As will surprise no one who knows me, I watched Andor. I say that, for those who don’t know me, because I am madly and deeply in lust with Diego Luna and would watch him read the phone book. However, I am delighted to report that I loved Andor on its own merit and not just because of the talented and impossibly attractive leading man. My husband felt the same – about the show, not my lascivious thoughts about Diego. The set design alone was fantastic. Did you know the designers treated it as a historical period piece to make it authentic to where it fell in the Star Wars timeline? That’s why it looked so perfect. The story is tight as well and played a strong lead-in to what I still feel was one of the best Star Wars spin off films to date. Alas, I must savor every moment of season two because my Diego tells me it will be the last. However, he is also relieved as it will allow him to recoup and move on to other things.
When your day job is spent plotting a rebellion in a galaxy far, far away, it helps to have something that can bring you back down to Earth — or whatever planet you call home.
When he’s not the Empire’s most wanted on Disney+’s “Andor,” Diego Luna grounds himself by returning to the theater. He grew up going with his father, and it has been the constant of his career.
“In a way, it has kept me sane,” says the actor after a long day on the London set of “Andor” Season 2. “Theater is a great way to go back and put your feet on the ground and remind you what this is all about.”
“This is the last season for ‘Andor,’” Luna says. “It is just a two-season show, which is really important for my mental health. But knowing this is the end, I want to enjoy it and get the best out of this experience.”
After he hangs up Cassian’s blaster, Luna said he plans to slow down a bit and take some time off to recoup from the mental Olympics that is the “Star Wars” universe.
Then, perhaps, it will be time for another therapeutic return to the stage. He quips, “There’s one another thing I love about theater: you sleep every night in the same bed.”
If you’re looking for a bed to sleep in every night, Diego, I’m right here! Honestly, I’m glad Andor is ending too. I hope season two is as good as season one. And if they get lightning in a bottle for a third time, they should leave it and walk away. Part of the beauty of Rogue One was that it told such a specific story, but it needed to only be that one story. I was worried when they announced Andor because I really thought they’d screw it up by trying to milk the popularity of Cassian. But they hit the notes they needed to. And we still have to get Cassian to Rogue One so there is a second season of story yet to tell, but yes, that’s it. He’s dead, let his beautiful face float into the galaxy.
Is it the end of Cassian, though? Diego was interviewed by Rolling Stone who was trying to pump him for hints about popping up randomly in other stories. We’ve seen it with these franchises jumping all over the timeline, it could happen. While he acknowledges it’s a possibility, Diego said doesn’t think like that. He didn’t think like that after Rogue One, he knew he died in that film and he made peace with it being his only project. Andor was a happy surprise. But he went on to say this new model of maybe they will, maybe they won’t kind of messes with actor’s heads, leading to “this constant anxiety of not knowing what’s coming.” That sounds kind of horrible. The actor would be constantly wondering if they should take a part or is Star Wars is going to call because that new series takes place in a time where their character is still alive. Not to mention it’s not as much fun if we expect it because it happens all the time now. So if Diego is happy laying Cassian to rest, so am I. Let my baby move on and tend to his mental health. But definitely find another project for him soon so I have more publicity photos to pour over.
Diego is also probably ready to slow down a bit and properly mourn his beloved father, set designer Alejandro Luna, who passed away last December.
Photo credit: Rolando Rodriguez/JPI Studios/Avalon and Cover Images
Nooooooooooooooo!!!!! *throws herself to the floor screaming*
I LOVED Andor and felt it was one of the better spin off shows that just edged ahead of Obi-Wan. Thou am waiting with excitement on Akosha (esp with the recent casting announcement of Thrawn). The thing i loved about Andor was the story telling, the acting, the dialogue and the amazing cast – it was well shot. Also I kinda ship Meero and Karn – they had some hot chemistry.
Plus I want to punch Mon Motha’s husband in the face, repeatedly.
