As Cassian Andor prepares to say goodbye to his mother, her final message helps inspire the Rebellion to act out against the Empire in the season one finale of the LucasFilm and Disney+ Original Series, “Star Wars: Andor.” The finale brings all of the storylines full circle, and we get to see the growth and the changes that made each of these characters who they are. The Empire, who doesn’t realize they have already had Cassian Andor prisoner, try to use his mother’s funeral as a trap to catch him. Instead, we get to see the honor and the shame that comes with standing up against the Empire.

What started with Cassian Andor killing two ISB guards in what was an admittedly slow episode one reached its climax at just the right pace. It didn’t rush to the end like so many of the Marvel shows on Disney+ have done. The 12-episode season length felt just right. Six can feel rushed and 22 can certainly lead to unnecessary filler, but 12 was perfect for this season. We got excellent dialogue, an Empire that felt like an actual threat rather than cartoon villains and just the right amount of action. It might not satisfy the casual fan, but if you love to see a story told in an almost expert way, look no further than “Andor.”

My only complaint is the unnecessary after-credits scene. We all know the Death Star is coming, and deductive reasoning would tell us they were working on the parts to the Death Star in the prison colony during episodes 8 through 10. We didn’t need to see the Death Star being constructed. That being said, if that’s my complaint, that an after-credits scene that doesn’t damage the show in any way was unnecessary, then you’ve put together an excellent season of television.

Episode 12 may have been the climax of season one, but it truly feels like the beginning of something momentous for “Star Wars” on Disney+. It’s the first time we’ve seen such a large gathering take up arms against the Empire, during this timeframe. We know that the Rebellion will become fully organized in the future, and we’ve gotten to see what leads to that organization here. And they did it without a single lightsaber in sight. I love lightsabers, but Star Wars films and shows have become too reliant on them (even “Rogue One”). This season took “Star Wars” to a street level and succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. I wish we didn’t have to wait so long for season two.

Rating: 4.5 stars

What did you think of this episode and the entire first season of “Star Wars: Andor?”

Jeremy Brown

Jeremy has been a big Disney fan since he was a kid growing up during the Disney Renaissance. One day he hopes to go to every Disney Park in the world.

View all posts