Why Andor's Dialogue is SO Much Better - Star Wars: Andor
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- Опубліковано 13 січ 2023
- A Star Wars: Andor Video Essay breaking down how Disney Plus's Andor manages to be one of the best shows on TV through its powerful use of Dialogue and the Emotional Wisdom that hides within it. So strap in as we explore how those who write for Cassian Andor and the rest of the cast approach How to Write Dialogue...
Written & Edited ----------------- Dylan Gregory @TheWritersBlockOfficial
I'm Dylan, And THIS is The Writer's Block - Фільми й анімація
What is your FAVORITE Star Wars Quote??? (And why...)
It comes from The Clone Wars. Season 3, Episode 14, Witches of the Mist. Count Dooku is in the process of training his new assassin/apprentice Savage Opress. They are in the courtyard where Dooku uses the Force to lift many sculptural obelisks and then orders Savage to do that same. Now Savage has been imbued with magic from the Nightsisters of Dathomir, he's essentially been engineered to be Force Sensative, none of this was natural or innate to him. He struggles to even lift two of them, and despite having seen Dooku do it, he claims that what is asked of him is impossible. And then we get the line.
"The task is only impossible because you have deemed it so!"
Dooku then begins electrocuting Savage, and in his pain, he reaches out and lifts the obelisks higher and higher.
Now, it is technically the badguy saying it, and with the context, it's pretty brutal, but it's essentially the same thing as, "Do or do not, there is no try," and I love that even the villains know that they are their own stumbling block in accomplishing their goals. They have to believe and want their goals, and affirm that it can be done in order to actually get anything done, if not, they've already failed. That's good advice, even if it's laced with a bit of the worst intentions.
@@MCLegoboy I LOVED the Savage Opress story line. And thats a great line. One of the concepts I'd Really love to tackle in a Star Wars movie if I was ever given the chance is the story of A Jedi's sibling. Someone who wasn't CHOSEN by the force, but through sheer will power attunes themselves and becomes force sensitive
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial It's not even an unfounded concept. There's certainly a natural talent in some people, but others, it fades without practice and discipline. And the Jedi even become so clinical as to not bother with people if they are too old or don't have the right midichlorian count, but it's really more a faith based and mental state that allows someone to utilize the Force. Sheer willing it into being definitely sounds like a Dark Side thing, and they wouldn't even have to become a Sith, but even just someone that uses the Force for their own benefit should be enough to bring concern from the Jedi.
Vel needing a hug but too heartbroken to ask Cinta for it so she says "come away from the window". Deep down Vel knows the mission is more important to Cinta than her. For some reason that's sadder to me than Kino can't swim.
True thats an amazing moment too
For me the line Braso delivers when he meets Cassian on the day of the funeral.... 'tell him..... I love him more than anything he could ever do wrong'.. just such a great line
Oh my gosh thats such a great moment
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial It is and it is such a great line that is delivered perfectly. It really hits you in the feels as parental love is something we all know and can relate to be it as children or as parents, it goes beyond Star Wars and expresses a univeral truth
Yeah, I won't lie. That line choked me up a little bit.
That... hm. The line really hurt me as much as I also loved it, because my parents loved me conditionally. If indeed the word love could ever be applied to our relationship. But I can understand the idea of unconditional love from the people who brought me into the world. In fact I often feel that one understands unconditional love even more when one hasn't received it from those who should have offered it.
"he will be an unstoppable force for good" is one of the most beautiful things you can say about another person
For me what is fenomenal is that none of the dialog of Andor seens forced or out of place. It's not like the characters stood for a moment and look at the camera to say a big line, or to make a nostalgic fan service. Every line makes sense to the characters and the situation. So it never feels out of place or cheap.
Thats a really great point!
Obi-Wan show could never
Phenomenal.
Made the Obi-Wan show look like a last minute school project.
Very well said.
I can't swim was the most impactful three words in any show I've seen. Just makes you love kino so much more than I already did because you realize he's not just a leader but a hero
Agreed
The four words that mean nothing without context; “Never more than twelve”, mean so much when they do have context.
@@hypocriticalgrammarnazi They knew they had to end the episode on that line. To cold of a delivery not to
@@hypocriticalgrammarnazi agree. This is my favorite keno line bc it shows why he wouldnt answer andor before. Of course he has thought about it even though he chose not think about it. Simply brilliant.
@@hypocriticalgrammarnazi "Never more than twelve" shows that he knew all along Cassian's plan could work, the Imperials were horribly outmanned and Cass even says "they know they don't have enough men", but Kino refuses to support the plan before that line because he still believed the best option for survival for not only himself but his people was to keep their heads down and wait it out.
Dankdudet is right about Kino being not only a leader but a hero. He had his people's best interest at heart, but also he knew a lot more than he initially let on and was more than capable of leading a rebellion if he felt it was necessary. I'd argue that Cassian didn't really do much during the prison break, any other person could have taken his place, it was just Cassian pushing him to choose assertiveness over complacency.