Andor is prestige tv quality. By comparison Madalorian seems cartoonish and Obi Wan is barely watchable. And it hurts me to say those things as a lifelong Star Wars stan and secret lover to both Ewan and Pedro. Diego’s no consolation prize, though. His Narcos role makes me weak. Andor is sexy but when you first know someone as a hot villain, nothing else quite compares.
I was hoping for three seasons. This was so much more than what Obi-Wan was. Mature story-telling and fantastic acting! It showed the world of Star Wars for the people that lived under the heel of the boot. It was world building at its finest.
Completely agree. It was genius story telling that went somewhere different for Star Wars. And I loved all the small details and mundanity of what it was like to work for the Empire, the super detailed rooms and pastel clothes of the rich politicians, the tension in every scene whether against an enemy or between people on the same side. Such good writing, directing, and acting. The best, like Rian Johnson’s Star Wars, always get short shrift in the behemoth, so I wish they would keep taking these chances.
Season one was so perfectly done,very satisfying! 💗
Thank you for giving us more Diego photos to drool over. 🙂
I love Diego. I have been a big fun if all his movies. He came from my generation and his coming of age movies are so great.
Andor was perfection. My family loved it. Diego has a beautiful face and I’ll leave it at that. And if u are lusting after him, do watch Y Tu Mama Tambien
This was the best Star Wars has been since the originals and it is not even close. And a great show period, not just “for Star Wars”. I’ve liked/loved Mandalorian among others, but to have the story I loved as a child engage me so perfectly as an adult? Amazing.
Love Diego. I’d love to see him in so much more, but I also love that for him there seems to be nothing better than flying under the radar and hanging out with his kids. So I’ll just treasure what I get! 🙂
Andor is the best Star Wars show I’ve ever seen. Can’t wait for season 2.
But I get not milking it. They are going to drop us at Rogue One which literally drops us at the beginning of Star Wars.
It’s seamless. And a great excuse to watch Rogue one and that set of movies one more time.
And, how great was Andy Serkis!!
Completely agree with you. I even found it better than the original movies. Andor was a real story about tyranny and fascism. And it was a scary story. So, I liked how seriously they did those topics.
I wasn’t paying attention to Andor when my husband started watching it because I am so over all the star wars prequels and series etc. But at some point I got sucked in and really liked it. and I LOVE rogue one. I think part of the appeal of Andor and Rogue one is that it is telling a very specific story with a very specific end point. So it makes for a tighter and better story because the writers know where the story is going.
He was great in Narcos Mexico too. Makes sense about Andor: tell your story and get out. There’s so much room in Star Wars for new stories
Andor contained some of the best television writing I have ever witnessed,
“Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that.”
I think Andor is the best of all the Star Wars spin-offs. What a well done political thriller that I’m fully invested in. Excellent cast, excellent writing, all around fantastic show. I’m bummed it’s only two seasons but also happy it’ll be short and sweet. Not surprised I love it considering Rogue One is in my top ten movie list.
I couldn’t finish Boba Fett or Obi-Wan. I’m a huge Star Wars fan but the writing has been so poor on some of the shows. I want to love Mandolorian but the writing is weak with so many dropped plot threads this past season. Come on Disney/Star Wars…you can do better!
Andor and Rogue One are, hands down, the best thing to happen to the franchise. Obi was good too. I hope these kinds of explorations are in the pipeline. And for sure I want to see more Diego. I’d give anything to have lunch with the dude lmao.
Having a contained and controlled story arc makes such a difference.
Andor has a story to tell. One story. And the writers and producers and actors and all set folk can concentrate on that; with an end in sight.
It’s something that Canadian and American television should take note of.
IMO it’s also why British TV series are often better. They are done when they story is done.
I totally agree about the British shows. They hardly ever ramble, and it’s why I enjoy them so much.
Midsomer Murders would like a word, LOL.
(I adore MSM for the record.)
We’ve been treated to some fabulous male Latino talent in the last few years: Diego Luna, Pedro Pascal (everyone’s favorite dad in a pinch), and Santiago Cabrera in Picard. Makes me wish I was a couple of decades younger – almost!
@Becks, Lol, right? Dr. Who., Coronation Street, et al.