Andor (TV Series) Aldhani (2022) User Reviews

Developing the intrigue

[snoozejonc · 8/10 · 28 September 2022]

Cassian prepares for his first mission.

This is another strong episode that lays solid foundations for what is to come.

The best scenes for me all take place on Coruscant and involve characters like Mon Mothma and settings like the security council. These scenes portraying the logistics and politics of both the rebellion and the security of the empire are excellent. For Star Wars fans who like certain blanks around the movies filled with purposeful world building, it is the stuff of nerdgasms.

Cassian's scenes introduce more characters and slow burn towards an event likely to happen in the next episode. For me they are not quite as interesting as the above, but they develop the character's arc very effectively.

Visually it continues the superb production designs of the show so far and we have more variation with the different settings on Coruscant.

All performances are strong, particularly Genevieve O'Reilly.

I love the atmosphere of this show

[poseyfan · 9/10 · 28 September 2022]

This show takes itself seriously and it is very refreshing. It doesn't need jedi or the force or huge battles to tell a convincing story. This is strictly a personal story. Some are nobodies, some are higher ups, and they're all looking for something.

My favorite parts in this episode involved the officers of the empire. Something about the sheer cleanliness of the atmosphere and the strict demeanors of the officers draws me in. I am very excited to see how that plot line progresses.

From what I've seen, Mon Mothma is the only familiar character so far. And this show proves that you don't need familiar faces to tell a compelling Star Wars story.

My only gripe is that the weekly release schedule might hurt the viewing experience for some.

Overall, I'm excited for the future of this show.

LORE

[michaelvervaet · 9/10 · 28 September 2022]

The writing, fan service and background lore are amazing. I haven't seen such dedication in trying to create a real SW-universe since the OT.

This episode shows that Andor is Star Wars on a whole different level than previous Disney shows.

It's mature, gritty and dark. It contains politics, subterfuge, espionage, layered conversations (whatever that means ;-) ). It's fast paced when it needs to be and slows down when it can be. In these slower scenes we are given the lore and worldbuilding us SW-fans truly deserve.

This is Star Wars heading for the right direction. Can't wait for what's coming!

An epic portrayel of rebelion in a grim universe

[nic-tanghe · 10/10 · 28 September 2022]

The episodes has great pacing.

It sets the stage with great ambiance.

You can feel everyone's struggles.

The mood oozes out of the screen.

I get strong black and white film vibes in a good way.

Everything that passes on Coruscant really hits the nail on the head. I get strong foundation vibes wich is a good thing to draw inspiration from to portray the capital. (it more acuratly represents the vibe from the book then the apple series)

The mood/ attitude of the people in the camp switching felt a little rushed but realistically they would have to get on board quickly so It's a hard thing to portray.

The inconsistencies in film grain were a bit of putting, but that is an incredibly small detail.

From good to great

[user1029 · 9/10 · 28 September 2022]

In the last two episodes this show has gone from 'good' to 'great'.

The first two episodes of the series were a welcome departure from the standard Disney Star Wars formula but I disagree with those saying that it was a return to 'Star Wars', as the adult nature of the show and delicate dialogue do not hearken back to vintage Star Wars for me.

Episode 3 and 4 still don't have a vintage Star Wars tone, they very much so have their own tone, but the writing, directing, and acting are so good that I simply don't care.

The script is nuanced, as are the characters. The B cast, in particular, are utterly brilliant, being filled out by a host of British stage and TV actors, all of whom could and have lead productions, lending their immeasurable skills to background characters. This adds so much realism and flavour to the show.

It should also come as no surprise but Stellan Skarsgård is an utter joy. In a sea of great performances, his wave crests highest.

If the show can keep up this trajectory, it will be comfortably the best Star Wars content that Disney have produced.

Bureaucracy is detrimental of the Empire, and that is hilarious

[jaket83 · 9/10 · 28 September 2022]

Im sure some people will say this episode it slow, but I dont have a problem with it. They are building groundwork for the characters. The main complaint of Rogue One, was that people didnt connect with the characters.

Stellan Skarsgard is excellent in this episode. It is nice to get some more background on his character. He is a great actor and really well cast in this.

Senate scenes are so much better with well written dialogue, and I love that the security officer wants to investigate and cant because of the bureaucracy.

The scene with Mon Mothma with her husband planning the dinner really touches on the fact that not everyone is on board with the Empire, there are some who were on the side of the republic, and had to blend in to survive, and then there are those who dont care who is in charge as long as they keep their power and/or life of luxury.

