The Blob (1958) (Movie Review)

 I’ve loved Science Fiction Cinima for as long as I can remember, and as such, I have a soft spot for genera pictures from the 1950’s. It was a special time in which B-Movies stole the spotlight, and some of which could be regarded as good movies in their own right, despite featuring monsters or outlandish experiments. Movies like “Them!” and “The Incredible Shrinking Man” for example went that extra mile, balancing the campy with quality, and are regarded as classics. 

For today, I wanted to look back on the 1958 Sci-Fi picture “The Blob”, which certainly sounds like your typical disposable double feature picture of the time. In fact, it was released as such, a double feature alongside a movie called “I Married a Monster from Outer Space”. However, unlike its partner, “The Blob” escaped the bottom of the barrel, took on a life of its own, and is now viewed by many as a minor classic of the genera. While personally not one of my absolute favorite Sci-Fi pictures, I’ve always retained fondness for the original movie and view it as a perfect example of how a B-Monster flick can offer a little more than what its generic title would suggest.

  Set in a small Pennsylvania town, a young teenager named Steve is out for a romantic night under the stars with his girlfriend Jane. Things take a turn when a shooting star overhead is actually a meteor, containing a mysterious liquid substance inside. The first person to come in contact with the alien slime is an old man, who’s quicky rushed to a nearby hospital. Through some very well paced build-up, we discover that this slimy entity consumes organic life, increasing its size in the prosses, and growing more red. As it gradually snatches more victims, it continues to grow in size and strength … but it’s also very good at disappearing, as it can slip through any small crack, vent shaft or bottom door space. As such, it’s tricky to convince the police of this slimy threat, when it constantly vanishes from each crime scene, without a trace of its presence. With no options left, Steve and Jane set off into the night, recruiting other teenage friends, and aim to find and destroy the alien substance before their little town becomes its menu.

 Right from the opening title card, paired with its corny “Blob” theme song, this movie sets up a tone and personality different from most other creature features of its time. The movie also draws attention to its 1950’s look and setting, which certainly adds to the film’s appeal. Everything from the vintage clothing and vehicles on display makes this picture an obvious, yet delightful time-capsule of its age. I also like the midnight theater experience on display, with characters watching older horror movies. One very amusing background detail is a poster of the 1956 classic “Forbidden Planet” … except it’s retitled “The Vampire and the Robot”.  

 On a side note, I love that the narrative is set entirely at nighttime, with the final closing shot being the only daytime frame of the film. For me, monster movies are always the most fun when set at night. Despite that, the film is still very colorful and features memorable imagery. Obviously, the effects are dated, and the miniatures couldn’t be more noticeable if they were labeled, and yet … there is a delightful, old-school charm and appeal to these effects. Even though our titular blob doesn’t have any distinct features, and is a rather simplistic design, it still somehow manages to convey a personality all its own. It also shines in a number of highlights, including an encounter in a convenient store, and of course the most memorable scene of all is when the blob attacks the movie theater.    

 This was also one of the first creature-features to have teenage characters as the main heroes, which would eventually become commonplace in the 1980’s. The characters are all basic, but likable, with our lead teen Steve played by Steve McQueen in his very first leading role. He’d of course go on to great success in classic movies like “Bullet” and “The Great Escape”, so it’s fun to see where his career really kicked off. Outside of the novelty, Steve McQueen brings a real charm and likability to what could have easily been a one note performance. Actress Aneta Corseaut, from “The Andy Griffith Show” played girlfriend Jane and is just likable enough … although, she’s victim to some predictable tropes, like tripping over objects so boyfriend Steve can carry her over the threshold.   

 The one aspect of this film that really tries my patience is it’s “Boy Cried Wolf” formula. We see in the opening that our teen heroes get themselves into mischief all the time and aren’t on best terms with the local police. Naturally, they don’t believe their story of a monster from space on the loose, and every time our teen heroes try to convince them of the truth, it goes through the lengthy and predictable motions of the authority figures not believing them. I’ve never been fond of this convention, and it’s generally been overplayed in monster movies, but this movie especially plays a tediously long game of these teens trying to convince the police, only for it to go nowhere.

 Fortunately, things do level out with a decent ending, in which our leads get trapped at a diner. Outside, all the members of this small community band together to rescue them and stop the monster once and for all. Typically, you’d see military forces come in for the climactic showdown, but instead it’s just these local civilians all coming together to save the day, and it’s great. After discovering that heat and electricity have no effect, they discover that cold is the monsters one weakness. Thus, through the combined forces of the town, they encase the Blob in a block of ice and later have it dopped off in Antarctica. We close on one of those cheesy “The End … or is it?” cards that were commonplace of the time.

