Andor: Series Thoughts

[Darth Logos]

Largely more positive or negative so far? What you thinking, Logos? It is pretty different from any other SW thing so far, which in many ways gives it an advantage.

I'm going to make you wait till I'm finished with my reviews. Sadly it's taking longer to do than I'd hoped.

[Taegin Roan]

I'm going to make you wait till I'm finished with my reviews. Sadly it's taking longer to do than I'd hoped.

That's fine. Just wanted to make sure you're still working your way though it. I get the time issues though.

[Darth Logos]

Ep. 6 pros/cons:

1.) I'm very shocked. This episode was better than half over before I saw anything of note to comment on.....which in and of itself is noteworthy, now that I think of it. Pretty smooth running.
2.) And then Woke Disney has to raise its head and say look at me everybody. TBF though, there was far more subtlety in an affectionate hand grab, and I can appreciate that. It fit the situation without making it uncomfortable.
3.) Not gonna lie, it's pretty cool seeing TIE crews scramble. And then it gets sullied by idiots not paying attention to details: the wing pylons are too short and the pilot helmets are too big. But that's probably just me noticing small things and my OCD taking over.
4.) Really stupid not securing the cargo. Even dumber was having that one pallet out away from the others when they knew they were going to be taking off with great speed. And now we don't have Nemik.
5.) The Eye. Not gonna lie I'm liking the atmospheric concepts DSW have been coming up with. The Eye, much like the effect galactic reentry is a stunning effect. IMO: Gorgeous to behold. Well done. But the ensuing aerial chase was just dumb. Again harkening back to the trope that the Empire is inept.
5.) The ending of this episode kinda sucked. But again, I liked how decisive Andor is in killing Skeen and why.

[Taegin Roan]

There's a lot of things Andor does very well, and a lot that it doesn't. The little details tend to be where it fails most.

[Darth Logos]

Ep.7 pros/cons:

1.) HA! Syril has action figures. You think they're Black Series?
2.) WOW! Dedra takes uptight bitch to a whole new level.
3.) How does this franchise keep managing to find new ways to design horrible vehicles and try to make them seem cool? Sinta's speeder is a junk pile that looks like it'll take an hour to get her past the next tree.
4.) The same thing with droids. They make some look cool and then they end up absurdly OP (functionally) or absolutely useless. Like Bee. What is the primary function he serves? Rolling end table? The design is intriguing but function doesn't really show.
5.) Way to go, super spy. Andor using "shave and a haircut" to knock. Really?

Kinda shocked at how little I'm getting to comment on, one way or another.

[Taegin Roan]

Ep.7 pros/cons:

Kinda shocked at how little I'm getting to comment on, one way or another.

I'll take that as a net positive.

[Darth Logos]

Ep. 8 pros/cons:

1.) Wow. They're getting really bad on reminding us that this show ties into R1. Shore Troopers and KS units acting as beat cops. Lame.
2.) The courtroom scene had a gaping flaw: the alien bailiff looks to be wearing an imperial armored uniform. Imps don't allow non-humans within the ranks. Thrawn excluded for obvious reasons.
3.) Ok...shock "therapy" floors are a particularly creative and malicious way to control the dregs. I approve.
4.) Is there a reason why Andor never actually touches his head he's told "hands behind your head"?
5.) Yay Andy Serkis. Win or lose in character development <clears {SNOKE} throat> Andy always delivers a great performance.
6.) F#$% me. I see Two-tubes. If I see f#$%ing Saw Gerrera, I'm going to be pissed.
7.) FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF#####################$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%ing Saw Gerrera. #pissed

[Darth Logos]

Ep. 9 pros/cons:

1.) So...is clinical sociopathy with obsessive/narcissistic tendencies part of the job description for ISB? WOW! It's less like a conference room and more like a group therapy meeting without a therapist or anyone that thinks they have problems.
2.) Ok, you'd think that after so many scenes of watching them assemble I'd be able to figure out WHAT they're producing. Any insights? Considering the hex pattern, and the unbelievable quantity they are producing, it makes me think something to do with TIE wings.
3.) Why are the Imps all of a sudden so hellbent on hanging everyone? I know it's an old custom on earth, but c'mon. Lock 'em up and get some work out of them. Killing them just makes them a martyr. Disappearing them has so much more menace behind it.
4.) Awwwwww. Psycho-bitch has a stalker.
5.) This is turning out to be a great prison movie.

[Taegin Roan]

Ep. 9 pros/cons:

2.) Ok, you'd think that after so many scenes of watching them assemble I'd be able to figure out WHAT they're producing. Any insights? Considering the hex pattern, and the unbelievable quantity they are producing, it makes me think something to do with TIE wings.

This does get an answer later. I don't remember exactly when.

5.) This is turning out to be a great prison movie.

I agree.

[Maestro Jones]

This does get an answer later. I don't remember exactly when.

It gets answered in the last shot of the last episode.

[Darth Logos]

Ep. 10 pros/cons:

1.) I love Andy Serkis do his thing. He's just so believable in any role. Even Snoke. Horrible character, great performance.
2.) I really like Davo Sculdun. He may be a greasy schmuck but he's intuitive.
3.) Really? Now Luthen has Padme's "refugee" head gear?
4.) Pretty epic prison break.
5.) Why would Jung admit to a trap by punching in a different destination? I thought this was a bit odd for the dialog of a clandestine meeting....unless it goes to show how much trust Luthen has in Jung, and there was a "contingency plan" waiting on level 215.

