215: Star Wars: Andor, Season 2 (with Roxana Hadadi and Corey Atad)

In this Junk Filter sequel to our discussion of season 1 of Tony Gilroy’s Star Wars: Andor streaming series, the writers Roxana Hadadi and Corey Atad return to assess the second and final season, which compresses the four years leading up to the start of Rogue One into four sets of three-episode arcs.On this episode we discuss the program’s political content and Gilroy’s refusal to play Culture War games during the promotion of the series. We cover the controversial first arc of the series which parallels the plans of the Empire with the Final Solution of the Nazi era, as they flood the galaxy with propaganda to demonize a planet they plan to colonize, and how a fascist regime uses sexual violence and unwitting dupes who think they’re serving a greater good through their collaboration. And we talk about the upsetting eighth episode of season 2 which depicts a massacre on the “French Planet” of Ghorman, clearly modelled on Nazi-occupied France in World War II, which of course has parallels both to Gaza and the Trump Era.Plus: the fates of the show’s ‘Power Couple’ Dedra and Syril, the barnburning Saw Gerrara monologue, and Tony Gilroy’s illuminating interview with Ross Douthat, who is determined in their discussion to tag Andor (and Michael Clayton) as ‘left wing art’ and fails miserably.Over 30% of all Junk Filter episodes are only available to patrons of the podcast. To support this show directly and to receive access to the entire back catalogue, consider becoming a patron for only $5.00 a month (U.S.) at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠patreon.com/junkfilterFollow Roxana Hadadi on Twitter and BlueskyFollow Corey Atad on Twitter and Bluesky and visit coreyatad.comI Am High on Saw Gerrera’s Supply - by Roxana Hadadi, for Vulture, April 30, 2025Andor Dared To Say ‘Genocide’ - by Roxana Hadadi, for Vulture, May 7, 2025Print The Myth: A Few Words About a Star War - from Corey Atad’s Substack, May 14, 2025Your Next Star Wars Addiction is Already Here - by Corey Atad, for Slate, May 23, 2025Trailer for Star Wars: Andor, Season 2 (2025)