I Watched Andor

Maybe Star Wars is better off without the Jedi

April 12th, 2026

My relationship with Star Wars has been a bit of a journey. I loved the prequel trilogy as a kid, but revisiting them as an adult is rough. The original trilogy still holds up surprisingly well. The sequel trilogy I couldn't even finish. At some point I realized it's almost impossible to stay invested in a universe when the quality is this inconsistent - inevitable, maybe, given how old the IP is and how many hands it's passed through, but even so. I've tuned out Star Wars news for well over a decade. The Mandalorian was a nice surprise, but not enough to pull me back in.

Then I kept hearing things about Andor. I was skeptical - I genuinely couldn't believe Disney was capable of making something that good. Being a prequel to Rogue One kept me cautious too; that movie was cool but uneven. What caught my eye was learning the Gilroys were behind it. I finally caved, and I've gotta say: it blew me away.

Season 1 is perfectly paced with real emotional highs and lows. It's dark, it's smartly written, and it expands the universe without leaning on nostalgia - no Jedi, no Force worship, no recycled faces. This point can't be overstated. The oversaturation of the same few ideas and characters in a galaxy full of potential is exhausting, and Andor completely sidesteps it. The story focuses on the smaller players who made a real difference - the actual human cost of a galactic republic slowly sliding into cruel dictatorship across people of all social and economic backgrounds. That's a monumental thing to pull off, and they really did.

Even the minor characters left a lasting impression. Kino Loy is one of my favorites, which is funny because Andor himself is honestly one of the least interesting characters in his own show. Luthen was another standout - a man who sacrifices his own peace for a future he'll never live to see, with a genuinely poignant ending. The whole prison sequence felt more like Blade Runner than Star Wars, and I mean that as the highest possible compliment. There are real stakes and real consequences. No forced humor, no slop. And there's something genuinely exciting about a show where every character - good or bad - is exceptionally competent at what they do, and we just get to watch them collide. I could even find myself sympathizing with the bureaucratic headaches the antagonists had to deal with at times.

Season 2 is more of what made Season 1 great, just with different pacing - a slow burn first half that builds into an amazingly satisfying and tragic second half. It's hard to say which season is better because they're both just that good. One of my favorite arcs was watching Syril Karn gradually come to understand that he's been living a lie. Lio Partagaz is another fascinating character with a surprising end - the actor was fantastic as Qyburn in Game of Thrones and was equally perfect here. The casting across the board was just right. I'll also say that Stellan Skarsgård seems to have a Midas touch - everything I've seen him in is great, and Andor is no exception.

I'm a little disappointed there couldn't be more seasons, but I understand why, and at least it ended before it had a chance to go downhill. The music deserves a mention too - a very somber, distinctive score that suits the show perfectly.

It's almost hard to believe this exists in the same universe as the prequel or sequel trilogies. Andor almost makes me want to be a Star Wars fan again - but for now, I'll stay cautiously optimistic about where this IP goes from here. I strongly recommend both seasons of Andor.