April 21, 2025 • 28 mins
Join Tom, Stephen, and William for a spoiler-free review of Andor Season 2—premiering on Disney+ on April 22, 2025.
The second season takes place as the horizon of war draws near and Cassian becomes a key player in the Rebel Alliance. Everyone will be tested and, as the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices and conflicting agendas will become profound.
The Ion Cannon Podcast is your source for entertainment reviews from a galaxy far, far away. Ion Cannon has covered every corner of the saga since 2008, from the films and hit series like The Mandalorian, Andor, The Clone Wars, Rebels, Ahsoka, and Skeleton Crew to books, comics, games, and more. Not affiliated with Disney or Lucasfilm.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
All wings reported good 10 standing by, red 3 standing by.
Red 6 standing by. Goodnight.
Standing by, you're listening tothe Ion Cannon Podcast.
Laugh it up, Fuzzball, your source for entertainment.
Reviews from a Galaxy. Far, far away.
This is it. Hey, laser clickus.
(00:23):
Welcome to the Iron Cannon podcast.
I'm one of your hosts Steven andI'm joined by my friends and Co
hosts Tom and William. This is an exciting one.
We were given thanks to Disney and Lucasfilm early access to
all of Andor season 2. Though today is our spoiler free
review. I'm looking forward to, even
(00:44):
though I want to talk about the things that are spoilery, but
you know, we'll, we'll try not to.
Oh, I mean it's it's going to beit's going to be hard, but we
want to make sure we preserve the experience because, as
Steven said, we have seen all 12episodes of and or season 2
short version, you're going to love it longer version.
Can't wait to talk to you both in a spoiler free form.
(01:06):
That's not a spoiler. There's a we'll, we'll talk
about a spoiler free and then ofcourse, every week as the
episodes air, we'll review each arc and then and at the end
we'll do our look back with our full spoiler recap of the of the
season. So I guess let's see.
(01:30):
We actually haven't, we haven't talked since since there was a a
big announcement. We're going to save most of the
discussion of this for our celebration recap episode, I
think because it it kind of touches on it, but we actually
haven't discussed. We're getting Tales of the
Underworld guys, May 4th Massage, Ventris and CAD
(01:52):
freaking Vein. I am so excited.
I'm very excited for this. I'm glad we're getting getting
more of them. Yes, yes.
I'm, I'm also excited to see andhoping that we get to see how
Ventris is able to come back. That's the biggest question I
want to see. Yeah, and I, you know, CAD
Bane's one of my favorite characters, so I, I am so
(02:13):
excited to have him back as well.
This is the third series of anthology shorts, so yeah, super
excited. I cannot wait, but I I think
it's probably worth maybe savingfor our celebration recap.
If you haven't seen it, watch we're gonna do that later this
(02:33):
week. We have a lot of content coming
for you guys. Oh bad.
We have so much so. Much.
A lot of stuff. To cover Oh yeah.
And, and actually, fun fact behind the scenes, we're
actually recording all the episodes you're about to hear
out of order. So we've actually already
recorded some of the future episodes you're gonna hear.
And then we're recording our spoiler free review.
And then we're gonna go jump into the future again and we're
gonna jump into the past again. So we're, we're all out of
(02:55):
order. But when you hear it, it'll all
make sense. But yeah, Star Wars tales in the
world. I can't, cannot wait on May 4th.
So it's just what 3 weeks away Ithink as as you're listening to
this. Close enough I think.
I think it's about 3 weeks. Yeah, and between now and then,
you're also going to have like 3arcs of Andor as well come out.
(03:16):
So yeah, or maybe 2 1/2. I don't know.
I can't, I can't keep track. Like I said, we're we're we're
we're playing weird with the timeline here.
We're kind of time travelling back and forth.
But yeah, definitely cannot, cannot recommend that highly
enough. We also have light and magic
season 2 as well. We had an opportunity to to
(03:40):
watch. It's actually out now as you're
as you're listening to this. We we had an opportunity to
watch it as well and it's reallygreat.
It covers Jurassic Park from from sorry, it covers ILM from
Jurassic Park to basically the present day.
So all through the prequels and how a digital becomes like a
viable technology and it's just really such a great season.
(04:05):
I can't recommend it highly enough.
I don't know if Tom Steven, you guys have had a chance to watch
it yet, but it it's phenomenal. It's so good.
I. I've got it on my list to watch
tonight. Great.
Yeah, you're gonna love it. And there's like hundreds of
hours of archival footage. And it's funny, Lucasfilm or ILM
has a policy to document everything.
And so in an interview, we had the opportunity to talk to Joe
(04:28):
Johnson on Best, Doug Chang, John Dole, Janet Lewin and Rob
Coleman as part of a There's like a press conference.
And in the press conference, John Knowles said he even forgot
that the cameras were rolling. Sometimes He's like, Oh, I
didn't know there was a camera there when I said that thing.
And now it's in the documentary.So it's, it's really great.
And it, it kind of covers how people were resistant to digital
(04:49):
film making at 1st and maybe they're aware to take away from
the action, but it, it, it ultimately becomes this, you
know, hugely important technology.
And they kind of compared it to AI now where there's some
hesitancy around it, but it can also be very transformational
and some really touching momentsfrom like how they created Jar
(05:12):
Jar and, and how the the really tough time Ahmed Best had after
the movie came out. But just the incredible work
that went into creating Jar Jar Binks and how much of A team
effort it was and the creation of Yoda.
And, and actually, I didn't realize it's how Ahmed Best
suggested he had many of the ideas for how that Yoda fight
(05:33):
went down in episode 2. And, and his ideas are what you
see on, on the screen. And, and so, and how like
sometimes they didn't know if itwould be possible to do, you
know, like the Gungan army and John Knowledge would be like,
yeah, we, we could totally do itto the crew.