“I’ve learned from Palpatine. I show you the stone in my hand, you miss the knife at your throat.” that entire scene was so good!
Palpatine is mentioned 2 or 3 times in the show, that’s IT. And yet his presence is more menacing here than in 1000 Rise of Skywalkers. Because he created a competent and sinister organisation to do his dirty work and they are evil motherf**kers
Which scene was that?
@@juanetenecio Mon Mothma is S1E7 but unsure when exactly
@@juanetenecio Mon Mothma at the dinner party in S1E7. Talking with Tay Kolma. One of my favorite scenes in the show.
That kinda sounds like that one meme about how to kill a geologist. Show them a piece of obsidian that they can't help but gawk at, then stab them with a knife.
_"I'd rather die trying to take them down than die giving them what they want."_
This is where Cassian, after everything he'd witnessed in the prison, began to truly believe in what Luthen said to him. For first time in his life, Cassian was done running, and he was ready to stand for a cause he believed in.
Such a good line!
And then he realized his selfishness (not The Empire) took away the small amount of time he couldve had with Marva.
Masterfully written show. The first time we see Cyril and he admits he tailored his uniform. What a great character moment.
It nails both big themes and tiny details
Do you think we'll see Cryil join the rebellion? He's such a richly crafted character full of desperate weakness and misguided aspirations, but he does have his own rebellions.
@@SolWake just very anticipation is sooo good
@SolWake I hope he won't join the rebellion. It's an overused and boring arc in Star Wars
@@SolWakeI hope not, I’m so tired of the fake out villain, he’s a villain who believes what he’s doing is right, that’s interesting enough to keep me invested in his character, I don’t need ANOTHER villain to hero arc
Good writing takes an honest look at human nature, to reveal some fundamental truth. This is what makes it timeless.
Exactly!
This is the fundamental core of Art itself, truth and honesty to help create new perspectives, often about human nature itself. How lucky we are to have experienced it with Andor.
Andor's true contribution is proving that there can be more than one GOAT. Luthen: GOAT, Kino: GOAT, Maarva: GOAT. 'nuff said.
Goat is a tier not a pedestal
Luthen is a sigma male like Vader
Dude who used Maarva’s brick as a weapon: GOAT.
The brick itself: GOAT
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial that counts as Maarva
The idea that Andor is the successful synthesis of the setting and worldbuilding of the OT, the politics of the PT, and the social consciousness of the ST - all of which were in their own ways and to different extents, flawed - is excellent. Good shout.
Thanks!!!
What is the social consciousness of sequel trilogy? I genuinely want to know cause I just can't look past the horrible storytelling. All I want to do with sequels is wipe them from my memory.
@@b_a_t_m_a_n_ the sequel trilogy is clearly designed to appeal to a progressive market, and includes a more diverse cast, themes of hope and resilience, and plot elements like arms trading and a slave soldier, played by a black man, turning on his leaders. I never said any of that was executed well, of course. The sequel trilogy failed utterly to investigate the most interesting aspects of its setup, and was tarred by its bad writing. Sadly, the more diverse cast and progressive attitude was blamed.
I too would like to forget them - I am dreading the arrival of series like the mandalorian in the true sequel era, when we have to watch all the hard work and atmosphere of these series, and the culmination of the lives of characters in series like andor, be trodden on by the unavoidable new canon. I'm pretending star wars ends probably the year before episode 7.
@@alisilcox6036 The sequel trilogy burned so much potential. As a fan since 1977, I was so ready to love that trilogy and a new progressive SW universe. I can't believe that "more than one woman" or "more than one person of colour" was deemed as progressive, but, baby steps. However, we got what we got.
"Somehow Palpatine returned" will/should go down in history as an example of "How to NOT write powerful dialogue."
I will admit, “Somehow Palpatine returned” is utterly perfect and clues you in to what story The Rise of Skywalker is. A rehash of old things for no reason, ignoring the more interesting outcomes, for the worst conclusion of the obvious conflict. Furthermore, you will be tired of the entire sequel by the end that you will only speak about it to mock it or as a cautionary tale. These are all things that “somehow Palpatine returned” ensconces. Palpatine is an old evil that should be forgotten about in-universe a except as a warning of evil and a cautionary tale for democratic systems in Star Wars. This line is said with an undercurrent of “I can’t believe this is happening again” but with horror. Furthermore, Palpatine is the biggest evil such that if Palpatine were to be alive again everything would be dropped to defeat Palpatine. In that sense, “somehow Palpatine returned” is perfect to put in TROS.
I realized early on that this show was going to flex dialogue chops harder than we've ever seen in Star Wars after Major Partagaz's speech about how the ISB was not a security council but a "healthcare provider," identifying symptoms and locating germs
If this show was a black screen with just the dialogue, it would still be the best piece of Disney Star Wars content.
