I love Andor, it feels atmospheric and feels like a grounded yet still fanatical galaxy, after just how silly and sloppy the writing of the mandalorian season 3 has been, it makes me appreciate andors approach so much more, I hope season 2 is as of the same quality, and we’ll have basically a trilogy of stories in andor 1 and 2 and rogue one, and these would really age like fine wine like the og trilogy
I don't hate Mandalorian season 3, but the writing is not of the same quality as Andor. Nothing in Star Wars is. I might even love it more than the OT. Despite its lack of lightsabers and the fairy tale elements that George Lucas loves, in other ways, Andor goes back to the roots of Lucas's film making career. That prison reminds me on THX1138, for example. The values of the show are the heart of the rebellion, the central theme of Star Wars that some other shows and movies seem to have forgotten. It's sad that there's only going to be 2 seasons. I want more Star Wars like this.
Andor is pure Star Wars. It calls back to the original film’s purpose. Standing up against the oppressors, believing in yourself, and coming together for a worthy cause. It seems like modern audiences think Star Wars is only lightsabers or clone wars or Jedi. When Star Wars is much more bigger than that, which Andor makes abundantly clear
Andor was shot in the UK using actual locations across the entire country and at Pinewood Studio's where the original movies were produced. Made by British directors, crew, and mostly British and Irish actors outside the main cast, utilising British standards in film production. As far away from Hollywood as it needed to be. On top of the excellent writing these are the main reasons it kicked absolute ass over the other efforts !! Well done to Disney for having the balls to let a bunch of guys 5000 miles away get on with their jobs undisturbed, lets hope that season 2 ins't the last project this team do !?
I totally and utterly love Andor. I’ve watched and rewatched it at least 10 times. It’s great to see the lives of ordinary folks and the impact the empire has on them. “One way out”, Rix Road and the scene with Luthen - “everything” - are majestic. Dedra, Syril, luthen, Brasso, Bee, in fact every character is so well crafted. I felt - and still feel - so moved by the story telling. Nemix’s manifesto, Marva’s call to “wake up early”, my heart swells, it almost makes it difficult for me to breathe. Not even the OG trilogy impacted me as fully and so totally. Absolute mastery 👏🏽
What's so beautiful about a show like Andor how it helps ground the universe in a way that enriches your experience watching other star wars media. The way they show highlights the struggle of living under oppression from the empire, and everything that went into starting a rebellion helps make the original triology feel so much more real. It helps give a better sense of what the universe is really like and why we should root for the rebels.
The thing is Tony Gilroy wasn't as big Star Wars fan to begin with. He just wanted to tell a story about how rebellions against authoritarian regimes come about, but through the lens of the Star Wars mythos.
Andor doesn't care about Jedi or Sith because the galaxy is filled with more normal people and creatures. All of which have lives they lead. That's the brilliance of this show. Adding so much depth to the Star Wars universe far away from the force. Giving us a break and a glimpse of the other side.
I love how much effort went into creating Ferrix and the community therein, from the design to the culture to the unique funeral to the man who sets the schedule and is adorably pleased with his job ringing the anvil. It just goes to show how much love was put into this show. AHH this show is so goood! P.s. Damn, dude. This was a really good analysis with a well-made video! I loved it! You deserve more views than you’re getting. Sharing it with my friends, and keep up the quality!
a brilliant video, dude. andor simply swept me away, left me reeling after every episode. I've been pretty disappointed with the whole star wars franchise for the past years, and since i liked rogue one's attempt at gritty wartime realism i hoped andor could channel some of that energy and stay at the same level. instead it raised the bar to the freaking ceiling. groundbreaking and perfectly executed on all levels, from its ideas and philosophy to acting to soundtrack to production design. i can't believe star wars is GOOD again!! and it's lovely how many thoughtful, creative video essays it has inspired :)
The only thing I don’t like that came with the show is the arguments that started about which is better, the original trilogy or the show. I feel like arguments like that completely defeat the purpose of a show like this. It’s not meant to be compared. It’s meant to enhance. Because of Andor we now have a broader perspective from which to view the Star Wars universe. We get to see the rebellion from a macro level and a micro level. That’s the beauty of it and in the end that’s the beauty of all Star Wars. Hell George Lucas had six different kinds of movies within his two trilogies. If they weren’t Star Wars, they would all be in different genres. You can tell any story in this universe, and the stories are for everyone. Great video man, wish I could give you more than one like.
Andor is the only thing that makes me want to watch more Star Wars, but only relating to the next Season. With nearly everything else Disney has done, I am thoroughly discouraged from wanting to see anything else they have lined up.
I had a different read on Luthen, I don't know if I'd consider him an accelerationist but he is in a very comfortable position of control. The scenes of him observing the riot in the final episode are so masterfully acted by Skarsgård, I got a sense of catharsis mixed with terror. Finally resistance is growing but on some level it has grown beyond his control, suddenly he is seeing that he might live to see - if not the destruction of the Empire but a true rebellion, but also the day where he is called to account for his actions among his peers. I really do hope the new season explores the growing ideological schism in the Rebellion - those who seek only to overthrow the empire to re-establish the republic and those who want to build something greater. Andor saw the evil that the Republic was capable of as it seems the strip mining of his home planet and genocide of his people likely begun well before the rise of the Empire, the hanging plot of his search for his sister seems like an excellent opportunity to explore this in more detail. Saw was already rejected as an extremist by the central structure of the Rebellion, I am very interested to see where Luthen's destiny ends up being and support for him and Saw grows in the post-Empire era.
Great take. Andor is phenomenal, for the many reasons you highlight and more. It's a proper, slow-cooked meal of characterization of individuals and groups desperate and under the boot. They've no magic Force powers - this is a post Jedi purge story. Hence why it of course feels different than other Star Wars. Heck after watching Clone Wars, one could say the original movies aren't Jedi-focused enough because honestly the display of powers is far greater in Clone Wars & Episodes 1-3. This is just a different, very Star Wars-y Star Wars story, and it's so grounded and real.
The blueshirts were a fascist organization, but were not affiliated with British rule. They were a contemporary of the the early independent Irish government. A more apt comparison would be the Black and Tans, who were a paramilitary organization utilized by the British government to suppress Irish nationalism in the wake of the First World War.
Andor is the DS9 of Star Wars. It questions alot of the things the rest of the franchise takes for granted but is still fundamentally of a piece with the rest.
Andor is a show that should not exist in a sea of total garbage. Yet here it is, in all its glory and majesty. It's a shiny jewel that should be treasured and studied. This is how long form Television should be made. I loved every single second of this magnificent show.
I stumbled onto Andor after being disappointed by Star Wars so many times. Interestingly, the slow growth of Andor's fan base against the tyranny of Disney Lucasfilm is a self-full filing process - a real world proof of concept for Nemec's Manifesto. May the force be with you.
Hello! For patrons I have recorded a HOT hour long commentary on this video, with some spicy takes on politics, Star Wars, and my vacuum. It has some weird audio problems I'll work out before I make anything else but I just wanted to get it out there to say thank you for the support. If you wanna toss me five bucks to hear it and then jump out, that is totally perfect, I know money can be tough but I really appreciate it. Thanks again - Cat www.patreon.com/posts/andor-video-81197052?Link&
I would absolutely love to join your patreon! Unfortunately, I’m a broke college student and I can’t really afford that. Yours will likely be one of the first I join when I’m able to!
@@_somerandomguyontheinternet_ Completely understandable! By the time you get the chance I'll probably have even more up there anyway. I really want to make it a good value to dollar ratio eventually as it gets built up. Probably a discord server and def more behind the scenes stuff, podcasts etc.
Whether Andor "feels like Star Wars" depends on what you actually consider to be "Star Wars". For me, it's always been the first 2 films (i.e. eps 4 & 5), while all the others were just... well... something else. Andor and Rogue One have been great additions to what "feels like Star Wars" to me.
What people do not understand is that Disney won’t be trying to make more ANDOR type of Star Wars no matter how great ANDOR is Star Wars shows are written in order to sell children toys ANDOR does not sell toys and merch
Great video! Andor is just amazing, and I can't wait for it's 2nd season.... hopefully the writer's strike and the drama surrounding Disney trying to scab around it won't hurt the story. I am really hoping we learn who Luthen was, what set him on his path 15 years prior... the end of the Clone Wars. Hints that he was a Jedi are there, perhaps he was even a Temple Guard, but he could've been something more mundane too.
I loved this show ! I’m currently watching rn before RO (on my rewatch of the entire saga), and I kind his grounded it is, it has has that gritty espionage feel to it. Seeing how the Rebellion was always in the background slowly growing as the Empire’s fist clenched more and more. My favorite scene from the entire show is “ONE WAY OUY !”, I was watching with my headphones on and it can me chills, the atmosphere and energy of that scene is unmatched in anything that I have ever seen in SW tbh. If s2 of Andor is even 70% as good as the pilot season then we’re in for some more top tier espionage style war stories in the lore. I’d love to see a show in this style set up in the ST with the First Order to help flesh out the sequels a bit more. I’m very hyped for Andor, and I can’t wait to finish this series again, then immediately jump into RO (then eventually ANH).