The scenes filmed in Scotland are gorgeous and I can't wait to see the heist episode.

Aldhani

[lassegalsgaard · 8/10 · 28 September 2022]

With the first three episodes, this show did an amazing job of setting up the worlds that are outside of the Empire's constant overview and show how they are still being suppressed by the powers at hand. While furthering that underdog narrative, it seems like they're finally starting to go deeper into the workings of the system by giving us an insight into how the rebellion really began. It did really begin both at the top and the bottom with people of varying systematic importance. A lot of fun things to digest in this episode, and a lot of nice set-up for another big event.

A big part of the episode is dedicated to showing what Luthen Rael's actual role in the bigger picture is. The way they showcase his importance is done in a fascinating manner, putting a lot of great dualism into his work as a rebel and his service to the people of Coruscant. There's not a lot of that shown in here, but from a single scene, it's shown clearly how Luthen is able to move between these two worlds and it's done quite brilliantly. This episode also finally introduces the real Empire into the picture, setting us right into the ISB (Imperial Security Bureau) and setting their own drama in there. They smartly put us next to characters that we can root for, despite their evil ways. And it all serves as a good side dish next to the big meal, which is the things that are unfolding on Aldhani. With Cassian now thrown into something that he never wanted to be a part of, it's fair to assume that his rebel roots are growing and we're witnessing the beginning of the military leader that we meet in "Rogue One." How he gets there is interesting, as his demeanor doesn't scream team player yet. The show is doing a great job so far of opening up the universe to these other corners that we never heard of before, and with the show actually being shot on real locations for most of it, the landscapes easily make for some of the most beautiful "Star Wars" destinations.

"Aldhani" is a great follow-up to the previous arc, going even further into Cassian's evolution into the rebel leader that we're going to know later. It also brilliantly shows how the rebels started to form inside of the Empire and the troubles facing them, while providing some very interesting character motivations and places for them.

dull characters, great style

[nerrdrage · 7/10 · 14 November 2023]

I'm not doing backflips over Andor like a lot of people, but it's still worth watching, if only for the visual style. Wowza, Coruscant never looked so good.

I love just looking at the texture of things, of the fabric people wear, even just the walls. Mon Mothma's luxury condo was absolutely gorgeous. Her chauffeured limousine was wonderful.

When the corporate stooge guy was walking to Mom's apartment, there was a palpable feeling of claustrophobia and dread, even though everything looked clean and nice. Excellent use of environment to convey the story.

The texture extends to the depiction of the characters and the dialogue. This series does the best job so far of explaining why ordinary people might support the Empire, which is vital for stories set after the fall of the Empire - why didn't everyone chant Ding Dong the Witch is Dead and go back to their normal lives? Why are there Imperial remnants at all???

Ironically, the rebels are dull by comparison. I've seen this "squabbling group of toughies" routine many times before. Oh well, so the show is a mixed bag. But so's Ahsoka, with its dreadful dialogue and underbaked drama dragging down wonderful characters and interesting situations.

Man, they need to get Tony Gilory and Dave Filoni to work together. Each has what the other lacks. Together, Star Wars would truly kick butt!

Three Cheers for Shooting on Location!

[LoveStallion · 8/10 · 29 September 2022]

Andor continues to impress. Story-wise, we're slowly building towards an overall plot. This episode has tons of new characters, but it doesn't feel like it suffers for it.

I could watch petty bureaucratic squabbling between ambitious middle managers in the Empire all day.

And seeing Luthen's cover as an antiquities dealer was great. All of these characters feel lived and earned. We even see that Mon Mothma's marriage is on shaky ground.

I'm loving the cinematography in Andor, and this episode is no exception, with ample time spent on location in the Scottish Highlands. Shooting on "the Volume" certainly has its advantages, but Andor is crushing it on world building. Wide shots. Close ups. Whatever. People are actually in places, and the show is better for it.

Funny how they think fans wont bother this much

[suvechhabose · 7/10 · 30 September 2022]

Okay maximum reviews are above 8. Doesn't makes any sense. I understand everything looks fantastic from action to dialogue delivery, from cinematography to writing But its nothing similar to Star wars. Empire was always signified with shining black everywhere , The show includes zero aliens , Action scenes are small to none , Acting except some characters like Adria , Diego & Starsgard looks dull but the evil side looks absolutely dumbfounded with some weird guy name karn or kahn. Thats it! Haha

35 minutes absolutely marketing standard seminar episode with no known tunes or cameos (games , comic characters , canon characters ) then just , Remove the Star wars from next episodes.