The showrunner is next level
I was rewatching this while sick recently, and I closed my eyes for a good portion. It was just as strong a show. Although I cracked my eyes open for Mon Mothma scenes when I could. Because even though it’s all dialogue, those scenes were mesmerizing.
My favorite line from the show is also a three-Word sentence, in this case one that Andor says to Kino:
"Power doesn't panic"
Mirrors Nemiks manifesto as well
Authority is brittle
I love Andors dialogue so much
"That's just love" line always makes me want to cry. It's so simple and yet so effective.
How are you gonna make read this? On my day off??? Now I'm crying. Thanks! :)
Andor is so unbelievably good I have no idea how it was allowed to be made. Did they hide this from Disney execs or what? :D
Ngl, I also have no clue how it was allowed to be made. It’s kind of the most radical show I’ve seen, and its themes of violent rebellion don’t seem very conducive to the disney brand.
@@ashmarten2884 that was my favorite element of the story. It is a blueprint for insurgency.
This and Rogue One felt like it slipped through the cracks of the executives.. Star Wars scripts are known to have been cancelled for the most RIDICULOUS of reasons.. so idk how they made a show with original characters, a mature tone and took major risks like this. We’ve seen what type of shows Disney+ wants to make and it’s not Andor quality
@@firstlast9846 exactly. It feels like on a meta-level the film could be interpreted as the rebellion against the soulless corporate empire that Disney is.
@@firstlast9846trust me, Rogue One did anything but slip through the cracks. The version we got is neutered, and more in line with Disney's interests than you might expect. There's a far darker cut we never got simply due to it not testing well with audiences.
I like that you pulled something out of Cyril's "motivational" speech to the troops. All of the videos that I've seen that focus on the great speeches / monologues are important, but his speech I think gives them even more contrast. Here's a weak leader, inexperienced in leading soldiers into combat (effectively this is what happened, not just police arresting someone). It was awkward, as much as Mosk told him "great speech." I don't think the writers did that by accident.
also got me wondering if someone contributed to the writing from military experience, as it's so relatable for enlisted men to stand around having to listen to some officer give a speech, haha
It also shows how soulless the corpo rank and file is. They don't care what he has to say. They don't believe in anything, because there's no just cause for them like the rebels; they're just waiting to see some action
@@amaryllis0 Some action and pay check.
The line that got me first impressed by Andor's dialogue was even in part a title of an episode: "The axe forgets but the tree remembers." So true.
Andor is so well written, directed and acted. The characters feel and talk like real people, which is something Star Wars often is bad at
I would argue that partially it's supposed to be a part of the point that certain characters don't always talk like real people. Now I don't believe this excludes any actual bad dialogue throughout the films, but for example when Luke and Leia talk in a very philosophical way to each other in Jedi for example.
Quoting Mark Hamill himself, "Who talks like this?!" 🤣
I never noticed when Vader enters at 4:28 he just puts his hands on his hips and kind of relaxes his stance.
He literally does the hands on hips bitchy pose
lmaoooo that's actually so hilarious
Vader is such a queen. SLAY! 💅
@@Commander_Shepard.frfr
"Well well well... if it's isn't the "Diplomatic slut"."
This is superbly done! But another line of Kino Loy I find even stronger: "Never more than twelve". The ideal ending of the episode 9.
Thanks! And yeah Andy Serkis is just given the best lines in this series.
That moment was superior. It showed that the only reason that he was sticking up for the empire was to keep his men safe and get them out of thwre as soon as possible.
I also like that line. Can you tell?
That line was the best moment of the show and one of the best lines I've seen on a screen. The slow build up to bring Kino to turn 180° at that point was incredibly satisfying. I literally screamed and jumped on my chair!
The line "That's just love" hit me with the same force it originally did because it sums up exactly what love is in such a simple way.
Luthen's line echoes very much the same sentiment of many spies and warriors, who all they know is death and have fought in a war. The Operative in Serenity very much said the same thing about not being able to live in the world he helped create. Love this show. I think it's really rewatchable to catch things you missed the first time around.
I remember hearing the quote "the whole world prospers when old men plant trees the shade of which they will never stand in" and I can only imagine that's the inspiration for the line Luthen says in his speech
People living under dictatorships just connect to this show on a whole different level. This show started streaming around the time our country Iran was going through a new massive wave of protests and anyone who's seen Andor felt these dialogues in their bones.
Stay safe out there and I hope the people of Iran can be free and flourish as they have in the past.
It was also quite memorable how Kino encouraged the newly freed prisoners to help one another. See someone lost or fallen, you help them get out. I started tearing up.
It's those small details that make this show and it's characters amazing
That’s how he will survive the escape. Promise.
Andor is the first show since True Detective S1 that I have watched multiple times and loved every second .
