Andor: A Grounded Tale That Reignites My Love for Star Wars Whimsy.

The closing sequence of the third episode of Andor Season 2 is destined to join the ranks of the series’ most iconic moments. It mirrors a structure found in the third episode of Season 1, titled “Reckoning,” which juxtaposed two pivotal scenes in Cassian Andor’s life aboard a stranger’s ship, fleeing inevitable Imperial doom while sacrificing everything familiar. However, this episode intertwines various locations instead of timelines.

It’s safe to say that the multiple characters featured in the montage are far from enjoying their circumstances. The looming shadow of the Empire weighs heavily, even on the most defiant souls. What struck me profoundly—causing me to gasp in disbelief and quiet ecstasy—were the directorial choices made by Ariel Kleiman, which eschewed drama for something much more profound.

In today’s landscape, serious genre films and shows are plentiful. Nonetheless, Andor distinguishes itself by never forgetting that it exists in a universe where the extraordinary mingles seamlessly with the oppressive realities of fascism.

[Ed. note: This article contains spoilers for Andor Season 2, Episodes 1-3.]