Andor - Season 1

I can't recall ever starting a show that annoyed me so much in the first few episodes that I almost gave up on it, only to have it completely blow me away in the second half. By the end of the twelfth episode, I was left staring at the wall in awe. Andor is probably the most realistic story set in the Star Wars universe. It presents a very human, gritty, and harsh world under the tyranny of the Empire. Diego Luna's Andor starts off as a typical mercenary, hard to connect with. In contrast, the supporting characters played by Stellan Skarsgård, Andy Serkis, and others immediately drew me in. But then everything shifts, and it all starts to make sense. The last episodes left me breathless, with perfect harmony between visuals and the soundtrack, stunning settings, and incredibly powerful human moments. The emotions were unexpectedly intense. The first half gets three stars, the second half a full five. Overall, I’m giving it four stars and can’t wait for the second season. (12/11/2022)