Slow start to a much better flow

[mopandgo · 8/10 · 28 September 2022]

This episode was Great, it's Star Wars but just enough of the political aspects and how they changed in a few mins of dialogue between two important characters. I am curious how the imperial senate operates and how the very few senators who aren't corrupted operate in this age of the Empire. I think most people want to see how the senate operates since we never gotten that especially in live action. Star Wars is very much about a rebellion but also the political aspects that play a Huge part and now we're getting to see that up close in live action. Curious to see how it goes from here this season!

Not bad but is it good? Meh do far

[sirboxalot · 6/10 · 28 September 2022]

I'm halfway through this episode and it's not a good sign when I'm writing my first review ever. Like I said it's not bad but I'm having a hard time deciding if it's legitimately good or not. Too much filler for sure and to me it screams ( even louder then normal) Disney getting every possible penny they can.

Diego Luna is the international Paul Rudd. This guy does not age at all. A scene where our main chosen one character is being explained 1 person at a time as to why he is there felt like 10 minutes for what normally should take 1 . It's 2 am ish so I'll just stop here. It's Star Wars in name. Star Wars over the top good ? Nah.

Uneventful and boring

[stonearrack · 3/10 · 8 November 2022]

I love Star Wars but this isn't it. I was hoping for a more bleak style, same as Rogue One taught us worked so well, but this isn't Star Wars. Star Wars is Space Opera, this is more like a crime drama, it could easily be set in Los Angeles with the same people and same setup and I wouldn't know the difference. Throwing in a Star Wars canon name or showing some "space-themed" stuff every now and then isn't really enough. I know people say this gets better, but 4 episodes is a lot to swallow just for backstory, especially after the mediocre Kenobi series. Also, feeling any investment in a very one dimensional and not-likeable character like Andor, who we all know dies in rogue One and plays no further part in the universe feels hard.

I think there's way to many ghost writers writing reviews for this show as well, someone mentioned "nerdgasm"? It's more fulfilling reading the Wookiepedia than watching this so far.

I'll keep watching, just to fill the space until the next Mandalorian season comes, which manages to capture what actual Star Wars is about.

Feels real!!!

[lujason-45822 · 10/10 · 2 October 2022]

The newest Star Wars products since the Disney acquisition all feel so small in its scope. This episode of Andor makes the Star Wars universe feel grand and lived-in again. What I also love about the episode is it's attempt to finally make the Empire threatening. The Empire should feel like a tyrannical and powerful regime, otherwise our main characters and rebellion would feel "meh" (this is the problem with Book of Boba Fett). Disney is on the right track with this one and I feel more stories about the Empire could be told with the success of Andor.

Finally, filming on location with real sets really increased the quality of the show and set it apart from the Mando and other properties. Please keep doing this!

Promising series picks up the pace with Ep. 4

[Muxje · 8/10 · 29 September 2022]

Lots of comments about slow pacing in the first 3 episodes, and I agree with that. And while those flashbacks are an important introduction to Cassian's origin, they further reduce the momentum of an already sluggish plot. I like slow TV and I was entertained well enough, but the first three episodes did fail to properly hook me and get me invested in the story and characters, until Ep. 3. Hopefully just a stumble out of the gate.

Ep. 4 changes the beat, though. Cassian finds his stride (and so does his story arc), and we're treated to a set-up for several subplots involving Imperial politics, intrigue and espionage. The pacing, atmosphere and visuals are great, and more importantly: everything feels decidedly Star Wars-y; from agricultural backwater planets to the drawing rooms of Coruscant. The actors are finding their stride as well.

I'm looking forward to the next installment. If Disney can fulfil the promise shown in Ep. 4, we'll have a great season ahead of us.

A good episode with Stargate SG-1 vibe

[dj-wookie · 10/10 · 28 September 2022]

This episode remembers me about Stargate SG-1 very much, in a very good way , with gorgeous landscapes, over the top visual effects , even the way the ship flies in hyperspace looks similar , because the SG-1 producers were themselves Star Wars fans for sure and even the way the action flows is the same. I like very much the way they combined the old looking technology from the original trilogy with something modern, nothing looks weird and i don't know how they managed this, but with each new tv series they come up, the sets,costumes, the ship and everything else looks better and better and i like the different tone of this show, this series is even better than other more pretentious tv shows like Foundation. In a way, this is a return to the origins, because Star Wars had originally heavy stuff in the story, for example the bad guy was the father of the good guy and other things like that, which were pretty rare in those times and i love things that makes me to think deep, and the ending theme is so cool and dark it makes you to realise this is something for a more mature audience.

