Andoris one ofStar Wars’best TV shows, if not the single bestStar Warsshow overall, andAndorshowrunner Tony Gilroy’s pitch for season 2 confirms why it was such a success.Andorseason 2 was released earlier this year, and while season 1 was brilliant, season 2 truly cementedAndoras among the best in the franchise.
This season of the show provided brand-new insight into what the Rebellion looked like not from the perspective of the galaxy’s greatest heroes but rather from the eyes of everyday people, be they involved in the boots-on-the-ground effort to fight the Empire or just victims of its cruelty.
While this was a new focus, particularly in terms of what’s been shown in Disney’sStar Warsprojects thus far, it was also an important return to form. In fact, this approach by Gilroy was entirely aligned with George Lucas' original vision forStar Warsmovies and TV shows, and that’s why it worked.
At Its Most Basic, Andor… Is The Story Of Luke Skywalker
Andoris obviously about the titular lead, Cassian Andor, who made his debut inRogue One: A Star Wars Story, butshowrunner Tony Gilroy’sAndorseason 2 pitch reveals that Cassian’s story inAndoris a dead ringer for Luke Skywalker’sinA New Hope. PerCollider, Gilroy’s pitch explained:
“Andor is an adventure story about the rise of a galactic revolution, told through the journey of a nobody who ascends to an epic destiny.”
Luke was ultimately revealed to be part ofthe Skywalker family, and that family was in turn confirmed to be perhaps the most important family in the galaxy of that era. Originally, though, he fit the description of a nobody. In fact, he was arguably even more a nobody than Cassian.
Luke was a farm boy from a remote planet and had little awareness of the issues the galaxy faced. He also obviously ascended to an epic destiny, as he became a major hero of the war and essential to the future of the Jedi. Yet, this precise arc changed considerably for Luke throughout the original trilogy.
Andor Returned To George Lucas' Roots
While Gilroy’s description ofAndorseason 2 may perfectly match George Lucas' original plans forStar Wars, that plan didn’t quite hold. As mentioned, rather than maintaining an inconsequential background even as he rose to prominence in the Rebellion, Luke was revealed to be part of a major legacy in the galaxy, and that changed his character completely.
In that sense,Andoractually returned to Lucas' roots after Lucas himself had somewhat abandoned them. Although there were many aspects ofAndorthat made it such a success, from the brilliant storytelling to the stellar acting, this connection to George Lucas' original plan forStar Warsis absolutely a factor.
