Given that “Rogue One” actually takes place after “Andor,” you can go in without any prior knowledge of the events that happen in the movie — or for that matter, “Star Wars: A New Hope,” although general knowledge of the universe may be helpful. “Andor” so far has shown itself to be an origin story for Cassian Andor, who Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) quickly introduced in “Rogue One” as a captain of Rebel Intelligence — a man with a mission to kill Galen Erso (Mads Mikkelsen). “Andor” takes a deeper dive into his childhood, examining how he left his home planet and later became associated with the Rebellion.
Reviewers tend to agree you don’t need prior knowledge to enjoy the show. Vanity Fair said, “‘Andor’ could almost exist on its own as an engrossing mystery untethered to any larger saga.” The publication points out that the thrilling series is taking a step back from cozy nostalgia and diving into new territory in terms of plot and story.
And some people are already suggesting that watching “Andor” first and then “Rogue One” later might be a good idea because it fits with the “Star Wars” timeline — and because they’re eager to know how watching “Andor” first changes the viewing experience. “Honestly maybe watch ‘Andor’ first and then ‘Rogue One.’ I think that could be interesting. Come back and tell us how you feel about the arc after that,” u/Newcastlewin1 said in a Reddit thread discussing the question.