Slowing down for more amazing world-building, writing, and new characters!

[frankiesilver-91836 · 9/10 · 28 October 2022]

After the gigantic battle of episode 3, we slow down here to introduce new locations and characters as Cassian starts his rebel journey. Saying that this episode is slow is not at all a critique though. It grants some time for great world-building and interesting inner-Empire politics and drama.

I enjoyed the ISB's metaphor that rebellions are a virus that needs to be contained. I was also beyond happy to see the return of Coruscant here! It's so interesting to see this capital planet become more gloomy after the empire took over.

Seeing Luthen's double life was very fascinating. Stellan is simply doing a phenomenal job playing the character and it's really cool seeing him and Mon Mothma secretly plan as they live their two-faced lives.

We oddly continue to follow Syril's character after he loses his job. There is clearly a deeper character arc they're delving into with him that I want to see. I like that he is still being focused on despite the plot currently moving on without him.

Dropping Cassian in the middle of a large-scale suicide mission is an awesome idea. While Cassian despises the empire, he has yet to be convinced a rebellion is the answer. I'm excited to see him have to put his life on the line regardless and eventually change his views.

Every member of the heist group has their own quirks and personality traits that are instantly evident. I felt familiar with each of them very quickly. I'm expecting many of them won't make it out alive, so I'm dreading the bloodshed to come.

This episode achieved its purpose of making me anticipate the future of the show. Can't wait for more!

"Aldhani"

[allmoviesfan · 7/10 · 10 December 2023]

Not the all-out action thrill ride that we had last episode - another slow burn that sets things up for another story arc, whilst also cleaning up a few loose ends from the one before.

Coruscant makes its first appearance and for a meeting of the feared and infamous Imperial Security Board (Nerd Warning - I remember the non-canon ISB being run by Iceheart herself, Ysanne) and everyone's favourite Rebel Alliance founder Mon Mothma also gets some screen time. She has a connection with Andor's saviour, Luthen Rael, who undergoes a costume change before setting foot on the galactic capital. Clearly, though, he is a part of a group fomenting rebellion against the Empire.

Andor is with a group of like-minded folks on Aldhani (a world that reminds me a lot of Scotland) who don't trust him as he's come on board just before a mission against the Imperial forces there. It turns out that only the group's leader knows of Rael's existence, so clearly the man prefers to work in the shadows.

Intriguing developments.

It's getting better!

[ErinsGloma · 8/10 · 29 September 2022]

The first three episodes were setting things up but the acting was really good. This episode pulls it together and Andor becomes more engaging. Game of Thrones fans will recognize The Waif and the Mountain's Frankenstein creator.,Qyburn. I don't think you have to be a Star Wars Fan to appreciate this show. The whole production looks more like a movie than a TV series. It might be good to watch Rogue One again to recall why we came to love Andor in the first place. I think this series is capturing the fragmented universe the was left when the Jedi and the Republic were all but wiped out. It sets up why A New Hope was needed. I hope the old Star Wars fans will stay with it until the more recognizable pieces of the puzzle become evident. I love Luke Skywalker too but without the rebels there would be no stolen plans for Darth Vader to be chasing.

Great begin of the new arc and great fam service

[moritzherz · 7/10 · 9 November 2022]

After the epic finale of the first act "Andor" renews itself with Cassian joining the heist on Aldhani.

He only wants the money but I'm sure he will develope some interest for the rebellion in course of his time with the crew who's planning the heist.

It's about infiltrating an imperial institution that contains all the credits of a whole sector. This clearly will hurt the empire.

Meanwhile we get to see Luthen's other life as an merchant of antiquities in the capital itself Coruscant. In his shop there are so many known objects like mandalorian armor and sith and jedi holocrons.

And if that is not enough Mon Mothma itself visits him talking about his recent achievements on Ferrix.

The heart of a Star Wars Fan was beating high watching this episode!

The next chapter of this show begins.

[atkinsonlouise-73873 · 8/10 · 31 December 2022]

After an exciting, action packed third episode, this slows down a bit. It introduces new characters and sets the scene for this next part of the series. Faye Marsay is introduced as Vel as we meet her band of rebels. Their interactions and mistrust of Cassian are interesting and it was an insight into the Rebels on the ground and the lack of resources. On the other side of things we meet Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) and the main Imperial security forces. We see the naivety and arrogance of the empire here, as they believe the rebels are not worth checking into. Finally we meet Mon Mothma again, as she struggles between fighting for the cause and family/senator life. This episode really is a behind the curtain look at both factions and the desperation of the rebellion and the against the odds fight against the empire. I can't wait to see how this develops and this is some of the best Star Wars we've had in years. Score: 8.5/10.