 There was a sequel over a decade later in 1972, but the less said about that one the better. I do enjoy the 1988 remake of “The Blob”, which had more detailed effects, a faster pace, and is generally more fun to watch. That said, it still doesn’t have the same charm or likable leads of the original, but it’s nice to have both films as options. All that being said, I know “The Blob” is more of an acquired taste, and won’t be for everyone, but I don’t think it should be dismissed as a disposable product of the time. There is satisfaction to be found in the films thrills, it characters and more than anything else, it highlights that simplicity goes a long way in making a good monster movie.

Thanks for reading my review of the 1958 Sci-Fi picture “The Blob” … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!       

  

The Jurassic Park Movies Ranked

 Back when I was a kid, I was obsessed with Dinosaurs and had to check out any movie I could featuring them. As an adult, that fondness still remains with me, and even when they’re not featured in a great movie, they can still make the experience worthwhile on some surface level appeal. 

With the long running “Jurassic Park” franchise, I love the classic original but have never considered any of the sequels or spin-offs on par with the same level of quality. That being said, I’ve always been able to enjoy these franchise instalments as either okay to re-watch once in a while, or safe one and done experiences without being too upset. So, with the series continuing this year, I thought it would be fun to stop and rank all the “Jurassic Park” movies on my own personal scale of most favorite to least favorite … let’s do this.   

 

#1 “Jurassic Park” (1993)

No sense beating around the bush, my favorite movie in this franchise, and by extent, one of my personal favorite movies is the 1993 blockbuster classic that pushed the boundaries of special effects for its time and delivered the best and most real looking dinosaurs caught on film … which as far as I’m concerned still haven’t been surpassed. Based on the Michael Crichton novel of the same name, “Jurassic Park” tells the story of what happens when man messes with nature. Thanks to cloning, scientists are able to bring back the dinosaurs and aim to present them to the world in a big theme park extravaganza. 

Things go south, and a small team of visitors find themselves at the mercy of a hungry T-Rex and a savage group of Raptors. Along with the likes of “Star Wars” and “The Wizard of Oz”, “Jurassic Park” was one of those childhood experiences that helped shape my overall love for movies. While the dinosaurs themselves were a big draw to the film, I’m also very fond of the human cast, with Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum leading the charge. 

Also, Steven Spielberg’s cinematic direction and John Williams iconic music score gives the film a sense of “movie magic” that goes beyond impressive dinosaur encounters. I could talk about this movie all day, but there’s still several more films to mention, so I’ll simplify things by saying the original “Jurassic Park” goes above a fun action adventure … it’s an experience, with brilliant film-making techniques on display, rich themes, and great characters to boot.   

 

#2 “Jurassic World” (2015)

While there’s never been a “Jurassic” sequel or spin-off that’s matched my feelings for the original, I found the 2015 reboot “Jurassic World” to be the most fun and enjoyable. This time we focus on a fully functional Dinosaur theme park, which people visit in droves. However, a mutated dinosaur experiment goes rabid, gets loose, and plunges the park into cause. 

This was a fun premise, which has the build-up, the wonder, and once the action goes down … it’s a fast-moving adventure, with some highly exciting sequences. The new main characters are also charming, with Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard delivering the human anchor required to sustain the experience. The weakest elements are subplots involving human villains aiming to weaponize dinos, and a pair of siblings who occasionally derail the momentum. 

Regardless, this film delivers the highlights … like seeing dinos break loose in a populated park, as well as Chris Pratt riding a motorcycle with a pack of raptors, and a top-tier monster brawl ending with the T-Rex battling the new mutated carnivore. While this reboot lacks the meaningful themes of the original, the film still works as a simple, fun outing in its own right.    

#3 “Jurassic World: Rebirth” (2025)

This entry opens with the majority of remaining Dinosaurs isolated to a chain of islands, and a team set-out to collect various DNA samples, which could be beneficial to human healthcare. It's a dangerous but exciting venture, as our new team collect their samples ... unfortunately, the last stop is an abandoned sight for creating mutant dinosaur monsters, lorded over by the new creature dubbed "The D-Rex". While I'm sure many fans were indifferent to this outing, I'm partial to "JP" films that introduce new main characters, as opposed to constantly relying on familiar faces. 