It's got both first watch and rewatch appeal. Normally you just get one or the other
andor is one of the only shows where I rewatched episodes as they were releasing.
and like actually watching them not background noise.
Those, The Wire and Mr Inbetween for me.
Andor really strengthened the connection between the rebellion and the proletarian movement. Wage labour has never before so present in Star Wars.
Pls don’t make Star Wars socialist
@@thecalmclone2813 It's always been about opposing oppressive regimes. It's only now becoming in regards to the current one. I'm not the one doing this, nor do I suspect Disney is aware they're doing it.
@@thecalmclone2813 the rebels are literally based off of Vietnam
@@thecalmclone2813 The OT was literally based on Vietnamese “rebels” fighting the American Empire. Lucas has made that explicitly clear.
@@thecalmclone2813Oh boy, do I have something to tell you about the OT
Here's the thing, Cassian. The man who sees everything is more blessed than cursed. Look at that, here we go. Stand back, let it drip. Look how quickly that's cleaned up. Hard to believe, right? Two minutes. No longer, no shorter. You know why they don't make these anymore? Because they'd rather sell you a brand new system at ten times the price. I mean, how many we got? Sixty? Seventy of them? Just sitting there. Five hundred credits each. People don't look down to where they should. They don't look down, they don't look past the rust. Not us though, eh? Eyes open, possibilities everywhere. Just need to get this cleaned up before Maarva finds us doing this in the house.
Such a good scene
This is the non-Force representation of a Force Ghost. When you make a positive influence on someone's life, they will remember you fondly after you are gone. If you screw them over or steal from them they will be glad to hear you died and forget you. This is why Sith cannot become force ghosts and part of why they cling to life to the point of insanity.
“people don’t look down to where they should. they don’t look past the rust.” i think the secret meaning there was cassian, a rusty, shady man with a rebellious seed that yearns to grow
"They're so fat and satisfied" - my favorite bit of dialogue.
As subtle as it is succinct is the best way to put it. When discussing it with my wife I kept mentioning how "efficient" the dialog was by playing with ambiguities in the implication space. They're speaking through an array of cohesive potential universes. It was so cool to chew over each line across multiple viewings.
Exactly! The reason Shakespeare is studied all these centuries later isn't because of his plots. Its because the dialog has layers and ambiguity. Hamlet isn't close to the best play ever written, but it is one of the most enticing to analyze and speculate about what each line and moment means. Andor feels shakespearean because every single line of dialogue is accomplishing multiple things
Maarvas speech gave me actual chills like that was such an incredibly pumping speach.
Whether we get a season 2 or not, Andor is a masterpiece that needs to be preserved forever.
We are getting a season 2. Its just delayed because of the strikes
+1 on S2 confirmed
I really hope S2 doesn't suffer from the whole writers' strike and the fallout of that, it sounds like they may try to cram several years' worth of time into it but I have faith in them if it's the same people who made S1!
@LouSassole1978 nah Tony Gilroy had a very defined plan and roadmap even before production started on S1.
@@kbuttstadt Thank gods, I knew this guy was a very different kind of writer who really knows how to deliver quality 👌 Andor is just on a whole other level
I definitely love Maul’s lines in S7 of the Clone Wars, the dramatic irony that the only two people who know what’s coming is the audience and the antagonist creates an immaculate feeling. The way that his lines are both vague to the protagonists and so crystal clear to the audience is amazing. Not to mention Sam Witwer’s amazing performance. The dread just floods from his voice.
yeah to be fair S7 got carried by the emotional juggernaut that is order 66
Writing is everything in a movie or series!
My favorite underrated line line is when Sergeant Mosk says “Corporate Tactical Security is the first line of defense for the Empire.” By the end, you see Mosk sitting on some steps in Ferrix and drinking. Just thinking what the hell happened after the riots and rethinking what the “first line of defense for the Empire” truly means.
"Smile :)" is my personal favourite rich and deep line in Andor. Not only pretending to have a light chat as to not arose suspicion in a party, but in general telling Tay to keep up appearances going forward. Also, and I might be reaching here, it's also in character with Mon's morality of doing good for good's sake, unlike Luthen's doing bad for good's sake. She's telling Tay "What we're doing is for the good of the galaxy, so we should be happy about it". Thus smiling is an attitude to keep while advancing the Rebellion, so as not to succumb to the darkness that Luthen has fell to.
Worth mentioning that Luthen the Rebel, not Luthen the antiques dealer, only smiled twice in the whole show. Once after hearing the Aldhani heist news, which was more relief than contentedness, and the second was on board the Fondor when Cassian offered himself to the cause. It's like Cassian brought that light and goodness back to Luthen, even for just a little.
