Andor has proven that politics can occupy a riveting place in the Star Wars universe.
Politics can be a useful tool in a universe-building franchise. Whether it is the Council of Elrond, the Ministry of Magic, or Westeros' Iron Throne, systems of governance often endow fictionalized worlds with greater detail, richness, and complexity. In Star Wars, however, politics have long been a bit of a taboo subject.
The Prequel Trilogy's Politics Are Considered Tedious and Boring The original Star Wars trilogy kept politics straightforward, with a clear Empire-verses-Rebels, good-verses-evil dichotomy leading the plot. Come 1999, however, The Phantom Menace established the prequel's political intricacies from its opening crawl, mentioning "taxation of trade routes," "a blockade" and "a greedy Trade Federation" all in the first paragraph.
The show's first season shares Cassian Andor's heroic journey in tandem with political processes going on around the galaxy. While Andor embarks on his own character-driven quest, others plot the birth of the Rebellion. Unlike the prequels, though, this political plot is not delivered through wearisome dialogue. Sequences of Mon Mothma and Luthen Rael showcase the sacrifice, turmoil, and life-threatening risks needed to stand up against the Empire.
Perhaps the main reason why Andor succeeds in its politics while the prequel trilogy failed is the series' emphasis on character. Saw Gerrera, Mon Mothma, Luthen Rael, Dedra Meero, and Syril Karn all feel fully fleshed out as opposed to the prequels' many one-dimensional diplomats. Even Emperor Palpatine did not really blossom as a dynamic character until Episode III. By contrast, Andor maintains a human-centered narrative throughout.
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