Aldhani

[Prismark10 · 4/10 · 26 October 2022]

If you watch episodic cop shows of the 1970s and 1980s. The staple was the payroll robbery. Even common in film noir thrillers of the 1940 and 50s.

Where would a heist film be without a good payroll snatch.

Nowadays it has fallen out of fashion due to internet banking. There is no physical money being delivered from banks to a factory. It is transferred direct to your bank account.

Aldhani leads to a main plot point. The mysterious Luthen wanted Andor for a mission. Steal the payroll of the entire Imperial sector which could stir rebellion.

So despite characters talking about credits. Somewhere far far away, the Empire uses physical money to pay the staff!

Some of the other stuff took a backseat. Karn and corporate soldiers were admonished and sacked.

It brings in characters like Major Partagaz who oozes calm venom. He is certainly no bureaucrat.

There was no going away with it. There are issues with the writing in Andor. I just could not buy the heist story.

Then it becomes dull as the others in the gang do not want the new boy Andor. All very underwhelming.

Phenomenal Writing

[tristan_19 · 9/10 · 29 September 2022]

It's good enough to be the first act of a movie ! Cassian continues to develop and meets new characters. The newcomers are all intriguing and interesting. You also get the enemies' side, and even feel for people like Syril Karn and Dedra Meero. Vel comes in as a capable leader, and Mon Mothma has an appearance.

The dialogue is great, the pacing is just right. Coruscant is a wonder and always a treat for Star Wars fans. Partagaz is well acted and knows his stuff extremely well. Luthen is mysterious as ever. Who is he really ?

The Rebellion is careful in accepting 'Clem', but you feel in your bones that they'll all become brothers in arms really soon. The mission is clear, and the trust is starting to be felt at the end. It just leaves you wanting more and anticipating the next episode, because it all flows super well together.

Going Strong

[MamadNobari97 · 8/10 · 29 September 2022]

The show is still going strong establishing new different characters and slowly building the plot and sowing the seeds of rebellion.

The vibe and feel of this show make you think you're actually watching a competently-made tv show.

The writing has been good so far and directing and cinematography of this episode was great too and you can see these people actually care about what they're making which is really unlike Disney.

The pacing of this show is really really good and they're not rushing anything. They introduced the Imperial antagonist of the show and he is already a great character.

This show is really competently-written with good characters, characterization, and plot progression.

This show is also really beautiful too and the CGI work is great. The great cinematography and obviously the experienced director made this episode look and feel special.

I'm really liking Stellan Skarsgård's character and portrayal of the double life we see a bit of in this episode.

What I like about this show is that the characters feel like actual characters who have a history and a life outside of the show too and not just artificially written characters that just appear on the screen to say some lines and go.

We also get a glimpse of Mon Mothma's personal life and though I really don't remember her character from the OG trilogy because I saw those movies a long time ago, with Rogue One and especially this one, I'm getting to know her more and she's a really interesting character.

One thing that I was expecting more of, was seeing how Syril Karn is gonna turn out after last episode's event, which we did get, but I guess I thought we're gonna get more of him and not less, because he's shaping up to be a really good character. But I guess we still have 8 episodes left, so we're gonna get more of him and hopefully more screen time.

So far this show has been great and enjoyable to watch and I can't say the same thing about any other Star Wars project from Disney other than Mandalorian, and obviously Rogue One. So here's hoping the rest of the season is as good and even better too.

Mature

[Trey_Trebuchet · 8/10 · 17 November 2022]

Prett solid overall even if it isn't as exciting as the previous episode.

I must admit that seeing a Couresant in live-action for the first time in several years was really cool, and seeing the planet under Imperial doctrine was fascinating and satisfying.

This episode felt like set-up for whatever is to come next, but I didn't mind it. Like others have mentioned, the world-building and extended lore kept me invested in this one, but the brief establishing of new characters wasn't so poorly handled either.

I was kind of hoping this wouldn't just feel like a live-action version of Rebels. I liked that show a lot, but Andor initially sounded like it would essentially be the beginning of the rebellion again, just in live-action. In a way it does, but it also doesn't. The shows are vastly different from each other tonally and visually. I don't know, I'm gonna finish this either way. I like the dark, mature tone. Feels very different from the other star wars shows and closer to the tone of Clone Wars in my opinion.

Solid episode overall, with some great acting from Stellan and Genevieve!