Drama
Andor
The critically acclaimed Star Wars series ‘Andor’ is back. For fans, it is a return to form. For families, the show is still potentially a ride through an asteroid belt.
Outside the walls of Elu, the world is in shambles.
Half a millennium ago, the Divine Wars, waged between the armies of light and the armies of darkness, caused havoc across the once-peaceful Yorubaland. And when the leader of the armies of darkness, the Fallen One, saw that he was about to be defeated, he unleashed a final curse upon the land.
It swept across every land animal, turning them into evil creatures bent on slaying humanity. The remaining people constructed giant walls around the city of Elu. And for the last 500 years, it’s been assumed that they were the last people left.
But there’s still hope for the crippled human race: A prophecy foretells that one day, a mortal with divine power called the Chosen would reverse the land’s curse, restoring the corrupted beasts and ushering in a new age of peace.
Not everyone believes those “fairy tales,” and they’d rather work to increase their own power and prosperity. But Iyanu, a young girl growing up on the outskirts of Elu, believes them.
She especially begins to place her faith on that hope when those prophesied powers start to manifest through her.
Iyanu feels strangely familiar. The story of a corrupted world being redeemed through the work of God become human is immediately evident. Its storyline and art style feel just as unique as it does reminiscent of Avatar: The Last Airbender. And I can’t help but think Attack on Titan when I hear about humanity’s last city stuck behind a giant wall.
But enough with the comparisons, since Iyanu simultaneously feels quite foreign, too. Most notably, many religious beliefs of the Yoruba religion stand at the forefront of the show. And though we can’t comment on how accurate Iyanu is in depicting those beliefs, viewers will contend with a heavy dose of mythology all the same.
Outside of that, the young Iyanu encounters peril wherever she goes. She dodges the deadly attacks of a variety of corrupted beasts. And some people with selfish ambitions set out to end the girl’s legacy, too.
Still, despite some moments that feel as if scenes were cut a little too short, Iyanu seems pretty in line with a young teen’s adventure series. But given how deep the pagan spirituality is in the show, parents of curious potential viewers at home will likely want to approach the story in Iyanu with caution.
(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at [email protected], or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)
Iyanu is forced to run deep into the dangerous jungle when soldiers from Elu come looking for her.
Iyanu shoots an arrow at a corrupted animal, which takes it down. Soldiers get tossed through the air by a gemstone that causes a flash of light.
According to the show, mankind lived for a long time in peace under the guidance of the Divine Ones, but this prosperity came to an end when the Fallen One and his armies of darkness fought in a great war against the armies of light. The Fallen One, surrounded by the armies of light, unleashed a final curse on the land—one that corrupted all land-dwelling animals into evil beasts. This curse forced humanity to hide behind walls for the last 500 years. However, a prophecy foretells that someone would rise to reverse the Fallen One’s curse called the Chosen—a mortal who has divine power.
We’re told that Eleda is the ultimate creator. We hear about a “realm of the ancestors.” Olori, the woman who raised Iyanu, is the “last of the Agoni,” a group of priestesses. Olori is also called a witch, and she uses a gemstone to cause explosions. She also uses magical dust to cure a corrupted animal. We hear about a mysterious Source wherein divine knowledge will become understood. And when Iyanu uses her magical powers, her eyes glow bright, and her arrows turn into light.
Kennedy Unthank studied journalism at the University of Missouri. He knew he wanted to write for a living when he won a contest for “best fantasy story” while in the 4th grade. What he didn’t know at the time, however, was that he was the only person to submit a story. Regardless, the seed was planted. Kennedy collects and plays board games in his free time, and he loves to talk about biblical apologetics. He thinks the ending of Lost “wasn’t that bad.”
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