Luthen’s monologue was the most “Rebel” thing I’ve bee heard in Star Wars, to me it was just the best part in the whole show
I laughed so hard when Maarva was the first to bash in a head in the form of a brick. :) I have to say I was amazed by the casting of this show. I have nothing against young actors becasue ghawd there is so much talent out there but these older established actors/actresses added so much gravitasa to the characters.
Alex Ferns ( Sergeant Linus Mosk ) damn his conviction was os believable and his support of Syril so obvious and occasionally funny...finally an officer who sees things the wayhe does
Genevieve O'Reilly - outstanding performance she was killing it as Mon Mothma cant praise her high enough. Such nuanced acting on the party in her house, not just the dialogues but often just a look or an expression
Stellan Skarsgård - damn...I mean jesus christ without this guy this show is nothig and its not that i dont like the rest but damn. When someone says Andor this man is the first I think of lol
Forest Whitaker - great as usual, the writers and himself understands perfectly where is Saw Garrera at this point in his life, they placed him again, perfectly into the universe
Andy Serkis - my precous :) Don't know what to say really, he killed that role so hard it could be heard in the neighbooring hexagon building in the next prison. I was in awe for the entirety of the escape scene.
Gotta say the supporting cast in this show is amazing I am so happy that they were given a script that really gave them a chance to pull off these performances. Say what you want about Game of Thrones the acting was stellar in that show for the most part and the writing was amazing for the first 4 seasons. Gilroy did this for Star Wars and he is not even a SW fan by his own admission. So please for the love of god someone lock this guy down with a 30 years contract, send him over to work with Filoni and Favreou and give them creative control of Star Wars pls.
Oh, and BTW you wanted strong independent female characters? Fuckin' pick one from this show you can start with Maarva you don't get more independent than that one. This is how it's done.
This show along with Rouge One is so much above anything else Disney manage to disastrously pull out of SW than it does not even compare. ( not counting the animated stuff, thats pretty good also much better than the rest )
"I can't swim." was so chilling. I kept hoping Cassian would grab a ship and go back for him. 😢
Andor has better dialogue than any other movie or show in the Star Wars franchise. Some of the games are close, but Andor is in a class by itself.
My fav "I have endless spinning plates and knives on the floor" and the rest of what Kleya says. It manages to repeat the meaning of Luthans speech in a nutshell and and add her frustrations.
“the axe forgets but the tree remembers”
Wow, this is a neat video essay! You definitely deserve to be bigger!
Thank you so much! That really means a lot.
Whenever youtube gives the videos a push, they seem to really connect with people, so in pretty much just working to keep the consistency and game the algorithm
Im here three months later so... Good work
Honestly, the jump is far scarier than not being able to swim because if you hit the water wrong, you're dead. But sometimes you just gotta do it. He can see how it's done, no better way to learn than on the job and imitate everyone else until it clicks. And there's enough people that can help if he can relax long enough. #KinoLives
True. I hope he comes back
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial I don't, because not only did his character wrap up quite nicely, but also if he does come back it almost certainly will be him being tortured or interrogated.
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial I hope they leave it ambiguous if he made it out tbh
I don't think that most of the prisoners would help him. They all were concentrated on the escape and saving themselves. No one would even notice that someone is drowning.
@@stoopidapples1596 correct. He served the story as Nemik and Marva did. We dont need endless what-ifs and future cameos. It is better to have a great character that adds depth to the story while it moves it forward even if they dont stay until the end. If Kino is on screen again, which is not likely, we should see it as a flashback, some kind of wisdom he passed to Cassian on Narkina 5 that he recalls as he tries to push on through an intense life threatening situation.
In the middle of watching the Mandalorian season 3 right now, and now by watching your video essay that makes me reminisce the whole plot of Andor, I kinda feel like the 2 shows are now kinda mirror shows, where in Andor, we get to see not only the brutality of the Empire, but also how it is riddled with incompetent and arrogant officers, which led the Empire to its ultimate demise...
While in Mandalorian season 3, we see how the New Republic is riddled with bureaucracy, carelessness and incompetence, which will ultimately lead to its demise in Force Awakens.
While Andor does a much better job at showing the ruling system (and its flaws), it's kinda hard not to see the common theme of Star Wars, all the way from the prequels, in that it's always much harder to be the ruling party trying to maintain the status quo, front and center with nowhere to hide and open to any attack from any angle, than the opposition who can just hide somewhere deep in a pocket of the Galaxy, keep a low profile until they geet big enough to launch a surprise attack, commando style.
I mean, the Old Republic got sucker punched from within by Palpatine, who got rid of almost the entire Jedi order, which was the secret central pillar of stability of the Galaxy, then he established his Empire for 20+ years, which then got wrecked by a scattered ragtag of misfits called the Rebellion, which would coalesce into the much frailer New republic, that would later on get massively wrecked by the First Order, which would eventually fall to the hands of the Resistance. If anything, the whole Star Wars saga is just showing us how the power is in an eternal pendulum that always swings back, and I'm now actually curious to know how the heck the Jedis and the old republic could maintain order for 1000 consecutive years.
