Dan, what a wonderful piece. As someone obsessed with both politics and, as a kid, Star Wars, this show has been an epiphany from the schlock of the recent past
What a brilliant and apposite line: “Tyranny requires constant efforts. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle.” Authoritarians everywhere need to remember that...
The part of “rogue one” I found most fascinating was the rivalry between krennic and tarkin. I loved the careerist, vainglorious machinations of those two characters in their attempts to one up each other. This is what andor excels at and why dedra is my favorite character, not because I like her, but because I totally understand who she is and what motivates her.
Thank you Don! Just started watching Andor yesterday with my daughter, who is also hooked. As I read your analysis I was thinking about Graham Allison’s work —Andor to Star Wars is perhaps what Essence of Decision (bureaucratic decision making) is to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
Turns out, my oldest son has seen every episode, so we had a great discussion over the Thanksgiving table. Have you read the Slow Horses books by Mick Herron about washed up MI5 agents? It is a view from the bottom of bureaucratic agencies as well and a theme is the never-ending battle among agencies and politicians to deflect blame, control the narrative, and defeat your enemies (other agencies). All the while, it is the screw ups of Slough House who protect the nation.
Dan, what a wonderful piece. As someone obsessed with both politics and, as a kid, Star Wars, this show has been an epiphany from the schlock of the recent past
What a brilliant and apposite line: “Tyranny requires constant efforts. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle.” Authoritarians everywhere need to remember that...
The part of “rogue one” I found most fascinating was the rivalry between krennic and tarkin. I loved the careerist, vainglorious machinations of those two characters in their attempts to one up each other. This is what andor excels at and why dedra is my favorite character, not because I like her, but because I totally understand who she is and what motivates her.
Thanks for the shout out, Don and thanks for introducing me to Andor.
I know you will like it!
Thank you Don! Just started watching Andor yesterday with my daughter, who is also hooked. As I read your analysis I was thinking about Graham Allison’s work —Andor to Star Wars is perhaps what Essence of Decision (bureaucratic decision making) is to the Cuban Missile Crisis.
That's a great comparison!
Turns out, my oldest son has seen every episode, so we had a great discussion over the Thanksgiving table. Have you read the Slow Horses books by Mick Herron about washed up MI5 agents? It is a view from the bottom of bureaucratic agencies as well and a theme is the never-ending battle among agencies and politicians to deflect blame, control the narrative, and defeat your enemies (other agencies). All the while, it is the screw ups of Slough House who protect the nation.
Have not read the Slow Horses book, but did watch the adaption of Apple TV, which was terrific.
It's all true and season two goes further