Not that I don't enjoy seeing hold-over characters, but the experience always feels most fresh to me with new characters experiencing everything. Both Scarlett Johansson and Mahershala Ali are credible talents, who can give one-note characters some needed screen appeal. While this movie has its short comings, including a weak first act, and unnecessary mutant monsters, I still felt this film tried harder to balance a colorful and wonderous experience, with its action and thrills. It was certainly a nice return to old-school adventure films, with a mysterious island setting, MacGuffin's for the heroes to collect, and fun dino themed set-pieces along the way … including a memorable new river raft chase, which was admirably lifted from the original book. 

While the effects were a little dogy, Gareth Edwards direction certainly gave the film a sense of grandeur and spectacle that was well worth experiencing in the theater. All around, this entry didn't accomplish anything extraordinary, but I felt it had its own distinct voice and personality to stand out in this ever-growing series.   

 

#4 “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” (1997)

Following after the events of the original first film, Ian Malcolm (played again by Jeff Goldblum) ventures to the island breading ground of the dinosaurs … but this time, there are no fences, no park, and just nature, with the most dangerous beasts on the loose. On top of that, a group of human villains aim to round up the dinos and make a new park on the mainland. Kind of a “HOT-TAKE” on my part, but I wish director Steven Spielberg made a movie based on Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel “The Lost World”, featuring those characters, and that narrative, as opposed to Michael Crichton’s sequel novel. 

That way, this film could be regarded as a spiritual successor to “Jurassic Park”, with similar dino effects, but could stand on its own, as opposed to being an actual sequel. Also, it would have given Dinosaurs in general more of an identity at the movies, as opposed to mostly being relegated to this franchise. This film also characterized most of the instalments moving forward, with darker tones and more action, but less wonder and magic, which elevated the original. Viewed on its own, this film is simply okay … with Steven Spielberg’s stamp of direction on display, as well as the best Dinosaur effects, which got less impressive afterward. There are also memorable highlights, with the cliffside trailer incident, and a “King Kong” inspired third act with a T-Rex loose in a big city standing out as two of the franchises best set-pieces. 

The downside is how this film overstays it’s welcome, has a clunky narrative, lacks consistent momentum and features a cast of boring human characters, who’ve never won me over … although Jeff Goldblum is at least a welcome presence in the lead role, and Pete Postlethwaite brings dimension to the films antagonistic hunter Roland. All around, this is not a terrible sequel by any means, but even when I watched this as a kid, it never surpassed my feelings of just being OK.   

#5 “Jurassic Park 3” (2001)

After a kid is accidently stranded on a dangerous island full of Dinosaurs, the parents scam doctor Alan Grant (the lead from the first movie) to join on a mission to rescue their son and then get off the island safely before the dangerous new Spinosaurus can make a meal of them. From this point, every instalment works as basic surface level enjoyment, and it’s just a matter of how much each film can appeal to me on that level. 

In many respects, “Jurassic Park 3” is the most straightforward and simple of all the films, with an easy narrative, and set pieces that excite in the moment. The highlight being when the characters are trapped in a bird cage battling the winged Pteranodon’s. This film also dismisses any sense of wonder in favor of more horror elements and action, and as far as that’s concerned … this film is serviceable. 

The biggest strength of the film is Sam Neill back in the lead role of Alan Grant, if it weren’t for him, this would have been a forgotten instalment. Also, the giant Spinosaurus helps give this sequel an identity over the others, and it’s great to have an actual dinosaur as the main threat, versus the overplayed mutated carnivores of the long running “Jurassic World” follow-ups. Admittedly, this is a “so, so” outing, but inoffensive and never overstays it’s welcome.  

 

#6 “Jurassic World: Dominion” (2022)

Following after the events of the movie “Fallen Kingdom”, Dinosaurs have been set loose across the world, and as this film opens, we see various human characters either trying to cope with the change or find a way to set things back to normal. This leads to scientists unleashing mutated insects onto the world, which pose an even greater threat than the dinosaurs, and the only way to stop them is the genes of a cloned child. 

At this point in my ranking, these instalments are safe one-and-done experiences … satisfying to view in the theater, but I’ve never felt any need to rewatch them a second time. It’s a shame for “Dominion”, because this film had the potential to be one of the most fun of the whole series. Personally, I feel the premise of Dinosaurs running rampant around the world would have been more than enough to sustain this film, but unfortunately, it’s bogged down with this messy plot involving clones and mutant insects. 