Thats a great point. And to your final question, there was uncontested peace for 1000 years cause George didn't want to make a movie during that time period.
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial Lol !
They did it by murdering everyone who didn't agree with them.
Lorewise, there was a thousand years of peace because the Jedi genocided the Sith and the Sith decided to plot the Sith Grand Plan with the rule of two which allowed them to progress a subversion of the Republic incrementally, ending with Palpatine.
Very late response, but I've read a few High Republic books that take place about 200 years before. "Peace" is a relative term. There weren't any *galatic scale* wars in that time. There was a band of maurauders turned cultists that cause trouble for some time, and those books show many reasons why the Republic lasted for so long ... and the cracks that would eventually shatter it.
Andor is one of my favorite shows of all time, everything about it is so fleshed out and well done
The showrunner did the Borne Trilogy. When you put a talented creative with an IP/Story that fits their vision, that's when this sort of magic happens
My favorite lines are actually the Imperial Security Bureau meetings in their entirety.
I've gone to school to be an intelligence analyst, just like most of the people in that room, and even though the Empire does things a little... distinctly different (lots of backstabbing and rigidity) I think it's actually the best rendition of intelligence analysis in any TV show or movie I've ever seen... Because, let's be real for a second, Jack Ryan only ever actually does the job of an analyst like 5% of the time. He's not one. He's an action protagonist.
Dedra, on the other hand, gives us something very important; a competent villain(ess).
Which is something Star Wars seldom has. Even in cases where the Empire is obviously superior on the larger scale - they have the ships, the armies, and so forth - they tend to flounder when posed against a handful of named characters. There are the occasional exceptions, of course, like Thrawn, but Andor managed to consistently frame the Empire as a serious, and overwhelming threat to be subverted - not tackled head on. At least, not tackled alone...
While it's not *the* most important thing in a story, I would say with confidence that a hero can only be as good as their villain. If your villain is a bumbling fool, then what does that say about the hero? They must also be a useless fool, or they're just wasting their time tackling under-levelled opponents.
On the inverse, if the villain pushes your heroes to their breaking point, and they both force each other to adapt, then you have a kind of character relationship going, and it makes them both better. Potentially character development not just between close members of the 5-man-band (or equivalent), but between whole groups of characters and individuals on both sides of the story.
Luthen’s speech at the spy was one of the most chilling and emotional pieces I’ve heard from any Star Wars movie.
Like Kenobi made me cry when Anakin absolved him of guilt, Kenobi telling leia about her parents and many others.
But Luthen and Keno made me weep. And for the love of god, “I can’t swim” broke me.
Its a good time to love star wars
Absolutely in love with speech of Luthens
I also love the foreshadowing for example in one scene where nemik tells cassian he can't sleep, cassion tells him "don't worry tomorrow you'll be able to rest" I realised what they ment by this where of course nemik dies. Lush details like that make this show
The first Star wars story that feels based on real people and real live well done its really good
Andor is an absolute masterclass in writing. Every bit of a dialogue has meaning and doesn’t sound robotic or forced. There are numerous monologues throughout that made me even more emotionally invested in the characters. And all this is not even mentioning the score which Nicholas Britell did an amazing job on. This is the quality I expect of all Star Wars projects and its a shame it hasn’t been that way
Andor is my favourite SW show by far, and the dialogue is a big part of why I loved it so much. But I've never been so worried for a show like I am for Andor season 2, the chances that Disney will increase the interference after seeing what was delivered in season 1 is too damn high.
“That’s just love” was my absolute favorite line from this amazing show - it struck me because it was simple and true. In all, these and other quotes are simple, which is what makes them so great. There’s no high speech about honor or duty, just simple folks making simple sentences using simple words. Incredible.
Life is complicated. When I single line can summarize such a complex human experience... that's poetry.
The brilliance of Andor can be summed up with a single example; tractor beams can be destroyed by releasing a lot of debris from storage.
The simplicity of that escape was awesome and it is the perfect example of how the series is handled overall, very practical.
This 100%. That scene left me speechless. And the fact that how calm and calculated Luthen was throughout the whole encounter gave me goosebumps. We were given hints on how dangerous he is, but right then, we really come to know. Stellan Skarsgard was stellar.
The speeches in this show are insanely good. I rewatch the final episode over and over again for Maarvas speech, but also for the excerpt from the kids manifesto.
Speeches are so hard to nail but somehow this show makes them look like the easiest thing to write. All of these lines are so beautifully eloquent, but it never feels like the show is saying "check this line out". It just flows so naturally because ALL of the dialogue is so heightened
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial I’ve heard maarvas speech like 2 dozen times now, and I still get chills every time she says “there is a wound that won’t heal, at the center of the galaxy. There is a darkness reaching like rust, into everything around us. We let it grow, and now it’s here.”