While meanwhile he was terrifiedthey could even finish
everything on time. So definitely recommend it.
(05:56):
Definitely check it out. It's 3 episodes and it's
phenomenal. OK, so shall we jump into our
spoiler free review of Andor? Because, I mean, this is what
we've all been waiting for, right?
Yep. Yeah.
I I think we should. Tom, why don't you give us the
(06:16):
rundown? OK so the rundown is Andor
season 2. There are a few directors on
this because episodes are directed by Ariel Kleinman,
Danis Mets and Alonzo Rafalzios.Most of the episodes were
written by Tony Gilroy, Balloon,Dan Gilroy and Tom Bissell.
(06:37):
And as we all know, the first episodes 3 episodes drop April
22nd. So this season is it takes place
as the horizon of war draws nearand Cassie becomes a key player
in the Rebel Alliance. Everyone will be tested, and as
the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices and conflicting
(06:57):
agendas will become profound. Yes, yes, yes, yes.
So OK, we, we're not going to say anything.
We're not going to reveal plot points at.
All No. But no, and like a sentence or
two. What did you think of Andor
season 2? Start with you, Tom.
(07:18):
What did what did you think of of the season?
I I will say this, I loved everysingle minute of this series and
I'm going to end it there because I could go a lot longer,
even your next. I mean, yeah, it was phenomenal.
I think I like it more than Season 1.
(07:39):
I think it's more consistent than season.
One was. I probably have like 1-1
specific NIT with the show, which we'll probably get into I
think in our actual episode reviews when we get there.
I'm not gonna talk about it today.
I think I know you're talking about.
But I've I've got 1 minor thing about it as well.
(08:00):
But I agree, I don't think it should be brought up until we
start getting into it because this is supposed to be spoiler
free. Yeah, it, but it's a phenomenal
show. Like that's, that's the, the key
thing. I, I think it's better than
season 1. I maybe this is slightly bad.
Like obviously because we got review copies, we got to watch
it all in one go. I mean, not necessarily one go,
(08:21):
but like I now I'd watched it over the space of like four or
five days. I'm glad that I was able to go
through it that quickly because I I really enjoyed it, but it
was, I don't know if I could have waited.
I mean, I think it helps that, you know, even the release
order, they're releasing 3 episodes every week.
And so you're not, you're not gonna have to wait that long.
(08:43):
It's basically watching like watching a Star Wars mini movie
every, right? Not even a mini movie because
the episodes are 40 to 50 minutes long typically each.
If you it's about, it's almost a2 hour movie when you look at it
that way. No, seriously.
Yeah. Exactly.
Yeah. And so 2 1/2 hour to three, you
know, it's 2 1/2 to 3 hours ish.And it's, you know, each arc
(09:08):
tells a story. We've heard about this in the
past, right? We've talked about this, but
each arc, there's, there's 4 arcs, 3 episodes long each that
we're going to get each, each, each Tuesday over the next
month. And each arc takes place in a
different year. So it's like you, you zoom in,
you see a a couple intense days in that year and then we skip
(09:30):
forward another year and then and see another couple intense
days. And it, it, it's, it, it gives
the show a lot of kind of speed and momentum, right?
It kind of rushes toward the, the finish line.
The finish line being, and this is, this is not a spoiler
because they've talked about it.Rogue One, right?
That is where they're going and,and kind of tying into and in
(09:52):
many ways, Rogue One is I, I think Steven, you had texted me
after Rogue One is kind of the finale, right?
If you think about it like it. Is absolutely.
And OR Season 1 is about the formations of Cassian, right?
And how he joins the, the Rebels.
Season 2 is really about, you know, his journey and actually
the journey of the Rebel Alliance more broadly and many
(10:14):
of the players in it and, and also the Empire.
Empire, right. And how they're tightening.
Empire is tightening it's grip on the Galaxy.
And then Rogue One is the end oftheir journey.
That, of course, is actually just the lead into a new a New
Hope in many ways, right. And so.
Yeah, yeah, the. The best way I think can think
(10:37):
of to sum up the show you kind. So we we obviously had A New
Hope and then Rogue One was justkind of this like interesting
approach to like, hey, I want todo we're going to do a movie
that that is the lead up to Rogue One.
And the payoff for Rogue One is you go and watch.
Sorry, yeah, like now I'm getting confused payoff for
(10:58):
Rogue One is you go and watch a New Hope that payoff for Andrew
and or season 2 in many ways is you go and watch Rogue one.
Yes right. It's it's a very odd
combination, but it it works it.Works it works the the the flow
of the story works so well and it's funny how it's worked
backward from episode 4, but theflow and they really took the
(11:20):
care to make sure that it just it it just moves.
And the one thing that I really liked about this is, I mean, we
were mentioning how the Empire is really tightening its grip on
the Galaxy. But you do see, as Leia does
say, the more you tighten your grip, the more things slip
through your fingers. And this is where you start
seeing there are things that do start slipping through the
fingers. It's at this point you start
(11:42):
seeing it. Yeah, yeah, and exactly.
And you know, it's kind of like how with with a lot of the other
Star Wars things like Rebels, right?
It's the story of the gross Ghost crew.
But you see the Rebel Alliance through their eyes and, and the
formations of the rebellion. And that is true of a lot of
these things, right? Dave Filoni is famous for saying
(12:04):
like, Oh yeah, I didn't want to tell, you know, these particular
stories about maybe Maul or, or Ahsoka in Rebels, because it's
not their story, but you're, you're still touching on them.
That is in many ways true of, ofof Andor season 2 as well.
It doesn't explicitly lay out all of the events that that lead
(12:26):
up to the formation of of the, you know, the Rebel Alliance and
going into, you know, Rogue One and the New Hope.
But it gives you quite a bit of that back story quite a bit.
And it's really cool to see how all these threads come together
and how they start to pull all these disparate factions, you
(12:49):
know, into A1 Unified rebel alliance.
