Andor Has Officially Ruined Star Wars

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Disney+ has significantly grown the Star Wars universe with bold and expansive storytelling. However, one series, Andor, presents a unique challenge. Not only is it arguably the best Star Wars show created so far, its exceptional quality raises the bar so high that future installments may struggle to measure up.

Andor isn’t just a fantastic Star Wars show; it’s a truly exceptional series, period. While Disney+ has had some successes and failures with Star Wars – like the well-received Ahsoka and the more controversial The Book of Boba Fett – nothing compares to Andor’s overall quality. Even The Mandalorian, with its popular character Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), doesn’t quite reach Andor’s level of excellence.

Fans are loving Andor, but its success has created a tough situation for future Star Wars shows. Now that Andor season 2 is over, every new series will be judged against its incredibly high quality. Any upcoming show, regardless of its story, size, or actors, will have to be exceptional just to be seen as good enough.

Andor Has Made Other Star Wars Shows Look Worse In Comparison

Andor’s Quality Casts A Long Shadow Over Every Star Wars Show That Came Before Or After

Andor has set a new standard for Star Wars stories, and its strengths are especially noticeable when compared to other live-action shows from Disney. While The Mandalorian successfully showed that Star Wars could work well on TV with smaller, focused adventures, Andor goes further with more complex writing, a consistently tense atmosphere, and a deeply developed world.

Shows like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka were fun, bringing back beloved characters and moments from the past, but they relied a lot on things we’d seen before. Andor, however, did something different. It didn’t lean on nostalgia at all, instead focusing on complicated politics, morally gray characters, and a character-focused story. This approach, which felt fresh for Star Wars, allowed Andor to tell a story that was completely its own.

Look, even though The Mandalorian really impressed me with its fantastic practical effects and the sweet relationship between Din Djarin and Grogu, it still felt a bit… predictable. But Andor? That show was something else. It built tension so expertly, taking its time with character development and a really complex story. It wasn’t about giving fans what they wanted immediately; it was about earning their investment with smart, deliberate pacing. It really paid off, honestly.

As a huge Star Wars fan, I’ve enjoyed bits and pieces of the other live-action shows like The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. But honestly, they often felt a little all over the place, tonally and in terms of what story they were trying to tell. Then Andor came along, and it was just… different. It was consistently great from beginning to end. It really showed what Star Wars could be if it aimed for something more sophisticated, but it also made the inconsistencies in those other shows stand out even more. It proved the franchise can be prestige television, it just rarely is.

The show really shines when it comes to its characters. Characters like Mon Mothma, played by Genevieve O’Reilly, had some of the most complex and interesting political storylines ever seen in Star Wars. Syril Karn, played by Kyle Soller, was a disturbingly believable character obsessed with power. Even smaller roles, like Kino Loy played by Andy Serkis, were memorable and well-developed. It’s rare to find a Star Wars show with characters who feel so real and whose stories have such a strong emotional impact.

While boosting the reputation of Star Wars, Andor also highlighted what was lacking in previous shows. Those earlier series weren’t necessarily poor, but they weren’t created with the same level of vision. Now that Andor is out, the difference is clear. Its high quality changes how we view everything else in the franchise, making older and upcoming series seem more cautious and less adventurous.

Andor Should Be The Benchmark For All Future Star Wars Shows And Movies

Andor Sets The Storytelling Standard That Every Future Star Wars Project Must Learn From

Look, I don’t think every Star Wars show needs to be as gritty and serious as Andor, but that series really showed Disney what works. It proved that focusing on real tension, making the stakes matter, and building stories around the characters themselves is a winning formula. Honestly, whether they’re diving into Jedi lore or the seedier side of the galaxy, Star Wars always gets better when it has some real depth and meaning. It’s a blueprint for how to make the franchise truly great, and I hope they don’t forget that.

The show Andor proved that a slower, more thoughtful approach can be very effective. It didn’t jump quickly from one action scene to the next, instead letting scenes breathe and allowing characters’ choices to move the story forward. Other films and shows can learn from this, combining exciting visuals with a stronger focus on clear emotions and a natural flow to the story.

The show also demonstrated that Star Wars can succeed by focusing on new characters and stories, rather than relying on cameos or familiar faces from the past. The core group – including Cassian Andor, Luthen Rael, and Bix Caleen – carried the narrative effectively, which should encourage creators to develop compelling new protagonists instead of simply playing on nostalgia.

The production design in Andor set a high standard. Its realistic sets, believable environments, and use of practical effects all contributed to a more immersive experience. While future projects don’t need to look exactly the same, they should focus on creating a genuine feel, prioritizing real-world builds over relying too much on digital effects. This approach creates a sense of immersion that feels natural and authentic, rather than artificial.

Above all, Andor showed respect for its audience. It didn’t simplify things, instead trusting viewers to follow complicated political themes, morally gray areas, and storylines that unfolded gradually. Star Wars is at its best when it makes you think, not just feel good. Future movies and shows should aim for similar depth and meaningful storytelling, even if they’re more lighthearted or fantastical.

Ultimately, Andor didn’t destroy Star Wars; it actually raised the bar for the entire franchise. By showing us just how incredible Star Wars can be when done exceptionally well, it’s made it difficult to settle for anything less – and that’s a good thing.

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2025-12-01 20:29