“One Way Out!”
This must be the Star Wars character origin story to end all origin stories.
Hollywood. August, 2023. Writer/Creator, Tony Gilroy has the mic at the SAG-AFTRA strike on the streets of Northern LA. Rallying hundreds of his colleagues who’ve shown up to demand fairer wages and protections from AI, to give the next generation of talented writers a fighting chance.
Mr. Gilroy’s speech is concise and clear. He hands the mic off, as a chant erupts, “One way out! One way out!” The title of the tenth episode of Gilroy’s Star Wars masterpiece (available on Disney +). Sixteen months later the neighborhood is a wasteland – scolded by fires of unknown origin. Thousands of residents, including many writers, are forced to relocate. Hollywood will never be the same.
The Empire has grown complacent in the 15 years since the fall of the Jedi. A rebellion is brewing right under The Emperor’s nose and the orphan fugitive, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) finds himself right in the thick of it.
The screenplay’s incendiary. Even side characters are fishing with dynamite. And The stakes couldn’t be higher. Episode 6 is a 53-minute single breath.
The Empire is humanized; you root for them as much as the rebels. One of my favorite characters is the young conscientious Imperial Officer, Syril Karn (Kyle Soller), who’s just trying to see justice served for two of his murdered employees. A rabbit-hole investigation culminates in a hair-raising explosion in episode 3 that garners my full sympathy for the man.
Have you watched Andor Season One and/or started the new season? I still have 3 episodes left of season one so please, no spoilers! If you haven’t checked out this series yet, I highly recommend it. Especially if you enjoyed the movie, Rogue One (2016) as it’s by the same author.
-Experience Film
Experience Film 
Oh yes. I didn’t have time to go back, but when I was supposed to start second season I accidentally started first and got sucked into the opening scene, before switching to season 2.
The plan was to make 5 seasons (1 year for each season until Rogue One), but after the first one was done, Gilroy realized it would take nearly a decade to finish it, so the second season was split into 3 chapters, each covering about a year in character’s lives, except the last one covers a longer period that leads right into the movie. Kind of like ANH which you can put on right after Rogue One and continue the story.
I should cover Disney era Star Wars in my blog but it’s takes a lot out of me because I feel so strongly about it since I first saw it almost 45 years ago.
Andor is great. Mandalorian is a nostalgic adventure but this is new gritty and adult centric Star Wars set in familiar era.
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Ok so Season 2 will be the final season then? I’m fine either way; Season 1 is perfection.
I’d Welcome your coverage of Disney era Star Wars. I know it’s hard being such a big fan of the originals though. I am too. I hated Force Awakens at first. Now I can at least tolerate it. I liked Rise of Skywalker more than most people, however. And plan to use scenes for a montage at some point.
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Hello
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Yes next month Andor will be completed when all episodes are released.
I enjoyed TFA, you can find my review of The Last Jedi rewatch on my blog. Also Han Solo movie. I need to rewatch the Rise of Skywalker. I’ve only seen it once in the cinema. I had a good time but it didn’t make me feel like going back. I don’t recall too many details. I guess my memory is getting too full. 👴🏻
Just yesterday I saw a new Batman Ninja is out, which lead me to Batman Year One. I can’t recall seeing it but according to my Letterboxd notes I did! 😱🤣
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this is obviously a must-view !
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Stellar writing; I want to study it. My own writing here was a mess. I’ve since edited.
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I liked Star Wars more when it didn’t have a female protagonist. Its pro-feminist worldview, and expansive racial casting, make it more unpalatable to me.
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Tony Gilroy’s brand of Star Wars, beginning with the Rogue One movie (2016) is in many ways a changeup to Disney’s ‘fastball.’ This particular Star Wars production features a male protagonist and is pretty white compared to most Disney-era Star Wars. So you might appreciate it more than the triple bun.
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I know how acclaimed Andor is, and I understand why for the most part. It’s just not my ideal Star Wars project. Humanizing both sides of the Empire and Rebellion is fine, but it’s a little too human if you know what I mean. The almost complete lack of aliens bothers me, the pacing is slow, and I don’t always get the sense of fun that I associate Star Wars with. I recognize characters, but I couldn’t tell you their names if you held a blaster to my head.
