More "Grown Up" Star Wars.

Andor season two was pretty amazing.

The characterizations of everyone were complex, realistic and ended up having them face various moral and ethical quandaries, beyond the usual physical emotional and mental challenges seen in the franchise, 

The story line followed logic, and entwined multiple separate elements, all working together to tell one intricate tale detailing how the early days of the Empire and Rebellion progressed together. 

They made minimal use of the "Stage Craft" virtual settings technology, and often filmed on locations, adding a real world, grounded feel to the places.

It was exceptionally well written, well acted and well shot.

And...

It made me sad.

It was clearly, Star Wars. There were Star Wars looking interiors and exteriors, Star Wars sounds, Star Wars action, and Star Warsy people. 

But those people all faced very real world problems. 

They wrestled with real world moral ambiguity.

They faced real world consequences for their actions and mistakes. 

Battles had real world resolutions, injuries and after effects.

Some of the characters worked in real world type, drudgery filled, mind numbing dead end jobs, while striving to be more important to their side of the fight.

The main good guys had to do some reprehensible things to preserve the cause of the Rebellion.

The featured Imperials weren't powerful conquerors, they were sleazy or shortsighted.

I did enjoy it and was impressed by it...

But this isn't why I come to visit A Long Time Ago in a Galaxy Far Far Away.

Here's an example- 

Look, in the original Star Wars, we all love Luke and Han. (Yes, except you and your irrational dislike of Mr. Ford, Anabelle, I know.)

But it all honesty, they're idiots. (Even George Lucas called them "clowns.")

They're idiots who believe in doing what is right, and often stumble into succeeding while trying to do that. We root for them, and they pull off saving the day, because Star Wars is, at its heart, a fantasy.

In Andor, the well meaning idiots in the early part of the Galactic Civil War end up screwing up very well thought out plans, and often get themselves and and a good deal of other people killed.

So, as fantastically well done as it was, I have enough reality in my reality. For the multiple rewatches that exist in my life, I'll stick with the Fantasy Star Wars.

However, once I finally get caught up on the eighty-seven thousand shows and "making of" documentaries I fell behind on after my ankle surgery, I will definitely include both seasons of Andor in my planned "Watch ALL of Star Wars."

Because it was excellent. And more importantly, because it included the core concept of Star Wars.

The power of Hope.