Cinebinge / Andor 104-106

Has George seen the newer "Star Wars" movies? He says he cannot think of a good person in the villains' ranks. Finn started as a stormtrooper in "The Force Awakens"

Darren Harrison

2025-10-21 22:21:50 +0000 UTC

I've watched this show so many times now, I finally understand they left the Alkenzi line open on purpose so that they'd know when they've been alerted of the vault breach and going to send TIE fighters. Once Cinta heard them saying we saw the vault breach light, she cut all lights outside, letting gorn know it's time to go, so then gorn could join the crew to hitch a ride, that's why he said he was surprised they're still loading and he was scared they'd already be leaving, but Vel swears there's 2 min left. But everything was running behind and that's why kimzi got there before they could take off.

Susie Lee

2025-09-26 03:37:38 +0000 UTC

I could be wrong but I believe a lot of the Aldhani stuff was based on the Highland clearances that took place in Scotland. What with all the Aldhani stuff being filmed at Cruachan Dam in Argyll it kind of makes sense. The English forcibly removed Highlanders from their lands and made them move to the lowlands, pretty much exactly the same as is shown in the show. Also the head of the Aldhani is played by Scottish actor David Heyman.

Fraser

2025-08-23 22:16:14 +0000 UTC

They definitely don't realise

Fraser

2025-08-23 22:11:06 +0000 UTC

Simone: "Is this the most basic TV show intro we've seen"

W T

2025-08-19 19:44:11 +0000 UTC

ironically, the only movies really trying to break with the tradition of character caricatures (which all the other ones definitely are), are the prequel/OT movies. You also got the Stormtrooper "breaking good"

W T

2025-08-19 19:31:17 +0000 UTC

Since you are watching the story of a rebellion, you should check out "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1943). It's a film version of Hemmingway's novel. If you are interested in something to read, the novel is even better than the film.

James Melton

2025-08-18 00:11:13 +0000 UTC

Very different sci-fi films: "The Martian" and "The Thing From Another World" (1951)

James Melton

2025-08-17 16:35:29 +0000 UTC

Interesting that you are comparing sci-fi and their differences. Maybe the question to ask is "What makes something sci-fi?" Here's where I lose most people. Sci-fi is a story genre where the essence of the conflict rests on new scientific knowledge and resulting technological and social changes. So what is scientific knowledge? Again I lose people here but, The Force is not scientific knowledge. They tried a little with the midichlorian invention but that was never mentioned in the first three films and basically basically like The Force Jr. (What is magic #1 about? Oh well you see it comes from magic #2 - yea that's not really science) It is pretty obvious the midichlorian idea was patched in because people were saying: The Force is just some sort of magic and Star Wars is not at all sci-fi. It's a space-based fantasy story and if it was set on a planet and everyone wore furs and leather and used steel swords and shields, it would be exactly the same story. No science needed. OTOH, you would be hard pressed to create Star Trek with no science. The problems they face and their resolutions generally rest with scientific ideas. Some slightly space-magic things might be Spock's ability to do the mind-meld or when they find a place with portals to other times. But the overall story pattern was weighted towards science and away from magical happenings. Obviously genres form a continuum, and Star Wars has a lot of sci-fi elements about it. But the essence of the story is The Force and how there's a struggle to keep it in balance. To me that story has always been about space fantasy, not science fiction... until "Andor". That's what makes this series especially interesting to me. It feels like all the conflicts and their resolutions in this series are based on science fiction. No one ever presses the magical The Force button to make this series work. So for me "Andor" is the only real sci-fi story I've seen in Star Wars land.

James Melton

2025-08-17 16:16:55 +0000 UTC

Interesting question at the beginning. So I've decided to spend the first 20 mins of this reaction creating a science fiction classification system: Time period: Historic - Present - Future - time travel - non-specific (e.g. in a fantasy setting). Primary location: Earth, another planet, space-only, space and multiple planets, 'other' (inc. other dimensions or fantastical places'). Population: Extra terrestrial - Human only - AI/robots - (any or all) Tech: Hard scifi (currently plausible tech only) - pseudo science (inc. speculative tech) - science fantasy (essentially magic) Settings might contain a mixture of these charateristics within each sub-theme. You can deal with similar themes within different sub-genres, but I think if you find something which fits none of these characteristics compared to something else, then it's about as 'opposite' as you can get in terms of science fiction - even if they cross over in other non SF-specific genres (e.g. action, horror, comedy etc). I think Star Wars and Jurassic Park are pretty far apart in terms of science fiction themes. They contain very little overlap in most categories, despite both featuring some big 'monsters' as Jurassic Park's are essentially just Earth animals.

Ian Tellam

2025-08-15 23:14:24 +0000 UTC

I've been waiting for either of them to comment on the fact that the intro music changes on every episode

Doug the Movie Guy

2025-08-15 21:36:56 +0000 UTC

Do Simone and George realize the senator is Mon Mothma who lead the rebels in Return Of The Jedi??

Gary Poussard

2025-08-15 21:11:32 +0000 UTC

Yeah. I’d nearly drop to two episodes a week at this point so you get 9&10 and 11&12 together.

