The Empire finally feels like the Empire in the latest episode of the Lucasfilm and Disney+ Original Series, “Star Wars: Andor.” Following the heist on Aldhani, Cassian Andor has returned to rescue his mother, but she refuses to leave her home. She is going to stand up to the Empire in her own way as she is being inspired by the Rebellion. Meanwhile, Cassian just wants to be on the run as he sees how the Empire is upping its ante in the wake of the Aldhani heist. Plus, we get some great looks at the people really driving the Rebellion, and we are about to see just how much of an alliance they really are.

While the first six episodes of this series felt like two clearly defined three-episode story arcs, episode seven feels like a true continuation of episode six. It’s incredibly possible this is setting up another three-episode story arc, but it is building on everything. There is some excellent storytelling going on in this series. It’s more street level. A single tie fighter seems scary. We knew we were going to finally see a star destroyer, and in this episode, just one star destroyer seems like the scariest thing ever. And the dialogue is driving this series. There are very few explosions, but the dialogue and the character development are simply amazing.

The most intriguing character in this episode is not Cassian Andor, or his mother, it’s Mon Mothma. She is a vital part of the Rebellion as we’ve seen across a lot of “Star Wars” canon and the expanded universe. She is one of very few people who seems to understand what is happening. She knows the Empire is about to tighten its grip, and she knows the Rebellion has to be well-formed to survive. While this isn’t her series, this is her episode. And, if Disney is hellbent on giving every character it owns its own series, she would be a deserving one.

I’m withholding judgment until the series ends to decide if this is my favorite “Star Wars” series on Disney+, but it’s got a good chance of being just that. The storytelling is amazing. While the pacing is a slow burn, it never drags. The characters are every bit the hero they need to be while still being the flawed humans we would see in the real world. This series is knocking it out of the park.

Rating: 4.5 stars

What did you think of this episode 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.

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