Diego Luna’s 2-Part Sci-Fi Series Proved Everyone Wrong

Spinoffs are not always successful, but Andor proved skeptics wrong by surpassing expectations and becoming one of the best entries in the Star Wars franchise so far. Andor centers on the character history of Cassian Andor, one of Star Wars‘ best antiheroes, as he goes from a self-serving thief to one of the key members of the Rebel Alliance.

The world of Star Wars may be immense, spanning over 25,000 years, but Andor‘s 24 episodes make it a short, easy sci-fi series to binge. While knowledge of Star Wars is an advantage, as the series is full of Easter eggs, it is not essential, and Andor is the perfect series to use to introduce new viewers to the epic sci-fi saga.

No One Could’ve Expected A Rogue One Spinoff To Be This Good

When Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was released, it was seen as a gritty but self-contained addition to the Star Wars universe, following a team of unlikely characters on a suicide mission. The movie highlighted the way in which the rebellion was built on hope, but as the core characters died, nobody expected a Rogue One spinoff to happen, let alone be any good.

The idea of basing a movie on a character that we know dies was an unusual choice, and while Cassian Andor was compelling, he was not the most obvious character to focus on. However, the show took an unexpected direction. Rather than lean into nostalgia and legacy characters, Andor‘s director made it “the most political show out there.”

Star Wars has always been heavily political, and Andor‘s reflection of real-life events and support of those who have fought against corruption earned the show rave reviews and a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score. The masterful storytelling and character depth worked on their own, without relying on lightsabers and heavy Force mythology. This proved everyone wrong, cementing Andor‘s status as a Star Wars masterpiece.

Andor Is Up There With Empire Strikes Back As Some Of The Best Star Wars

The Empire Strikes Back has long been considered the best movie in the Star Wars franchise, for its dark tone and more mature themes. This was a dramatic departure from the franchise’s previous tone and a major creative risk, which paid off. While comparisons to The Empire Strikes Back are not made lightly, Andor took similar risks, which worked in the franchise’s favor once more.

Unlike many fantasy and sci-fi stories, including Star Wars, which feature a “chosen one,” Andor stepped away from the theme of destiny, allowing its characters to struggle, doubt themselves, and even fail occasionally. While the sci-fi and fantasy genres can occasionally be a beloved form of escapism, the reflection of real-life struggles became a key feature in Andor.

Exciting action scenes are always entertaining, but many of the best parts of the Star Wars franchise involve smaller moments of worldbuilding and character connection, and this is the greatest strength of both The Empire Strikes Back and Andor. Andor‘s best performances carry genuine emotional weight, making the acts of resistance feel both meaningful and encouraging, ensuring that Andor will stand the test of time.