And you know, it's it's no secret.
There are some key moments that we will see in this season that
we've heard about a long time for a long time.
And we've even seen in like rebels, right?
There's, I think we're all we, we know from some of the pre
(13:09):
release stuff that we're going to see, like the Gorman
massacre, for example, which is a key moment leading up to Mon
Mothma's leaving the, the Senateas we see in Star Wars Rebels.
And so obviously that's not a spoiler that, that that's going
to happen. But you know, the this show, I
(13:29):
guess the advantage of skipping through time and doing 3
episodes every year is that you get to move through a lot and
see a ton happening. The downside is there is a, a
small element of feeling rushed.I think they did a good job
balancing that so it doesn't feel too who rushed and it's
more of like checking in on these characters right where the
(13:50):
their story over in that particular arc 3 episode arc is
not necessarily rushed, but thenwe jump ahead and and a lot's
changed and it's a really interesting storytelling
approach that I think overall works pretty well, But def
certainly more unique than say season 1, which took place over
(14:12):
just a year that all 12 episodes.
I think the, the thing for me, because of them being so
condensed and so into the, the three episode arc, it, it was
very tight storytelling. There really wasn't a lot that
was wasted in what they were trying to say.
And it works. And I think that's the best
thing for them to do is release them as the three episode arcs.
(14:35):
Because if they were to do it like 1 episode to what, you
know, 1 episode one week, 1 episode another week and so on,
I don't think they'd lose the audience, but it would be the
audience waiting in anticipationto see.
It's like you've got them so ramped up in that first episode.
They really want to see that second episode to see what
happens in the third episode andhow all three wrapped up.
(14:55):
Yeah. I thought it was beautiful
writing. Yeah.
Because of this I'll. Also add that it's the the 3-4
arc format. You know, I, I wasn't really
sure going in was it going to be4 completely distinct
storylines. And, you know, we were all
theorizing on our, some of our episodes in the last couple
weeks and months. Oh, you know, this, this arc is
going to be this story and this arc is going to be this story.
(15:16):
And that is it is true that eacharc has a very key thematic, you
know, like a thrust through those, those, those episodes.
But I was also surprised by justhow much the same storyline is
still woven throughout the season.
So it doesn't feel like 3-4 distinct arcs.
It it still feels like 1 continuous story just told
(15:38):
through four different checkpoints in their lives.
And sometimes the storylines cross episodes in in a way that
really makes sense. Steven, do you?
Sorry you were going to say something?
Yeah, you were going to say something.
I was I was agreeing it. They really did do a great job.
I the rush, the Russian one is interesting.
(15:59):
It felt to me like you could have done an arc with each
story. Sorry, each arc could have been
its own season, is what it felt like.
In many ways. I do think the show's better for
not doing that. It's really nice to see
particularly some of the like payouts, you know?
(16:19):
Like, we know the Gorman massacre will play a role in the
season, and a lot of the show islaying the groundwork and seeing
where that where that fits in. But yeah, man, what it just,
they really do do a good job with it.
And I think. Yeah, I just wish there was
more, more time. Well, I, I completely agree with
you, but I think it was either I, I might have been mentioned
(16:42):
at Star Wars Celebration that bythe time you hear this is
probably over. But I think Tony Gilroy or
somebody mentioned at some point, if they were to have done
their five year plan like they originally wanted to do, Diego,
he sorry, he, he, he, his age would not have fit properly
because of the time frame, because he would have
(17:04):
technically have been older thanthe actual Cassian and or three
years old. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, 30-10 years old.
I didn't get to go further. Convincing of the issue like
reasons to not do that yeah, well.
I. Get, but I, I get that it's a
stretch. I, I, I get that part as a
stretch, but I, I understand their reasoning about it.
(17:28):
And I just also feel, yes, I do agree a couple cases, they could
have taken a story and extended it.
Like maybe, you know, instead ofthree episodes, it could have
been a four episode arc that they, they could have at least
done like maybe an extra episodeto kind of do more of an
explanation. But I think because of it being
those 3 episode arcs, the writing and the acting and just
(17:52):
how it was paced was so tight. I never got bored I I was always
on edge and the ending of that arc was so satisfying.
You're waiting for the next arc to start. 100%, yeah.
Yeah. For sure, for sure.
The other thing I was really surprised by, I think was I
(18:17):
remember when we when we discussed the end of Andor
season 1, I incorrectly said what are they going to do with,
you know, Bix and Brazo and B2E MO it it basically feels like
their storyline is done and their storyline, I'm very
pleased to say, is not done. They are, they are key
(18:37):
characters throughout season 2. And, and they not just them,
everyone in season 1 is brought back, all the main players,
right, is brought back for season 2 in a really very well
thought through and reasoned through and, and, and very well
(18:57):
done manner where it, as I watched it was like, Oh yeah,
this just makes sense. Like, of course, this is exactly
how you'd bring them back, right?
Where at first I wasn't sure youcould bring them back.
And I was really nice to see a them do justice to each
character. You know, many of them we just
come to to know and love throughout season 1 and now
(19:19):
season 2 and yeah, if you're a fan of any of these characters,
you're going to get lots of great screen time with them,
which is really nice. What else?
I guess, you know, overall, likeI I loved it.
I had a a few critiques of of the season that most of them I
(19:39):
think will can't really get intoany of them without in our
spoiler free review. So I'll have to save it for our
weekly episode reviews and the and the recap.
But there is a couple casting, There's a casting choice I'm not
100% sold on. I know if, Tom, you feel
differently. And I totally feel I, I know I
(20:02):
can't say anything about it. I, I feel different about this.
I I'm not sure, Steven, if that's the same thing that
bothered you about the about this, but I.
We should come from. We'll, we'll.
Get there. When we get there, we'll talk
about it. But.