Still, the film delivers its global excitement, with some cool set pieces involving Dinosaurs on the loose, and I’ll give credit to some peaceful moments of wonder and beauty. Also, there’s certainly a novelty in seeing the original cast crossover with the “Jurassic World” cast. I’d say “Dominion” is the most enjoyable of the C-Tier instalments of this franchise … so take that for what it’s worth.  

 

#7 “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” (2018)

Set some time after the events of the first “Jurassic World”, the park remains abandoned, save for the dinosaurs … who are now at the mercy of a raging volcano, which is threatening to make all the dinosaurs go extinct once again. Thus, the race is on between our heroes rescuing them, by putting them on a different island, and a group of bad guys who want to capture them and sell them off as weapons. 

While there isn’t a “Jurassic Park” instalment that I flat out hate, the 2018 sequel “Fallen Kingdom” is the one that left the smallest impression on me. To put it bluntly, I remember the experience passing for a fine little diversion at the theater, but nothing meaningful stuck with me afterward, and I didn’t give the film much thought again until I put this list together. 

The set-up in the first act with the volcano is okay, but once we segue into the films second narrative, set in the confines of a mansion, with all our dinos being caged and auctioned off … the film all but loses its intrigue and momentum. While there are some fun “spooky house” images on display, the plot also gets a little too messy, with the introduction of cloned humans, and more mutated dino-monsters. For me, this is when the “Jurassic World” spin-off series lost its steam … but I wouldn’t call it completely devoid of entertainment either.   

 Thus, we conclude my ranking, and who knows how many more “Jurassic Park” movies are still to come. I doubt there will ever be one to match my feelings for the first, but I honestly don’t need another one that good again when the original still holds up so well all these years later. As such, I’m always open for a new “JP” adventure, and content to simply enjoy them for the simple escapist fun they are.

Thanks for reading my countdown … and continue to enjoy the movies you Love!  

Andor (2022-2025) (Series Review)

 When it comes to my feelings on “Star Wars”, I’m partial to fast moving adventures, imaginative creatures, alien worlds, exciting lightsaber fights, the force, giant monsters, space battles and appearances from familiar characters. With all that said, I’ve also wanted this series to challenge me and win me over without hitting the bullet points that so frequently appeal to my inner fan boy. The 2022 series “Andor” was just the thing to put me to the test and win me over for things I don’t usually look for in “Star Wars”. This is a slow burning, suspense building, character driven epic that focuses on layered storytelling, timely themes, reflective ideas, and brings in hold-over characters that don’t feel like fan service in the slightest. To get right to the point, I feel this show accomplished something incredible … it became one of the greatest “Star Wars” offerings I’ve ever seen, and it did so without relying on anything I typically want from this franchise.  

  Set roughly a half decade before the events of the 2016 movie “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”, we follow the journey of one Cassian Andor, who starts as a simple guy trying to find his way in a galaxy that’s under the rule of a relentlessly oppressive Empire. However, one unfortunate event after another creates a domino effect that ropes in others to either act against the Empire, or for their Empyreal foes to get more aggressive in tightening their grip on the galaxy. While this wasn’t the first spin-off series to focus on the early days of rebels going against the Empire, it was the first to make it feel real, grounded and framed the Empire as the most ruthless and evil military force ever. Watching the original “Star Wars” trilogy, we always knew the Empire were the villains, but this show dives deep into just how calculating, strategic and horrible they are, along with the nuclear levels of pain and loss they bestow on others.

  Through their oppression, we also get a deep dive into the common folk who lost everything … and then sacrifice even more in the name of rebellion. It’s all very heavy, dramatic and presented like a real thriller, with a quiet, yet aggressive edge. This is arguably the first “Star Wars” series that’s squarely aimed at adults and isn’t trying to pull in younger viewers. While the content at times can be aggressive, it’s mostly adult in tone and presentation. 

There’s very little action, and no real fast-moving adventure material either, as most of the conflicts revolve around character interactions, the choices they make and how those choices affect others. Not only are the themes and narrative grounded, but visually and esthetically … this is the most real looking depiction of the “Star Wars” universe I’ve ever seen. Not only are the locations and sets real, but the attention to detail and the depictions of the communities makes the setting feel like a real time and place, with real inhabitants who’ve lived their lives. I will admit I miss the aliens that typically characterize this universe … but the choice to focus on mostly human characters helps keep the real-world atmosphere consistent.  