Thanks for the review. Good to hear from a reviewer with a background in political science. Interesting that you linked the series to Irish history given your Irish background.
I did notice one mention of the Force in Andor. It's when Cassian and Skeen are talking about whether or not Nemic will "make it" and Skeen says "luck, it run the whole damn galaxy, doesn't it?" Han Solo famously calls the "hand of the Force 'luck'". To my mind what they are talking about is the Force and they are using the in-universe substitute word for the Force so, yeah, the Force IS mentioned. They just don't spell it out and hold the audiences' hand regarding it.
Yes Andor is exactly what the Starwars is all about. And Andor is the top tier Starwars series ever made. Starwars is always about people power against fascism or government corruption. That's exactly the message George Lucas wanted to send us. Rogue One, Starwars rebels, the first 6 films and Andor are the best Starwars story ever.
I think the prequels weren't that great and could've benefitted with a little more focus on character rather than spectacle. As Andor proved, political intrigue can be made to be very compelling, which unfortunately the prequel trilogy didn't really focus on much.
I wonder what were the conditions in the jails and factories during the New Republic after 5 ABY with Mon Mothma as the first Chancellor? Is the newly born Rebellion fighting for better conditions for the workers and common people or more freedom for the corporate and financial circles?
To me it does feel like star wars, something dosent need to have a "star wars story" To be star wars because there is really no such thing as a "star wars" plot Or genre because star wars fits all plots and genres
Andor season 1 is awesome television. There is no doubt. But it has one big flaw - it is not the final season, which means it sets the bar so high the second season imho can only lack behind. I certainly hope it is not going to, but even breaking even will require a lot of creative energy and focus. Well, all I can do probably is just to wish them the best of luck.
Your video has a relatively fresh feel for a now well-explored topic, and it’s well worth the time to watch. And your application of political theory and analysis of, for instance, Nemik’s writings was most welcome and, if anything, far too brief. I was also struck by your rather pessimistic take on the applicability of Nemik’s ideas to the “real world.” It seems to me such things can only be proven, not disproven, and then only with the fullness of time. Granted, there are examples of brutal dictatorships that seem immortal, such as North Korea. But they have a very long way to go before they prove actually enduring. It only feels like forever. It occured to me that the “over-repression fallacy” is precisely why Black communities in the U.S. have higher rates of violent crime. Bereft as they are of legitimate, fair-minded law enforcement, they have no option but to resort to policing themselves. Now I have a term for the root of this problem…thank you for it. On a side note, and at the risk of sounding like pedantic asshole, it seems as though you misapplied a common metaphor where you say (08:57) “Take Marva’s funeral scene - the final nail in the coffin of the Ferrix citizen’s revolt.” “Final nail in the coffin” refers to something finally coming to an end. But that scene, of course, shows the exact opposite of a “final nail.” It depicts the mass ignition of an open revolt on Ferrix - a beginning, not an end. I wish people would have told me when I made such errors, and a hundred times more so when I made them in public, so this is just an FYI. No one enjoys being corrected, but it’s better than the alternative.
Appreciate the correction and you are completely right about policing. I only harp on Nemick's naturalistic view because most of the writings we have on political naturalism in the real world fall into pretty bad arguments about the "natural order of the world" that basically just enforces hierarchies. I also think if Nemick's book existed in a like, published form here on earth, he would totally need an editor lol cause its pretty unfocused and seems to jump around a lot.
@@cat_jk00, Lol…great point about Nemik’s book. (I think it’s pretty common for posthumously published writings to need exceptional editors (The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, The Silmarillion (Tolkien) Mortality (Hitchens) all come to mind.) I’m not familiar with political naturalism. Do you have any suggestions for a book or other resources that I might use to get up to speed? No need to eat your time with a response though…I will look it up as it’s intriguing and an obvious gap in my already pitiful understanding of the world.
"Andor doesn't feel like star wars" Correction: Andor doesn't feel like the bad written, bad directed or bad acted star wars content we mostly had for the last 20+ years. It's not a lazy soft reboot of the same original story all over again, it doesn't rely on cheap nostalgia nor does it try to be another marvel like super hero diarrhea. In short, it doesn't feel like a $100 million budget cheesy fanfilm. My only regret is that it was made after Rogue one... Just imagine 2 seasons of Andor concluded by Rogue One but this time entirely written by Gilroy. With most of the characers and subplots already well establised by the serie, that movie would have been a masterpiece. As for the rest of the video, I agree ;)
Love Andor, it’s the direction the ip needs to go in. Just look at the Mandalorian, it was good but bcz various problems has now fell of. Andor=savior 😂
This just makes me wish I could make my outline for an Aliens Series set in the UPP (Union of Progressive Peoples), Andor just so perfectly inspired me on how such a series could be constructed and the themes and methods of story telling that could be implemented; an epic political thriller inspired by "Killing Hope" by William Blum, and "Blackshirts and Reds" by Michael Parenti, as well as Marxist-Leninist political theory. I just wish it could get made.😢
That sounds rad, I'd give it a read. It's pretty cool/interesting how the UPP started (I think) in Gibsons unused Alien3 screenplay, then was gradually absorbed into the Alien EU.
@@ChA0s_AgeNt In the early season the Chairman of the Union is informed of a "Super Plant" (an area of rich resources) and while it isn't good for terraforming, as most UPP colonies are underground, their subterranean nature making them hard to determine how they're doing with a flyover; their underground nature allows for the United Americas/Weyland Yutani to promote paranoia about UPP colonies, many UPP colonists have much paler skin due to living underground, and so the UA/WY make use of these images to claim the mistreatment of the UPP citizens. (The underground nature of the colonies will make for a nightmare when the Xenomorphs are deployed later). UPP colonies are very reliant on renewable technology, things like Geothermal and recycling (including biological recycling of waste and the dead, for fertilizer). The Super Plant is seen by the UPP as a solution to resource scarcity for the UPP. (Weyland Yutani is contesting the planet with mercenaries and making the situation politically tense.) The first part of the series could focus on a UPP military mission to acquire some Seegsen Working Joes synthetics, covertly purchased, for military and police use, though unknown to them, some of the Working Joes have been implanted with spyware. After reworking then, the Working Joes are deployed for security assistance during a protest for Synthetic Rights happening in the UPP, wherein some of the Working Joes with the spyware fire into the crowd, and some of the other Working Joes record the massacre, which is broadcast into the UA intelligence agency for future use of propaganda against the UPP. The second part can deal with the infiltration of the UPP by synthetics controlled by WY, and the struggle in the UPP by the people for Synthetic Rights, while the UPP government is struggling with the fact that Synthetics are used to do economic sabotage, terrorism, and assassinations, some Synthetics are entirely unaware that they are sleeper agents, and are often unaware that they are Synthetics; often blacking out and going into seizures when receiving covert updates to their system on new orders. (The Socialist Fraternal Kiss can be introduced, as it will be important to the climax of this section) The climax of this part should be that, after a long fought struggle, Synthetics are inducted into the UPP House of Nationalities (A government body of representatives) and as the Chairman leans in to kiss their newest member, the new Synthetic representative blacks out and kills the Chairman, spurring a massive campaign of tracking down Synthetics throughout the UPP, and attempting to figure out how to handle this situation. The final arc deals with the destruction of the UPP colony of New Stalingrad, a bunch of protests in favor of Synthetic Rights are taking place there, and the colony isn't that far off from the Super Plant, however, WY has some facehuggers smuggled into the deep caves of the colony, where a bunch of indigenous bioluminescent life lives, and slowly but surely the colony goes silent, the UPP military, being deployed to the Super Plant, is rerouted to New Stalingrad to find out what is wrong, only for the worst to be discovered. I have a much more detailed outline than this that makes use of a bunch of resources, I just didn't want to retype it over my phone.
Lol It's all good, dude. It does read as an interesting & engaging story. With all the ins & outs, factions, backstabbings, skullfuckery & gen chaos, it makes me think of some of the older DH runs. Stuff like Claremonts 'Deadliest of Species' run.
@@ChA0s_AgeNt The outline itself is actually crazy intricate, I actually did a fair amount of looking into what would be best for approaching it, even had some ideas for the architecture and art and everything; I thought up a beautiful mural for the colony of New Stalingrad, with the whole thing being made up of colorful geodes, and the architecture being buildings carved out of the rocks themselves in the style of the 1960s/70s Soviet community housing. I even outlined the United Americas and Weyland Yutani further, giving them more detail. There's a Synthetic Rights fight happening there too, but due to Property Rights, Synthetics are not considered people, and so a united youth movement between the UA and UPP smuggles Synthetics to freedom in the UPP in a science fiction Underground Railroad; much to the eternal frustration of the UPP government that is trying to keep track of Synthetics due to infiltration and spies. I really wanted to emphasize how every action by different groups makes sense from their point of view and approach it from a materialist point of view as a narrative.
