In 2022, the first season of Andor started with its three-episode premiere. Three episodes that merged past and present nicely to show that this was a new beginning for Cassian. The start of a new chapter in his life. Yet, despite saying I would, I never covered the rest of the season once it had concluded. It was something I’d considered, and thought that covering the rest close to the start of season two would be best.

After all, the second season will follow in the first, taking Andor’s rebellion journey right up to Rogue One. But not just Andor’s journey. There have been other characters in play for both sides of the conflict who have seen focus across the first season. And from the trailers for the second, will continue to see focus. So, I’ll be looking at all those journeys in this first season.

Starting with Cassian, he’s doing what he can to survive. He clearly dislikes the Empire and all in stands for, but sees the growing rebellion against it as not worthwhile. Looking out for others is not something he believes in. He has a good relationship with those of his home of Ferrix, while keeping secrets from those closest to him regarding his actions. Those secrets he sees as helping them, but they also hinder.

The foil for Cassian is Syril Karn, a deputy inspector for Pre-Mor Corporation. Though his superior says to ignore the murder of two of their own, Syril digs deep into uncovering who it was and heads to Ferrix to exact retribution with a security team. Syril has a need to see justice. Perhaps too much of a fixation on his own sense of what is right. And as seen later on, he goes too far.

After the first three episodes, where Cassian is inducted into a mission by Luthen Rael after their escape from Ferrix, two new focus characters are introduced. The first being ISB agent Dedra Meero. She has a steely focus on what she sees as a growing rebellion. Tracking down missing objects of Imperial value and seeing the patterns for what they could signify. Naturally, those around her see it as nothing but aspiring above her station.

Then there’s Senator Mon Mothma. Secretly funding Luthen’s rebellion efforts, with the episodes showing the stress that is putting on herself and her family. The feeling of being watched always there, needing to hide the truth behind fronts and hope to not be found out. And the fact that, in sessions of the Senate, she is getting nowhere in getting through to others of the Empire’s atrocities.

With the second half of the season, things change for two of the major players. Having scored a win at the ISB meetings, Dedra Meero is now being shown respect. Is getting things done her way. And she’s doing them ruthlessly in trying to track down Cassian, and by extension Luthen. Including torture of some of those of Ferrix. Meanwhile, she’s also having to contend with Syril continuing his own investigations into Cassian, despite no longer being in security.

As for Cassian, his will to fight for something more than himself is strengthened through a tour of duty at a prison facility on Narkina 5. Arrested simply for looking out for the trouble that had broken out at a resort in case it affected him, he feels first-hand the indifference of the Empire to those it sees as criminals. Throughout his time at the prison, he is working on escape. Which turns into a revolution when it is revealed just how indifferent the Empire is to those it sees as beneath them.

Andor feels a very character-focused series. It might seem slow, but it gets right into the connections between these characters. Never wasting any interactions on things that in some way don’t build on the characters. That’s very notable in the prison sections, where two episodes build Kino Loy up as someone playing on the Empire’s terms, showing trust in the system. Until the same news he was denying as rumour is confirmed by a prisoner medic.

All of those interactions throughout those two episodes provide the impact for the third. When the revolution happens. The same is true for every event of this first season. The interactions shown, the connections made, all feed into the climax of the events it wants to show. Yet there are some events that have been building in this first season which will only see their climax happen in the upcoming second. Everything relating to Mon Mothma being one such thing.

The finale on Ferrix also shows just how much impact building things up has. The growing restlessness of Imperial occupation. The hunt for Cassian by both Luthen and Dedra. Even that relationship between Dedra and Syril. That one in particular is an interesting one, with it showing Dedra at her most vulnerable. Much in the same way Syril was at the end of the third episode. I’m expecting a big change for these two in the second season.

There is so much to enjoy with Andor. Though it is very much character-focused, it doesn’t shy away from the action it holds. There are some lovely shots sprinkled throughout, too. The first season comes easily recommended by me. This second watch has been just as great as the first, with me noticing more about these characters, too. I’m certain that the second season will be just as great as this first.

Images Taken From:
Andor | S1.03 [Disney+]
Andor | S1.10 [Disney+]