All that said, let's take a closer look at our characters …

 

Cassian Andor (Played by Diego Luna)

While the 2016 movie “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” has remained one of my all-time favorite movies in the franchise, the movies secondary lead character Captain Andor never left much of an impression on me, and like many fans, I thought the idea of giving him his own series sounded about as desperate as they get. Fortunately, between a compelling character narrative in this series and a consistently strong performance from Diego Luna, Captain Andor has become both an iconic and well-rounded “Star Wars” character in his own right. 

He’s a perfect example of the “every man” who’s trying to avoid the fighting, and just live a peaceful life, but keeps getting dumped on by the worst of the galaxy … namely, the Empire.  While not the grandest or most heroic hero in the galaxy, Andor feels the most relatable and human, who has to learn the hard way that peaceful living is never an option in the face of an evil military presence.

 

Luthen Rael (played by Stellan Skarsgard)

Naturally, Andor is recruited by an elder Rebel to fight for the cause, and it comes in the form of one Luthen Rael … who’s arguably the most unique rebel character to ever appear in this franchise. While he’s the man spear heading the fight against the Empire, he’s also something of an antagonist in his own story, as he intentionally causes problems for the Empire to retaliate from, and thus the more victims hit by the Empires vengeance, the more sympathizers will support the Rebellion. 

He’s simultaneously both a hero and an evil genius, setting up pillars, just to see them fall over and cause damage, which are harmful to both sides, but beneficial in the long run. He’s also a man whiling to sacrifice everything, knowing he’ll never get anything back for it in return. At the center of this well written character is Stellan Skarsgard, who I’ve seen in a number of different movies and shows, and I feel very safe in saying … this is my favorite role of his by far. He is so dynamic, so layered, and so compelling, I can’t take my eyes off him.  

 

Bix Caleen (played by Adria Arjona)

Introduced as Cassian Andor’s closest ally, as well as his on and off again romantic interest, Bix represents another everyday person put through the ringer … although, arguably even worse than what Andor himself endures. While Andor faces physical hurdles, Bix has mental struggles to endure and concur, from being tortured, to attempted physical assault, to losing loved ones, but ultimately coming out stronger than she was before. Aside from a compelling relationship with our lead, Bix’s greatest qualities are her endurance, and lengthy healing process, to the point where she can finally make a life for herself. She also made for a terrific wild card, as we had no idea what her fate would be. She didn’t appear in the movie “Rogue One”, leaving the characters outcome open for several possibilities.   

 

Dedra Meero (Played by Denise Gough)

Our lead villain for this series comes in the form of an ambitious supervisor of the ISB (Imperial Security Bureau). Something of an inverse of the previously mentioned Luthen Rael, Dedra is about as ruthless and monstrous as they get, but she’s also framed as the protagonist of her own story. She’s surrounded by officers who don’t take their positions as seriously, and her strategic endeavors frequently put her at odds with her peers. Thus, her main goal is to break barriers in her path, elevate her status, show everyone around her how it’s done, and never pay attention to all the little people she stomps into the ground along the way. While just as inexcusable as any foe from this franchise, she’s arguably the most human villain of this series, and subsequently more frightening.  

 

Syril Karn (played by Kyle Soller)

While the previously mentioned Dedra Meero is the shows main villain, Deputy Inspector Syril is the antagonist who sets all the main events in motion. After Andor commits his first crime killing two aggressive officers, Syril is determined to up-hold the law and see justice done. Unlike Dedra, who was a ruthless villain with grounded human traits, Syril Karn is a potentially good guy who just fell in the wrong crowd. 

He really believes he’s serving the wright people, for the right cause, and gradually over the course of the series discovers just how wrong he is. Rather than give him a redemption arc, he becomes a sympathetic individual, doomed to make wrong choices. He’s a unique presence in the show, one who the audience can either root for or root against in equal measure.  

 

Senator Mon Mothma (played by Genevieve O’Reilly)

The last of the main six characters I want to spotlight is Mon Mothma, a high-ranking senator in the Imperial senate, and secretly providing funding for various Rebels in their fight against the Empire. Ever sense the original 1983 classic “Return of the Jedi”, Mon Mothma has been a recognizable face to “Star Wars” fans and ever sense Genevieve O’Reilly was first cast in the role for the 2005 movie “Revenge of the Sith”, she has become one of the most frequently reoccurring character performances in the whole franchise. 

However, it is here in “Andor” that I feel she achieved status as one of the all-time great characters in this series. While she doesn’t engage on the battlefield like other rebels, she arguably sacrifices just as much, and usually in very personal ways. From closing off ties to close friends, to separating herself from her family, and even using her own daughter as a means to an end. 

