Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
Cast: Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O’ Reilly, Kyle Soller, Denise Gough, Jacob James Beswick, Adria Arjona, Faye Marsey, Andy Sirkis, Varada Sethu, Elizabeth Dulau, Anton Lesser, Michael Jenn, Dave Chapman, Robert Emms, Kathryn Hunter, Joplin Sibtain, Bronte Carmichael, Alastair Mackenzie, Alex Ferns, Noof Ousellam, Wilf Scolding, Duncan Pow, Ben Bailey Smith, Lee Ross, Fiona Shaw, Abhin Galeya, Muhanned Bhaier, Ben Miles, Kingsley Amadi, Alex Lawther, Christopher Fairbank.
The Mandalorian was rightly praised by audience and fan alike, Obi-Wan Kenobi gave redemption to one of the most endearing characters of the prequel films, and The Book of Boba Fett…well it might not have fared as well as hoped, but it still was able to reach into the Star Wars mythos and capture the feeling of sheer exhilaration.
However great, however intrinsic to the overall arc of tales of a galaxy far, far away, none have yet reached into the soul with as much might as the 12-part series prequel to the film Rogue One, the sheer intensity that is Andor.
It is a brave move by the backers of the franchise to reach back in time and pluck a character from a one shot movie and make them the hero of their own story, and yet it makes absolute sense that the former thief turned hero of the resistance should be the one to have the viewer’s attention firmly focused upon as the moment kicks down to the turn of the war, a war that will unleash hell and hope in equal measure on the galaxy.
Brave, or insightful, either way, asking Diego Luna to reprise his role as Cassian Andor is inspired, and throughout the trials placed before him, he rises to the occasion, he fights off franchise fatigue, and gives the fan a true sense of continuality that is required between the distinct eras of Star Wars of the prequels and the age of George Lucas’ original outing.
There is so much to take in during the series, but the cast are dedicated to the cause, of accepting the responsibility thrust upon them by the weight of the man’s expectations, and by the truism of the success of Rogue One.
It is not only the passion of Diego Luna’s portrayal on the titular hero that makes the series unmissable, it is the feeling of Noir that runs through the narrative, the sense of abandonment, not only of Andor, but of the galaxy at large, and with sublime supporting actors such as Stellan Skarsgård as Luthen Rael, Genevieve O’ Reilly as Mon Mothma, Denise Gough as the ambitious and inflexible Dedra Meero, Faye Marsey as Vel Sartha, Andy Serkis as Kino Loy, and Fiona Shaw giving an enlightening performance as Maarva Andor, the whole series is one of breath-taking excitement.
The series that the entire franchise not only needed, but demanded with impunity, the freedom to really explore the world of Star Wars without once being lumbered with the large shadow that has hung over everything since 1977. A treat, a succulent and muscle-bound series which does much to improve the franchise exponentially. Ian D. Hall