Stellar Andor is far superior to the usual space junk

Disney’s Star Wars spin-off series is first-rate TV, with scenes of incredible spectacle and a decent cast, says Louis Chilton. In another universe, it would be all anyone was talking about

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Things move differently in space. Absent the earthly nuisance of air resistance, objects are free to travel through the vacuum with inertial motion: never stopping until something stops them. So if you ever find yourself floating up there, holding on to precious cargo a gold watch, say, or a smiling baby - you'd better not - fumble it. Once it starts floating away, there may be no getting it back.

This is the image that sprang to mind while I was watching the Star Wars spin-off series Andor, which concludes its brilliant two-season run tomorrow. An expansive, adult-oriented prequel to 2016’s Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the Disney+ series focuses on Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), a rebel spy during the pomp of the fascist Empire. Tony Gilroy (The Bourne Identity) serves as showrunner; Adria Arjona, Stellan Skarsgård, Genevieve O’Reilly and Denise Gough rank among the superb supporting cast.

It’s no exaggeration to say that Andor is the best Star Wars property in years – since 2017’s The Last Jedi, at least, and arguably since 1980’s The Empire Strikes Back. It’s all thrilling set pieces, distinctive and memorable characters, dextrous plotting and taut dialogue.