Tony Gilroy brilliantly steered the ship of Andor for two seasons, bringing the critically acclaimed series to a fitting conclusion mere weeks ago. The series is easily one of the best and most politically mature entries in the Star Wars franchise, which has garnered it many admirers.
However, Gilroy admitted in an interview that despite the show’s treatment of political parallels, Andor is not a left-leaning story. Instead, Gilroy shared his take on how he views the show’s politics, and his comments have me sad that the creator did not embrace Andor‘s leftist ideology.
Tony Gilroy denies that Andor is a left-wing political story
Andor is a deeply layered and nuanced story, and much has already been said about its characters, plot, and themes. The Star Wars series, created by Tony Gilroy, received critical acclaim and justified its almost $650 million price tag with its popularity among fans.
The series is also one of the more political installments in the epic space opera franchise, despite creator George Lucas previously aiming the earlier installments at a relatively younger audience. As a result, Andor was aimed at a more mature audience.
Following the show’s conclusion, Gilroy sat down for a chat with The New York Times, where he was asked about the show’s political themes. When asked whether Andor was a left-wing show, Gilroy denied the notion.
I never think about it that way. I never think about it that way. It was never.
Gilroy’s response left even columnist Ross Douthat scoffing, especially given the overall plot of Andor, which primarily follows a group of rebels trying to fight and overthrow an authoritarian regime in the form of the Empire.
Tony Gilroy should have embraced Andor‘s left-wing themes
During the interview, Douthat pointed out that Andor‘s political ideology could be classified as left-leaning, especially since it is, by definition, an anti-establishment series. Therefore, in a very broad sense, Andor is a left-wing series.
The show’s political foundation hinges upon the audience rooting for a group of radical revolutionaries fighting against the Empire, a fascist and authoritarian organization. However, its true genius lies in Gilroy not preaching any particular leftist agenda with a real-world parallel.
Instead, the series resonates because it implores its characters and viewers to oppose authoritarianism. The same is evident in scenes featuring Nemik’s manifesto and Maarva Andor’s speech. As a result, many characters can be viewed as having an anti-establishment outlook.
Hence, Gilroy’s rejection of the show’s left-wing themes is slightly disappointing. Gilroy likely took a safe stance to avoid making any real-world allusions with the show’s left-leaning philosophy, as it may have sparked unnecessary backlash. However, I am still sad that Gilroy chose not to embrace Andor‘s left-wing ideas.
Andor is currently streaming on Disney+ (USA).
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
