This week, we are going on a brief tangent from the big-screen by exploring the mind behind one of the best TV shows of the year, Andor. However, its creator Tony Gilroy is no stranger to the movies: He was Oscar-nominated for the original screenplay behind his directorial debut, the brilliant psychological thriller Michael Clayton. Gilroy also wrote the first several movies in the Bourne Identity franchise, establishing one of the biggest blockbuster sensations of the 21st century.

But his work isn't your traditional big-budget spectacle: Gilroy writes smart, substantial morality plays that just so happen to require the occasional special effects. Or...sometimes, a lot of special effects. Andor, which wrapped up its two-season run on Disney+ this year, epitomizes Gilroy's talent: It's technically another entry in the Star Wars universe, but it's deeper and more thematically ambitious than anything in the nearly 50-year history of that franchise. This conversation with Gilroy took place in June, a month before he was nominated for an Emmy for outstanding drama series.