So much has happened since the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. For starters, the once-dominant sci-fi franchise has been exiled from the big screen following a divisive film trilogy. Now, it survives by parading relatively obscure animated characters through its increasingly uninspired streaming shows. In some ways, Andor can be considered a throwback to those halcyon days when Disney’s ownership of Lucasfilm was still fresh and treated with widespread optimism, representing a kind of story not doggedly entrenched in fan service.
Viewers might be surprised at just how separate Andor is from the rest of the Star Wars franchise – including even Rogue One. The opening four episodes screened to critics make very few nods to familiar locales and characters, which is a bold move in a media landscape obsessed with Easter eggs, references and cameos….
