A little under a week ahead of the premiere, and the first reactions are out for the highly anticipated Disney+ series “Star Wars: Andor” with the first four episodes released to critics and some journalists.
Whilst no reviews have yet been released, early reaction has so far been very positive for the series which serves as a prequel to “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” and sees Diego Luna reprise his role as Cassian Andor in a show spanning a five-year period.
Much has been made about the series having a very different feel from other “Star Wars” series and movies of late – no Jedi, no Sith, no Skywalkers, and a whole lot of practical filming elements.
SWStuff summarises commonly cited praise in the reactions – the show is a slow burner with a gritty and mature tone, a large and ambitious scope, strong reliance on character and a distinct lack of easter eggs and nostalgia. Here’s some more direct reactions:
“Andor is THAT Star Wars show! A deliberately paced, layered, spy story. It’s more focused on character exploration than any hasty action sequence. It might be too different for some, but I’m loving the change of pace, tone, and feel.” – Andres Cabrera, The Meaning Of
“I watched Andor’s first four episodes weeks ago, but it’s been burned into my brain.The first two episodes are slooooow, to the point where I questioned if it felt like Star Wars. Then the third episode blew my mind, and I was hooked for the fourth. #Andor” – Sean Keane, CNET
“I’ve seen the first 3 eps of #Andor and I say this with the utmost conviction: this is going to be the show that gets me back into Star Wars. ANDOR introduces new, memorable characters, plus an intriguing arc for Andor. And it actually has something to say!.” – Dave Chen, The Film Cast
“I’m absolutely blown away by the audacity of #ANDOR. We often have to say “Star Wars has always been political” to counter people who would deny that fact. Well this show is actively angry at the people denying it. Audacious, timely, raw, & exceedingly thoughtful. Powerful work.” – Alden Diaz, Ach-To Radio
“#Andor is what Star Wars has needed – a small glimpse into this IP’s full storytelling potential. Very contained & standalone. Plays out like a slow burn event series. Consumed w/ intrigue at the big picture. Lone nitpick: occasional wonky pacing. Priority viewing.” – Liam Crowley, ComicBook.com
Genevieve O’Reilly, Forest Whitaker, Anton Valensi, Alex Ferms, Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, Denise Gough, and Fiona Shaw co-star in “Andor” which premieres on September 21st.