Yes, and it was a little bit of a bummer that Nicholas Britell
(20:22):
does not come back for Season 2's score.
Instead, Brandon Roberts picks up the the conductor's baton
and, and, and, and writes the the score.
And it's, it's good. I think it feels like it reuses
a lot of the same themes from season 1 quite a bit.
It feels like he's more just trying to emulate Nicholas
(20:44):
Britell then like do his his ownthing.
And you know, I was a fan of thescores, right, That that was a
little bit of a bummer. But overall, I think the season
is just absolutely phenomenal from from start to finish.
And I have some critiques on theending a little bit as well.
But you know, as we talked about, like the ending is
(21:08):
basically Rogue One. And it was still.
Quite, quite good. Yeah, I mean, I I was getting a
little nervous leading up to theshow, not because the trailers
were bad or anything like that, but just remembering how good
season 1 was of Andor and I was afraid it wouldn't live up to
it. Not, not an issue.
(21:29):
And I am beyond glad for that, Yes.
Oh, absolutely. It's absolutely like.
It is everything we've been waiting for and excited for and
hoping for. And they handled everything just
so, so well. Really great costumes and sets
(21:50):
and and they actually did a lot more aliens and, and this time
it felt it just, it felt like there weren't no aliens in
season 1, but there's a quite a bit more in in season 2.
And yeah, it's just it's you canjust tell how much care goes
into every single episode. The acting is phenomenal.
(22:11):
The the writing, the writing is just so good.
It's so good. There's so many moments where
it. Makes me almost irrationally
angry when I go and look at other Star Wars shows compared
to it because it it is just written that well.
And it from the moment the show started, yeah, that was how I
felt. I was just like, thank you.
(22:33):
This is this is what I wanted tohear.
This is what I needed to see. Yes, and, and you'll see we
because as I lived through earlier, we've already recorded
our review of the first arc of the, of the show.
And like, we were all just getting excited as we were.
You'll you'll hear it in like what tomorrow?
I think it'll it'll come out. We were all just getting like so
(22:54):
excited. Just, you know, looking back on
one particular scene in the first arc, we were like, Oh my
gosh, that was that was so good.It's just, and that's just a
testament to the writing and there's multiple moments
throughout the seasons. It's just a great line of
dialogue or, or whatever. I I love, I love the
(23:15):
Mandalorian. I love, you know, Ahsoka, I love
Kenobi there. I love a lot of these Star Wars
shows we've had for very different reasons, but and, or
just from a pure like quality standpoint has to be at the top.
I think it's just it's phenomenal and Season 2 is even
better than Season 1. And so if you love Season 1,
(23:36):
you're just. Yeah, without a doubt.
Adore season 2. Yep, Yep.
I guess with that, what what would you what would we rate the
how would you rate the season? Let's let's, let's let's throw
out a number Wamprats. I guess.
Should I go first? I'll go first.
I think you should. I mean you.
You brought it up, William. Yeah, you brought it.
(24:00):
Up you have to give a 9.5. It's not a perfect ten, but like
it's pretty Dang close. It is so good.
It is so good. I can't recommend Andor season 2
highly enough. It just I've I've already gone
back and I've watched it twice already and it's just so good.
It's it, it gets better every time and it really makes you
(24:22):
want to watch Rogue One afterward and and that'll make
you want to watch A New Hope afterward and then you'll want
to watch Empire and Return to the Jedi.
The next thing you know, you watch the whole Star Wars saga.
But it, it is so good and my 9 1/2, I completely forgot my 9
1/2. Womp.
Rats. No, no, you go ahead.
I feel like we should be saving that.
OK, we'll save that one. Yeah, I, I, I think we should
save it. Because you know what?
Honestly that would be a spoilerif you found out what.
(24:43):
Happened. That would be so.
My 9 1/2 womp rats have been redacted.
You want to go next. I, I'm so I, I'm going to go
there. I, you know, it's really hard to
sit here. We're trying to give it spoiler
for free review. We're going to go and, and I'm
(25:04):
going there. I'm giving it A10.
I have to. I honestly loved every minute of
the show period. I'm not going to get into
spoiling this thing, but my God,you're in for such a roller
coaster override. And when it's done to see it
lead into Rogue One, you'll be like, yeah, so I'm sorry.
(25:31):
I gave I'm I'm giving it a 10 period.
I think this is this right now, out of all the Star Wars series
that have been done, this one isright at the top of my list.
And, and I mean, this is my favorite Star Wars show period
at this moment. Love it.
Even you're up. Yeah, you're up.
Yeah, 9.5, like William, I thinkthe best star, certainly Android
(25:55):
is the best Star Wars show. I think season 2 might be the
best season of a Star Wars show.It is phenomenal.
I have my, you know, one or two little nits with it, but it's
just fantastic. Like, no notes.
Yeah, I mean, there are notes, but not you know what.
(26:15):
Yeah, when we get into the reviews, my.
Notes. Yeah.
And when we get into the reviews, yeah, you'll, you'll
see the notes. But yeah, and Tom, I can't wait
to debate you on that one, that one little topic that.
We, I mean you disagree on I see.
Fun factor actually, you're recording that next in like a
few minutes. So we'll have some fun there,
(26:36):
but you'll hear that next week. In the meantime, please do not
do not miss and or season 2 on Disney Plus April 22nd.
That is tomorrow as you are hopefully if you're listening to
this when it comes out, that's tomorrow night, 6:00 PM Pacific.
(26:59):
All three episodes. We're just in for a treat.
It's like I said, Willie said it's a Star Wars movie every
week right at home. How could you go wrong?
Watch it, like just go watch it please.
And with that, we'll be back tomorrow, right after the first
arc drops, with our full spoilerdiscussion and review of the
(27:24):
first 3 episodes, followed by our review each week after that
running through the end of the season and sadly, the series.
