hoo! but because it’s Andor, I should probably glower knowingly and whisper something dubiously moral before I walk away into the shadows to change my wig.
Andor Season 2 is notable not only for just looking incredible, but also being the last of the announced live action streaming shows that have come to fruition. The Mandalorian has had three seasons, and no fourth announced (the film in its place); Obi-Wan Kenobi appears to be resting on the laurels of one epic season; Ahsoka Season 2 is rumored but unconfirmed; The Book of Boba Fett was a once and done Mando side quest; The Acolyte came and went with its much debated single season; and Skeleton Crew, which was a lot of fun, even if it didn’t make cultural waves, looks to be a single-season as well.
Finally, here comes Andor’s highly anticipated second season, with the future of streaming television unknown. We’ve seen animated characters migrate to live action, we’ve seen the return of beloved prequel characters, we’ve seen Amblin-homage, we’ve seen the return of everyone’s favorite bounty hunter, we’ve seen lots of Darth Vader. Now, we’re closing the loop on Tony Gilroy’s RogueOne-i-verse, and then…what’s to come? Will streaming series become rarer? Are we pivoting to the big screen? Or are there unanticipated announcements coming from Celebration Japan?
But, that’s for the future. Now, here comes Andor. In anticipation of new Star Wars on our TVs, here are five things I’m particularly excited about, in no specific order.
FOUR NEW MOVIES
Andor’s second season is being released in four three-episode arcs. If the average episode length is about 45 minutes, then we’re getting the equivalent of a new feature-length Star Wars film every week for four weeks.
Season One was a series of arcs, too, the first being Andor’s escape from Ferrix, then the Aldhani Heist, the third the Narkina 5 breakout, and then Andor’s return to Ferrix and confrontation with the Empire. (Maybe, like the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles, these arcs could eventually be reedited into single films and given their own titles. Andor: Kassa; Andor: The Aldhani Heist; Andor: Escape from Narkina 5; Andor: Rebellion on Rix Road etc.)
If you include Rogue One, the life of Cassian Andor will wind up being an epic that consists of about nine movies - as long as the Core Saga itself. One hell of an narrative accomplishment. I can’t wait to gobble it up in these generous portions.