Loftwings and Demons

I've watched all of the 8 episodes of Andor currently available in two days and now I have a new Star Wars obsession.  Andor shows such a deep understanding of what came before in how it portrays the details of its worldbuilding, while at the same time deftly incorporating new and fresh ones.  While I am disappointed about Andor's Separatist past having (apparently?) been changed, the show managed to do this without stripping him or the Republic or the Rebellion of any complexity, so I will forgive them for it.

Diego Luna's acting is spectacular.  The way he uses facial expressions to characterize Andor, the emotion he puts into his lines, it's all so incredibly excellent, and serves to underscore the already brilliant dialogue and backstory.  I love how his expression conveys both his utter decisiveness when he kills someone, but also this mixture of shellshock and regret.  Killing for Andor may be a necessity, but it isn't something ever taken lightly.  Antonio Viña, who plays Cassian as a child, is also excellent.  Though all the other actors put in a brilliant performance too.  I feel like even a lot of the minor characters on this show who are introduced and die within two or three episodes are more richly  detailed than the main characters in other Star Wars shows.  

The way this show handles politics is exquisite.  It manages to hint at the crimes of the Republic and show the moral compromise of the Rebellion without ever minimizing the uncompromising fascism of the Empire.  This is the Empire as evil as we've ever seen it, but evil in the very real way of exercising a stranglehold with its politics and military might, not via evil space wizards fighting with laser swords. Not that I don't love me some evil wizards with laser swords, but that isn't an evil I can take seriously.  I love the juxtaposition of the scenes showing the lavish environs of Mon Mothma and the senators with the Rebel fighters who have been 'living on roots for months'.  I love how this show handles Mon Mothma and her complexity as both a politician and an individual.  Also love the leftist infighting.  Love you Saw, great to see you again!

Also, Coruscant, my beloved!  You've returned!  And they said this show didn't have fanservice!

Not to mention the visuals and music are so hauntingly beautiful at times that I feel that even by themselves they raise the bar for Star Wars.

Anyway, I feel like I could write a whole book analyzing just these eight episodes.  I don't know where Andor will take us in the future, but it's got an amazing start.  This show feels like it was made to cater so specifically to my particular preferences I can hardly believe it exists, lol.