Despite Tony Gilroy’s Claims, Andor Is More Star Wars Than You Think

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With the second and finale season of the Disney+ “Star Wars” series “Andor” underway, it’s been praised by both fans and critics. Compared to other recent “Star Wars” TV seasons that have received lukewarm or mixed responses, “Andor” stands out as a remarkable artistic achievement, largely due to creator Tony Gilroy. Many fans of the show remark that “Andor” is exceptional because Tony Gilroy seems almost indifferent towards “Star Wars.

As a film enthusiast, I’ve come to realize that the uniqueness of “Andor” lies in the fact that its creator, Gilroy, isn’t bound by the weight of high expectations or the need to fulfill childhood dreams associated with the Star Wars franchise. This is not because he doesn’t appreciate Star Wars – quite the contrary, as he himself admitted in an interview that he’s not a die-hard fan. However, the truth is that “Andor” owes much to Star Wars, it just does so in a more subtle and profound way.

Unlike other shows that sprinkle references to past films and stories on the surface, “Andor” delves deep into the craft and storytelling of the entire Star Wars universe. It’s as if we’re not just watching a spin-off, but unraveling threads from the rich tapestry of tales that make up the Star Wars galaxy.

Tony Gilroy’s History with Star Wars

Initially, Tony Gilroy wasn’t intentionally part of the Star Wars universe. During the editing phase of the first standalone film, Rogue One, and the post-billion-dollar success of The Force Awakens, it was discovered that things weren’t going as planned. Controversial reasons led to significant changes in the movie, necessitating extensive reshoots. Although Gareth Edwards was the credited director, he cooperated throughout this process. However, these revisions eventually brought Tony Gilroy into the picture as a writer and unofficial director to guide Rogue One to its final form.

Before taking on this project, Tony Gilroy had already made a name for himself as a skilled screenwriter and director in Hollywood, contributing to the Bourne series and directing movies like Michael Clayton and Duplicity. Given his expertise in character-driven espionage dramas, Gilroy was an ideal choice to rework Rogue One. Following the movie’s success, as Disney sought to develop a lineup of Star Wars television shows for streaming, one concept that emerged early on was a prequel series focusing on the life of Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna in the film. However, instead of a routine and predictable show about Cassian and his droid companion K-2SO getting into weekly misadventures, Gilroy proposed something entirely different: a masterfully crafted narrative that gradually builds to tell a compelling and authentic story of rebellion, with multiple plotlines intertwining to create a cohesive and immersive experience.

In the end, Disney chose Gilroy’s proposal for the project, and it proved to be extremely successful. The debut season of Andor brought in some of the best reviews that the franchise and the streaming service have ever received, and the second season is now receiving even more acclaim. Although it’s accurate to say that Andor has a unique tone and pace compared to many other Star Wars productions, it would be completely false to claim that the show lacks the essence of Star Wars.

The Nerdiness of Andor‘s Star Wars References

To fully appreciate the connection to Star Wars, simply watch the opening of the second season’s first episode, titled “One Year Later.” This sequence meticulously showcases a character inspecting each gauge and reader within an Imperial fighter, highlighting the intricate details in the ship’s design and construction. Notably, this vessel is a TIE Avenger, a spacecraft that was commonly depicted in Expanded Universe content but appears on screen for the first time here.

In other parts of the same episode, imperial figures discuss the planet Ghorman, which is rich in resources they plan to seize by force if needed. This isn’t just any planet – it’s a well-known one from the Star Wars universe, and the impending Ghorman Massacre, hinted at in the show, is an event that has been mentioned as far back as the 1990’s The Rebel Alliance Sourcebook. Furthermore, the series introduces another significant plot point involving Mon Mothma’s homeworld of Chandrila, a place that has been referenced in various Star Wars stories like The Truce at Bakura from 1993 but has never before been shown on screen. Additionally, the storyline revolving around royalty, romance, and political intrigue within the Mothma estate, along with its design and aesthetics, bear a striking resemblance to Claudia Gray’s novels featuring Princess Leia, Bloodlines and Princess of Alderaan.

In contrast to other Star Wars streaming series like The Mandalorian, which casually drop references such as reintroducing R5-D4 or using a digitally created Luke Skywalker, Andor delves deep into the most intricate Star Wars trivia. This isn’t limited to mere lore references; instead, the structure of the show itself often dialogues with the films. For instance, a close-up digital shot of the TIE Avenger mid-flight during the opening dogfight in “One Year Later” mirrors a similar shot first used in the final act of Attack of the Clones. Similarly, the first season includes one of the most impressive filmmaking references to the original 1977 Star Wars film found in any subsequent Star Wars media, as Gilroy and team opted to replicate the exact same camera movement that Lucas used to transition out of Leia’s torture scene for the climax of Bix’s torture scene in Andor.

Essentially, it’s wrong to claim that ‘Andor’ is not Star Wars-ish enough, despite Tony Gilroy stating he’s not a diehard fan of Star Wars. The show brilliantly balances forging its unique identity while staying true to the roots laid by George Lucas’ original Star Wars series, encompassing storyline, themes, and cinematography.

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2025-04-24 20:44