gsmudger-13470

I'm conflicted. Do I love Andor because it's excellent on its own terms? Or am I just flush with gratitude that finally somebody has managed to explore the Star Wars universe with solid writing, fully developed characters and compelling storytelling.

I can't deny the almost irrational sense of relief. After one lazy, shallow, poorly written, sub-par, video-game-cutscene snoozefest after another - I'm looking at you, Ahsoka - Andor felt like the cavalry coming over the hill.

Some folks complain that Andor is an excessively slow burn. Each to their own, and if you're looking for light sabers and galaxy-changing showdowns every 20 minutes, then it's not for you.

If, however, you're ready to see how the other half live in the Star Wars universe and enjoy some grown-up writing, suspense and characterisation, this may be your bag.

To put it another way, if you take the script doctor who allegedly saved The Bourne Identity, the adult fanboy curiosity of the Death Star-contractor skit from Clerks and a seasoning of historical awareness (i spotted parallels from Roman Britain to the Spanish Civil War), you'll get the idea.

Try it. You might like it. Just don't expect light sabers.

I'll begin with full disclosure: I couldn't finish this series. The benign whales able to swim in both atmosphere and vacuum and migrate across intergalactic space pushed the suspension of disbelief beyond its natural limits, even by the wacky standards of the Star Wars universe.

For me, this is the weakest series I've seen on Disney+ so far, and I've watched Obi-Wan and Falcon & Winter Soldier. It has all the classic Disney+ faults in one package.

Poor writing with lots of banal, unnatural and padded dialogue: check. Lazy plotting driven by inexplicable and selective stupidity: check. Endless tone-deaf rehashing of old material to no useful purpose: check. Big, expensive visuals wasted on third-rate storytelling; check.

This is CBeebies sci-fi minus any entertainment value. For a better written and more entertaining Star Wars hit, try Andor or the Fallen Order / Jedi Survivor games.