Genre: Action–adventure, Science fiction, Spy thriller
Created by Tony Gilroy
Based on Star Wars by George Lucas
Starring: Diego Luna, Genevieve O’Reilly, Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough, Kyle Soller & Fiona Shaw.
Composer: Nicholas Britell
Executive Producers: Kathleen Kennedy, Tony Gilroy, Sanne Wohlenberg, Diego Luna, Michelle Rejwan
Production Locations: London England
Cinematography: Jonathan Freeman, Adriano Goldman
Production Company: Lucasfilm
Distributor: Disney Platform Distribution
Plot: The story of Rebel spy Cassian Andor’s formative years of the Rebellion and his difficult missions for the cause.
I was intrigued to see how this one will turn out.
I didn’t like Andor that much.
Pros: It shows how the empire is such a terrifying force to be reckoned with. Luthen Rael became my favourite side character in this series. Seeing Andy Serkis finally doing real acting was a joy and I got invested when it got to the prison break moment.
Cons: The pacing was too slow for my liking. I couldn’t get into what’s happening at times. I didn’t like most of the supportive cast except for two. A lot of politics going on that I didn’t care for, and this isn’t my star wars type show.
Casts & characters:
- Diego Luna as Cassian Andor:
A thief whose planet Kenari was destroyed by one of the Galactic Empire’s mining projects gone wrong. The series begins with Andor as a “revolution-averse” cynic and explores how he becomes “the most passionate person who’s going to give themselves to save the galaxy” in Rogue One. Gilroy had described him as a natural leader who manipulates people, adding that he is “really a perfect kind of spy, warrior, killer.” - Kyle Soller as Syril Karn:
A Deputy Inspector for Preox-Morlana (Pre-Mor) Authority, a corporate conglomerate in charge of a trade sector. Karn works for Pre-Mor’s security services and is determined to capture Andor after learning he murdered two Pre-Mor security employees. - Adria Arjona as Bix Caleen: A mechanic and black market dealer who is Andor’s ally.
- Stellan Skarsgård as Luthen Rael:
Caleen’s dealer contact who is a part of the Rebel Alliance. He hires Cassian on his first mission as a Rebel operative. Luthen poses publicly as an eccentric antiques dealer from Coruscant. - Fiona Shaw as Maarva Andor: Cassian’s adoptive mother
- Denise Gough as Dedra Meero: A supervisor for the Imperial Security Bureau.
- Genevieve O’Reilly as Mon Mothma:
A member of the Imperial Senate from the wealthy core world of Chandrila who tries to navigate the politics of the Empire while secretly helping fund the Rebel Alliance. - Faye Marsay as Vel Sartha: A Rebel leader on the planet Aldhani and cousin of Mothma.
- Varada Sethu as Cinta Kaz: A Rebel on Aldhani who is the team’s medic and healer.
- Elizabeth Dulau as Kleya Marki: Luthen’s assistant at his antiques store.
Recurring co-stars:
- Joplin Sibtain as Brasso: Andor’s co-worker and friend.
- James McArdle as Timm Karlo: Caleen’s co-worker and boyfriend.
- Rupert Vansittart as Chief Hyne: Syril’s Pre-Mor superior.
- Alex Ferns as Sergeant Linus Mosk: A Pre-Mor officer.
- Gary Beadle as Clem Andor: Maarva’s partner and Cassian’s adoptive father. Cassian uses his name as an alias.
- Kathryn Hunter as Eedy Karn: Syril’s mother.
- Alastair Mackenzie as Perrin Fertha: Mothma’s husband.
- Anton Lesser as Major Partagaz: The head Imperial officer at the Imperial Security Bureau.
- Alex Lawther as Karis Nemik: A idealistic Rebel on Aldhani who wrote a manifesto.
- Sule Rimi as Lieutenant Gorn: An Imperial officer on Aldhani who is secretly one of Vel’s Rebels.
- Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Arvel Skeen: A mysterious Rebel on Aldhani.
- Gershwyn Eustache Jnr as Taramyn Barcona: A Rebel on Aldhani who was a former Stormtrooper.
- Stanley Townsend as Commandant Jayhold Beehaz: Gorn’s Imperial superior on Aldhani.
- Ben Miles as Tay Kolma: A banker who is Mothma’s childhood friend from whom she seeks help.
- Andy Serkis as Kino Loy: A prisoner and floor manager at the Imperial factory facility on the planet Narkina 5. Serkis previously portrayed Supreme Leader Snoke in the sequel trilogy.
- Duncan Pow as Ruescott Melshi: A labor worker and inmate at the Imperial factory facility on Narkina 5 who will later join the Rebel Alliance alongside Andor. Pow reprises his role from Rogue One.
- Forest Whitaker as Saw Gerrera: A veteran of the Clone Wars and the leader of a militant insurgent group, the Partisans.
- Richard Dillane as Davo Sculdun: A shady businessman.
Additionally, Dave Chapman voices Maarva Andor’s droid B2EMO, Belle Swarc appears as Andor’s sister Kerri, Bronte Carmichael appears as Mothma’s daughter Leida, and David Hayman appears as the Chieftain of the Aldhani natives. Ben Bailey Smith and Robert Emms portray Imperial Security supervisors Blevin and Lonni Jung, respectively, while Nick Blood appears as Corporal Kimzi. Malcolm Sinclair appears as Colonel Wullf Yularen, a character from various Star Wars media, who was previously portrayed by Robert Clarke in A New Hope and voiced by Tom Kane in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels. Sam Witwer provides the uncredited voice of the Shoretrooper who arrests Andor on Niamos. Clemens Schick and Christopher Fairbank appear as Ham and Ulaf, two prison inmates on Narkina 5, while Adrian Rawlins appears as Dr. Rhasiv, a prison medic on Narkina 5.
I recommend this series on Disney+ to anyone who might like it more than me.
Rating: 4 out of 10 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident TV reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe.