The following contains spoilers for Andor Season 1, Episode 1, "Kassa," Episode 2, "That Would Be Me," and Episode 3, "Reckoning," streaming now on Disney+.
Andor's first three episodes were admittedly a little slow. There was significant buildup to a split-second decision, where Cassian decided to leave Ferrix and join the Rebellion. However, there was a good reason that things happened slowly. Unlike The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi -- which had seven and six episodes, respectively -- Andor has 12 episodes in Season 1 and an already-confirmed second season. Because of that, Andor can afford a calculated pace.
The slow episodes allow the writers to set up all kinds of things. For instance, a young Cassian saw the ship crash on Kenari. Supposedly, the planet was the site of an Imperial mining disaster, but the dead (and poisoned?) people on that ship wore Separatist insignia -- yet Maarva called them Republic soldiers. Clearly, that story warrants further explanation. The slow episodes will also allow fans to come up with theories as things develop, rather than simply be given answers. Another benefit of the slow episodes was the indirect characterization of the Empire.
At first glance, it was odd how the Empire didn't show up in any of the first three episodes. After all, the galactic entity will be the villainous entity of the series. However, it made perfect sense why the Empire wasn't there. From a practical sense, it seems like the Empire wasn't a part of Cassian's early life -- at least not directly. In the first three episodes, he was pursued by members of the Pre-Mor Authority, not Imperial Stormtroopers because the Pre-Mor Authority was the Empire's arm on Ferrix.
The thing is, that didn't diminish the effects of the Empire on Andor's premiere. In fact, the Empire's heavy hand was a part of everything that happened. For one, most people didn't want to step on the Empire's toes. When Deputy Inspector Syril Karn proposed hunting down Cassian, Pre-Mor's Chief Hyne specifically told him not to. The chief was about to attend the Imperial Regional Command Review, and he didn't want a disturbance. Operating as an independent affiliate of the Empire required staying out of trouble, or else the Empire would come in and take over.
More directly, Luthen and Cassian talked about the Empire's arrogance and the atrocities it had committed. By comparison, the pair did their best to get away from the Pre-Mor soldiers, but when they encounter Imperial troopers, they will be even more willing to shoot their way out of a jam. It wasn't just Luthen and Cassian that were fed up, though. When the Pre-Mor soldiers came to Ferrix, local citizens started banging on things -- a warning signal against oppression. People were tired of being told what to do and how to do it, and as a proxy of the Empire, the people opposed the Pre-Mor forces just like they would the Empire itself.
Thus, while the Empire wasn't seen, it was felt. By using indirect characterization, Andor showed fans just how much the Empire was arrogantly in charge -- even at a distance. Nothing could happen without attracting attention and reprimand. So, as Cassian joins the Rebels, he will get to experience the Empire more and more, and fans will get to see his probably violent response.
New episodes of Andor stream Wednesdays on Disney+.