Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast Hoth Takes: A Star Wars Podcast

Andor won critical acclaim for its gritty and nuanced portrayal of rebellion in Star Wars, but what makes its depiction of insurgency so special? In this episode, The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer joins Eric, Grace, and Haley to discuss how faith and revenge motivate rebellion throughout Star Wars, how Luthen’s approach to insurrection sets him apart, how class shapes the goals and decisions of Andor’s rebel and Imperial characters, and what the show says about the role of radical revolutionary violence. Plus, we compare Andor to Star Wars Rebels, Adam makes the case that Andor wants us to think Luthen is a fugitive Jedi, and we discuss a curious theory about two droids being one.

Andor season 1 ended with a triumphant run of episodes, and we’re here to break down all the greatness, from the cutthroat political maneuvering to the epic brawls, riots, and space battles to whatever’s going on with Dedra Meero and Syril Karn. Eric fanboys over Mon Mothma, Grace talks about familial love putting Cassian over the edge, and Haley discusses the genius of making Dedra sympathetic and relatable before showing her dark side. We also talk Andy Serkis, Ferrix funerals, Luthen’s all-around bossness, and Nemik’s manifesto. Plus: Hats off to Syril and Sergeant Mosk for having the best villain bromance in all of Star Wars.

Eight episodes into Andor, we keep finding more things to love. Join us as we discuss the Disney+ series’ surprisingly stark treatment of the surveillance state, police brutality, and the prison-industrial complex, tackling issues that Star Wars has either ignored or relegated to the background. We also cover Diego Luna’s extraordinarily expressive face, the many layers of Mon Mothma, the intimate portrayal of Imperial oppression, and the villains we almost want to root for. This series is so good that even Grace’s mom is loving it. Enough said.

We’re one-third of the way through Andor’s first season, and so far, things are looking incredibly good. In this episode, Eric and Grace break down how Andor is hitting all the right notes, from its grounded setting and its darker tone to its nuanced portrayals of heroes, villains, and everyday people. We talk about Mon Mothma’s unexpected vulnerability, the office politics of the Imperial Security Bureau, and Andor’s unflinching depictions of surveillance, migration, and insurgency. Plus, we explore the series’ smart integration of Easter eggs and celebrate production-design choices large and small.

Podracing: to paraphrase Qui-Gon, it’s very fast, very dangerous, and very possibly the best sequence in The Phantom Menace. In this episode, Daily Beast congressional reporter Sam Brodey joins us to discuss the podrace sequence’s uniquely excellent world-building, the racers’ bizarre backstories, and the high-octane competition’s best sound effects and strangest moments. Plus, we celebrate Fode and Beed, pitch ideas for a podracing mini-series on Disney+, and mourn Ratts Tyrell — gone but not forgotten.

How will the new Disney+ series Andor balance its ambition to be a political thriller about insurgency and migration with its imperative to serve a mass audience and respect Star Wars’ kid-friendly roots? In this episode, Eric, Grace, and Haley discuss their hopes and expectations for Andor, including a spotlight on Mon Mothma, an exploration of Imperial loyalism, and a focus on more grounded heroes. Plus, we digest a revelation about Mon’s past, ponder Tony Gilroy’s promise of journalist representation, cheer for Andor’s escape from the Volume, and consider whether the show is destined to be another battlefront in the culture war.