Even in a sprawling universe of aliens, lightsabers, and Force powers, rebellion takes real blood, sweat, and many, many tears. That’s the earthly spirit of Andor, the gritty political thriller that chronicles the life of rebel hero Cassian Andor (played by Diego Luna) prior to his daring mission of stealing the Death Star plans with Jyn Erso in 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
At last, after three years, Andor returns for its second season on Disney+ this Tuesday night with a new and final batch of 12 episodes. Early reviews are heaping praise on the new season; Decider dubs it “a breathtaking show to behold,” Collider writes that it “exceeds” season 1 expectations “at every turn,” and The Atlantic calls it “an unusually mature” Star Wars show that is “a confident and sophisticated drama.” The very headline of Vanity Fair‘s review proclaims Andor season 2 “the Best Television of the Year So Far.”
Because of the long wait, you’d be forgiven if you can’t remember all the fine details of Andor season 1. Fret not, rebel scum—the Empire won’t arrest you. At least not when you have Esquire holstered at your hip to catch you up to speed. Here’s all you need to remember about Andor season 1 ahead of season 2.
The Force Is (Not) with You
At the beginning of Andor season 1, the show’s titlular antihero is not yet the unwavering revolutionary who appears in Rogue One. He’s instead just a man from an indigenous culture, the Kenari, whose home planet (also Kenari) was ravaged and rendered toxic by mining operations. In episode 1, Cassian is searching for his lost sister, Kerri, whose whereabouts are kept unknown even at the end of the season.
The story of Andor kicks off when Cassian, having failed to find his sister at an illegal brothel on an industrial planet, kills two antagonizing officers. Devoted corporate officer Syril Karn (Kyle Soller), who harbors deep ambitions to succeed in a heavily bureaucratic regime, conducts an investigation that puts him on Cassian’s trail.
While trying to sell off a valuable piece of Imperial tech that could get Cassian far off to lay low, his close friend Bix (Adria Arjona) connects him with Luthen (Stellan Skarsgård), a Rebel Alliance agent who maintains a cover identity as an antiquities dealer in bustling Coruscant. Luthen’s business on Coruscant also puts him in close proximity with Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), a wealthy Imperial senator who secretly supports the rebellion but walks the tightrope of politicking while doing so. There’s also a minor but no less consequential subplot involving Mon’s 13-year-old daughter’s arrangement with the son of a thuggish businessman, Davo, played by Richard Dillane.
Halfway through the season, Cassian manages to leave Ferrix for Niamos, a tourist destination where he adopts a cover identity. But after an arrest, Cassian is thrown into a hard-labor prison, Narikna 5, which just so happens to be building parts that will go into the Death Star. Cassian also befriends prison floor manager Kino Loy, who is played by a very familiar face in Andy Serkis. Cassian’s time on Narkina 5 is more or less the final straw of many other straws (including Bix’s imprisonment) that transforms him from selfish loner to radicalized rebel eager to topple the Empire.
What Happened at the End of Andor Season 1?
After his breakout from Narkina 5, Cassian returns to Ferrix in time for his adopted mother Maarva’s funeral, which Imperial officer Dedra (Denise Gough) uses as a lure to finally apprehend the fugitive. (As if the guy wasn’t already behind bars!) They’re not the only ones who have plans for Cassian, as none other than Luthen also plans to kill Cassian to ensure their footprints aren’t left behind. During the big climax, Cassian manages to free Bix (who was under Imperial custody) and get her off the planet. The season ends with Luthen confronting Cassian, who tells him to kill him or take him in. But Luthen smiles, realizing that there is so much more to Cassian than meets the eye.