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Thanks for opening my eyes to a few of Andor’s flaws. It is indeed pretty one-dimensional in its gritty over-dramatization of George Lucas’s Galaxy, with zero humor. There are very few aliens, and I too cannot remember anybody’s name except Andor Lol… (That’s me with most shows at least). I guess this thriller is just uniquely suited towards my taste, and found me at the right time.
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💙
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I have, and for the most part I enjoyed Andor. It was a bit of a slow burn to begin with though, but once it settled into its groove after a few episodes it became compelling viewing. Enjoy!
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I have started S2 of Andor, and it is brilliant in design. It is a little slow-paced to start, but I like that. It lets the characters live in this universe instead of constantly running from one scene to the next. I would be interested to hear your thoughts when you start it!
I would like to review the Star Wars films one day because, for all their flaws, they were still my first taste of my love for cinema. However, your introduction to the review gave me a thought of the struggles behind the scenes, and we need to support the industry as well. The craft of writing comes from the soul, and those who choose it as a career deserve to be paid well for their time. Andor feels like a celebration of the arts, and as excited as I am to see the story completed, I will be sorry to see it go.
Great picture, and a reminder of a midnight screen of Rogue One which I enjoyed immensely. Great read.
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Have you reviewed Any of the Star Wars films? Rogue One is the only movie I’ve reviewed so far – which is strange because like you, am influenced heavily. Yes good writing comes from a human soul – a prism which filters the light. AI is counterfeit and emotionally confusing. Great writers deserve to be paid, and we deserve their heartfelt art.
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I don’t think I have reviewed any of the films, but I would enjoy it.
It would be good to look at each trilogy as a single review and go from there. I love Star Wars, even the ones that people often dismiss. It is pure escapism and I used to love the early Flash Gordon serials.
Rogue One is a fine film, I even think Solo is pretty decent. Do you think you might review any more? I will read your Rogue One review soon.
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I will never spoil your excitement since I haven’t watched any of them! Even though I’m a longtime and devoted Star Wars fan, I had to miss the latest instalments. However, your enthusiastic words have piqued my interest to seeing them. 😉👍🖖
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Haven’t seen any of it. Though the only Star Wars movie I’ve enjoyed since the original trilogy was Rogue One – so I’m intrigued!
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Andor is even better than Rogue One (my fav also). I finally just watched this first season on my sister’s Disney+ account. Hope you can find it.
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Intriguing article, about AI and film, thank you. I’m so happy I was born and will be gone before I have to be a robot.
I have never seen a Star Wars movie, but I have seen many of the TV offshoots due to the Emmys, including the episode of Andor that was up in 2023.
It looks like Season 2 is eligible for noms this year, so I may be watching it this year, or at least 1 episode.
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We love Andor. Forever quoting the scene when they’re racing to get off the destroyed planet and the robot isn’t done with his calculations and Andor goes, “I’ll make them for you.” That line can apply to many different things in ordinary life, lol. And always deadly serious and in an undertone: “I’ll make them for you.” So glad you’re enjoying the show. Season one was really good. I’ll take Andor and its deviations any time over the other expected tropes, because the “dark side” of Star Wars fans came out when they cast Bodega in the reboot with hateful comments like, “black beast,” being thrown out. So if the original Star Wars stands for comical aliens and blue-eyed blonde guys and a “Force” that, apparently, is only important for said blue-eyed blond guy–not all people, all beings, which is the entire point–then deviate away! lol Black beast, indeed, wannabe faux Star Wars fans!
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Referring to the character in the movie, of course. Wasn’t being clear there.
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I’m pretty eager to catch Season 2 of Andor. I haven’t been able to start on it yet, but soon. The cast is amazing.
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Watched the first episode of this second season earlier this week. It is truly the best of all the Star Wars offshoots and I am already disappointed that this season will be it’s last.
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Excellent! Finding a new show or film to excite us about what is possible is always great. I hope to feel that several more times this year.
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