'Looking into'? Lmao Sounds like you've got a few full-on books rattlin' around in your skull, bud. Fits with the universe though, mostly. Crystaline dorms might be a bit of a reach; I'd have to see the storyboards lol
Andor is what most of StarWars should have been like. The Jedi and Sith should never have been so prevalent. The whole thing just doesn't make sense with the galaxy crawling with supreme force users.
I don't get the whole "Andor doesn't feel like Star Wars " argument. Yeah, there's no lightsabers or Force but, Andor is quintessential Star Wars on so many levels. I'm not sure if you COULD make it feel any more like Star Wars. 🙏
Great video! However, I'd like to point out that NEITHER Andor NOR Star Wars in general is a left vs right ideological battle. It's freedom/democracy vs dictatorship/totalitarianism. Yes, the Empire can be viewed as Space Nazi in many aspects, but most of these features are also prominent in communist regimes. On a related note, calling the Empire industrial capitalism is weird because the republic that the rebels were trying to restore and the one they successfully restored (at least before the sequels) were also industrial capitalism. Although not fully fleshed out, I would say it's a form of state capitalism. On the other hand, the rebels aren't that lefty, either. I mean, apart from Saw (anarchism can be counted as extreme left), who's clearly left? If I were to guess, their mainstream ideology is probably somewhere between social liberalism and classical liberalism. The rebel alliance depicted in Andor is a loose network of resistance cells each fighting for a different set of reasons/values/ideals/beliefs. It's brilliant because that's what you'd expect under a democratic-turned-authoritative regime. I'd also like to point out that, despite writing a "manifesto," Nemik's really quite different from Karl Marx, because (a) Nemik didn't express particularly socialist views and (b) Marx did not fight (and sacrifice) in a revolution. For the second part, I would say he resembles Che Guevara more.
A lot you got right here, but one glaring issue: Andor/Star Wars is still very much a right vs. left ideological battle cause fighting fascism is inherently leftist, seeing as how fascism is a right wing ideology. That being said, yes, the New republic is still industrial capitalist, and I think that’s part of the effect Mon Mothma had on it as the first chancellor, cause she was always a lot more liberal rather than leftists, and they started to flesh it out a bit in Mando S3 with that’s part of how the First Order grew and destroyed the New Republic, and I hope we can see more of that.
The overrepression fallacy has been in Star Wars since forever. In Legends, A New Hope is pretty much this in the aftermath of what happens to Alderaan.
@@cat_jk00 Thanks. I couldn't quote titles or page numbers because it's been years since I read some of the material, but the old EU did a pretty good job at underling this. To explain in case someone who reads this doesn't know: Aside from pointing out how the Tarkin doctrine had failed and backfired spectacularly by saying several times how some worlds decided that with the Empire blowing up the easily most peaceful and least overtly rebellious core world, they might as well die on their feet instead of slowly being ground down, on top of that, there is a number of (Legends exclusive) characters who were loyal imps until that moment. Most famously Tycho Celchu of Rogue Squadron who was in the Imperial Academy and on a holocall with his parents on Alderaan during the event.
In what way is the Narkeena prison "Industrial capitalism"? What we see in this show, especially in the Narkeena arch, are clear examples of totalitarianist policies that reflect real-life communist regimes.
Okay hot take, but Nemek is far more like Lenin than marx. Marx was really never part of the movement, only the inspiration for the movement. Nemek is actually on the ground doing work, similar to Lenin's actions. And Lenin aided in the creation of other manifestos similar to Marx's during and after the Russian Revolution, which I think makes him more akin to Nemek than Marx would be.
Which is a terrifying prospect. The Empire that rose from Lenin (shipped in by the Germans in ww1 to help break Russia) quickly became a tyrannical oppressive system that killed millions at gun point and slave camps. Starved millions, oppressed ALL religions and restricted all movement. I think you need to find a different person or ideology to adhere hope to.
Given the actual history of Marx as an opportunistic layabout, and the actual history of capitalism being responsible for the greatest reduction in absolute poverty(e.g. one that isn't through the lens of Marx), drawing this parallel seems very off.
great review/take on the show! been waiting for someone to bring an actual anti-capitalist view on this ever since i finished the series instead of just talking about the show itself.
you should also go check out jessie gender on it! She’s got like a 2 hour long video going soooo in depth on the whole thing, it’s anti-capitalist and everything, it’s an amazing review
I loved Andor and can't wait for Season 2. But I also loved Kenobi, The Clone Wars, Rebels and of course the Prequels, while being a fan since I saw Star Wars in '77. I think it would serve the community of Star Wars fans better if we'd accept there's more than "just one" Star Wars that each can be good in their own right. I appreciate Andor for other reasons that the ones which make me love Clone Wars or Empire Strikes Back. The "Heart of Star Wars" is a big place with room for lots of different stories appealing to different people, or even the same people but at different times. So, is Andor the "Heart of Star Wars"? Sure, but so were Revenge of the Sith and Return of the Jedi, so were the final episode of Kenobi, Boba's months with the Tusken Raiders, Mando's encounters with Bo Katan and Ahsoka, the Pod Race in TPM or the Cantina in ANH. I can live with it that some like things that don't speak to me, or that I love things that other's can't connect to. But we all connect to the heart of Star Wars.
Cat here! To be clear, I do agree with this and the reason I cited the Clone Wars in particular is because I was watching it at the same time as Andor, I think it and Rebels as well are some of my favorites in the series and the Respawn Jedi games. Love the series!
I have a few remarks and questions on some points. I don't think that the Prequels are worse off by focusing the supernatural element and making the story about Anakin's fall. Yes, he is supposed to be supremely strong and some kind of prophesized Jedi, but we don't really get that shown that majorly in the movie. In fact, I would say that the movie provides us with an unclear picture _deliberately,_ not hammering home the point that he is the "chosen one", but rather leaving us questioning _whether_ he is. Even when considering the end of Ep 6, it could still be debated whether he actually _is_ said prophesized chosen one, or not, because we never actually hear the prophecy, and it might just be wrongly interpreted after all and will in fact mean some force user hundreds of years into the future (after all, prophesies are notoriously unreliable and difficult to confirm, and this one apparently already existed for at least a few hundred, if not thousand years). But whatever is true, this is simply one facet of the SW galaxy, and I think it was a highly interesting story to tell. That the Sequel trilogy continues on this route is however catastrophic. It should, as you rightly praise Andor for, have been about the efforts of a new galactic government establishing itself and its control. Additionally, how did you get that about Cyrill that he apparently lacks control over his own life and that of the people around him? He lacks authority, yes, but that does not at all seem to be the drive that leads him to disobey orders and instead prosecute Andor. It rather seems that that stems from an (in the case of the security forces on his planet even somewhat justified) _extremely_ pronounced sense of justice. However he's also naive, inexperienced and in fact even fairly incompetent. The loss of control seems to be something which only arises _after_ he loses his position with the security forces. Is that what you meant? Otherwise, great video!
A very accurate commentary on the best SW show by far. However, you might just be revealing your indoctrination by your apparent belief that a top down centrally controlled monopoly is “capitalism”. 😅
Is going to be another Mandalorian. Goodnight everybody, and see you all when the rude awakening hits you like bird crap after I night of black-out drunkenness.
Weather you injoy Andor or not ( for the most I enjoy the show) the only thing that failed, is the sequels!! The Mandalorian love it, or hate it, people watching that and buying Grogu ( a.k.a. baby Yoda) is the reason Disney+ is able to make the show “Andor”!! But it is a good show!!
Are you being serious? I hope not. Andor was badly written. Which is why he gets the money from the raid, promises to go to a plant with no Imperial involvement... and promptly goes to a plant full of Imperials and gets arrested. Why? Because the plot had to happen and the writers are useless.
Why do you call animated shows "for children"? Their age rating is literally the same as the first 5 movies. You didn't call them "movies for children". Some bias at play.
Mostly because I’ve watched all of the Clone Wars alongside writing and editing this video and while tons of that show is pretty great there is so much of it that is just straight up Saturday morning cartoons. There’s nothing wrong with that but The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan’s Leia scenes being around the same level as Clone Wars youngling circus troupe episode is telling to me about the complexity and goals of those shows. There is a reason I included the Umbara arc in the video when I talked about that because for a children’s show that arc is actively doing excellent things that put it passed those two shows. Clone Wars fluctuates wildly between truly a show for younger children with simplistic concepts and characters and being some of the best Star Wars content period.
@@cat_jk00 There are bad parts, but I'd have been more suprised, had there not been anything good like Umbara. Star Wars fans are so used to the original 6 movies being great that they forget that they are literally "movies for children". Thus it feels unfair to me that the animated shows are treated differently even by those who have watched them fully, who are aware of the good and bad parts.