So thank you all for listening and may the Force be with you.
Thank you for listening to the Ion Cannon Podcast, your source
for entertainment reviews from the Galaxy far, far away.
(27:45):
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(28:05):
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Standing by, you're listening tothe Ion Cannon Podcast.
Laugh it up, Fuzzball, your source for entertainment.
Reviews from a Galaxy. Far, far away.
This is it. Hey, laser clickus.
(00:23):
Welcome to the Iron Cannon podcast.
I'm one of your hosts Steven andI'm joined by my friends and Co
hosts Tom and William. This is an exciting one.
We were given thanks to Disney and Lucasfilm early access to
all of Andor season 2. Though today is our spoiler free
review. I'm looking forward to, even
(00:44):
though I want to talk about the things that are spoilery, but
you know, we'll, we'll try not to.
Oh, I mean it's it's going to beit's going to be hard, but we
want to make sure we preserve the experience because, as
Steven said, we have seen all 12episodes of and or season 2
short version, you're going to love it longer version.
Can't wait to talk to you both in a spoiler free form.
(01:06):
That's not a spoiler. There's a we'll, we'll talk
about a spoiler free and then ofcourse, every week as the
episodes air, we'll review each arc and then and at the end
we'll do our look back with our full spoiler recap of the of the
season. So I guess let's see.
(01:30):
We actually haven't, we haven't talked since since there was a a
big announcement. We're going to save most of the
discussion of this for our celebration recap episode, I
think because it it kind of touches on it, but we actually
haven't discussed. We're getting Tales of the
Underworld guys, May 4th Massage, Ventris and CAD
(01:52):
freaking Vein. I am so excited.
I'm very excited for this. I'm glad we're getting getting
more of them. Yes, yes.
I'm, I'm also excited to see andhoping that we get to see how
Ventris is able to come back. That's the biggest question I
want to see. Yeah, and I, you know, CAD
Bane's one of my favorite characters, so I, I am so
(02:13):
excited to have him back as well.
This is the third series of anthology shorts, so yeah, super
excited. I cannot wait, but I I think
it's probably worth maybe savingfor our celebration recap.
If you haven't seen it, watch we're gonna do that later this
(02:33):
week. We have a lot of content coming
for you guys. Oh bad.
We have so much so. Much.
A lot of stuff. To cover Oh yeah.
And, and actually, fun fact behind the scenes, we're
actually recording all the episodes you're about to hear
out of order. So we've actually already
recorded some of the future episodes you're gonna hear.
And then we're recording our spoiler free review.
And then we're gonna go jump into the future again and we're
gonna jump into the past again. So we're, we're all out of
(02:55):
order. But when you hear it, it'll all
make sense. But yeah, Star Wars tales in the
world. I can't, cannot wait on May 4th.
So it's just what 3 weeks away Ithink as as you're listening to
this. Close enough I think.
I think it's about 3 weeks. Yeah, and between now and then,
you're also going to have like 3arcs of Andor as well come out.
(03:16):
So yeah, or maybe 2 1/2. I don't know.
I can't, I can't keep track. Like I said, we're we're we're
we're playing weird with the timeline here.
We're kind of time travelling back and forth.
But yeah, definitely cannot, cannot recommend that highly
enough. We also have light and magic
season 2 as well. We had an opportunity to to
(03:40):
watch. It's actually out now as you're
as you're listening to this. We we had an opportunity to
watch it as well and it's reallygreat.
It covers Jurassic Park from from sorry, it covers ILM from
Jurassic Park to basically the present day.
So all through the prequels and how a digital becomes like a
viable technology and it's just really such a great season.
(04:05):
I can't recommend it highly enough.
I don't know if Tom Steven, you guys have had a chance to watch
it yet, but it it's phenomenal. It's so good.
I. I've got it on my list to watch
tonight. Great.
Yeah, you're gonna love it. And there's like hundreds of
hours of archival footage. And it's funny, Lucasfilm or ILM
has a policy to document everything.
And so in an interview, we had the opportunity to talk to Joe
(04:28):
Johnson on Best, Doug Chang, John Dole, Janet Lewin and Rob
Coleman as part of a There's like a press conference.
And in the press conference, John Knowles said he even forgot
that the cameras were rolling. Sometimes He's like, Oh, I
didn't know there was a camera there when I said that thing.
And now it's in the documentary.So it's, it's really great.
And it, it kind of covers how people were resistant to digital
(04:49):
film making at 1st and maybe they're aware to take away from
the action, but it, it, it ultimately becomes this, you
know, hugely important technology.
And they kind of compared it to AI now where there's some
hesitancy around it, but it can also be very transformational
and some really touching momentsfrom like how they created Jar
(05:12):
Jar and, and how the the really tough time Ahmed Best had after
the movie came out. But just the incredible work
that went into creating Jar Jar Binks and how much of A team
effort it was and the creation of Yoda.
And, and actually, I didn't realize it's how Ahmed Best
suggested he had many of the ideas for how that Yoda fight
(05:33):
went down in episode 2. And, and his ideas are what you
see on, on the screen. And, and so, and how like
sometimes they didn't know if itwould be possible to do, you
know, like the Gungan army and John Knowledge would be like,
yeah, we, we could totally do itto the crew.
While meanwhile he was terrifiedthey could even finish
everything on time. So definitely recommend it.
(05:56):
Definitely check it out. It's 3 episodes and it's
phenomenal. OK, so shall we jump into our
spoiler free review of Andor? Because, I mean, this is what
we've all been waiting for, right?
Yep. Yeah.
I I think we should. Tom, why don't you give us the
(06:16):
rundown? OK so the rundown is Andor
season 2. There are a few directors on
this because episodes are directed by Ariel Kleinman,
Danis Mets and Alonzo Rafalzios.Most of the episodes were
written by Tony Gilroy, Balloon,Dan Gilroy and Tom Bissell.
