Andor Season 1 Episodes Ranked

Andor Season 1 Episodes Ranked

The third and final Disney+ show of the year, Andor has officially finished its first season. That means today it’s time to rank all twelve episodes of Andor season 1. Let’s get started!

NOTE: This post will contain SPOILERS for the entire season of the show. So if you haven’t seen the entire season, be careful what you read. I will be spoiling what happens. 

12. The Axe Forgets (Episode 5): An episode that when it focused on Andor and the Rebellion group was great, it was the stuff that really sucked me in the episode the most. And with this episode they really showed a lot of the conflict and tension between the group. And they fleshed out those characters really well and gave them just enough backstory to make them pop and stand-out just a little bit more. But what holds it back is the stuff with Syril in this episode really didn’t work for me. Just him sitting in his mom’s kitchen talking is not what I want to see in a Star Wars show like this. But what really didn’t work for me about this episode is that it felt like filler, it felt like a drag to watch from beginning to end and I think this episode is a perfect example as to why I don’t think twelve episode long seasons worked. And after talking with people about it, the more issues I noticed from it and I think this is one of the weaker episodes of the season. 

11. The Eye (Episode 6): Now I know I’m the minority on this one because it seemed like people loved this episode. I heard some people calling this episode one of the best episodes of Star Wars of all time. And given the placement of this episode on this list, I don’t agree with that statement. While this was the payoff to the second mini movie inside of the season, it had a lot of great scenes and sequences that worked as being tension filled. But what holds this back is I didn’t find any of the characters likable in this episode whatsoever. As soon as they started kidnapping and threatening to kill children it just went over the line. And I don’t understand as to why I was supposed to root for these people that are doing just as bad of things as the villains are. And just that stuff really held it back from being better. It had all of the pieces to be a great episode, but one BIG mistake that holds it back for me. 

10. That Would Be Me (Episode 2): Now I didn’t hate this episode, it’s just a fine episode. And I think the biggest thing holding this one back is that it’s the awkward middle ground. Meaning episode 1 set-up everything that drove the rest of the season forward. And episode 3 was really when things started to pick up and the story really kicked in. So this episode was just that awkward middle ground transitioning from the set-up to the main bulk of the season. But on the positive, it continues the same tone that vibe that was set-up so well in episode 1. And we do get that introduction to Stellen Skarsgard’s character. And we do get the introduction to Fiona Shaw, Aunt Petunia from Harry Potter which I thought was a nice character to throw into the show. 

9. Aldhani (Episode 4): After the first three episodes really did a lot of set-up for the show. This is the first episode where they can just go for it. You get some really interesting stuff happening in this episode. It’s great that they fleshed out Mon Mothma, this character that was in the original trilogy as well as Rogue One. And in this episode they fleshed her out, we saw her personal life and what her day to day life looks like. Plus you get Andor intersecting with this new crew of people that was a fun new dynamic that I thought worked, and that tension of can this crew trust him or not was handled very well. What holds it back is the stuff with the imperial officers just isn’t as interesting to me, I think the stuff with Andor is much more interesting than the villain side of things. Not that the villain side of things are bad, but just not as interesting. 

8. Kassa (Episode 1): A slow but interesting start to the show. Where probably the best thing about this episode is that it just establishes the tone and vibe of everything really really well. Very quickly you understand that this is a much darker show, it’s more mature and not aimed towards younger audiences. And after two shows that really disappointed me, and seemed to be aimed towards younger audiences with straight forward plots this was a nice change of pace. But what I think holds it back is that it is too slow. This is very much a set-up episode, an episode that is setting everything in motion. And for that reason I think it is one of the weaker episodes of the show. Because it’s not all that exciting, but it’s still a good episode. 

7. Daughter of Ferrix (Episode 11): With a pretty impressive streak from episode 7,8,9,and 10 I was a tad bit disappointed with this episode, not by a lot. But it wasn't as good as I would have hoped. But this is still a very good episode, that is the least focused on Andor. Where in this episode it focuses more on Mon Mothma, Karn, and Stellen Skarsgard’s character then the title character. And I just liked that, all of the stuff with those three characters worked for me. The little space chase with Skarsgard was thrilling and exciting, that whole scene had a lot of tension inside of it. You get some emotional moments with Andor’s adoptive mother dying, and Andor learning that at the end. And honestly, I don’t have a good reason as to why this episode isn’t higher up on the list. It’s just a solid episode in a show that I do enjoy a good bit. 