"...like the very capitalist system we live in..." What? You're completely obsessed with trying to constantly draw some connection between capitalism and fascism. Capitalism, including its early forms, is not inherently fascist in the same way that fascism is not a form of capitalism. They are different ideologies with their own goals and methods. If you reject "capitalism", which is a Marxist term. I studied economics and the term "capitalism" never came up once. The term "market economy" is used. Unfortunately, sociology in particular is burdened with a Marxist heritage and the term 'capitalism' persists there. After all, the whole of sociology is imbued with the desire to divide the population into certain groups (classes) and to tell them what their interests are (translated: "who is their enemy"). Anyway, if we take away the "market economy" (you fill in your "capitalism" for that), we will live in socialism. And being from a post-socialist country (Czech Republic), I can very easily tell you what it will look like then. If you shut down the market economy and start to manage much of it centrally, you will be left with an unstable economy that needs a strong unifying ideology, an external enemy, a sense of threat and manipulation of history to exist. In your attempt to fight the supposed 'fascism' you will come full circle and introduce a 'fascism' that uses different terminology. Contemporary society is uneducated in history, context is emphasized - while not perfect, it is still the best state we have achieved. If you think the current state is "taking from you without giving anything back", then get rid of that nasty "capitalism". Then you will see what many similar dreamers before you have already discovered with horror. Unfortunately, by the time you realize your mistake, it will be too late. I'm not saying that the current market economy is ideal - it's just that many of the problems are generated by, on the one hand, trying to rid the market economy of economic crises (=central bank policies and their low interest rates that inflate the wealth of the already rich, make real estate more expensive, encourage speculation), while ignoring the real market failures that need to be addressed (negative and positive externalities). At the same time, many of the problems are generated by demographic changes and low birth rates. None of the problems we face have a solution in getting rid of the market economy.
Are you confused about something, you keep assuring the audience that the empire as fascists are evil, but you keep adding capitalism into it as if you are saying capitalism is wrong and is only an outgrowth of fascism. Not only are you completely wrong, you sound like you are advocating for communism and trying to shoehorn Andor's story into your own misguided beliefs. Please just stop with the political commentary, your not good at it.
False. You’re the one who doesn’t understand it. Fascism is super linked with capitalism, and has been since its inception. You’re the one that needs to learn.
As good as Andor might be, it has a terrible flaw right from the start: It‘s about a character that is already dead, and we all saw him die in the excellent „Rogue One“.
Too much "America Bad" propaganda in this review. It's too distracting. Get over yourself. The entire world and every work of fiction does not in fact revolve around your culture and your personal views on society.
"That only hurts the initial concept" If you are going to pretend that the OT is purely about 'rebellion', then I can see why you believe Star Wars 'needs to be Andor'. Sadly for your video, and Gilroy's show, it was far more than just that. Of course, Gilroy doesn't care because he doesn't like Star Wars, and people that pretend the OT was purely about rebellion and a military dictatorship don't care that Gilroy doesn't care. In fact they insist Andor is 'what Star Wars should be/should have been'. I agree that the sequel trilogy is awful, if that is what you're saying. "The audience is never shown how or even if he has been negatively affected by the Empire and its presence on Tatooine." LUKE: "If there's a bright center to the universe, you're on the planet it's farthest from." There was no presence on Tatooine. But it's funny you summarise Luke becoming a 'resistance fighter and a Jedi', because you've tripped up on the concept of destiny, essential to the myth genre, that is added to the sci-fi you are talking about to transcend the genre, and dazzle the audience. This also explains why Andor flopped in viewership (although that's partly down to not having any memorable or distinctive characters like those in Lucas' saga that Gilroy isn't interested in). It's bizarre trying to claim Tatooine 'doesn't change' from PT to OT as some kind of shortfall in the saga, when it's specifically a desolate backwater of no significance run by gangsters. Comparing it to Ferrix, a planet ruled by the incredibly uninteresting Preorx/Pre-Mor makes no sense at all. "They don't start out occupied by stormtroopers, but by mall cops", so not really anything more than escalation. It seems like you tried to imply in this video that the stormtroopers in Mos Eisley are stationed there, or that Tatooine was occupied since the forming of the Empire. There's really nothing in the saga that supports that.
@@starwinters39 The word "capitalism" was created as a demiurge by marxists. Into it is lumped into vital and inescapable concerns like supply, demand, logistics, exchange and barter. It's a bullshit oversimplication used as a blame magnet for the simple minded. As intended.
Yeah seriously. A tad bit ridiculous to think that Disney would promote Marxist ideology. You don't have to be a Marxist to absolutely despise authoritarian regimes.
"As the writer Mark Fischer writes in Capitalist Realism..." Dude stop making video essays. Stop writing essays. Your heavy-handed analysis of "fascism" and how its unequivocally evil is literal poison to the anti-fascist cause.
Decent review, cringe politics. Ill never understand how people conflate capitalism and fascism. Economically capitalism is inherently international, fascism is anything but. need to read about 1920's-30's Italy youngster. Push your socialist takes all you wish, but be honest at least. Nationalism is the heart of fascism. Andor is pretty good, a much needed breath of fresh air to SW. Took a meh character from a half decent movie and not only expanded him, but the mythos itself. I just hope they dont fuck up Thrawn honestly.
“I don’t under stand how people conflate capitalism and fascism.” You just said you don’t understand how fascism works. It is an ideology that uses whatever means possible to maintain control over the masses, and capitalism is an economic system that makes that insanely easy to do. Capitalism aids fascism, people aren’t conflating the two, they showing how these systems and ideologies work.
Andor to me did nothing. It wasn't horrible by any stretch, but overall I was very "meh" about it. The show did nothing to make me care about the characters, and thus I really didn't care what happened to the characters. Which was to be expected since why the devil would they build a show about the most forgettable milquetoast character from Rogue One? Honestly, I think it would have made a decent 90 minute movie, and stretching it out to multiple episodes did it no favors. Conversely I don't get why so many people are bitching about S3 of Mando, which is still some of the best Star Wars we've gotten in decades. Though it helps to look at who's bitching about S3 and who isn't... and why. Like all the volcels losing their minds because of celebrity guest spots; or more accurately one specific guest. Yes, volcel. As there's nothing involuntary about their celibacy.
![[柴犬ASMR]曼玉Manyu&小白Bai 毛发护理Spa asmr](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/0TsXQ7z2Dh4/mqdefault.jpg)
I love Andor, it feels atmospheric and feels like a grounded yet still fanatical galaxy, after just how silly and sloppy the writing of the mandalorian season 3 has been, it makes me appreciate andors approach so much more, I hope season 2 is as of the same quality, and we’ll have basically a trilogy of stories in andor 1 and 2 and rogue one, and these would really age like fine wine like the og trilogy
I don't hate Mandalorian season 3, but the writing is not of the same quality as Andor. Nothing in Star Wars is. I might even love it more than the OT. Despite its lack of lightsabers and the fairy tale elements that George Lucas loves, in other ways, Andor goes back to the roots of Lucas's film making career. That prison reminds me on THX1138, for example. The values of the show are the heart of the rebellion, the central theme of Star Wars that some other shows and movies seem to have forgotten.
It's sad that there's only going to be 2 seasons. I want more Star Wars like this.
Andor is both the antithesis and true definition of Star Wars.
It doesn't feel anything like Star Wars. It's nothing like the SAGA.
@@GhostWatcher2024 And that is truly why Andor is great and why I love it so much.
Andor is pure Star Wars. It calls back to the original film’s purpose. Standing up against the oppressors, believing in yourself, and coming together for a worthy cause. It seems like modern audiences think Star Wars is only lightsabers or clone wars or Jedi. When Star Wars is much more bigger than that, which Andor makes abundantly clear
Andor really reminded me of 1984, brutally realistic depiction of tyranny and rebellion with a great understanding of political philosophy.
Andor was shot in the UK using actual locations across the entire country and at Pinewood Studio's where the original movies were produced. Made by British directors, crew, and mostly British and Irish actors outside the main cast, utilising British standards in film production.
As far away from Hollywood as it needed to be. On top of the excellent writing these are the main reasons it kicked absolute ass over the other efforts !!
Well done to Disney for having the balls to let a bunch of guys 5000 miles away get on with their jobs undisturbed, lets hope that season 2 ins't the last project this team do !?
Agreed...there was just so much more craftsmanship to this series...you can feel hear and see the European/UK influence and it is a welcomed one.
The Acolyte is also being filmed on location and at Pinewood Studios
I totally and utterly love Andor. I’ve watched and rewatched it at least 10 times. It’s great to see the lives of ordinary folks and the impact the empire has on them. “One way out”, Rix Road and the scene with Luthen - “everything” - are majestic. Dedra, Syril, luthen, Brasso, Bee, in fact every character is so well crafted. I felt - and still feel - so moved by the story telling. Nemix’s manifesto, Marva’s call to “wake up early”, my heart swells, it almost makes it difficult for me to breathe. Not even the OG trilogy impacted me as fully and so totally. Absolute mastery 👏🏽
Wow 10 times! 3 times through for me and I think I got a little more out of it each watch through. It is so so good!