(06:37):
And as we all know, the first episodes 3 episodes drop April
22nd. So this season is it takes place
as the horizon of war draws nearand Cassie becomes a key player
in the Rebel Alliance. Everyone will be tested, and as
the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices and conflicting
(06:57):
agendas will become profound. Yes, yes, yes, yes.
So OK, we, we're not going to say anything.
We're not going to reveal plot points at.
All No. But no, and like a sentence or
two. What did you think of Andor
season 2? Start with you, Tom.
(07:18):
What did what did you think of of the season?
I I will say this, I loved everysingle minute of this series and
I'm going to end it there because I could go a lot longer,
even your next. I mean, yeah, it was phenomenal.
I think I like it more than Season 1.
(07:39):
I think it's more consistent than season.
One was. I probably have like 1-1
specific NIT with the show, which we'll probably get into I
think in our actual episode reviews when we get there.
I'm not gonna talk about it today.
I think I know you're talking about.
But I've I've got 1 minor thing about it as well.
(08:00):
But I agree, I don't think it should be brought up until we
start getting into it because this is supposed to be spoiler
free. Yeah, it, but it's a phenomenal
show. Like that's, that's the, the key
thing. I, I think it's better than
season 1. I maybe this is slightly bad.
Like obviously because we got review copies, we got to watch
it all in one go. I mean, not necessarily one go,
(08:21):
but like I now I'd watched it over the space of like four or
five days. I'm glad that I was able to go
through it that quickly because I I really enjoyed it, but it
was, I don't know if I could have waited.
I mean, I think it helps that, you know, even the release
order, they're releasing 3 episodes every week.
And so you're not, you're not gonna have to wait that long.
(08:43):
It's basically watching like watching a Star Wars mini movie
every, right? Not even a mini movie because
the episodes are 40 to 50 minutes long typically each.
If you it's about, it's almost a2 hour movie when you look at it
that way. No, seriously.
Yeah. Exactly.
Yeah. And so 2 1/2 hour to three, you
know, it's 2 1/2 to 3 hours ish.And it's, you know, each arc
(09:08):
tells a story. We've heard about this in the
past, right? We've talked about this, but
each arc, there's, there's 4 arcs, 3 episodes long each that
we're going to get each, each, each Tuesday over the next
month. And each arc takes place in a
different year. So it's like you, you zoom in,
you see a a couple intense days in that year and then we skip
(09:30):
forward another year and then and see another couple intense
days. And it, it, it's, it, it gives
the show a lot of kind of speed and momentum, right?
It kind of rushes toward the, the finish line.
The finish line being, and this is, this is not a spoiler
because they've talked about it.Rogue One, right?
That is where they're going and,and kind of tying into and in
(09:52):
many ways, Rogue One is I, I think Steven, you had texted me
after Rogue One is kind of the finale, right?
If you think about it like it. Is absolutely.
And OR Season 1 is about the formations of Cassian, right?
And how he joins the, the Rebels.
Season 2 is really about, you know, his journey and actually
the journey of the Rebel Alliance more broadly and many
(10:14):
of the players in it and, and also the Empire.
Empire, right. And how they're tightening.
Empire is tightening it's grip on the Galaxy.
And then Rogue One is the end oftheir journey.
That, of course, is actually just the lead into a new a New
Hope in many ways, right. And so.
Yeah, yeah, the. The best way I think can think
(10:37):
of to sum up the show you kind. So we we obviously had A New
Hope and then Rogue One was justkind of this like interesting
approach to like, hey, I want todo we're going to do a movie
that that is the lead up to Rogue One.
And the payoff for Rogue One is you go and watch.
Sorry, yeah, like now I'm getting confused payoff for
(10:58):
Rogue One is you go and watch a New Hope that payoff for Andrew
and or season 2 in many ways is you go and watch Rogue one.
Yes right. It's it's a very odd
combination, but it it works it.Works it works the the the flow
of the story works so well and it's funny how it's worked
backward from episode 4, but theflow and they really took the
(11:20):
care to make sure that it just it it just moves.
And the one thing that I really liked about this is, I mean, we
were mentioning how the Empire is really tightening its grip on
the Galaxy. But you do see, as Leia does
say, the more you tighten your grip, the more things slip
through your fingers. And this is where you start
seeing there are things that do start slipping through the
fingers. It's at this point you start
(11:42):
seeing it. Yeah, yeah, and exactly.
And you know, it's kind of like how with with a lot of the other
Star Wars things like Rebels, right?
It's the story of the gross Ghost crew.
But you see the Rebel Alliance through their eyes and, and the
formations of the rebellion. And that is true of a lot of
these things, right? Dave Filoni is famous for saying
(12:04):
like, Oh yeah, I didn't want to tell, you know, these particular
stories about maybe Maul or, or Ahsoka in Rebels, because it's
not their story, but you're, you're still touching on them.
That is in many ways true of, ofof Andor season 2 as well.
It doesn't explicitly lay out all of the events that that lead
(12:26):
up to the formation of of the, you know, the Rebel Alliance and
going into, you know, Rogue One and the New Hope.
But it gives you quite a bit of that back story quite a bit.
And it's really cool to see how all these threads come together
and how they start to pull all these disparate factions, you
(12:49):
know, into A1 Unified rebel alliance.
And you know, it's it's no secret.
There are some key moments that we will see in this season that
we've heard about a long time for a long time.
And we've even seen in like rebels, right?
There's, I think we're all we, we know from some of the pre
(13:09):
release stuff that we're going to see, like the Gorman
massacre, for example, which is a key moment leading up to Mon
Mothma's leaving the, the Senateas we see in Star Wars Rebels.