[Darth Logos]

Ep. 11 pros/cons:

1.) Ok. Bee emotionally breaking down over the loss of his human made me mist up a little. Better still were the reactions of the others treating him as a sentient. This is a very progressive mindset for this period in SW history.
2.) Gungan shield. Meh. Getting used to the throw-backs. Plus, considering that it's a weapon from a previously reclusive species, I might see the appeal on the market.
3.) Back to Saw's cave. I have to admit, I think this is the least obnoxious the character has been since his first episodes in TCW.
4.) I love how smooth Luthen lies about Tubes being his informant to draw him in close and throw him off his game being defensive in order to snag his sidearm. Very slick.
5.) I also love how he speaks in a code referring to relics. Great spycraft.
6.) OK! Luthen's whole brush with the Imps was friggin' awesome.....and then they cheapen it with fold-up weapons. Whatever. Still loved it.
7.) I think I just found my new favorite ship.

[Darth Logos]

Ep. 12 pros/cons:

1.) Hmmm....I'm thinking Mon is playing her husbands gambling to throw her spy driver off her scent. Huge gambling debts would make for a great excuse for depleted family funds, and hiding it from the public eye would be a conceivable cover-up.
2.) Luthen certainly knows his gear. I like his speeder.
3.) I'm not sure how I feel about the poorly disguised Earth instruments being played in Marva's funeral procession. It looks like an attempt, but still.
4.) Such poetry in karma. The rat gets a face full of glass from the IED. And it was such an excellent throw.
5.) I know my affection shan't be returned, but I love Cinta. She is so cool under pressure. Lures the Imp in by feigning helpless, and then guts him like a fish.
6.) And just when you think Dedra's gonna get hers...ugh. This is why you don't cart off imps to make examples of them. You kill them on the spot. It was kind of a departure from character though; haven't seen her that shaken and uncollected. I see a brighter future for Syril. Maybe even wedding bells.
7.) Reevaluating my earlier comment about Y-Wing-wannabe: it looks like it was cobbled together from various craft. Most notably are the engines from a Y-Wing.
8.) Not the post cred I was looking for, but finally did answer the question of 'what the hell are the making in prison?'
9.) Kind of a let down of an ending. None of the main arcs were resolved. I take this as both pro and con. Con: NOTHING GOT RESOLVED! I get no closure. Pro: it kinda leaves me looking forward to the next season.

And now for the big reveal....

I finished this in 6 days. It took me longer to write my reviews than it took me to watch.

Yes I'm looking forward to the next season. Yes I REALLY enjoyed this series. The goods severely outdid the bads. And honestly the vast majority of the show was done in such a way that the parts didn't really shine or tarnish the story as a whole, resulting in what I honestly believe...(can't believe I'm saying this)...is the BEST thing DSW has released to date. The meme (below) was right. And I hate to say it, but it seems they do their best work when they don't involve the Force. Quit trying to rewrite what the Force is about. Quit trying to write socially popular kitsch that won't age well. Quit writing for the idiot "woke". Just write good stories. Good stories will stand up for themselves, and the fans will be drawn to them.

[Taegin Roan]

I finished this in 6 days. It took me longer to write my reviews than it took me to watch.

Yes I'm looking forward to the next season. Yes I REALLY enjoyed this series. The goods severely outdid the bads. And honestly the vast majority of the show was done in such a way that the parts didn't really shine or tarnish the story as a whole, resulting in what I honestly believe...(can't believe I'm saying this)...is the BEST thing DSW has released to date. The meme (below) was right. And I hate to say it, but it seems they do their best work when they don't involve the Force. Quit trying to rewrite what the Force is about. Quit trying to write socially popular kitsch that won't age well. Quit writing for the idiot "woke". Just write good stories. Good stories will stand up for themselves, and the fans will be drawn to them.

That's pretty much what I found as well. Definitely some details that weren't the best, but the overall storytelling was where this shown. And the fact that it's the first half of a show leading up to R1 explains a good bit about the lack of closure. But I'll say that I loved the funeral sequence. So much culture in Ferrik, and so much more just from showing a funeral. Great writing on that side of things. I'm so glad I convinced you to watch it.

[Darth Logos]

That's pretty much what I found as well. Definitely some details that weren't the best, but the overall storytelling was where this shown. And the fact that it's the first half of a show leading up to R1 explains a good bit about the lack of closure.

I just know that all the untied ends better get tied off by the end of the next season. Particularly: Dedra bringing Syril into the ISB as her direct subordinate. I figure that will be as close to marriage as those two will ever come.

But I'll say that I loved the funeral sequence. So much culture in Ferrik, and so much more just from showing a funeral. Great writing on that side of things.

That plus the Reconning. Life on Ferrik seems rough, but with a community like that I can see why people stay. They're family. Which is something I always found dumb....er about the Empire: if you want to be in total control, then let the people believe the are "free", by understanding the local cultures. By doing this, you would be better equipped to manipulate them. But I've said before that I'm not unconvinced that Sidious somehow draws power from oppressing the galaxy. Perhaps literally pushing the populace to the dark side: fear and anger on such a level that it raised him to the upper echelons of most powerful Sith Lords.

I'm so glad I convinced you to watch it.

So am I.