Rogue One (2016)

Rewatching Rogue One post-Andor S2 cuts deep, with every sacrifice stinging harder and every shot still stunning.

I dove back into Rogue One right after finishing Andor Season 2 and yes, it stings a bit differently this time. Seeing all those characters fight for a hopeless cause after Andor’s deep dive into the Rebellion’s grit made every choice feel heavier. I left feeling my heart in two.

Visually, Rogue One still slaps. The cinematograph is amazing! The cast brings the pain in all the right ways. Felicity Jones as Jyn Erso nails that mix of stubborn hope and heartbreaking doubt,and Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor, especially after seeing him in his own show, lands every look with this “been-there-done-that” weight. And let’s not forget our fan-fave K-2SO, whose deadpan quips still crack me up even as the stakes skyrocket.

On my second run, I also noticed just how tight the editing is. Those cross-cutting battle sequences? They ramp up tension like a pressure cooker. It’s a masterclass in keeping you breathless without losing the thread of the story.

Emotionally, everything hits harder now. After Andor showed me how deep the Empire’s oppression runs, Rogue One’s biggest sacrifices feel gut-punchingly real. When the team races to transmit the Death Star plans, you’re not just watching heroes instead, you’re witnessing people you almost know giving everything for a shot at freedom.

Smash Hit Score: 9.5/10

Rogue One remains an absolute standout in the Star Wars saga - edgier, riskier and more raw than your typical space opera. This rewatch proved it’s not just a prequel, it’s a powerful story in its own right. If you haven’t given it another spin post-Andor, trust me, it’s worth every second.