Why Andor Is the Best Television of the Year So Far (With Adria Arjona)

·48 min·4 clips

Andor tells a John le Carré-style spy story in the Star Wars universe, avoiding lightsabers and magic.

The episode opens with hosts David Canfield, Richard Lawson, and Rebecca Ford introducing topics: new Oscar rules, Cannes Film Festival updates, and Andor season two. They first examine the Academy's rule change mandating that voters watch all nominated films in a category to vote, questioning enforcement and potential impacts on smaller films. The conversation shifts to Cannes, where Lynne Ramsey's film 'Die, My Love' starring Jennifer Lawrence and Robert Pattinson is added to competition, alongside Kristen Stewart's directorial debut 'The Chronology of Water'. The hosts debate Ramsey's filmography and Cannes jury selections like Juliette Binoche and Jeremy Strong. After a break, Vanity Fair correspondent Anthony Bresnikan joins to discuss Andor season two, describing it as 'grown-up Star Wars' focused on espionage, moral ambiguity, and characters like Mon Mothma. Richard Lawson calls it the best TV of the year, highlighting its human drama and aesthetic evolution. Bresnikan notes how the show explores rebellion sacrifices and grown-up fandom. Later, actor Adria Arjona appears to talk about her role as Bix, explaining her character's trauma from season one, addiction to 'drops', and climactic revenge against Dr. Gorst in episode six. She discusses Bix's relationship with Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna, and a ritualistic dance scene that defines their bond. Arjona shares insights into portraying trauma and the show's production scale, expressing pride in the final season. The episode concludes with upcoming coverage plans for Cannes and awards season.

As heard by us

A spoiler-rich Andor discussion links season two's human cost to the machinery of Rogue One.

Little Gold Men approaches Andor as both a taut television drama and a Star Wars argument about what happens when a franchise steps away from its usual mythic machinery.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

You get a spoiler-alerted Little Gold Men dive into Andor season two, Adria Arjona on Bix's big episode, plus Oscar rules and Cannes lineup chatter first.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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