IR TV Review: ANDOR - EPISODES 1, 2 & 3 [Lucasfilm/Disney+]

The context of “Andor” as it starts its first 3 episodes is like all journeys: a search for something. Cassian Andor begins this in earnest though its eventual completion is in doubt because it all might become a ruse. We however do know where he ends up. While he easily could have avoided the situation, he makes his initial introduction to us infinitely more complicated by his impulse of drawing unwanted attention. Granted Han Solo did this when he was young but he wasn't born into an orphan-like system while pulling jobs for the Syndicate. Granted there is a support team for Cassian but it is limited and he pushes it farther and farther each time until it breaks. Granted most of his journey in the first 3 episodes is the rule of coincidences but all his people including a hot shot mechanic (Adria Arjona -- whom we hope we see more of) seems to try to tell him to keep his head low which he doesn't seem to do even when a stolen piece of Empire technology leads him to a seller who might be more or less than what he appears.

Now granted we do see Cassian's home planet which sounds and seems like it was scourged by the Empire in his youth. His tribe per se was a simple one but the innocents often get pulled into a conflict especially when their land is about to be seized for resources. Whiile a certain droid is not present in the current time, there is another droid with a different connection to Cassian who has a genuine concern for his master (the droid does look a little like Wall-E). The arch of the first 3 episodes does come to an crux involving choice. And like that of any hero or anti-hero it is about whether to take the leap or fall back on the old standard. Granted a certain actor is able to take this up a notch in episode 3 but whether or not the approach is on the level is to be seen. B

By Tim Wassberg