GoodManTheDan

2025-08-14 07:46:06 +0000 UTC

Another thing about Skeen betraying the team that’s easy to miss is he did basically let Taramyn the ExStormtrooper die during the shootout in the vault hanger with the freighter. at 33:44 Vel says “I’m pinned” down and taramyn looks at skeen says “Cover me” and nods Skeen kind of nods back but not really. so taramyn starts moving up in the open Skeen pokes out Shoots twice then goes immediately back to hiding. yes the second trooper took a shot at skeen but he already hid back before the trooper even shot and Skeen Didn’t do Any covering fire just poked out shot a guy and hid and kinda let taramyn get shot.

Evan

2025-08-14 05:52:37 +0000 UTC

Simone the milk has been blue since 1977.

DarthFatass

2025-08-14 03:35:29 +0000 UTC

Here to say 1: Pretty sure the latest site update fixed the full screen problem I was having before? It was literally the only complaint I had, because otherwise your site is genuinely impressive and so useful. But now it feels perfect. Thank you all for taking the time to create it! But also 2: for next shows I’d love to see Succession or the Good Place after Andor Season 2.

DDK

2025-08-14 02:26:44 +0000 UTC

Simone, asking why the O in ANDOR is negative space is a really good question. It has really clever symbolism, much like how the Andor theme is in a minor key but has a brief ray of light in the form of a major D chord before fading back into a resolution.

Lex Kuzma

2025-08-13 23:10:57 +0000 UTC

Endor Storm Trooper aka Biker Scout.

REDR58

2025-08-13 21:09:59 +0000 UTC

For the opening question I'd put out Buck Rogers and Blade Runner.

Michael LaPorte

2025-08-13 20:25:27 +0000 UTC

Alex Lawther is great; it's a shame your first experience of him was THAT guy in Black Mirror. He's in 'Ghost Stories' with Martin Freeman, which is literally nightmare fuel, and a great black comedy series 'The End of the F***ing World'

Odd Thomas

2025-08-13 19:39:44 +0000 UTC

Just so you’re aware the next 3 episode arc is 8-10. Episode 7 is kind of a bridge episode. So if your next block is 7-9, don’t be surprised if it feels a little off at the end.

oldcdog

2025-08-13 15:58:09 +0000 UTC

The masks/characters shown during the intro are: Vader, BB-8, C-3PO, Kylo Ren, R2-D2, Rebel Pilot, Endor Storm Trooper, regular Storm Trooper, Cassian's droid.

Scott CineRam

2025-08-13 15:36:04 +0000 UTC

Dark

Davide Figus

2025-08-13 14:30:38 +0000 UTC

I'm not sure if you were asking for recommendations for a long or short show but if it was for a short one then how about the 6-part UK political thriller 'State Of Play' from 2003, about a newspaper journalist investigating the death of a politician's research assistant. Starring among others David Morrissey, Kelly MacDonald, Bill Nighy, James McAvoy and Benedict Wong (in a smaller role). It also got adapted by Hollywood into a Russell Crowe film of the same name which was ok but not as good.

Spacedone

2025-08-13 12:38:10 +0000 UTC

> the blue milk was first seen in "A New Hope" And if you go to Galaxy's Edge in Disneyland, you can buy both the blue and green milk. Here's the menu; they're pricey: https://disneyland.disney.go.com/dining/disneyland/milk-stand/menus/snack/ Bunch of pictures of the milk orb sipper from that menu: https://wdwnt.com/2023/06/photos-new-milk-orb-sipper-now-available-in-star-wars-galaxys-edge-in-disneyland/

Gary Fixler

2025-08-13 09:10:56 +0000 UTC

Waiting for the moment George realizes that Dedra is the voice of Yennifer.

Lowlows

2025-08-13 08:01:32 +0000 UTC

That sheep breed is real! They're called Jacob sheep. They have demon horns. https://www.google.com/search?q=Jacob%27s+sheep&tbm=isch It's amazing how many sheep breeds there are, and how different they all are. I never really noticed until I got into fiber art stuff, and started following shepherdesses online, and learning how to turn wool into yarn. They're like dog breeds. Here are some crazy ones: Beltex sheep look like cow bulldog pigs: https://www.google.com/search?q=beltex+sheep&tbm=isch Fat tailed sheep have ridiculous badonkadonks: https://www.google.com/search?q=fat+tailed+sheep&tbm=isch Valais Blacknose Sheep look like Muppets! https://www.google.com/search?q=Valais+blacknose+sheep&tbm=isch (NOTE: Simone, don't look! They're too adorable)

Gary Fixler

2025-08-13 07:41:01 +0000 UTC

This is not a spoiler and the show never explicitly makes this clear, but I feel it is implied that Cinta killed the remaining hostages before walking out of the control room, since they did see who she was and she could not leave any witnesses behind to just walk out of the garrison. Future episodes will show more of her character and suggest this would be a plausible action in line with how they portray her in the show later.

The Real Andrew Kim

2025-08-13 06:48:18 +0000 UTC

You know Stellan Skarsgard was in The Hunt For Red October, the captain of the Russian sub chasing Ramius. You heard it here folks, SImone thinks all old men look like Palpatine. Have you guys noticed the music at the beginning changes each episode? To add to the complication, did you realize that Imperial Information Officer is the voice of Yennifer? Funny you brought up Gwent in the conversation. I don't think Skeen stealing the loot was initially part of his plan, but him falling back on whatever path that led him to the jail system makes sense. I am so looking forward to continuing this journey with you guys.

