Andor Season 2: Episode 1 Review

Andor Season One features some of the best moments in any Star Wars media. It’s a deeply political thriller that explores the rise of the Rebellion and offers a gripping, engaging watch. As a result, Season Two has a lot to live up to. At Star Wars Celebration , I had the opportunity to watch the first episode during the Andor Season Two panel. One thing to keep in mind while reading this: Andor will release three episodes at a time, so ultimately, I only saw one-third of the initial drop. Any issues I had with this episode may be addressed or balanced out across the three.

The first half of Episode One starts off as one of the strongest openings in the modern Disney era of Star Wars—a thrilling and somewhat comedic heist that’s utterly engaging and a fantastic way to kick off the season. However, as the episode progresses, it becomes slightly cluttered, trying to juggle too many storylines at once. As a result, the episode ends up being good rather than great—less an all-time standout like Oshi No Ko Season One.

We pick up one year after the events of Season One—it’s 4 BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin, for non-Star Wars fans)—and Andor is stealing a TIE Avenger from a test facility, working alongside someone employed there. She’s clearly grappling with the stress of her actions and the fear of potential consequences. This tension sets the stage for Andor’s gripping monologue about resistance and fighting for a future free from the Empire’s iron rule. This is what I love about political writing: it tackles genuinely relevant and engaging themes, made universally accessible through the Star Wars lens.

While the heist unfolds, we jump to a wedding on Chandrila, the homeworld of Mon Mothma, whose daughter is getting married. This season, we’re poised to see Mon Mothma shift from trying to work within the system to fully embracing her role as a leader of the Rebel Alliance. Here’s where the episode began to lose me. In the scenes that follow, we’re reintroduced to major characters from Season One, like Luthen Rael—who surprisingly attends the wedding—and Dedra Meero, who continues her rise within the Empire. A fourth storyline involving Bix is also introduced.

In contrast to the tight, focused opening, the latter half of the episode cuts rapidly between these four storylines, resulting in a somewhat messy and disorienting experience. And in what feels like an Andor tradition, the episode ends abruptly. Still, what carries over from Season One are the exceptional performances. The entire cast is phenomenal, making this dark political thriller deeply believable and immersive. The beautiful cinematography and pulse-pounding score only heighten the impact.

Episode One is a strong start to what could be an extraordinary season of television. While the first episode has its rocky moments, I believe that within the context of the full three-episode premiere, it will lay a solid foundation—and hopefully lead to a truly remarkable series.

★★★★

Season 2 launches on 22nd April 2025 in UK | Disney+ | Diego Luna, Alan Tudyk, Kyle Soller, Stellan Skarsgard, Ben Mendelsohn, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough, Elizabeth Dulau / Tony Gilroy