6. Rix Road (Episode 12): We go from the first episode of the season to the last episode of the season. And I thought this was a very solid conclusion to season 1 of the show. Where it has a lot of payoff where you have this town, Ferrix I believe fights back against The Empire. Andor returns to the town and reunites with Box. And the way this episode was done, primarily the fight between the town and the villains reminded me of The Dark Knight Rises’ final battle. I don’t know if anybody else got the vibe, but I certainly did. Maarvana gives a great speech in the episode that is very empowering and moving. And just even those small moments where the town is saddened by the loss of Andor’s mother. And a lot of characters in the show say “I’m sore about your mother”, it’s just a nice touch to the episode. And it’s the only episode to feature a mid-credit scene where droids are building The Death Star. And I’m not sure if The Death Star will play a big part in season 2. 

5. Reckoning (Episode 3): Of the first three episodes this is the episode that I thought worked the best and was the most interesting. Where you get the interactions between Andor and Stellen Skarsgard’s character and I just liked their dynamic a good bit. You get more of Andor’s history with his mother which was interesting and how they met. And in the back half of the episode you get the first taste of action which I thought was very cool. They are in an environment that we haven’t really been to in Star Wars, it’s a shoot out but it’s shot in a very different manner. And I just liked that things really kicked into high gear with this episode and it was very very interesting. So of the episodes that premiered on September 21st, this would be my favorite. 

4. Nobody’s Listening! (Episode 9): The episode that was really building up the big prison escape episode that took place in episode 10. And here you just get some really cool moments and some great moments. Where you have Andor wanting to escape but having this tension with Andy Serkis’ character as to why he should or shouldn’t escape this place. And it just fleshes out Andy Serkis’ character in some new ways that makes you wonder why he is the way that he is. You do get some emotional and gut wrenching moments when the character realizes that the old man can’t be saved. And that’s the event that makes Andy Serkis decide to help Andor escape. All of it was handled so well and when you put those moments together you get one of the best episodes of the season. 

3. Narkina 5 (Episode 8): A great episode that picks up where episode 7 left things. With Andor getting transported to this concentration camp almost where they are doing labor, eating food that tastes like nothing, and being imprisoned here. And I thought it was very interesting and showed just how dark and evil the empire really is. Plus getting somebody like Andy Serkis to lead this group is great. He’s a great actor that I always enjoy when he shows up. And interesting that now Andy Serkis has played two characters in the Star Wars universe. But beyond that, Mon Mathma gets some solid moments that represent more of the political side of everything taking place, those moments are interesting. Also when you get Stellen Skarsgard’s character talking with Saw Gerrera is a great little moment. It’s nothing big, but it just fleshes out the world when you see the connection between projects. 

2. Announcements (Episode 7): After a couple of weaker episodes with 5 and 6 I thought that episode 7 was a great episode. And what I thought this episode wisely did was reflect on the previous six episodes and show the aftermath of those episodes. And because of that our characters have a lot of conflict in there but up some boundaries that make the characters question who they can trust. You get some emotional moments when Andor goes back to his home city and visits with his adoptive mother and ex-girlfriend. As we haven’t seen those characters since episode 3 so we see where they are after everything that happened in episode 3 went down. And then you see what the heist did for the Empire, and that really wasn’t good for the Empire. It’s complex and it’s what the show is doing right but this is one of the better versions of the formula that this show is following. 

1. One Way Out (Episode 10): Wow. This episode was quite the experience to watch and I mean it in the best way possible. Where this episode is filled with emotions, twists, and edge of your seat scenes that are incredible. I mean you have this prison break episode where Andor and Kino Loy, Andy Serkis who are leading the prisoners to escape. And when you have Kino give that speech to all of the prisoners you get chills down your back. You feel the emotions of what Kino is going through while delivering the speech. And afterwards when Andor and Kino leave the command center Andor doesn’t kill the guards there. And when he leaves you see them look over at the screen and you get this sense of oh no, is that going to come by to haunt them. Was Andor now killing them going to be a big mistake. So it builds tension just from that small moment that could be a throw away moment. And then it all leads to all of the prisoners jumping off the prison into the water and Kino says “I can’t swim”. Which is just heartbreaking, it’s so heartbreaking to hear that character say those words. He’s come on this full journey to get where he is now and to say that he can’t actually escape is just heartbreaking to hear. And so all of those moments are exceptional and make for some of the best Star Wars since the original trilogy. And dear gosh, Andy Serkis what a legend. 

There you have it, my ranking of the season 1 episodes of Andor. What is your favorite episode of the season? Also, I’ve done a number of Star Wars related rankings. So if you like my Star Wars content there will be something for everybody to enjoy. Thanks for reading!