Disney’s ‘Andor’ collection stuffed with intrigue, suspense – and laser blasters | Films/TV

Within the far, distant galaxy of “Star Wars” films, 2016’s stand-alone thriller “Rogue One” occupies a novel place.

A part of that’s due to the great-idea storyline, which follows the adventures of the Insurgent spies who stole the Demise Star plans, the now-famous MacGuffin that launched 1977’s authentic “Star Wars” film — and, certainly, the entire game-changing franchise together with it.

Simply as essential, although, was the truth that, whereas it was actually a “Star Wars” film, it didn’t really feel as treasured, as cultivated, as beholden to fan service as different “Star Wars” movies.

It was grittier. It was darker. It put the emphasis much less on the celebs and extra on the warfare.

Followers of that movie can be gratified to study that “Andor,” the 12-episode prequel collection debuting Wednesday (Sept. 21) on Disney+, follows the film’s lead. As a lot a spy thriller and heist story as the rest, it’s additionally a fairly darn enjoyable trip, in addition.

A very good story?

Like “Rogue One,” there’s no query this can be a “Star Wars” story. However, judging by the primary 4 episodes despatched to critics for assessment, it’s most likely the least overt “Star Wars”-y “Star Wars” story we’ve seen up to now.

That’s not a foul factor.

Some earlier installments within the franchise have felt as in the event that they have been as a lot about celebrating all that’s “Star Wars” as they have been about telling a very good story. “Andor,” then again, looks like a very good story that simply so occurs to be set within the “Star Wars” universe.

Positive, there are laser blasters. There’s an area alien right here and there. There’s the occasional droid. (That notably contains the introduction of the salvage unit B2EMO, or “Bee” for brief, who might be counted on to turn into the collection’ breakout merchandising star — and whose stutter will remind graybeards of Max Headroom.)

However present creator Tony Gilroy resists the temptation to hit his viewers over the pinnacle with all of it. In these 4 preliminary episodes, I can’t recall seeing a single Stormtrooper, lightsaber, jawa or tumbler of blue milk.

Welcome to wet dystopia

The primary important cameo from a legacy “Star Wars” determine — which has turn into as anticipated by followers as post-credits sequences in Marvel Movies initiatives — doesn’t contain some fan-favorite character. It’s a TIE fighter. And it doesn’t present up till Episode 4.

All that’s to say, the “Star Wars”-ness of “Andor” is incidental to the story, not crucial to it. In actual fact, as Episode 1 opens, it feels extra like a “Blade Runner” spinoff than a “Star Wars” spinoff, set amid the shadowy, rain-streaked, corporate-run dystopia of a planet referred to as Morlana One.

It’s there that we discover Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), the thief-turned-spy who turned a hero of the Insurgent Alliance in “Rogue One.”

Luna returns to the position for “Andor,” which is ready 5 years earlier than the occasions of “Rogue One,” and his title character is as soon as extra on a quest to search out one thing. This time, although, it is one thing extra treasured to him even than Demise Star plans.

Earlier than he finds it — certainly, if he finds it — he’s taken on numerous breathless detours, all stuffed with espionage, intrigue, betrayal and distrust.

Two in a single?

Primarily what we get listed below are two origin tales in a single. The extra distinguished plotline tells how Andor first fell in with the fledgling Insurgent Alliance that — with eventual assist from Luke Skywalker et al — would develop to tackle Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine and their iron-fisted, power-hungry ilk.

The opposite story, informed in flashbacks sprinkled by the principle motion, focuses on how Andor turned Andor within the first place.

Like “Rogue One,” it’s a briskly paced affair, filled with motion and suspense. That’s in step with Gilroy’s résumé, which notably contains writing for the “Bourne” collection, along with Oscar nominations for writing and directing on the 2007 thriller “Michael Clayton.”

Admittedly, these are very completely different initiatives than “Andor.” One factor they do share, nonetheless, is that they’re all fueled by good writing, which is the muse for good storytelling — and which advantages “Andor” enormously.

The said plan right here is for the collection to finish after two 12-episode seasons that lead as much as the occasion chronicled in “Rogue One.”

Based mostly on the primary 4 episodes, I do know I’ll be going alongside for the trip.

Mike Scott might be reached at moviegoermike@gmail.com.