To me that piece is so poignant to the world we currently live in
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial it probably helps that maarva looks like my grandma 😂
I regret that I can only like this video one time. So good.
Thank you man!
Also, we had a number of strong female characters, none of which felt forced at all. Where the sequels failed miserably, Andor shined (as did the originals and the prequels).
'Climb!' has to be my favourite. Nemik is easily pushed to the background when you have bigger characters like Luthen, Mon or Dedra. But Nemik with his manifesto really stood out to me😢
His enthusiasm! Also as someone who has been long a critic of the myth of technological progress, I really loved the depth that added to how insurgencies make use of marginal or antiquated technologies because "they dont make them like they used to." It really shines a light on modern notions of planned obsolescence and how complexity becomes a vulnerability because they have more points of failure.
Great video reminding me of one of the many reasons why I love this show, but I actually wanted to say I appreciate the Vivaldi and Handel in the background. That was icing on the cake.
Thanks!!
The Mandalorian Dialogue meanwhile is 80% Exposition and Talking about what to do and 20% "This is the Way" .....
*stares blankly through a helmet and nods* “This is the way”
@@daniaaal can't hear it anymore -.-
How dare you say no one has the moral high ground when my boy Nemik exists
The best quote us Dedra quoting the ISB mission statement.
Andor's writing was just so goddamn good. I honestly feel like, apart from the bit where the interrigatortells Bix about the origins of that alien scream, not a single line was wasted. They're all written so well for their context and are delivered amazingly
why do you think that part was wasted? I thought it was important for showing the casual disregard for non-human life from the Empire, and showing us that here is a man who does not take perverse pleasure in genocide, but simply does not care, does not register it as even a moral act, which in a way is even scarier.
i think adding a literal KGB/CIA cold war torture tactic like they did just doubled down on the scary empire ambience which it was in Andor. Sure this scene is very unpleasant but thats what the show made so badass that they went for such a length to paint a scary picture of the empire when it was at its peak
Both of you nail it. It isnt exposition because that story (of the genocide and how they turned the screams of dying children into a psychological weapon) isnt relevant to the main story. What is relevant to the main story is that the empire is brutal and twisted. Destroying planets and billions of lives like on Alderaan, Jeddah and Scarif makes the empire bad. Using victims screams as torture is twisted in a way we havent seen.
If only Disney put this much care into the rest of its projects, apart from a few good moments here and there in other shows/movies Andor, Rogue One and season 7 clone wars are the only things they've done well
With Luthen's monologue, its not just that hes accepted being a hero who wont be remembered. All of the characters get there by the end of Rogue One and that whole schtick is pretty much the blueprint for revolutionaries.
What sets him apart and makes him a uniquely tragic figure is that hes accepted not only that he'll never be revered as the hero he is, but those that do know his contributions will HATE HIM FOR IT.
Look at the two scenes he spends with other rebellion leaders talking about his actions. Saw Guerrera threatens to unalive him when he learns that hes sending 31 men to their deaths in a 100% preventable way, and Mon Mothma goes to his store to scold him after the Aldani heist. The more telling line in his monologue is when he says "before long i looked down and there was no ground beneath my feet", admitting that it was his own ego and stubbornness above anything else that drove him down his path and lost him his very sense of morality and self, "condemned to use the tools of my enemies to defeat them"
A great point! He's truly more focused on the results than how he'll be perceived. It's basically the ending of the Dark Knight but on a galactic scale and we know there's not gonna be a reversal
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial exactly. He knows that even if he makes it through to the end and is actually able to see the rebellion succeeds, he'll be a war criminal and despised for he's done and will continue to do, and he's lost and all moral compass he once had if he even WANTED to turn back
I'm liking and commenting on every video about andor to help it spread
Appreciate it!
Finally!! Someone finally mentioned how heavy those three words were…that poor guy knew all along…that’s just shattering…
Exactly!
The dialogue in Andor just hits different man, Luthen's monologue alone is probably one of my favourite dialogue pieces ever. I can 100% see it and several other parts of the show being used in film studies in the future.
10:05 I feel like his expression was a combination of joy (that the other prisoners escaped) but also utter defeat because something in his face looked kind sad but that might just be me
Wow, you perfectly describe how watching these scenes felt for me. I think I watched the "That's just love" scene a hundred times. This is so powerful
All of episode 7's dialogue is great
it’s amazing what good writing can do! great video! points out very well the themes present in the show with just a couple of examples of quotes
Thanks!!
Talk about quotes! You said something profound at 5:29 -- "Corruption takes effort and constant maintenance. It results in a desperate clinging to the status quo, as opposed to progress, which happens naturally." I am going to use this quote! Thank you!
Thanks!