Like so many previously mentioned characters, she too goes through the ringer and puts everything on the line for a cause she believes in. While all the performances in this show are fantastic, Genevieve O’Reilly’s portrayal of Mon Mothma is on a whole other level of class and emotional depth … truly a hallmark in a series full of high marks.  

 

Other Note Worthy Characters …

I honestly can’t do the whole cast of this series justice, because even outside of the six main players, this show packs some heat with an extraordinary cast of different players, both in recurring, supporting and even one-off roles. Sense this movie ties into the 2016 movie “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story”, we get to see some familiar faces from that film, including Ben Mendelsohn as the villainous Director Krennic, and Forest Whitaker as Rebel extremist Saw Gerrera. 

It took a long minute, but it was very rewarding to have Alan Tudyk return as the voice of the reprogrammed Imperial Droid K-2SO. He was my favorite character from that film, and for the most part I wasn’t missing him in the show, but when he finally showed up at the end … it just felt so satisfying and complete. 

The only major cast change is Benjamin Bratt, who replaced Jimmy Smits in his long-standing portrayal of Princess Leia’s stepfather senator Bail Organa. It was a little distracting to see a different face, but the actor played it well. In total, this show ran for two seasons and had a total of twenty-four episodes. With the characters addressed, I wanted to simplify things by highlighting my personal Top 10 favorite episodes of this series …  

 

#10 “Make It Stop” (S2 – Ep. 22) 

As we segue into the final three episodes of the show, information of the Empires secret weapon, the Death Star, has finally reached the ears of Luthen. The information is terrifying, and he aims to deliver a warning to his allies, but after being backed into a corner by Dedra, he attempts suicide to avoid interrogation. After being rushed to an Imperial hospital, Luthen’s partner Kleya sneaks into the facility, and knowing a rescue isn’t an option, she intends to make sure that Luthen won’t make a recovery. Paralleling her infiltration, we see in flashback that Kleya was adopted by Luthen as a child, and we see how the two shaped each other into the hardened Rebels they’ve become. 

I didn’t mention Kleya before, as she was largely a supporting player, but one so dynamic, interesting and portrayed with fierce devotion by Elizabeth Dulau, to the point where the character took on a life of her own. This episode puts her in the spotlight, and she carries the whole thing in the absence of Cassian Andor himself, as this is the only episode our title character doesn’t appear in. More than anything, this episode works as a “long goodbye” instalment, as we bid farewell to one of the show’s most fascinating characters.  

 

#9 “Daughter of Ferrix” (S1 – Ep. 11) 

Another character I have yet to mention is Andor’s foster mother Maarva, played by Fiona Shaw, who you might remember as the cruel aunt Dursley from the “Harry Potter” movies. In this series, she’s the hardened backbone and tough conscience to Andor, who at this point of the show just wants to avoid the fighting. His mother by contrast is determined to stand up against her oppressors, and encourage others to stand up for what they believe in. As the first season segues into its final arc with this episode, Maarva sadly passes away, and we see how her death impacts Andor, the community of Ferrix and several other characters. 

It’s a suitable and effective calm before the storm, but with just enough momentum to keep things exciting for what comes next. Also, while this show doesn’t utilize space-battles as frequently as other “Star Wars” offerings, this episode certainly has a noteworthy dogfight in space. We see Luthen escape an Imperial patrol by destroying several TIE fighters in an energy beam, and despite being a short sequence … it still backs a punch.    

    

#8 “Harvest” (S2 – Ep. 15) 

After a failed mission, Andor rases home to rescue his friends on their hide out, which is about to be overrun by Imperial forces. Andor’s girlfriend Bix is in an especially uncomfortable situation involving an Imperial officer … but in the end, she manages to save herself before Andor arrives, which becomes beneficial on her road to mental recovery after all she’s endured. Despite being one of the darkest and most controversial episodes … it’s also one of the funniest, as we see both Syril and Dedra, who are both in a relationship, and are having an awkward family dinner with Syrils visiting mother. 

It’s almost like something out of a sitcom, and it’s funny to see two villain characters in this kind of position. We also have Senator Mon Mothma at her daughter’s arranged marriage, which is so emotionally strenuous for her, she has no choice but to get drunk and dance through the night. Without question, this is the episode with the biggest shifts in tone, and that to me makes it stand out as one of the show's most memorable.      

