Why ANDOR Works and the BOOK OF BOBA FETT Didn’t

Pre-Order the SILVER REVENGER on https://saber-universe.com/ from November 4 until November 13 for $159.95 instead of $189.95. Plus, by using the discount code SCREENCRUSH10 you'll get an additional 10% off!

Andor is breaking new ground in the Star Wars universe, raising the bar for storytelling and characterization in a galaxy far, far away. And, it features mostly new characters. So why is it so much more effective than the Book of Boba Fett, which featured cherished characters form the original trilogy like Luke Syywalker; the Clone Wars, like Ahsoka Tano, and form the Disney era, like Din Djarin and Grogu? I this video we break down why one show succeeded and the other failed.

Featuring:
Adam Lance Garcia   / adamlancegarcia  
Heather Antos   / heatherantos  

Go here → http://screencrush.com/
TikTok →   / screencrushnews  
Like us →   / screencrush  
Follow us →   / screencrushnews  
Get our newsletter → http://screencrush.com/newsletter/

Written and Hosted by Ryan Arey (  / ryanarey  )
Edited by Harriet Lengel-Enright, Randolf Nombrado, and Ethan Lavinsky

#Andor #StarWars #bookofbobafett

I want to talk about cassian andor and the book of boba fett–specifically how these two shows highlight certain flaws in disney star wars, and also show the growing divide in our star wars fandom. A little later I’m going to be joined by two of the best, Heather Antos and Adam Lance Garcia, but first here’s my take.

Andor is unlike any star wars I have ever seen. Its character based, slow paced, and is a top notch political spy thriller. I will say though that it's not really made for kids. I would bet that most kids are bored by it, in fact.

When Andor was first released to the press, I saw a lot of dialogue on twitter that the show didn't give them member berries”.

Doug: what’s member berries?

It’s from an episode of South Park, basically eating member berries makes you bask in nostalgia, and they have been the downfall of every society. Basically when a culture peaks, it just wants to relieve its former glory.

Doug: Oh, like many of the most popular TV shows and movies today.

Exactly. Andor does feature tons of easter eggs, but they’re all in the background, like the temple of doom stones in Luther's shop. Or there tied in more with the characters and the story. Like how mon mothma speaks out for the people of Ghorman, and that same activism leads her to be declared an enemy of the empire in star wars rebels.

Not that there’s anything wrong with wanting to relive the things you loved as a child. That’s why we buy fun collecti=bles like lightsabers. Speaking of which. Doug, check this out.

Back to what i was saying. The problem is the book of boba fett was all easter eggs, and very little story. The main character's motivations were never made clear. The flashbacks were awkwardly placed–which I'll talk about in a second. And really it felt like two shows. The flashback heavy first half, and the guest star filled second half.

There were so many legacy characters appearing in the book of Boba Fett that there was an entire episode that did not feature the main character–and it was the best episode of the show. So the book of Boba Fett felt like a Frankenstein's monster from a TV show.

And this is where I think andor is such a better show than the book of boba fett–its structure. We made a whole video about the book of boba fett’s structure, and how flashbacks should be used in a film or show. So I’m going to revisit a bit of that video, but then compare it to andor to express what this show does so well, as it cuts between its different storylines.

Let’s look at the first few episodes of Boba Fett, and how they incorporate the flashbacks.

Book of boba fett started off in a challenging position. The saga left off with the character in two different points. Falling into the sarlacc pit, and sitting on Jabba's throne. So the show had to show us how he got from the pit, to where we saw him in the mandalorian, and what happens after the mandalorian. So on paper, flashbacks are a good idea.

F;sshbacks can be used to shed light on a person’s character, like in orange is the new black. To reveal thematic parallels, like in godfather 2. Or to show a character remembering something in the past that helps them in the present, like in Lost. All of these flashbacks serve the present day storyline– but the book of boba fett's flashbacks were placed arbitrarily, and did not service the present story.

At the very least, flashbacks should reveal thematic parallels, so the two timelines are at least bringin the audience along on separate journeys that feel like a single story. This is what andor does so well in its first episode.