And so obviously that's not a spoiler that, that that's going
to happen. But you know, the this show, I
(13:29):
guess the advantage of skipping through time and doing 3
episodes every year is that you get to move through a lot and
see a ton happening. The downside is there is a, a
small element of feeling rushed.I think they did a good job
balancing that so it doesn't feel too who rushed and it's
more of like checking in on these characters right where the
(13:50):
their story over in that particular arc 3 episode arc is
not necessarily rushed, but thenwe jump ahead and and a lot's
changed and it's a really interesting storytelling
approach that I think overall works pretty well, But def
certainly more unique than say season 1, which took place over
(14:12):
just a year that all 12 episodes.
I think the, the thing for me, because of them being so
condensed and so into the, the three episode arc, it, it was
very tight storytelling. There really wasn't a lot that
was wasted in what they were trying to say.
And it works. And I think that's the best
thing for them to do is release them as the three episode arcs.
(14:35):
Because if they were to do it like 1 episode to what, you
know, 1 episode one week, 1 episode another week and so on,
I don't think they'd lose the audience, but it would be the
audience waiting in anticipationto see.
It's like you've got them so ramped up in that first episode.
They really want to see that second episode to see what
happens in the third episode andhow all three wrapped up.
(14:55):
Yeah. I thought it was beautiful
writing. Yeah.
Because of this I'll. Also add that it's the the 3-4
arc format. You know, I, I wasn't really
sure going in was it going to be4 completely distinct
storylines. And, you know, we were all
theorizing on our, some of our episodes in the last couple
weeks and months. Oh, you know, this, this arc is
going to be this story and this arc is going to be this story.
(15:16):
And that is it is true that eacharc has a very key thematic, you
know, like a thrust through those, those, those episodes.
But I was also surprised by justhow much the same storyline is
still woven throughout the season.
So it doesn't feel like 3-4 distinct arcs.
It it still feels like 1 continuous story just told
(15:38):
through four different checkpoints in their lives.
And sometimes the storylines cross episodes in in a way that
really makes sense. Steven, do you?
Sorry you were going to say something?
Yeah, you were going to say something.
I was I was agreeing it. They really did do a great job.
I the rush, the Russian one is interesting.
(15:59):
It felt to me like you could have done an arc with each
story. Sorry, each arc could have been
its own season, is what it felt like.
In many ways. I do think the show's better for
not doing that. It's really nice to see
particularly some of the like payouts, you know?
(16:19):
Like, we know the Gorman massacre will play a role in the
season, and a lot of the show islaying the groundwork and seeing
where that where that fits in. But yeah, man, what it just,
they really do do a good job with it.
And I think. Yeah, I just wish there was
more, more time. Well, I, I completely agree with
you, but I think it was either I, I might have been mentioned
(16:42):
at Star Wars Celebration that bythe time you hear this is
probably over. But I think Tony Gilroy or
somebody mentioned at some point, if they were to have done
their five year plan like they originally wanted to do, Diego,
he sorry, he, he, he, his age would not have fit properly
because of the time frame, because he would have
(17:04):
technically have been older thanthe actual Cassian and or three
years old. Yeah.
Yeah. Yeah, I mean, 30-10 years old.
I didn't get to go further. Convincing of the issue like
reasons to not do that yeah, well.
I. Get, but I, I get that it's a
stretch. I, I, I get that part as a
stretch, but I, I understand their reasoning about it.
(17:28):
And I just also feel, yes, I do agree a couple cases, they could
have taken a story and extended it.
Like maybe, you know, instead ofthree episodes, it could have
been a four episode arc that they, they could have at least
done like maybe an extra episodeto kind of do more of an
explanation. But I think because of it being
those 3 episode arcs, the writing and the acting and just
(17:52):
how it was paced was so tight. I never got bored I I was always
on edge and the ending of that arc was so satisfying.
You're waiting for the next arc to start. 100%, yeah.
Yeah. For sure, for sure.
The other thing I was really surprised by, I think was I
(18:17):
remember when we when we discussed the end of Andor
season 1, I incorrectly said what are they going to do with,
you know, Bix and Brazo and B2E MO it it basically feels like
their storyline is done and their storyline, I'm very
pleased to say, is not done. They are, they are key
(18:37):
characters throughout season 2. And, and they not just them,
everyone in season 1 is brought back, all the main players,
right, is brought back for season 2 in a really very well
thought through and reasoned through and, and, and very well
(18:57):
done manner where it, as I watched it was like, Oh yeah,
this just makes sense. Like, of course, this is exactly
how you'd bring them back, right?
Where at first I wasn't sure youcould bring them back.
And I was really nice to see a them do justice to each
character. You know, many of them we just
come to to know and love throughout season 1 and now
(19:19):
season 2 and yeah, if you're a fan of any of these characters,
you're going to get lots of great screen time with them,
which is really nice. What else?
I guess, you know, overall, likeI I loved it.
I had a a few critiques of of the season that most of them I
(19:39):
think will can't really get intoany of them without in our
spoiler free review. So I'll have to save it for our
weekly episode reviews and the and the recap.
But there is a couple casting, There's a casting choice I'm not
100% sold on. I know if, Tom, you feel
differently. And I totally feel I, I know I
(20:02):
can't say anything about it. I, I feel different about this.
I I'm not sure, Steven, if that's the same thing that
bothered you about the about this, but I.
We should come from. We'll, we'll.
Get there. When we get there, we'll talk
about it. But.
Yes, and it was a little bit of a bummer that Nicholas Britell
(20:22):
does not come back for Season 2's score.
Instead, Brandon Roberts picks up the the conductor's baton
and, and, and, and writes the the score.
And it's, it's good. I think it feels like it reuses
a lot of the same themes from season 1 quite a bit.
It feels like he's more just trying to emulate Nicholas
(20:44):
Britell then like do his his ownthing.
And you know, I was a fan of thescores, right, That that was a
little bit of a bummer. But overall, I think the season
is just absolutely phenomenal from from start to finish.