HA wow I watched it about three times with editing. Great stuff.
@@cat_jk00 i watched it 10 times as well, during meal time!
Andor is by far the best Star Wars show in Disney+.... all about the story telling and character development
I can't describe with words how much I enjoyed that series
Best all around Star Wars story ever made imo. Superb writing, acting, directing and most of all a very coherent gritty story.
I second that motion!!!
Andor writing is more realistic and organized that all the other spin offs
What's so beautiful about a show like Andor how it helps ground the universe in a way that enriches your experience watching other star wars media. The way they show highlights the struggle of living under oppression from the empire, and everything that went into starting a rebellion helps make the original triology feel so much more real. It helps give a better sense of what the universe is really like and why we should root for the rebels.
EXACTLY! It improves the viewing of the other shows within the SW universe.
Andor is the best story from the starwars universe
The thing is Tony Gilroy wasn't as big Star Wars fan to begin with. He just wanted to tell a story about how rebellions against authoritarian regimes come about, but through the lens of the Star Wars mythos.
Andor doesn't care about Jedi or Sith because the galaxy is filled with more normal people and creatures. All of which have lives they lead. That's the brilliance of this show. Adding so much depth to the Star Wars universe far away from the force. Giving us a break and a glimpse of the other side.
After Rogue One, We needed this!
Andor was honestly such a great surprise!
I love how much effort went into creating Ferrix and the community therein, from the design to the culture to the unique funeral to the man who sets the schedule and is adorably pleased with his job ringing the anvil. It just goes to show how much love was put into this show. AHH this show is so goood!
P.s. Damn, dude. This was a really good analysis with a well-made video! I loved it! You deserve more views than you’re getting. Sharing it with my friends, and keep up the quality!
What does AHH means?
commenting for the algorithm so that more people will see this video and watch this masterpiece of a star wars show
a brilliant video, dude. andor simply swept me away, left me reeling after every episode. I've been pretty disappointed with the whole star wars franchise for the past years, and since i liked rogue one's attempt at gritty wartime realism i hoped andor could channel some of that energy and stay at the same level. instead it raised the bar to the freaking ceiling. groundbreaking and perfectly executed on all levels, from its ideas and philosophy to acting to soundtrack to production design. i can't believe star wars is GOOD again!! and it's lovely how many thoughtful, creative video essays it has inspired :)
The only thing I don’t like that came with the show is the arguments that started about which is better, the original trilogy or the show. I feel like arguments like that completely defeat the purpose of a show like this. It’s not meant to be compared. It’s meant to enhance. Because of Andor we now have a broader perspective from which to view the Star Wars universe. We get to see the rebellion from a macro level and a micro level. That’s the beauty of it and in the end that’s the beauty of all Star Wars. Hell George Lucas had six different kinds of movies within his two trilogies. If they weren’t Star Wars, they would all be in different genres. You can tell any story in this universe, and the stories are for everyone. Great video man, wish I could give you more than one like.
Andor is the only thing that makes me want to watch more Star Wars, but only relating to the next Season. With nearly everything else Disney has done, I am thoroughly discouraged from wanting to see anything else they have lined up.
I had a different read on Luthen, I don't know if I'd consider him an accelerationist but he is in a very comfortable position of control. The scenes of him observing the riot in the final episode are so masterfully acted by Skarsgård, I got a sense of catharsis mixed with terror. Finally resistance is growing but on some level it has grown beyond his control, suddenly he is seeing that he might live to see - if not the destruction of the Empire but a true rebellion, but also the day where he is called to account for his actions among his peers.
I really do hope the new season explores the growing ideological schism in the Rebellion - those who seek only to overthrow the empire to re-establish the republic and those who want to build something greater. Andor saw the evil that the Republic was capable of as it seems the strip mining of his home planet and genocide of his people likely begun well before the rise of the Empire, the hanging plot of his search for his sister seems like an excellent opportunity to explore this in more detail. Saw was already rejected as an extremist by the central structure of the Rebellion, I am very interested to see where Luthen's destiny ends up being and support for him and Saw grows in the post-Empire era.
Great take. Andor is phenomenal, for the many reasons you highlight and more. It's a proper, slow-cooked meal of characterization of individuals and groups desperate and under the boot. They've no magic Force powers - this is a post Jedi purge story. Hence why it of course feels different than other Star Wars. Heck after watching Clone Wars, one could say the original movies aren't Jedi-focused enough because honestly the display of powers is far greater in Clone Wars & Episodes 1-3. This is just a different, very Star Wars-y Star Wars story, and it's so grounded and real.
The blueshirts were a fascist organization, but were not affiliated with British rule. They were a contemporary of the the early independent Irish government. A more apt comparison would be the Black and Tans, who were a paramilitary organization utilized by the British government to suppress Irish nationalism in the wake of the First World War.
Good to know! I’m only slightly versed in that period because of this video lol.
Andor is the DS9 of Star Wars. It questions alot of the things the rest of the franchise takes for granted but is still fundamentally of a piece with the rest.
Andor is a show that should not exist in a sea of total garbage. Yet here it is, in all its glory and majesty. It's a shiny jewel that should be treasured and studied. This is how long form Television should be made. I loved every single second of this magnificent show.
Its a garbage pice of crap too
Literally the best video essay on Andor I have seen so far on YT. And I've seen all of them haha! Not a single word wasted. Hats off sir!
literally the andor video essay i’ve been waiting for!! thank u for making this! great work!!
I stumbled onto Andor after being disappointed by Star Wars so many times. Interestingly, the slow growth of Andor's fan base against the tyranny of Disney Lucasfilm is a self-full filing process - a real world proof of concept for Nemec's Manifesto. May the force be with you.
Excellent breakdown. It's nice to see Andor get the respect and recognition it deserves.
Amazing video. Looking forward to more of your work
Andor really put the "WAR" in STAR WARS
Great analysis of a great show, thank you!
Hello! For patrons I have recorded a HOT hour long commentary on this video, with some spicy takes on politics, Star Wars, and my vacuum. It has some weird audio problems I'll work out before I make anything else but I just wanted to get it out there to say thank you for the support. If you wanna toss me five bucks to hear it and then jump out, that is totally perfect, I know money can be tough but I really appreciate it. Thanks again - Cat
www.patreon.com/posts/andor-video-81197052?Link&
I would absolutely love to join your patreon! Unfortunately, I’m a broke college student and I can’t really afford that. Yours will likely be one of the first I join when I’m able to!
@@_somerandomguyontheinternet_ Completely understandable! By the time you get the chance I'll probably have even more up there anyway. I really want to make it a good value to dollar ratio eventually as it gets built up. Probably a discord server and def more behind the scenes stuff, podcasts etc.
Kudos, Colt Jay !! Your observations & insights on Andor were spot on, Bro !! Keep up the good work !!
Man, I see your channel for the 1st time, however, writing, storytelling & overall quality are amazing! Keep it up!
Whether Andor "feels like Star Wars" depends on what you actually consider to be "Star Wars". For me, it's always been the first 2 films (i.e. eps 4 & 5), while all the others were just... well... something else. Andor and Rogue One have been great additions to what "feels like Star Wars" to me.
What people do not understand is that Disney won’t be trying to make more ANDOR type of Star Wars no matter how great ANDOR is
Star Wars shows are written in order to sell children toys
ANDOR does not sell toys and merch
Andor does not shy away from the cost of resistance to fascist tyranny.
A small channel, but an Incredible Video Essay - "A surprise to be sure but a welcome one"
Great video! Andor is just amazing, and I can't wait for it's 2nd season.... hopefully the writer's strike and the drama surrounding Disney trying to scab around it won't hurt the story. I am really hoping we learn who Luthen was, what set him on his path 15 years prior... the end of the Clone Wars. Hints that he was a Jedi are there, perhaps he was even a Temple Guard, but he could've been something more mundane too.
I loved this show ! I’m currently watching rn before RO (on my rewatch of the entire saga), and I kind his grounded it is, it has has that gritty espionage feel to it. Seeing how the Rebellion was always in the background slowly growing as the Empire’s fist clenched more and more. My favorite scene from the entire show is “ONE WAY OUY !”, I was watching with my headphones on and it can me chills, the atmosphere and energy of that scene is unmatched in anything that I have ever seen in SW tbh. If s2 of Andor is even 70% as good as the pilot season then we’re in for some more top tier espionage style war stories in the lore. I’d love to see a show in this style set up in the ST with the First Order to help flesh out the sequels a bit more. I’m very hyped for Andor, and I can’t wait to finish this series again, then immediately jump into RO (then eventually ANH).
