This is not The Mandalorian. It doesn’t begin with an episode filled with action scenes. This show is about building storylines, introducing a bunch of characters, and letting these stories coalesce into something that will become a great television series.

Cassian Andor, in the first three episodes, is a man with a lot of problems. He kind of reminded me of Han Solo when we first met him in that regard. He’s Wanted by the Empire, he’s got a bunch of outstanding debts, and like almost every character in Star Wars in one way or another, he’s got a haunted past.

His path to becoming one of the most important foundations of the Rebellion is being set up fascinatingly. Around him are a wealth of equally interesting characters who are depicted as everyday citizens of the galaxy. There are no whispers of fate or destiny to spring Andor on this life-changing journey. There is no hint of Emperor Palpatine or Darth Vader, no sign of Inquisitors or even simple stormtroopers.

This show reminds us that this is, in fact, a galaxy and that means not everything has to be so recognizable. I appreciate that. The wealth of cameos that we’ve been getting lately has been fun but it makes the galaxy feel small. Andor is getting us back to those unfamiliar roots that I’ve been missing since the first season of The Mandalorian and that’s one of the main reasons why I’ve enjoyed this show so much already.

All in all, the first three episodes are a bit of a slow-burn but the third episode makes it all worth it as the show begins to take off in an utterly transfixing manner. These next nine weeks are not only going to be entertaining as a Star Wars fan but we may also be looking at the best Star Wars series yet!

I thank you for reading and I hope you have a phenomenal day. May the Force be with you.