Portside

Andor, Tony Gilroy’s prequel series leading up to the events of Rogue One, is a Star Wars story about the people who would be background extras in other Star Wars stories.

Andor actually shows why the Empire is terrifying. We see the Empire’s strategy over and over again: Extract resources. Displace indigenous populations. Partner with corporations for profit. And when all else fails, suppress dissent — increasingly, as the show progresses, by any means necessary.

Andor showed the growing discontent and anger that gives rise to heroes. In many different ways, for their own individual reasons, the characters of Andor decide to rise up and fight, because totalitarianism is an unnatural state; it breeds resistance.

Star Wars: Andor's first episodes on Disney+ eschew the familiar signs of the Empire in favor of some private corporation - which is part of the plan.