David Lonewolf Wright

2025-08-13 06:19:49 +0000 UTC

I probably only know her name because I read some of the extended universe books as a kid, she's a really minor character barely even mentioned by name just going by the mainline movies even though in-universe she's important.

dys

2025-08-13 05:49:06 +0000 UTC

I'd never placed where I knew her from before! Probably because she's the same age as me, and is actually playing an adult character here, but she looked like she was like 16 just 10 years ago in that GoT role so I would never have thought an actress who looks my age now could have been the Waif.

dys

2025-08-13 05:43:06 +0000 UTC

He was already in his mid-to-late 40s then, and now he's 74 but could still pass for 60, so he's kind of appeared middle-aged for most of his career in English-language film.

dys

2025-08-13 05:36:37 +0000 UTC

Stellan Skarsgard is the best part of this show, hes sooooo good and George & Simone, who HAVE seen a younger Stellan when you did Good Wili Hunting (1997) remember?

Khan1001

2025-08-13 05:06:36 +0000 UTC

Episode 104: Star Wars' visualization from real space to hyperspace with the star-lines and hyperspace tunnel always has been and still is the coolest such FTL effect in sci-fi. Simple, but effective. Listening to Lucien talking about going after the Empire in a big way that matters, a way that will ultimately lead to the events of ROTJ, was undercut for me quite a bit knowing that the shitty sequel trilogy just tosses it all aside when "somehow Palpatine returned" so in order to stifle such negative feelings I have towards SW Episodes 8, 9 and 10, I simply pretend they didn't happen and currently Star Wars canon ends for me with ROTJ. Which is really too bad as those movies have some fine actors, performances, action and are the best-looking SW movies right next to Rogue One. Anyway. It's always good to see more of Coruscant, my favorite location in all of Star Wars. If there were a way to visit any SW location for real, that would be my first stop. Episode 105: Ah, the start of the Syril Cereal Saga. Riveting stuff. Thus is the first of my entries in "What I Don't Like About Andor" but I will have to save that for a bit later. Simone, the blue milk was first seen in "A New Hope" when Luke was eating with his aunt and uncle in their home. Remember when the Rebels are drilling and marching around and Andor tells the others how they should keep their weapons on the outside of their formation and everyone agrees it makes sense...? He's right, especially for someone who isn't military. Taramyn the ex-Stormtrooper should DEFINITELY know that and not need to be told and he certainly should not have Andor and Nemik in the rear with their riles pointed at each other's head! Yes, yes, the jokes about Stormtrooper aim are obvious, but it's still nonsense. Episode 106: And I guess Andor (and the writers, director and everyone else) forgot the weapon discipline advice because in this episode their little group is marching around behind the pilgrims with the muzzles of their blasters pointing at each other's waist. Then later, when they stand off to the side line abreast, they are still pointing their rifles at each other. You keep your weapon's muzzle facing away from your squadmate in such a close formation. It's not just for safety either, because if you are marching around like that and someone attacks from either flank, you now have to swing your weapon out from the center to bring it to bear on the threat when it should have already been on the outside. I'm rather convinced that the older Expanded Imperial Officer who was complaining about his sash being too small was making an excuse, especially as his wife mentioned his weight gain. I doubt very much he really thinks the material shrunk in transit.

REDR58

2025-08-13 04:46:36 +0000 UTC

I came here to comment that! They even mentioned gwent during the reaction 😂

Green Nolan

2025-08-13 04:36:40 +0000 UTC

Dunkirk vibes for sure.

Spencer

2025-08-13 04:24:01 +0000 UTC

I don't know if it's opposite of sci-fi (temporally?), it's historical fiction, Pillars of the Earth, it's a miniseries about a town in late medieval England and it's awesome, also has a sequel miniseries that I think is equally awesome, World Without End. Someone else caught it but Vel is the Waif from GOT, I clocked her immediately by her voice, it hasn't really changed. And yeah that was Kyburn (probably misspelling his name). I had heard the writing in this show is the beating heart, plus great performances, so far I'm not disappointed in the least, so many great lines in these episodes.

MacGuffinStuff

2025-08-13 02:47:55 +0000 UTC

Skeen’s tattoos is what Simone catch they are prison tattoos, the one with a hexagon with Aurebesh letters of KH is for the Krayt Heads a prison gang from Tatooine (Krayt Dragons are from Tatooine one of few big beast natives) with prison bar numbers; the other one with the five fingers figure “By the Hand” suggests he was part of an incarceration group but we still don’t know a lot about it’s purpose. Take account of Nemik’s manisfesto it has a very personal meaning from his time fighting the Empire. Its too long I myself couldn’t memorize it 😅

FranciscoGios

2025-08-13 01:46:39 +0000 UTC

I would add Luther and Psych

John

2025-08-13 01:45:23 +0000 UTC

There is a movie version of Harrison Bergeron

John

2025-08-13 01:44:43 +0000 UTC

Good one!!