 

#7 “Reckoning” (S1 – Ep. 3) 

In the shows third episode, we finally get the long built up first meeting between Captain Andor and Luthen Rael, who aims to recruit Andor to his cause, and fight the Empire as part of a Rebellion. As the two converse, the town of Ferrix is infiltrated by a lethal security team led by Deputy Inspector Syril, who’s determined to arrest Andor after he gunned down two officers in a previous episode. This culminates into an incredible laser shoot-out set piece in an abandoned factory. 

While laser shoot-outs have been a staple of “Star Wars” sense the first movie, the energy, the ingenuity and creative use of surroundings make this shootout one of the all-time best of the whole franchise. It also highlights the setting of Ferrix as a character in of itself, and how the locals react to armed invaders. While the first two episodes established the slow-burning tone of the series, this third episode delivered the pay off, which will characterize the series moving forward … lots of build-up, and huge payoffs.   

 

#6 “Jedha, Kyber, Erso” (S2 – Ep. 24) 

For the very last episode of the show, we lay the foundation for where the 2016 movie “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” begins. After a thrilling rescue, Kleya is taken to Yavin IV, where Andor and his team regroup and lay out their plans to unveil the Empires secret weapon. Rather than go for more action and spectacle, this final episode wisely scales things back and is a more quiet and reflective outing. 

We see how all of our principal characters have been forever changed by the events of the series, they pay tribute to those who were lost along the way, and we get closure to most of the main story arcs. There really isn’t too much to say, it’s all just very mature and thoughtful in its presentation, and it’s a perfect way to close out one of the most adult and meaningful offerings in the “Star Wars” saga.

 

#5 “The Eye” (S1 – Ep. 6)

After a lengthy preparation, Andor and a small band of Rebels infiltrate an Imperial garrison called Aldhani by posing as troopers in an effort to breach their payroll vault. While the concept of rebels adorning Imperial disguises and infiltrating a base has been done countless times in this franchise, this was the first to put a new spin on things, and made the formula feel unpredictable. As we initially cheer for Andor and his team, things change when we see the Imperial Commandant in charge is a regular family guy trying to do his job. 

Our team then hold the Commandant and his family hostage, even threatening to kill them, and it puts the audience in a position where we don’t know who to cheer for. Tensions mount to a thrilling shootout escape, culminating in an extraordinary sequence of the team flying off into a celestial occurrence in the skyline of the planet. It makes for visually stunning imagery, and a riveting chase sequence, with its own feel separate from other space-chases in the franchise. 

Even when the action concludes, the episode continues to subvert expectations, with casualties, betrayals, and it informs the audience that in this series, there’s nowhere comfortable to catch your breath when your part of a Rebellion, because you’re either fighting the enemy, or scheming against allies. While this episode delivered the spectacle one would expect from “Star Wars”, it also highlighted that this series was going to tilt the formula on its head and deliver something more aggressive and adult in both tone and design.   

 

#4 “Welcome to the Rebellion” (S2 – Ep. 21) 

After the Empire committed massacre on the planet Ghorman, and then framed the incident as an insurrection, senator Mon Mothma choses to stop aiding the Rebels from the sidelines, and elects to get into the battle zone. First things first, she’s going to make her departure known before the senate, so she delivers an empowering speech condemning the Empire for their act of genocide and manipulating the truth. What follows is a deeply thrilling escape from an armed building and no way of knowing who can be trusted as she aims to escape. 

This is where she and Captain Andor meet for the first time in the show, which is highly rewarding in of itself, but to have it amidst this riveting political thriller is all the more special. This episode also delivers an emotional final punch with Bix, and where her relationship with Andor stands. For one final cherry on this episode, it ends with our first proper appearance of K-2SO, which is great, as he and Andor are just as special to me as Han and Chewy.   

 

#3 “Rix Road” (S1 – Ep. 12) 

Here it is, the final episode of season one, and while the series had subverted my expectations to this point, it was here in the first season finale I realized … I’m watching one of the great new chapters in “Star Wars” history. Andor returns home to pay respects to his late mother Maarva at her funeral on Ferrix, and also to help his friend Bix who’d previously been imprisoned. Little does he know that both his enemies and even allies are planning to kill him at the event, making this funeral one big death trap. However, as the people of Ferrix gather and pay tribute to Maarva’s memory, everyone witnesses a passionate message of resistance that she left behind, which inspires the masses to turn on their Imperial oppressors. 

