4/5
A Rogue One.
12 Episodes. Starring: Diego Luna, Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Stellan Skarsgård, Denise Gough, Genevieve O'Reilly, Faye Marsay, Varada Sethu, Elizabeth Dulau, & Fiona Shaw. Created By: Tony Gilroy.
Rebels rejoice! Your 'Star Wars' story is here. And this one has gone Rogue, like an X-Men character with a Southern accent you just can't touch. Even if everyone on social media these days are seemingly out there to prove who can hate the hardest (don't they know it's all about who can love the longest...take it how you want?). The streaming service Disney + getting it in the neck the most for their Marvel and Star Wars shows. Simply because they want to embrace diversity...finally. 'Obi-Kenobi'. 'She-Hulk' and 'Ms. Marvel' for the comic flip. And all these shows are great, no matter the hate. Even 'The Book Of Boba Fett' that ended up playing like 'The Mandalorian' season three. Even though it seems that fans can get enough. Of everything except the negative comments, that is. And you would think the super cute Lucasfilm and Studio Ghibli crossover of 'Grogu and Dust Bunnies' for their collective calm, this month, would be their moment of 'Zen'.
Fighting back against a Death Star of trolls is the new 12-part 'Andor' series. A slow-burning prequel to the best of the new Star Wars movies and stories, 'Rogue One', starring Felicity Jones' Jyn Erso (who has her own brilliant backstory with the 'Rebel Rising' novel) and her band of brothers. Looking to change the momentum as your favourite outlaw Cassian Andor looks to bring the wild west back to the galaxy far, far away. Especially in the season's final frame, promising more to draw like samurai saber swords. Credit the great Diego Luna ('Narcos: Mexico', 'Elysium') for making his character and this arc so compelling, despite the fact that we know his fate. Still, it's not too late to start a new strand of stories. Because 'Andor' of course is also a prequel to 'A New Hope' and there's a lot of fear to be mined amongst the desperation between the dark side and the fire of the resistance, striking like a match.
Just when you thought this was building towards something ('Rogue' and 'Hope', of course). There's something more on the horizon, like Marvel's 'Secret Wars' set to come. That's because 'Bourne' screenwriter and director of the magnificent 'Michael Clayton' starring George Clooney at his best, Tony Gilroy has crafted a space opera of a political spy-thriller that puppet strings many matters and actors and keeps all those plates spinning without our heads doing so in CG. The special effects of the aerial dog-fights have no tie. But it's the drama that it auteur and anything but amateur in this franchise of sandbox ready toys. There's more big names here than a comic convention. Some we simply can't spoil, even if they are meant to be or not. One A-lister from a previous franchise film and another Academy actor on the form of his life in the mechanics of a prison subplot that reminds you of the wheels and apparatus quote of Mario Savio's 'Body On The Gears' (previously used perfectly by the 'Wretches and Kings' of Linkin Park). What are they building here?
As if you didn't know, as this show does something truly special with its world mining and character crafting. A seriously elite Stellan Skarsgård is the most valuable player in a class cast for any list of all-stars, new and old. The master of disguise, normally so good at fitting in perfectly, undeniably stands out here. Olivier award winner Kyle Soller oozes vile menace all whilst living at home with his mother. DOUBLE Olivier award winner (this production is not messing around) Denise Gough owns everybody. 'Pacific Rim: Uprising', 'Triple Frontier', '6 Underground' and 'Morbius' star Adria Arjona finds her moment. And 'Revenge Of The Sith' and 'Rogue One' player Genevieve O'Reilly returns to this legend with amazing acclaim. Yet it's 'Game Of Thrones' and 'White Queen' star Faye Marsay, 'Now You See Me 2' breakout player Varada Sethu and Elizabeth Dulau (who you could swear you've seen before, but won't forget from here on out) who demand more. Even with a legend like 'Killing Eve's' Fiona Shaw (she's still the cake nosing hero who saves the day in 'Three Men and a Little Lady' to us) bringing a powerhouse performance to the proceedings. But in this Galactic Empire, we know the name of this show. Luna's legacy is set in a stone that ground breaks representation on all sorts of playing fields, as he levels the competition and critics now hearing crickets. And more from 'Andor'? A galaxy far, far away fan can only hope. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story', 'The Book Of Boba Fett', 'The Mandalorian'.
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