FranciscoGios

2025-08-13 01:22:43 +0000 UTC

Fantastic show. Right up there with Adventure Time.

Jesse Coombs

2025-08-13 01:22:23 +0000 UTC

The Good Place is so good, especially if they like Parks & Rec (or Community).

Jesse Coombs

2025-08-13 01:18:28 +0000 UTC

Deadwood is so great and I'm really eager to see George's reaction to Wu.

Lex Kuzma

2025-08-13 00:38:20 +0000 UTC

The complete opposite of this show. A western. Maybe Deadwood. It is a classic show.

Steve

2025-08-12 23:51:09 +0000 UTC

Ok, I'll be that guy ... Star Wars isn't sci-fi, it's fantasy

Michael Johnson

2025-08-12 23:43:50 +0000 UTC

Yep. there's a hydro power station inside the mountain. You go in through a tunnel like in Wargames (at least that's what it felt like when I was a kid).

Bobz

2025-08-12 22:54:10 +0000 UTC

He was 46 in Good Will Hunting, not sure I'd call that young per se.

Tay Schumaker

2025-08-12 22:24:35 +0000 UTC

..in which Simone decides these Empire characters might not be the greatest.

Robert Cooper

2025-08-12 22:24:25 +0000 UTC

I’ll say this… gravity is not sci-fi. It takes lace the year it came out and offers no speculation to the future of the world or technology. It is just a fiction movie that takes place in space and its science is actually pretty bad. The movie fundamentally doesn’t understand its own title.

djKENTO

2025-08-12 22:13:20 +0000 UTC

Vel (Faye Marsay) is also from Game of Thrones. She played the Waif, Arya's not so friendly trainer (and later would-be killer) from the House of Black and White.

Steve Mercier

2025-08-12 22:07:35 +0000 UTC

'Good Will Hunting' and 'Ronin' have a cool young Stellen, and are excellent. 'In Order of Disappearance' is a bit later, but great lead performance from him (also remade with Liam Neeson as 'Cold Pursuit'). Back to this, keeps building finally to some good tension, with good payoffs and consequences, this quarter is already looking up. It's still a few too many abrasive characters for me, but I see the scruffiness of the rebels and fumbling of the empire ones is the point. Fine so far, the show is cooking with the attention to detail.

Philipp Roensch

2025-08-12 22:06:43 +0000 UTC

It is a direct prequel, so some characters certainly do have plot armor. But yeah, apart from the few characters we know about from stories that take place later (Cassian and Mon Mothma specifically), it's the kind of show that doesn't undermine its own story just for the sake of making sure your favorite characters survive.

Justin Leone

2025-08-12 22:00:12 +0000 UTC

Succession is probably the 2nd best show HBO has ever made, right behind The Sopranos. It’s brilliant.

Martin

2025-08-12 21:32:58 +0000 UTC

I think the opposite of sci fi would be, for lack of a better term, the "Hallmark" genre. No heroes journeys or calls to adventure. No thoughtful explorations of philosophical or intellectual concepts whatsoever. Absolutely NO faffing about in space, and if time travel is ever involved, it's never more than a narrative device meant to show someone the error of leaving the small town they grew up in.

Justin Leone

2025-08-12 21:09:38 +0000 UTC

Really hoping that The Good Place is on your long shows poll. Though I'd hesitate to call it a long show. Its 4 seasons have a run time only a few hours longer than Andor.

Justin Leone

2025-08-12 21:00:27 +0000 UTC

Skeen's actor is fantastic; rewatch the part where he answers what sort of crops his brother grew, pay attention to his eyes, the very slight hesitation. Just wonderful stuff.

Michael Green

2025-08-12 20:43:15 +0000 UTC

Whaddya mean normal men?

Inkpendude

2025-08-12 20:18:58 +0000 UTC

you saw Stellan Skarsgard in hunt for the red October. he was the Russian sub captain sent to stop them.

michael denny

2025-08-12 20:17:21 +0000 UTC

they always zig zag between a small show (less than 4 seasons) and a big show (4 season or more). so they will do andor s1, then we vote on a big show and they do season 1 of that, then after a few weeks they resume s2 of andor, then back to s2 of the big show and so on. reason being not everyone will be a fan of any show, so its better to keep things changing every few weeks so no one has to wait too long till the thing they want is available again. imagine if you dont care about Better call saul and then had to wait like 7 straight months of nothing but that before another show starts.

lalaland

2025-08-12 20:07:11 +0000 UTC

If you want a show opposite to sci fi black sails would be an excellent choice.

Gee

2025-08-12 19:47:17 +0000 UTC

The Aldhani scenes were filmed in Scotland. The dam is real (though CGI-augmented), the Cruachan Dam. A lot of the stuff about the people of Aldhani being cleared off the land and moved to enterprise zones is inspired by the clearances that took place in areas like the one where it was filmed.

Anndra

2025-08-12 19:19:33 +0000 UTC

First ever Comment here and its a nooby question: Are they gonna do Season 2 right after or is it gonna be a vote for something else instead?

Yasin Gündisch

2025-08-12 19:16:08 +0000 UTC

You both said that the intro was plain. It is but have you noticed that the music is different each time?