Thanks for the review. Good to hear from a reviewer with a background in political science. Interesting that you linked the series to Irish history given your Irish background.
Great video essay! And extremely well edited.
I did notice one mention of the Force in Andor. It's when Cassian and Skeen are talking about whether or not Nemic will "make it" and Skeen says "luck, it run the whole damn galaxy, doesn't it?" Han Solo famously calls the "hand of the Force 'luck'". To my mind what they are talking about is the Force and they are using the in-universe substitute word for the Force so, yeah, the Force IS mentioned. They just don't spell it out and hold the audiences' hand regarding it.
Yes Andor is exactly what the Starwars is all about. And Andor is the top tier Starwars series ever made. Starwars is always about people power against fascism or government corruption. That's exactly the message George Lucas wanted to send us. Rogue One, Starwars rebels, the first 6 films and Andor are the best Starwars story ever.
I think the prequels weren't that great and could've benefitted with a little more focus on character rather than spectacle. As Andor proved, political intrigue can be made to be very compelling, which unfortunately the prequel trilogy didn't really focus on much.
This video and your analysis is excellent. Thank you so much.
Well done. This is fabulous. Subscribed
I wonder what were the conditions in the jails and factories during the New Republic after 5 ABY with Mon Mothma as the first Chancellor? Is the newly born Rebellion fighting for better conditions for the workers and common people or more freedom for the corporate and financial circles?
I've often stated that the writing, acting, pacing etc. of Andor are all too good to "feel like Star Wars".
Damn, great analysis. Subbed.
Andor is not OG-Trilogy-Star-Wars, but hot damn do I love it! It really makes you wanna get up and crush the Empire
Wow this is deep.
To me it does feel like star wars, something dosent need to have a "star wars story" To be star wars because there is really no such thing as a "star wars" plot Or genre because star wars fits all plots and genres
Amazing analysis 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Subscribed. Not because I live Andor (I do) but because you talked about it through an anti capitalist lens.
Don't forget Melshi. It's sweet how he and Cassian become bros
Andor season 1 is awesome television. There is no doubt. But it has one big flaw - it is not the final season, which means it sets the bar so high the second season imho can only lack behind. I certainly hope it is not going to, but even breaking even will require a lot of creative energy and focus. Well, all I can do probably is just to wish them the best of luck.
Your video has a relatively fresh feel for a now well-explored topic, and it’s well worth the time to watch. And your application of political theory and analysis of, for instance, Nemik’s writings was most welcome and, if anything, far too brief. I was also struck by your rather pessimistic take on the applicability of Nemik’s ideas to the “real world.” It seems to me such things can only be proven, not disproven, and then only with the fullness of time. Granted, there are examples of brutal dictatorships that seem immortal, such as North Korea. But they have a very long way to go before they prove actually enduring. It only feels like forever.
It occured to me that the “over-repression fallacy” is precisely why Black communities in the U.S. have higher rates of violent crime. Bereft as they are of legitimate, fair-minded law enforcement, they have no option but to resort to policing themselves. Now I have a term for the root of this problem…thank you for it.
On a side note, and at the risk of sounding like pedantic asshole, it seems as though you misapplied a common metaphor where you say (08:57) “Take Marva’s funeral scene - the final nail in the coffin of the Ferrix citizen’s revolt.” “Final nail in the coffin” refers to something finally coming to an end. But that scene, of course, shows the exact opposite of a “final nail.” It depicts the mass ignition of an open revolt on Ferrix - a beginning, not an end.
I wish people would have told me when I made such errors, and a hundred times more so when I made them in public, so this is just an FYI. No one enjoys being corrected, but it’s better than the alternative.
Appreciate the correction and you are completely right about policing. I only harp on Nemick's naturalistic view because most of the writings we have on political naturalism in the real world fall into pretty bad arguments about the "natural order of the world" that basically just enforces hierarchies. I also think if Nemick's book existed in a like, published form here on earth, he would totally need an editor lol cause its pretty unfocused and seems to jump around a lot.
@@cat_jk00,
Lol…great point about Nemik’s book. (I think it’s pretty common for posthumously published writings to need exceptional editors (The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, The Silmarillion (Tolkien) Mortality (Hitchens) all come to mind.)
I’m not familiar with political naturalism. Do you have any suggestions for a book or other resources that I might use to get up to speed? No need to eat your time with a response though…I will look it up as it’s intriguing and an obvious gap in my already pitiful understanding of the world.
"Andor doesn't feel like star wars"
Correction:
Andor doesn't feel like the bad written, bad directed or bad acted star wars content we mostly had for the last 20+ years.
It's not a lazy soft reboot of the same original story all over again, it doesn't rely on cheap nostalgia nor does it try to be another marvel like super hero diarrhea. In short, it doesn't feel like a $100 million budget cheesy fanfilm.
My only regret is that it was made after Rogue one... Just imagine 2 seasons of Andor concluded by Rogue One but this time entirely written by Gilroy. With most of the characers and subplots already well establised by the serie, that movie would have been a masterpiece.
As for the rest of the video, I agree ;)
Love Andor, it’s the direction the ip needs to go in. Just look at the Mandalorian, it was good but bcz various problems has now fell of. Andor=savior 😂
This just makes me wish I could make my outline for an Aliens Series set in the UPP (Union of Progressive Peoples), Andor just so perfectly inspired me on how such a series could be constructed and the themes and methods of story telling that could be implemented; an epic political thriller inspired by "Killing Hope" by William Blum, and "Blackshirts and Reds" by Michael Parenti, as well as Marxist-Leninist political theory. I just wish it could get made.😢
That sounds rad, I'd give it a read. It's pretty cool/interesting how the UPP started (I think) in Gibsons unused Alien3 screenplay, then was gradually absorbed into the Alien EU.
@@ChA0s_AgeNt
In the early season the Chairman of the Union is informed of a "Super Plant" (an area of rich resources) and while it isn't good for terraforming, as most UPP colonies are underground, their subterranean nature making them hard to determine how they're doing with a flyover; their underground nature allows for the United Americas/Weyland Yutani to promote paranoia about UPP colonies, many UPP colonists have much paler skin due to living underground, and so the UA/WY make use of these images to claim the mistreatment of the UPP citizens. (The underground nature of the colonies will make for a nightmare when the Xenomorphs are deployed later). UPP colonies are very reliant on renewable technology, things like Geothermal and recycling (including biological recycling of waste and the dead, for fertilizer). The Super Plant is seen by the UPP as a solution to resource scarcity for the UPP. (Weyland Yutani is contesting the planet with mercenaries and making the situation politically tense.)
The first part of the series could focus on a UPP military mission to acquire some Seegsen Working Joes synthetics, covertly purchased, for military and police use, though unknown to them, some of the Working Joes have been implanted with spyware. After reworking then, the Working Joes are deployed for security assistance during a protest for Synthetic Rights happening in the UPP, wherein some of the Working Joes with the spyware fire into the crowd, and some of the other Working Joes record the massacre, which is broadcast into the UA intelligence agency for future use of propaganda against the UPP.
The second part can deal with the infiltration of the UPP by synthetics controlled by WY, and the struggle in the UPP by the people for Synthetic Rights, while the UPP government is struggling with the fact that Synthetics are used to do economic sabotage, terrorism, and assassinations, some Synthetics are entirely unaware that they are sleeper agents, and are often unaware that they are Synthetics; often blacking out and going into seizures when receiving covert updates to their system on new orders. (The Socialist Fraternal Kiss can be introduced, as it will be important to the climax of this section) The climax of this part should be that, after a long fought struggle, Synthetics are inducted into the UPP House of Nationalities (A government body of representatives) and as the Chairman leans in to kiss their newest member, the new Synthetic representative blacks out and kills the Chairman, spurring a massive campaign of tracking down Synthetics throughout the UPP, and attempting to figure out how to handle this situation.
The final arc deals with the destruction of the UPP colony of New Stalingrad, a bunch of protests in favor of Synthetic Rights are taking place there, and the colony isn't that far off from the Super Plant, however, WY has some facehuggers smuggled into the deep caves of the colony, where a bunch of indigenous bioluminescent life lives, and slowly but surely the colony goes silent, the UPP military, being deployed to the Super Plant, is rerouted to New Stalingrad to find out what is wrong, only for the worst to be discovered.
I have a much more detailed outline than this that makes use of a bunch of resources, I just didn't want to retype it over my phone.
Lol It's all good, dude. It does read as an interesting & engaging story. With all the ins & outs, factions, backstabbings, skullfuckery & gen chaos, it makes me think of some of the older DH runs. Stuff like Claremonts 'Deadliest of Species' run.