And I have some critiques on theending a little bit as well.
But you know, as we talked about, like the ending is
(21:08):
basically Rogue One. And it was still.
Quite, quite good. Yeah, I mean, I I was getting a
little nervous leading up to theshow, not because the trailers
were bad or anything like that, but just remembering how good
season 1 was of Andor and I was afraid it wouldn't live up to
it. Not, not an issue.
(21:29):
And I am beyond glad for that, Yes.
Oh, absolutely. It's absolutely like.
It is everything we've been waiting for and excited for and
hoping for. And they handled everything just
so, so well. Really great costumes and sets
(21:50):
and and they actually did a lot more aliens and, and this time
it felt it just, it felt like there weren't no aliens in
season 1, but there's a quite a bit more in in season 2.
And yeah, it's just it's you canjust tell how much care goes
into every single episode. The acting is phenomenal.
(22:11):
The the writing, the writing is just so good.
It's so good. There's so many moments where
it. Makes me almost irrationally
angry when I go and look at other Star Wars shows compared
to it because it it is just written that well.
And it from the moment the show started, yeah, that was how I
felt. I was just like, thank you.
(22:33):
This is this is what I wanted tohear.
This is what I needed to see. Yes, and, and you'll see we
because as I lived through earlier, we've already recorded
our review of the first arc of the, of the show.
And like, we were all just getting excited as we were.
You'll you'll hear it in like what tomorrow?
I think it'll it'll come out. We were all just getting like so
(22:54):
excited. Just, you know, looking back on
one particular scene in the first arc, we were like, Oh my
gosh, that was that was so good.It's just, and that's just a
testament to the writing and there's multiple moments
throughout the seasons. It's just a great line of
dialogue or, or whatever. I I love, I love the
(23:15):
Mandalorian. I love, you know, Ahsoka, I love
Kenobi there. I love a lot of these Star Wars
shows we've had for very different reasons, but and, or
just from a pure like quality standpoint has to be at the top.
I think it's just it's phenomenal and Season 2 is even
better than Season 1. And so if you love Season 1,
(23:36):
you're just. Yeah, without a doubt.
Adore season 2. Yep, Yep.
I guess with that, what what would you what would we rate the
how would you rate the season? Let's let's, let's let's throw
out a number Wamprats. I guess.
Should I go first? I'll go first.
I think you should. I mean you.
You brought it up, William. Yeah, you brought it.
(24:00):
Up you have to give a 9.5. It's not a perfect ten, but like
it's pretty Dang close. It is so good.
It is so good. I can't recommend Andor season 2
highly enough. It just I've I've already gone
back and I've watched it twice already and it's just so good.
It's it, it gets better every time and it really makes you
(24:22):
want to watch Rogue One afterward and and that'll make
you want to watch A New Hope afterward and then you'll want
to watch Empire and Return to the Jedi.
The next thing you know, you watch the whole Star Wars saga.
But it, it is so good and my 9 1/2, I completely forgot my 9
1/2. Womp.
Rats. No, no, you go ahead.
I feel like we should be saving that.
OK, we'll save that one. Yeah, I, I, I think we should
save it. Because you know what?
Honestly that would be a spoilerif you found out what.
(24:43):
Happened. That would be so.
My 9 1/2 womp rats have been redacted.
You want to go next. I, I'm so I, I'm going to go
there. I, you know, it's really hard to
sit here. We're trying to give it spoiler
for free review. We're going to go and, and I'm
(25:04):
going there. I'm giving it A10.
I have to. I honestly loved every minute of
the show period. I'm not going to get into
spoiling this thing, but my God,you're in for such a roller
coaster override. And when it's done to see it
lead into Rogue One, you'll be like, yeah, so I'm sorry.
(25:31):
I gave I'm I'm giving it a 10 period.
I think this is this right now, out of all the Star Wars series
that have been done, this one isright at the top of my list.
And, and I mean, this is my favorite Star Wars show period
at this moment. Love it.
Even you're up. Yeah, you're up.
Yeah, 9.5, like William, I thinkthe best star, certainly Android
(25:55):
is the best Star Wars show. I think season 2 might be the
best season of a Star Wars show.It is phenomenal.
I have my, you know, one or two little nits with it, but it's
just fantastic. Like, no notes.
Yeah, I mean, there are notes, but not you know what.
(26:15):
Yeah, when we get into the reviews, my.
Notes. Yeah.
And when we get into the reviews, yeah, you'll, you'll
see the notes. But yeah, and Tom, I can't wait
to debate you on that one, that one little topic that.
We, I mean you disagree on I see.
Fun factor actually, you're recording that next in like a
few minutes. So we'll have some fun there,
(26:36):
but you'll hear that next week. In the meantime, please do not
do not miss and or season 2 on Disney Plus April 22nd.
That is tomorrow as you are hopefully if you're listening to
this when it comes out, that's tomorrow night, 6:00 PM Pacific.
(26:59):
All three episodes. We're just in for a treat.
It's like I said, Willie said it's a Star Wars movie every
week right at home. How could you go wrong?
Watch it, like just go watch it please.
And with that, we'll be back tomorrow, right after the first
arc drops, with our full spoilerdiscussion and review of the
(27:24):
first 3 episodes, followed by our review each week after that
running through the end of the season and sadly, the series.
So thank you all for listening and may the Force be with you.
Thank you for listening to the Ion Cannon Podcast, your source
for entertainment reviews from the Galaxy far, far away.
(27:45):
For over a decade, Ion Cannon has covered every corner of the
saga, from the films and animated series like The Clone
Wars and Rebels to books, comics, games, and more.
If you like what you hear, please rate US in your favorite
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We can be found at our website ioncannoncast.com and you can
(28:05):
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The Ion Cannon Podcast is not associated with Lucasfilm, The
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