Purple Dragon Knight

2025-08-12 19:16:02 +0000 UTC

The reason the opening sequence is only of robots or masked characters is so they don't have to pay the actors to use their likeness. I think

Purple Dragon Knight

2025-08-12 19:15:06 +0000 UTC

I cannot stop imagining yennefer speaking, she has such a good voice

Inkpendude

2025-08-12 18:34:27 +0000 UTC

Not going to lie - I'm kind of disappointed that you didn't pick up on the name of Mon Mothma from "Return of the Jedi" and "Rogue One". She also featured in two of the animated series and the "Ahsoka" series. Two actors have played her in live action: Caroline Blakiston originally in ROTJ and Genevieve O'Reilly more recently.

GAB

2025-08-12 18:26:39 +0000 UTC

I am still watching with you guys so ignore if you picked up on it. There is a certain actress in this show that was the voice actress for Yennefer in Witcher 3 :)

Charles

2025-08-12 18:22:22 +0000 UTC

Succession would be a great next show. A nice break from all the excellent Sci-fi of late. Expertly written, won every award, super funny.

Kevin

2025-08-12 18:16:33 +0000 UTC

I haven't finished this batch of episodes yet (only the first of the three), and I'll just say, I am fully expecting him to both call Cassian "Cousin" and announce that it is, in fact, clobberin' time before they hit the garrison.

Jeff K

2025-08-12 18:13:05 +0000 UTC

My favourite type of science fiction is Kurt Vonnegut's brand of sci-fi, which unfortunately hasn't really made it to the big screen in any meaningful way. But he's by far one of my favourite science fiction writers. Another kind of sci-fi I love, quite different from the sprawling space voyages or far-future societies, is the grounded variety where the world is mostly normal except for one unusual invention or phenomenon. Like Back to the Future, The Time Machine, The Invisible Man, The Man in the White Suit and Primer to name a few... even Memento and a lot of Christopher Nolan’s work fit that mould. Films like Being John Malkovich and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless mind by Charlie Kaufmann too.

Cincassette

2025-08-12 18:10:19 +0000 UTC

Hey that's the Thing

Ari Ramirez

2025-08-12 17:38:41 +0000 UTC

Some police/detective shows to react to. 1. Bones. 2. Castle 3. Elementary

Mike W

2025-08-12 17:21:48 +0000 UTC

Now we need George to react to The Saga Begins. Also, if the next long show happens to be a short show, I won't be mad at it.

8bitAndy

2025-08-12 17:16:51 +0000 UTC

Andor brought back stakes to Star Wars. Out of the 7 who were part of the Aldhani heist, only Cassian, Vel and Cinta survive. Plot armor doesn't exist here unlike other Star Wars projects.

Hanno

2025-08-12 17:09:50 +0000 UTC

One thing I love about Andor (despite being the best Star wars has ever been) they made Tie Fighters fucking scary.

D.A.V.E.

2025-08-12 17:03:38 +0000 UTC

Nemik being crushed by capital is so poignant

Hanno

2025-08-12 17:00:41 +0000 UTC

Oh look, Deadwood comment. Upvote

Jacob

2025-08-12 16:59:48 +0000 UTC

TBF to Tariman, he's mostly concerned about making sure they all look and act the part, while Cassian is interested in them being able to actually shoot a split second faster. If they did have to start shooting in formation the plan would have been screwed and they would have likely been overwhelmed quickly. That part was less to show Tariman not knowing what he's doing and more to show how observant Cassian is.

Lars G

2025-08-12 16:57:04 +0000 UTC

We're just normal men

Tay Schumaker

2025-08-12 16:56:03 +0000 UTC

Just put your medicines in the Eggnog and your wish is granted. 😉

D.A.V.E.

2025-08-12 16:50:02 +0000 UTC

Suggestions for some shows: 1. Counterpart(still 100% on Rotten Tom) with JK Simmons is a great scifi show with just 2 seasons and fits into the bracket of non Star Warsy. No space travels just a future version of our planet. 2. Deadwood is a Western, 3 seasons and has Timothy Olyphant and Ian Mcshane. 3. Fargo the first two seasons are great. 4. Midnight Mass(1 season) by Mike Flanagan is a fantastic show and in my opinion his best work. 5. The Night Of is another great one season show with Riz Ahmed(bodhi from Rogue One), John Turturo & Kenneth Williams(Omar from The Wire) 6. A long format show I would recommend is The Shield(not Marvel), 7 seasons long with Michael Chiklis and Walton goggins. 7. The Americans ,6 seasons, its a spy thriller set during the cold war.

Urbanform

2025-08-12 16:30:28 +0000 UTC

I just wanted to make a clear distinction between "Satire" and "Parody". Simone refers to Spaceballs as a satire, but I would say Spaceballs is a parody or even an homage of Star Wars. Its clearly making fun of it but I don't feel it is is criticizing it and it is made with a sense of appreciative sarcasm IMO. When your satirizing something it is when you are making a comedic criticism of the source material usually to highlight a moral, ethical or philosophical stance that should be ridiculed and the satire usually reflects the creators disapproval or disagreement with the messaging of the source material. I do think parodies can be satire, but not all satire has to be a parody.