@@ChA0s_AgeNt The outline itself is actually crazy intricate, I actually did a fair amount of looking into what would be best for approaching it, even had some ideas for the architecture and art and everything; I thought up a beautiful mural for the colony of New Stalingrad, with the whole thing being made up of colorful geodes, and the architecture being buildings carved out of the rocks themselves in the style of the 1960s/70s Soviet community housing. I even outlined the United Americas and Weyland Yutani further, giving them more detail. There's a Synthetic Rights fight happening there too, but due to Property Rights, Synthetics are not considered people, and so a united youth movement between the UA and UPP smuggles Synthetics to freedom in the UPP in a science fiction Underground Railroad; much to the eternal frustration of the UPP government that is trying to keep track of Synthetics due to infiltration and spies. I really wanted to emphasize how every action by different groups makes sense from their point of view and approach it from a materialist point of view as a narrative.
'Looking into'? Lmao Sounds like you've got a few full-on books rattlin' around in your skull, bud. Fits with the universe though, mostly.
Crystaline dorms might be a bit of a reach; I'd have to see the storyboards lol
Andor is what most of StarWars should have been like. The Jedi and Sith should never have been so prevalent. The whole thing just doesn't make sense with the galaxy crawling with supreme force users.
I don't get the whole "Andor doesn't feel like Star Wars " argument. Yeah, there's no lightsabers or Force but, Andor is quintessential Star Wars on so many levels. I'm not sure if you COULD make it feel any more like Star Wars. 🙏
Great video! However, I'd like to point out that NEITHER Andor NOR Star Wars in general is a left vs right ideological battle. It's freedom/democracy vs dictatorship/totalitarianism.
Yes, the Empire can be viewed as Space Nazi in many aspects, but most of these features are also prominent in communist regimes. On a related note, calling the Empire industrial capitalism is weird because the republic that the rebels were trying to restore and the one they successfully restored (at least before the sequels) were also industrial capitalism. Although not fully fleshed out, I would say it's a form of state capitalism.
On the other hand, the rebels aren't that lefty, either. I mean, apart from Saw (anarchism can be counted as extreme left), who's clearly left? If I were to guess, their mainstream ideology is probably somewhere between social liberalism and classical liberalism. The rebel alliance depicted in Andor is a loose network of resistance cells each fighting for a different set of reasons/values/ideals/beliefs. It's brilliant because that's what you'd expect under a democratic-turned-authoritative regime.
I'd also like to point out that, despite writing a "manifesto," Nemik's really quite different from Karl Marx, because (a) Nemik didn't express particularly socialist views and (b) Marx did not fight (and sacrifice) in a revolution. For the second part, I would say he resembles Che Guevara more.
A lot you got right here, but one glaring issue: Andor/Star Wars is still very much a right vs. left ideological battle cause fighting fascism is inherently leftist, seeing as how fascism is a right wing ideology. That being said, yes, the New republic is still industrial capitalist, and I think that’s part of the effect Mon Mothma had on it as the first chancellor, cause she was always a lot more liberal rather than leftists, and they started to flesh it out a bit in Mando S3 with that’s part of how the First Order grew and destroyed the New Republic, and I hope we can see more of that.
100%
Andor is what the irrational prequel and George Lucas haters wanted the Prequels to be.
It *is* phenomenal, so... you're accidentally, kinda-sorta not *entirely* wrong? Just mostly Lmao
The overrepression fallacy has been in Star Wars since forever. In Legends, A New Hope is pretty much this in the aftermath of what happens to Alderaan.
Excellent observation! Totally true, Lucas was on top of his progressive stuff for the seventies. I could've highlighted that more even.
@@cat_jk00 Thanks. I couldn't quote titles or page numbers because it's been years since I read some of the material, but the old EU did a pretty good job at underling this.
To explain in case someone who reads this doesn't know: Aside from pointing out how the Tarkin doctrine had failed and backfired spectacularly by saying several times how some worlds decided that with the Empire blowing up the easily most peaceful and least overtly rebellious core world, they might as well die on their feet instead of slowly being ground down, on top of that, there is a number of (Legends exclusive) characters who were loyal imps until that moment. Most famously Tycho Celchu of Rogue Squadron who was in the Imperial Academy and on a holocall with his parents on Alderaan during the event.
In what way is the Narkeena prison "Industrial capitalism"? What we see in this show, especially in the Narkeena arch, are clear examples of totalitarianist policies that reflect real-life communist regimes.
128
Okay hot take, but Nemek is far more like Lenin than marx. Marx was really never part of the movement, only the inspiration for the movement. Nemek is actually on the ground doing work, similar to Lenin's actions. And Lenin aided in the creation of other manifestos similar to Marx's during and after the Russian Revolution, which I think makes him more akin to Nemek than Marx would be.
That’s probably pretty true I just used Marx as shorthand. I should’ve studied the theory a bit more explicitly.
Which is a terrifying prospect. The Empire that rose from Lenin (shipped in by the Germans in ww1 to help break Russia) quickly became a tyrannical oppressive system that killed millions at gun point and slave camps. Starved millions, oppressed ALL religions and restricted all movement.
I think you need to find a different person or ideology to adhere hope to.
Given the actual history of Marx as an opportunistic layabout, and the actual history of capitalism being responsible for the greatest reduction in absolute poverty(e.g. one that isn't through the lens of Marx), drawing this parallel seems very off.
its great to finally find an explicitly leftist review of this show. great work!
#GroomerDisneyShill
@@clonetrooper2003 *grooms you*
@@karaisalesbian you probably support antifa and disney
great review/take on the show! been waiting for someone to bring an actual anti-capitalist view on this ever since i finished the series instead of just talking about the show itself.
you should also go check out jessie gender on it! She’s got like a 2 hour long video going soooo in depth on the whole thing, it’s anti-capitalist and everything, it’s an amazing review
@@starwinters39 thanks for the rec!! will def look it up
Wow I thought this was gonna be a nice little deep dive into why Andor is a good show, but nevermind.
It is
Please elaborate?
It's already a destined family saga since 1980
I loved Andor and can't wait for Season 2. But I also loved Kenobi, The Clone Wars, Rebels and of course the Prequels, while being a fan since I saw Star Wars in '77. I think it would serve the community of Star Wars fans better if we'd accept there's more than "just one" Star Wars that each can be good in their own right. I appreciate Andor for other reasons that the ones which make me love Clone Wars or Empire Strikes Back. The "Heart of Star Wars" is a big place with room for lots of different stories appealing to different people, or even the same people but at different times. So, is Andor the "Heart of Star Wars"? Sure, but so were Revenge of the Sith and Return of the Jedi, so were the final episode of Kenobi, Boba's months with the Tusken Raiders, Mando's encounters with Bo Katan and Ahsoka, the Pod Race in TPM or the Cantina in ANH. I can live with it that some like things that don't speak to me, or that I love things that other's can't connect to. But we all connect to the heart of Star Wars.
Cat here! To be clear, I do agree with this and the reason I cited the Clone Wars in particular is because I was watching it at the same time as Andor, I think it and Rebels as well are some of my favorites in the series and the Respawn Jedi games. Love the series!
I have a few remarks and questions on some points.
I don't think that the Prequels are worse off by focusing the supernatural element and making the story about Anakin's fall. Yes, he is supposed to be supremely strong and some kind of prophesized Jedi, but we don't really get that shown that majorly in the movie. In fact, I would say that the movie provides us with an unclear picture _deliberately,_ not hammering home the point that he is the "chosen one", but rather leaving us questioning _whether_ he is. Even when considering the end of Ep 6, it could still be debated whether he actually _is_ said prophesized chosen one, or not, because we never actually hear the prophecy, and it might just be wrongly interpreted after all and will in fact mean some force user hundreds of years into the future (after all, prophesies are notoriously unreliable and difficult to confirm, and this one apparently already existed for at least a few hundred, if not thousand years). But whatever is true, this is simply one facet of the SW galaxy, and I think it was a highly interesting story to tell.
That the Sequel trilogy continues on this route is however catastrophic. It should, as you rightly praise Andor for, have been about the efforts of a new galactic government establishing itself and its control.
Additionally, how did you get that about Cyrill that he apparently lacks control over his own life and that of the people around him? He lacks authority, yes, but that does not at all seem to be the drive that leads him to disobey orders and instead prosecute Andor. It rather seems that that stems from an (in the case of the security forces on his planet even somewhat justified) _extremely_ pronounced sense of justice. However he's also naive, inexperienced and in fact even fairly incompetent. The loss of control seems to be something which only arises _after_ he loses his position with the security forces. Is that what you meant?
Otherwise, great video!
A very accurate commentary on the best SW show by far. However, you might just be revealing your indoctrination by your apparent belief that a top down centrally controlled monopoly is “capitalism”. 😅
Is going to be another Mandalorian. Goodnight everybody, and see you all when the rude awakening hits you like bird crap after I night of black-out drunkenness.
Weather you injoy Andor or not ( for the most I enjoy the show) the only thing that failed, is the sequels!! The Mandalorian love it, or hate it, people watching that and buying Grogu ( a.k.a. baby Yoda) is the reason Disney+ is able to make the show “Andor”!! But it is a good show!!
