Andor rises to meet the challenge of telling the story of the early days of the Rebellion through the eyes of a man who hasn’t fully come into his own yet.

Andor swerves by refusing to make Cassian blandly noble. In Luna’s accomplished hands, he’s pricklier and more nuanced than that. ... In taking time to grow its central character, Andor unveils an ensemble with characters who drive a number of intriguing subplots. ... The interiority and self-reflection it demands have created the most challenging and invigorating work in this galaxy in years.

Make it through that opening marathon and you have what’s shaping up to be the best Star Wars show since The Mandalorian.

With sharper edges than this franchise is used to, a previously peripheral character has set up one of the most intriguing starts to a live-action Star Wars entry so far.

These characters offer a fresher take on “Star Wars” lore than Andor’s story, which is a rote rebel mission. If the series finds a way to further blend familiar storytelling with the more-unusual-for-“Star Wars” vibe of palace intrigue, “Andor” might yet prove itself to be a favorite among fans much the way “Rogue One” has become embraced in the eight years since its initial theatrical run.

It is a darker, more grown-up approach, although it is slow. Actually, in the first two episodes it's too slow. Diego Luna, reprising his role as the brooding, narky Cassian Andor, is the charismatic fulcrum to this story.

There is barely any shape to these first four episodes. Three of them don’t even build to any kind of real climax, but just seem to stop at a random point. ... The third [episode] is the one where things finally start happening, as well as the only one that actually has something that feels like a conclusion to one phase of the story. It’s a shame, not only because Luna’s Cassian Andor occupies an interesting place within the larger Star Wars universe, but because Andor gets off to a promising start before things quickly begin to drag.

Honestly this show should be the gold standard model for what live action Star Wars should look and feel like across the board (shows, movies and games). Two of three of my favorite things Disney has created Star Wars-wise has been Andor and Rogue One so apparently, I'm a Cassian Andor fan (Jedi: Fallen Order was my third but that was more EA than Disney I think). The mature story telling of this show is top notch. I look the grittyness of the up and coming rebel alliance, the Empire is savage and Cassian the shows lead is a cut throw, killer when he needs to be. You won't find the ridiculous, over the top jank of a helicopter lightsaber like you will in Star Wars rebels the animated show. And it doesn't string you along with pure nostalgia like Kenobi. All the characters, even the minor ones have motivations of their own, some clearly defined, some purposefully ambiguous. The show has nuance and complexity not typically seen in Star Wars that usually relies on lightsaber fights and force lightening to interest the viewer. This show has none of that and still manages to be a sit back and watch the action thriller while also being a thinking mans show. I thoroughly enjoyed this show way more than I expected. Please for the love of god Disney make more show like this and not crappy book of boba fett. One last word, this show is not full of woke DEI non-sense for the sake of pandering. There is a lesbian couple in the show but they seemed naturally placed and not shoehorned in to appease the academy of Hollywood. It was tastefully done and both characters were pretty bad ass.

Has some pacing issues but overall a competently written entry in the SW universe.

It is a good series and looks like everyone in it are doing they best, but even as a person that have almost seen all that Star Wars have to offer in Movies and TV this series i just not for me. Just feels like it way to slow for my taste.

Well this series is another flop. So boring many forgot about the fourth episode even being released. While many are still trying to cope and suggest that it is just getting started, they apparently do not realize that every THREE episodes is supposed to be a self-contained story according to the showrunner. So it failed the first story arc, and that is always the best they have to offer. I expect that over the next few episodes they will just go over the top with action and dystopian ideals being passed off as heroic, as they have already been suggesting (aka typical Disney writing).

It was not terrible, like most of the other things Disney did to Star Wars was. But damn, is it boring.