The Real Andrew Kim

2025-08-12 16:29:07 +0000 UTC

My only disappointment with the reaction to Andor is that I have to wait another week for the next episodes :)

RogueRN

2025-08-12 16:27:16 +0000 UTC

The 'opposite' of a sci-fi I'd say would be a period drama or a comedy. Or...a period comedy? Black Adder would fit the bill(not a long-form show, though).

PDP1472

2025-08-12 16:25:45 +0000 UTC

A nice non sci-fi short mini animated series, Over the Garden Wall, would be a great one to react to. It has Elijah Wood voice acting in it.

Lemons

2025-08-12 16:22:28 +0000 UTC

Agree.

Tarenor

2025-08-12 16:14:43 +0000 UTC

I feel like a commentary that "Star Wars" in general says, is, that rebellions have both wealthy folks, and criminals, and everyone in between, but the criminals are the hardest to manage, and the earliest adopters to 'get things done'? Han Solo was a smuggler 🤷🏻.

Jon Johns

2025-08-12 15:33:32 +0000 UTC

this and Rouge One is by far the best of the new Star Wars

rictus grin

2025-08-12 15:27:13 +0000 UTC

Yes! A few GOT alums in this! The only actress with no real performances in her history is Kleya, Luthens ship assistant. This is her first major performance. Jeff, I know G&C are waiting to watch season two, I hope you don't! Season two is top-tier TV!

Jon Johns

2025-08-12 15:02:35 +0000 UTC

I agree Nate. This series is phenomenal; layered, deep, clever, rich... I know some see it as boring, but it's magic to me.

Jon Johns

2025-08-12 15:00:17 +0000 UTC

On this 10th rewatch of Andor 😂 I just realized, 'Clem' correcting the guy on how they should march, must have stung him a lot more than I realized, since a later scene reveals he was a stormtrooper? Yikes.

Jon Johns

2025-08-12 14:58:34 +0000 UTC

You already seen Stellan Skarsgård in the youngest role in a Hollywood movie in The Hunt for Red October 1990. That said if you were to somehow ever watch The Unbearable Lightness of Being someday that would be incredible.

Kyle Baker

2025-08-12 14:58:31 +0000 UTC

I once heard Science Fiction is for Men as Romance/Rom Coms are for women. They are the candy coating which is used to swallow a philosophical point. Both are bad when they forget the philosophy and just try to give you the candy or not enough candy to cover the philosophical point. Star Trek and Star Wars have been guilty of both over the years, but in general are vastly above average given the times they were made.

Skyruff

2025-08-12 14:42:59 +0000 UTC

Lol, Cyrill has Clone action figures in his bedroom. I do love how this show and rogue one includes toys for the kids. Rogue one had little stormtrooper dolls.

Jon Johns

2025-08-12 14:22:27 +0000 UTC

I grew up watching and liking TOS, TNG, DS9 etc thinking that was cutting edge sci-fi writing. Star Wars 4,5,6 scripts were considered juvenile by comparison. But watching Andor now - it's next level, and beats the stretchy pants off the TNG crew, season 1. No one's fault, just saying.

Nate Gavin

2025-08-12 14:16:02 +0000 UTC

To Simone's point that "Empire Bad" could never be shaken. I believe Palpatine is a master manipulator. In the films, we see him fight a few times, but his greatest unlimited power is manipulating others to do his bidding. Palpy=Bad; Empire=manipulated people free to do bad things. If Palpatine / Vader are black hats, and Luke / Oni-wan are white hats... Everyone else wears gray. 🤷🏻 Just my opinion.

Jon Johns

2025-08-12 13:47:40 +0000 UTC

Watching this through for the first time and wait, is Vel the same actress as The Waif from GOT?! Also, holy shit! I had no idea that Ebon Moss-Bachrach was in this show. And here I was when they were talking about what the next big show would be thinking “Man I hope it’s The Bear” and suddenly Cousin Richie pops up. And now I’m also looking forward to when they watch Fantastic Four, seeing Ben Grimm, and being like “Hey it’s the guy from Andor!”

Jeff K

2025-08-12 13:46:10 +0000 UTC

Vincent, the vegetable Vampire!!!!

Jon Johns

2025-08-12 13:31:47 +0000 UTC

This episode really kicks off the series of the powerful women of Andor.

Jon Johns

2025-08-12 13:31:08 +0000 UTC

I'm not surprised, but a little sad that neither recognized Senator Mon Mothma from her 3 minutes of screen time in Return of the Jedi, or from Rogue One...

Jon Johns

2025-08-12 13:30:32 +0000 UTC

George if you guys watch 3 episodes next week it's gonna break up the arc, I recommend watching 1x3x2 or 4x2 depending on your schedule

Popsmcgraw

2025-08-12 13:20:50 +0000 UTC

The next big show that I hope that gets picked is Stranger Things seeing that the last season is coming up if not that then the Sopranos. I just hope it’s not Dexter.

BigGuy209

2025-08-12 12:44:42 +0000 UTC

The OA season one is incredible.

Jef Etters

2025-08-12 12:43:20 +0000 UTC

Gen X grew up watching young Morgan Freeman, on “The Electric Company” on PBS.