As such, even in death, Andor’s mother can lead a Rebellion. While all of our main characters are present in this episode, the real star is this whole community of people, as we see their loyalty, and their devotion to one another on full display. It dawned on me that in all my years of watching “Star Wars”, I’ve only ever been cheering for individual characters, and have never once cheered for an entire joined community in one big, exciting uprising against their oppressors … and that was something special!     

 

#2 “One Way Out” (S1 – Ep. 10) 

Back in season one, a most frustrating story arc was a lengthy series of prison episodes, in which Andor was unjustly apprehended and placed in an ocean prison, where he’s forced to work as a technician. Andor is at odds with a fellow cellmate named Kino, who’s convinced he’ll be leaving soon, and harshly treats Andor like an underling to impress his Imperial captors. Through a series of events, Kino learns he’ll never be released and puts his anger aside in favor of aiding Andor in one great big prison escape. 

Upon first viewing, I couldn’t stand watching these episodes, as they were relentlessly slow-burning, claustrophobic, and I didn’t know if it would deliver anything that satisfying … but then the payoff came, and boy howdy … did this ever pay off! The whole prison escape is brilliantly staged, pulse pounding, thematically rich, and at the center of it all is Andy Serkis in his emotionally devastating portrayal of Kino. Despite being exclusive to these prison episodes, both the character and this performance are extraordinary, and it’s here in this episode that he makes a lasting impression. There’s a bittersweet twist with his character, and his fate is left unresolved, but it somehow just works. 

The riveting prison escape alone made this a top-tier episode … but the big cherry on the cake is this one final scene in which Luthen is catching up with a fellow Rebel spy, who both reflect on the nature of sacrifice, and how their trapped in the lives they’ve chosen. This leads to Luthen’s famous speech, that he gave up everything he is for a sunrise he’ll never see … and just like that, this episode is one of the great offerings of this series.   

 

Before I reveal my Number One favorite Episode, here are some quick honorable mentions …

“Announcement”

“Who Else Knows?”

“One Year Later”

“What a Festive Evening”

“Messenger”

#1 “Who Are You?” (S2 – Ep. 20) 

At the beginning of season two, we’re introduced to the planet Ghorman, which contains a rare mineral crucial to the development of the Empires dreaded weapon The Death Star. Over the course of several years, we see the Empire play a long game of infiltrating the population, squeezing the locals, and all leading up to this moment in which they aim to massacre the populace. To make this act of genocide as malicious as possible, their news coverage of the event frames the Empire as victims to a relentless and violent mob that went out of control. While we saw the Empire take aggressive action in the movies … like blowing up an entire planet … this episode makes them even more sickening, as they strategically force the locals to go violent, and thus giving their armed troops the means to open fire on crowds of people. 

Of all the action I’ve experienced in “Star Wars”, nothing has ever turned my stomach or got my heart racing more than being caught in this deadly riot and ensuing massacre. Not only is the sequence relentlessly brutal but the buildup to it is equally terrifying, as we the audience know everything is being set in place for his horrible event … and it’s just a matter of what’s going to set things off. Amidst all the cause is Captain Andor, and deputy Syril, who’s finally seeing the Empire as the villains they really are and has a moment to reform … but elects to take out his anger on the man who started it all. 

Without going into specific detail, the ensuing confrontation between Andor and Syril is brilliantly executed, as it subverts expectations, and delivers a fitting climax to one of our prominent characters. This episode as a whole is one of the most shocking and suspenseful things I’ve experienced in a series … let alone a “Star Wars” series, and felt like it went beyond anything this franchise had ever delivered before. It’s an episode that left me breathless and is hands down my favorite episode in this excellent show.    

 In the end, the series “Andor” did something I feel the “Star Wars” franchise hasn’t done in a long time … it surprised me. This was a much-needed departure from the typical space-adventure formula, or reliance on legacy characters, or even big spectacles. 

More to the point, "Andor" succeeds on the things that make for a great series, including a lived-in setting, compelling human drama, practical sets, meaningful themes, built-up tension, and proper payoffs. While the pacing burns a little slowly and never captures my figurative "comfort-food" of the franchise, it's still nevertheless a mature direction for expanded "Star Wars" material and can be listed as a generally great show outside of an established franchise. Another way to phrase it is comparison this show to another successful spin-off "Star Wars" series ... “The Mandalorian”, which was a mostly great “Star Wars” series, while “Andor” was a great show … that just happened to be a “Star Wars” series.  

Thanks for reading my review of the 2022 Sci-Fi saga “Andor” … and continue to enjoy the shows you Love!