Films and Fiction

Finally, with less than two months to go until it releases, we’ve gotten the first trailer for season two of Andor.

This has been one of the most critically acclaimed Star Wars series on Disney+, and something a lot of fans have been looking forward to. So what can we expect, given what’s shown in the trailer?

Well, this is more of a teaser, and I suspect a more complete trailer will arrive in the coming weeks. As a result, plot and character hints are pretty slim, and it’s more just a compilation of impressive looking scenes. But there are a few things we can glean from it.

If you can get past the grating, ear-bursting rock track that’s been laid over it, for some reason, it all looks pretty decent.

It looks like we’ll be seeing Cassian join up with the Rebel Alliance, which is no surprise, as the show is said to lead right up to the events of Rogue One,which makes sense. It looks like he might be on Yavin 4, though I’m not certain. It’s definitely a green planet, though doesn’t seem to have the jungles Yavin had, so maybe it’s the Dantooine base, or even D’Qar, as shown in The Force Awakens. It also looks like he goes undercover as some sort of politician or wealthy noble.

Now I’m not sure about this, but those fields of wheat were giving me some Lothal vibes (also giving me flashbacks to Rebel Moon, but that’s not important). Could this mean some of the action takes place on the planet, and even involves the Ghost crew from Rebels?

Personally I doubt it. It’s not Tony Gilroy’s style to include characters and locations from other movies and show, just for the fan service, but if there was a good enough reason for it, he might include them, and they were involved in the early formation of the Rebellion. But maybe it’s just another planet with lots of plains.

One person who we know will be back is everyone’s favourite amoral terrorist, Saw Gerrera. Maybe we get to see how he was injured as he appeared in Rogue One.

He’s not the only character coming back either. Luthen Rael, Dedra Meera, Cyril Karn, Brasso, and Bix Caleen, who must have recovered from the torture received in season one. Also Mon Mothma, who’s involved in some odd dance scene, that probably wouldn’t seem so real if it wasn’t set to a banging rock track. No doubt it will look better in the show, but here it just made me think of a music video.

And for those hoping for some more Rogue One references, they are here. We’ve got a brief shot of K-2SO, and also one of Director Krennic, admiring his new Death Star.

As I say, there’s little in the way of plot here, so what happens with all these characters is up for debate. Maybe the way it spans over a five-year period will prevent it from having as solid and focused a plot as season one. For sure they’ll have to speed things up if they want to fit it all in, and can’t keep the slow burn pacing.

This seems reflected in how much this trailer focuses on the action. There are plenty of shots of stormtroopers and starfighters shooting things up, including one of a TIE Interceptor that reminds me of a similar scene with Finn and Poe from The Force Awakens. I wouldn’t say that’s a bad thing, as season one could drag in places, providing it doesn’t come at the expense of the plot.

After the disappointing results of The Acolyte and Skeleton Crew, Disney need to get a hit from this. It’s not likely it will be a big ratings success, as the first season wasn’t, but it could be a critical hit like its predecessor (as the trailer is keen to remind you). And without a doubt, it looks like it’s going to be good. Even so, the decision to release three episodes every week could be a bad one, as it will make it harder to get through, and reduce the amount of time people are talking about it online, potentially lowering the number of new viewers convinced to give it a chance.

I also don’t think that think that this one show will be enough to save the franchise, no matter how good it is, as this is where it will have to end, and the next Star Wars offering will be the second season of Ahsoka…

But I’m still looking forward to it, and hoping it’s a fitting end to Tony Gilroy’s story.

The second season of Andor releases on April 22. Watch the trailer here.

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