JOEDATOR

2025-08-12 12:37:48 +0000 UTC

This is where the episode order is a bit screwed. There's now a loose single episode after this before the next 3 episode arc so I'm hoping they squeeze out 4 episodes next week

Deserana12

2025-08-12 12:27:32 +0000 UTC

You mentioned early on you only recognise Stellan Skarsgård as an older man, and you would be interested in seeing him in roles as a younger man. Most of his early roles are in Swedish language movies that no outside of Sweden would have heard of. His first recognisable role was in The Hunt for Red October as the Commander of the Russian sub sent to destroy Red October, but I don't think you recognised him in that role. 😋

dudewheresmycar

2025-08-12 12:27:08 +0000 UTC

TV Series request for future consideration - The OA (2 seasons)

Bella Blue

2025-08-12 12:24:45 +0000 UTC

yeah well... you know. thats just like... your opinion, man.

lalaland

2025-08-12 12:15:55 +0000 UTC

These three episodes are truly fantastic - especially the Aldhani stuff which is some of the best Star Wars out there (keeping it vague for those who haven’t watched, I hope). The next 3-ep arc is… well, wait and find out 😉

JakeyShakeyBakeyBoy

2025-08-12 12:14:22 +0000 UTC

The opposite of Science Fiction is Gym Fact

JOEDATOR

2025-08-12 12:11:49 +0000 UTC

I love Star Wars. I love Rogue One. I recognize how well done this show is. But it’s boring AF.

Jef Etters

2025-08-12 12:11:26 +0000 UTC

Yess one of my favorite arcs! This show just has such great dialogue. And man ep 6 is just a masterclass in building tension 😂

AdmiralZhou

2025-08-12 12:10:03 +0000 UTC

And Or

Matt

2025-08-12 12:03:40 +0000 UTC

Andor 104-106

Comments

Has George seen the newer "Star Wars" movies? He says he cannot think of a good person in the villains' ranks. Finn started as a stormtrooper in "The Force Awakens"

They definitely don't realise

Simone: "Is this the most basic TV show intro we've seen"

ironically, the only movies really trying to break with the tradition of character caricatures (which all the other ones definitely are), are the prequel/OT movies. You also got the Stormtrooper "breaking good"

Since you are watching the story of a rebellion, you should check out "For Whom the Bell Tolls" (1943). It's a film version of Hemmingway's novel. If you are interested in something to read, the novel is even better than the film.

Very different sci-fi films: "The Martian" and "The Thing From Another World" (1951)

I've been waiting for either of them to comment on the fact that the intro music changes on every episode

Do Simone and George realize the senator is Mon Mothma who lead the rebels in Return Of The Jedi??

Yeah. I’d nearly drop to two episodes a week at this point so you get 9&10 and 11&12 together.

Simone the milk has been blue since 1977.

Simone, asking why the O in ANDOR is negative space is a really good question. It has really clever symbolism, much like how the Andor theme is in a minor key but has a brief ray of light in the form of a major D chord before fading back into a resolution.

Endor Storm Trooper aka Biker Scout.

For the opening question I'd put out Buck Rogers and Blade Runner.

Alex Lawther is great; it's a shame your first experience of him was THAT guy in Black Mirror. He's in 'Ghost Stories' with Martin Freeman, which is literally nightmare fuel, and a great black comedy series 'The End of the F***ing World'

Just so you’re aware the next 3 episode arc is 8-10. Episode 7 is kind of a bridge episode. So if your next block is 7-9, don’t be surprised if it feels a little off at the end.

The masks/characters shown during the intro are: Vader, BB-8, C-3PO, Kylo Ren, R2-D2, Rebel Pilot, Endor Storm Trooper, regular Storm Trooper, Cassian's droid.

Dark

Waiting for the moment George realizes that Dedra is the voice of Yennifer.

I probably only know her name because I read some of the extended universe books as a kid, she's a really minor character barely even mentioned by name just going by the mainline movies even though in-universe she's important.

I'd never placed where I knew her from before! Probably because she's the same age as me, and is actually playing an adult character here, but she looked like she was like 16 just 10 years ago in that GoT role so I would never have thought an actress who looks my age now could have been the Waif.

He was already in his mid-to-late 40s then, and now he's 74 but could still pass for 60, so he's kind of appeared middle-aged for most of his career in English-language film.

Stellan Skarsgard is the best part of this show, hes sooooo good and George & Simone, who HAVE seen a younger Stellan when you did Good Wili Hunting (1997) remember?

I came here to comment that! They even mentioned gwent during the reaction 😂

Dunkirk vibes for sure.

I would add Luther and Psych

There is a movie version of Harrison Bergeron

Good one!!

Fantastic show. Right up there with Adventure Time.

The Good Place is so good, especially if they like Parks & Rec (or Community).

Deadwood is so great and I'm really eager to see George's reaction to Wu.

The complete opposite of this show. A western. Maybe Deadwood. It is a classic show.

Ok, I'll be that guy ... Star Wars isn't sci-fi, it's fantasy

Yep. there's a hydro power station inside the mountain. You go in through a tunnel like in Wargames (at least that's what it felt like when I was a kid).

He was 46 in Good Will Hunting, not sure I'd call that young per se.