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial I pasted this quote into my work on a website I’m creating for a documentary series I’m developing.
okay so i love the battles and the over the top stories and conflicts in star wars but seeing a mature and very grey area look at the rebellion and what change really is made of in a show like ANDOR is really what i need more of in star wars. The Nuances and the deeper meanings behind so much of the dialogue in this show is 10/10, for all of us as kids watching the prequels and hating on all the boring politics i never would have thought id be here today begging for them to make more stuff like Andor, which is strictly about how deep and how far something is willing to go to succeed. ANDOR was a unexpected 9.5/10 for me
It makes star wars feel as serious as we thought it was when we were kids
@@TheWritersBlockOfficialEXACTLY this! Made me feel like a kid again with how serious a take this was.
absolutely incredibly well put, amazing video
Thank you! This one came out awhile ago but seems to be gaining a lot more traction now that my most recent video is kinda blowing up. It's really encouraging knowing that even if a video doesn't do well at first, it has a chance to grow later.
thank you for validting how i feel and think.
Only halfway thru and can already tell this is an amazing video. Well done. Andor is one of the best shows to come out in years.
Best quality Star Wars I’ve seen in long time. Possibly ever
Couldn’t have said it better myself! Andor is amazing!
It gave me goosebumps. The monologues were so incredibly written.
God, the cinematography is so good on this show, every clip looks incredible. So much better than any other Disney show
Man I love this show, great video!
Rogue One, Andor and The first two seasons of The Mandalorian are the only Star Wars I recognise as canon following the og's. Btw what an awesome video and analysis it only made me love Andor even more. New subscriber here.
Thanks!
“Let’s just call it…War”
I go back to Disney+ just to watch clips of this show and each of your quotes are scenes I return to often. Beautiful. "That's just love. Nothing you can do about that."
Okay. I love Andor. The content of this video is amazing. But. I couldn't help be distracted by the awesome background music. I just played in a chamber ensemble that did the Vivaldi double cello concerto (the second movement is gorgeous, and if you're seeing this comment, you should go look it up, I promise you won't regret it), and that was such a welcome surprise! Also the Handel Passacaglia is just the best. Great video!
Andor has to be one of my favourite pieces of star wars content that we have gotten, truly amazing in every aspect
Every line on this show made me go absolutely feral. I would become a raving madman just talking nonstop about them to my girlfriend. I can’t even pick a favorite line. Or monologue.
😂 same
It’s crazy how much of a difference some actual planning and talented writers can have. Andor is the first (and only, so far) good SW content that Disney has released
True, everything else is mild filler and fan bait
@@xRolyJoelNah, I loved all the Disney+ and other TV shows. Even those targeted for small kids. Rogue One and Solo were also pretty good. All the video-, handy-,VR-games were good.
And let us not forget all the countless, countless of great novels, short stories and comics (specifically the High Republic, biggest fan) they brought us. Currently read Master and Apprentice and Dark Disciple and going through Out of the Shadows.
Literal miles better than anything in Andor.
It is absolutely the best writing in Star Wars. ITs also the highwater mark of a great show.
Very well put.
5:15 your description of the nature of authority and control rings SO true!
It's not all Luthen needs. It's all Luthen has left.
Well said.
This is one of my favourite series, Star Wars or not, as the philosophy, acting and dialogue is brilliant.
It’s so good. It deserved an Emmy imo.
This video reminded me of the best parts of the show and made me cry
Thank you
So glad I could do that! I really qork to recapture the emotion and magic of a show in my analysis
The line I deeply appreciate not hearing watching Andor is, “I have a bad feeling about this.” The most overused and cliche Star Wars line ever. I hate it so much. Thank you Tony Gilroy and team for sparing us the claptrap.
Andor was phenomenal. I hope they continue.
A thumbs-up is insufficient to reflect the amount I loved this video. Thank you.
I would suggesting pivoting an understanding of the empire and rebellion away from "freedom vs existing (status quo)" to both sides wanting control and any difference between them diminishing as Star Wars content continues to proliferate. In that vein, it's not "corruption" that takes effort, but control, which is a Tolkienesque view of the world. The "freedom" the rebellion embodies in the new shows is only shown by latitude to violating orders; both the rebellion and empire create injustice through exerting control, which truth the separatists leaned into when starting up the empire in the first place.
Yes. Yes, yes, and yes.
And, if i may be so bold...... indeed?!?!?!?!?!?
I love this show so so much. Amazing video.
Thank you!
andor is SUCH an incredible show!! thanks for this awesome vid. also, i love the music in the bg of your vids! would love if you put the pieces in the description haha
Im blanking on the names right now but there midi covers of bach and a few other classical pieces i put together on my computer
@@TheWritersBlockOfficial cool! im an orchestral musician and i love the idea of putting classical pieces in the bg of vids lol. again loved your takes in this vid!
masterful breakdown of a masterful show
Thank you!