What does a slave labor prison camp has do with industrial capitalism? What a leap.
Are you being serious? I hope not.
Andor was badly written. Which is why he gets the money from the raid, promises to go to a plant with no Imperial involvement... and promptly goes to a plant full of Imperials and gets arrested. Why? Because the plot had to happen and the writers are useless.
Mexican Kyle Katarn
Why do you call animated shows "for children"? Their age rating is literally the same as the first 5 movies. You didn't call them "movies for children". Some bias at play.
Mostly because I’ve watched all of the Clone Wars alongside writing and editing this video and while tons of that show is pretty great there is so much of it that is just straight up Saturday morning cartoons. There’s nothing wrong with that but The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan’s Leia scenes being around the same level as Clone Wars youngling circus troupe episode is telling to me about the complexity and goals of those shows. There is a reason I included the Umbara arc in the video when I talked about that because for a children’s show that arc is actively doing excellent things that put it passed those two shows. Clone Wars fluctuates wildly between truly a show for younger children with simplistic concepts and characters and being some of the best Star Wars content period.
@@cat_jk00 There are bad parts, but I'd have been more suprised, had there not been anything good like Umbara. Star Wars fans are so used to the original 6 movies being great that they forget that they are literally "movies for children". Thus it feels unfair to me that the animated shows are treated differently even by those who have watched them fully, who are aware of the good and bad parts.
"...like the very capitalist system we live in..."
What? You're completely obsessed with trying to constantly draw some connection between capitalism and fascism.
Capitalism, including its early forms, is not inherently fascist in the same way that fascism is not a form of capitalism. They are different ideologies with their own goals and methods.
If you reject "capitalism", which is a Marxist term. I studied economics and the term "capitalism" never came up once. The term "market economy" is used. Unfortunately, sociology in particular is burdened with a Marxist heritage and the term 'capitalism' persists there. After all, the whole of sociology is imbued with the desire to divide the population into certain groups (classes) and to tell them what their interests are (translated: "who is their enemy").
Anyway, if we take away the "market economy" (you fill in your "capitalism" for that), we will live in socialism. And being from a post-socialist country (Czech Republic), I can very easily tell you what it will look like then.
If you shut down the market economy and start to manage much of it centrally, you will be left with an unstable economy that needs a strong unifying ideology, an external enemy, a sense of threat and manipulation of history to exist.
In your attempt to fight the supposed 'fascism' you will come full circle and introduce a 'fascism' that uses different terminology.
Contemporary society is uneducated in history, context is emphasized - while not perfect, it is still the best state we have achieved.
If you think the current state is "taking from you without giving anything back", then get rid of that nasty "capitalism". Then you will see what many similar dreamers before you have already discovered with horror. Unfortunately, by the time you realize your mistake, it will be too late.
I'm not saying that the current market economy is ideal - it's just that many of the problems are generated by, on the one hand, trying to rid the market economy of economic crises (=central bank policies and their low interest rates that inflate the wealth of the already rich, make real estate more expensive, encourage speculation), while ignoring the real market failures that need to be addressed (negative and positive externalities).
At the same time, many of the problems are generated by demographic changes and low birth rates.
None of the problems we face have a solution in getting rid of the market economy.
Liked this show, but too much of Star Wars is shit now
long live to the empire
No. Star Wars is a family saga. How do I know? The guy who told the story said so. The rebellion is the context, not the story.
Listen son, capitalists saved the world from fascists, including the communists and their gulags which you seem to be very confused about.
Andor is shitting the bed. Star Wars is for all ages. This is NOT.
Andor is not star wars
Are you confused about something, you keep assuring the audience that the empire as fascists are evil, but you keep adding capitalism into it as if you are saying capitalism is wrong and is only an outgrowth of fascism. Not only are you completely wrong, you sound like you are advocating for communism and trying to shoehorn Andor's story into your own misguided beliefs. Please just stop with the political commentary, your not good at it.
Yeah i stopped watching when he mentioned Marx, these commies are delusional.
False. You’re the one who doesn’t understand it. Fascism is super linked with capitalism, and has been since its inception. You’re the one that needs to learn.
As good as Andor might be, it has a terrible flaw right from the start: It‘s about a character that is already dead, and we all saw him die in the excellent „Rogue One“.
Too much "America Bad" propaganda in this review. It's too distracting. Get over yourself. The entire world and every work of fiction does not in fact revolve around your culture and your personal views on society.
"That only hurts the initial concept"
If you are going to pretend that the OT is purely about 'rebellion', then I can see why you believe Star Wars 'needs to be Andor'. Sadly for your video, and Gilroy's show, it was far more than just that. Of course, Gilroy doesn't care because he doesn't like Star Wars, and people that pretend the OT was purely about rebellion and a military dictatorship don't care that Gilroy doesn't care. In fact they insist Andor is 'what Star Wars should be/should have been'. I agree that the sequel trilogy is awful, if that is what you're saying. "The audience is never shown how or even if he has been negatively affected by the Empire and its presence on Tatooine."
LUKE: "If there's a bright center to the universe, you're on the planet it's farthest from." There was no presence on Tatooine. But it's funny you summarise Luke becoming a 'resistance fighter and a Jedi', because you've tripped up on the concept of destiny, essential to the myth genre, that is added to the sci-fi you are talking about to transcend the genre, and dazzle the audience. This also explains why Andor flopped in viewership (although that's partly down to not having any memorable or distinctive characters like those in Lucas' saga that Gilroy isn't interested in). It's bizarre trying to claim Tatooine 'doesn't change' from PT to OT as some kind of shortfall in the saga, when it's specifically a desolate backwater of no significance run by gangsters. Comparing it to Ferrix, a planet ruled by the incredibly uninteresting Preorx/Pre-Mor makes no sense at all. "They don't start out occupied by stormtroopers, but by mall cops", so not really anything more than escalation.
It seems like you tried to imply in this video that the stormtroopers in Mos Eisley are stationed there, or that Tatooine was occupied since the forming of the Empire. There's really nothing in the saga that supports that.
Good effort but you lost me at "capitalism". Do better.
And you’re the one that needs to do better cause capitalism is correct here. It’s super linked with fascism
@@starwinters39 The word "capitalism" was created as a demiurge by marxists.
Into it is lumped into vital and inescapable concerns like supply, demand, logistics, exchange and barter.
It's a bullshit oversimplication used as a blame magnet for the simple minded. As intended.
Totally agree about the exceptional quality of Andor, but keep your Marxist nonsense away.
Yeah seriously. A tad bit ridiculous to think that Disney would promote Marxist ideology. You don't have to be a Marxist to absolutely despise authoritarian regimes.
“marxist nonsense” you’re the one denying reality and listening to cia propaganda
No
It is a great show but i can just tell you voted for Biden lmao. Your interpretation is just wrong but ig it still gets to it being good lmao
"As the writer Mark Fischer writes in Capitalist Realism..." Dude stop making video essays. Stop writing essays. Your heavy-handed analysis of "fascism" and how its unequivocally evil is literal poison to the anti-fascist cause.
Decent review, cringe politics.
Ill never understand how people conflate capitalism and fascism. Economically capitalism is inherently international, fascism is anything but. need to read about 1920's-30's Italy youngster. Push your socialist takes all you wish, but be honest at least. Nationalism is the heart of fascism.
Andor is pretty good, a much needed breath of fresh air to SW. Took a meh character from a half decent movie and not only expanded him, but the mythos itself.
I just hope they dont fuck up Thrawn honestly.
“I don’t under stand how people conflate capitalism and fascism.” You just said you don’t understand how fascism works. It is an ideology that uses whatever means possible to maintain control over the masses, and capitalism is an economic system that makes that insanely easy to do. Capitalism aids fascism, people aren’t conflating the two, they showing how these systems and ideologies work.
@@starwinters39 fascism is economic as well homie
@@PattyOflan88 You have a misunderstanding of fascism, then. It’s a political ideology. Capitalism is the economic system it thrives the most on.
@@starwinters39 you've clearly never listened to a single Mussolini or Hitler speech
@@PattyOflan88 actually I have. They’re fascists, and they’re very much capitalists.
Andor to me did nothing. It wasn't horrible by any stretch, but overall I was very "meh" about it. The show did nothing to make me care about the characters, and thus I really didn't care what happened to the characters. Which was to be expected since why the devil would they build a show about the most forgettable milquetoast character from Rogue One? Honestly, I think it would have made a decent 90 minute movie, and stretching it out to multiple episodes did it no favors.
Conversely I don't get why so many people are bitching about S3 of Mando, which is still some of the best Star Wars we've gotten in decades. Though it helps to look at who's bitching about S3 and who isn't... and why. Like all the volcels losing their minds because of celebrity guest spots; or more accurately one specific guest.
Yes, volcel. As there's nothing involuntary about their celibacy.
Terrible take.
“S3 of Mando, which is still some of the best Star Wars” - 🤡