..in which Simone decides these Empire characters might not be the greatest.

I’ll say this… gravity is not sci-fi. It takes lace the year it came out and offers no speculation to the future of the world or technology. It is just a fiction movie that takes place in space and its science is actually pretty bad. The movie fundamentally doesn’t understand its own title.

Vel (Faye Marsay) is also from Game of Thrones. She played the Waif, Arya's not so friendly trainer (and later would-be killer) from the House of Black and White.

Succession is probably the 2nd best show HBO has ever made, right behind The Sopranos. It’s brilliant.

Really hoping that The Good Place is on your long shows poll. Though I'd hesitate to call it a long show. Its 4 seasons have a run time only a few hours longer than Andor.

Skeen's actor is fantastic; rewatch the part where he answers what sort of crops his brother grew, pay attention to his eyes, the very slight hesitation. Just wonderful stuff.

Whaddya mean normal men?

you saw Stellan Skarsgard in hunt for the red October. he was the Russian sub captain sent to stop them.

If you want a show opposite to sci fi black sails would be an excellent choice.

The Aldhani scenes were filmed in Scotland. The dam is real (though CGI-augmented), the Cruachan Dam. A lot of the stuff about the people of Aldhani being cleared off the land and moved to enterprise zones is inspired by the clearances that took place in areas like the one where it was filmed.

First ever Comment here and its a nooby question: Are they gonna do Season 2 right after or is it gonna be a vote for something else instead?

You both said that the intro was plain. It is but have you noticed that the music is different each time?

The reason the opening sequence is only of robots or masked characters is so they don't have to pay the actors to use their likeness. I think

I cannot stop imagining yennefer speaking, she has such a good voice

I am still watching with you guys so ignore if you picked up on it. There is a certain actress in this show that was the voice actress for Yennefer in Witcher 3 :)

Succession would be a great next show. A nice break from all the excellent Sci-fi of late. Expertly written, won every award, super funny.

I haven't finished this batch of episodes yet (only the first of the three), and I'll just say, I am fully expecting him to both call Cassian "Cousin" and announce that it is, in fact, clobberin' time before they hit the garrison.

Hey that's the Thing

Some police/detective shows to react to. 1. Bones. 2. Castle 3. Elementary

Now we need George to react to The Saga Begins. Also, if the next long show happens to be a short show, I won't be mad at it.

Andor brought back stakes to Star Wars. Out of the 7 who were part of the Aldhani heist, only Cassian, Vel and Cinta survive. Plot armor doesn't exist here unlike other Star Wars projects.

One thing I love about Andor (despite being the best Star wars has ever been) they made Tie Fighters fucking scary.

Nemik being crushed by capital is so poignant

Oh look, Deadwood comment. Upvote

We're just normal men

Just put your medicines in the Eggnog and your wish is granted. 😉

My only disappointment with the reaction to Andor is that I have to wait another week for the next episodes :)

The 'opposite' of a sci-fi I'd say would be a period drama or a comedy. Or...a period comedy? Black Adder would fit the bill(not a long-form show, though).

A nice non sci-fi short mini animated series, Over the Garden Wall, would be a great one to react to. It has Elijah Wood voice acting in it.

Agree.

I feel like a commentary that "Star Wars" in general says, is, that rebellions have both wealthy folks, and criminals, and everyone in between, but the criminals are the hardest to manage, and the earliest adopters to 'get things done'? Han Solo was a smuggler 🤷🏻.

this and Rouge One is by far the best of the new Star Wars

Yes! A few GOT alums in this! The only actress with no real performances in her history is Kleya, Luthens ship assistant. This is her first major performance. Jeff, I know G&C are waiting to watch season two, I hope you don't! Season two is top-tier TV!

I agree Nate. This series is phenomenal; layered, deep, clever, rich... I know some see it as boring, but it's magic to me.

On this 10th rewatch of Andor 😂 I just realized, 'Clem' correcting the guy on how they should march, must have stung him a lot more than I realized, since a later scene reveals he was a stormtrooper? Yikes.

You already seen Stellan Skarsgård in the youngest role in a Hollywood movie in The Hunt for Red October 1990. That said if you were to somehow ever watch The Unbearable Lightness of Being someday that would be incredible.

Lol, Cyrill has Clone action figures in his bedroom. I do love how this show and rogue one includes toys for the kids. Rogue one had little stormtrooper dolls.

I grew up watching and liking TOS, TNG, DS9 etc thinking that was cutting edge sci-fi writing. Star Wars 4,5,6 scripts were considered juvenile by comparison. But watching Andor now - it's next level, and beats the stretchy pants off the TNG crew, season 1. No one's fault, just saying.

Vincent, the vegetable Vampire!!!!

This episode really kicks off the series of the powerful women of Andor.

I'm not surprised, but a little sad that neither recognized Senator Mon Mothma from her 3 minutes of screen time in Return of the Jedi, or from Rogue One...

George if you guys watch 3 episodes next week it's gonna break up the arc, I recommend watching 1x3x2 or 4x2 depending on your schedule

The next big show that I hope that gets picked is Stranger Things seeing that the last season is coming up if not that then the Sopranos. I just hope it’s not Dexter.

The OA season one is incredible.