It’s an exceedingly rare thing for the Star Wars fandom to agree on anything, especially in this day and age. However, that just makes it all the more impressive that last year’s Andor has received such overwhelming praise — not just from Star Wars devotees, but from critics as well.
However, the success of Andor may not be without its consequences. Any show with such universal acclaim is sure to be a hard act to follow, but with the decidedly mixed reception of The Mandalorian Season 3, the contrast between the two shows is especially pronounced. If this trend continues, it’s all too likely that Andor will cast a long shadow over the Star Wars franchise.
Why Did Andor Succeed?
Andor is a unique case among its fellow entries in the Disney era of Star Wars. It takes place in the familiar era of the Empire’s reign over the galaxy, but is unconcerned with appealing to fan nostalgia. And while past Star Wars shows on Disney Plus have been criticized for relying too heavily on returning characters, Andor focuses on brand-new faces. The few familiar characters who do appear, mainly Mon Mothma and Cassian Andor himself, were largely unexplored in their previous appearances. As such, their return here serves to further flesh them out — quite the opposite of a cheap cameo appearance.
Most striking, however, is the series’ tone. Unlike the vast majority of Star Wars stories, there’s nary a lightsaber to be found in Andor. There are no Jedi, Sith, Mandalorians, bounty hunters, or any of the other larger-than-life figures fans have come to expect from Star Wars. Rather, the series is focused on ordinary people without any special abilities. It’s a story of the common folk struggling to live under the boot of the Empire, who end up forming the backbone of the emerging Rebellion. Andor is a far cry from the heroic fantasy adventure typically associated with the franchise. It’s a gritty, grounded thriller, rooted in heavy political themes.
And of course, that story is brought to life by an incredibly talented team of creators. Showrunner Tony Gilroy and his fellow writers provide the show with a moving story and clever, impactful dialogue — which is delivered masterfully by the series’ cast. The show’s breakout star is Stellan Skarsgård as the cunning, mysterious Rebel mastermind Luthen Rael. But from Diego Luna and Genevieve O'Reilly to Fiona Shaw and Andy Serkis, the series’ entire cast play their roles to perfection.
All in all, Andor succeeds not just because it’s a good story well told, but because it’s something fresh for Star Wars. It’s unlike anything the franchise has seen before, and it explores bold new possibilities. It’s a show that pushes the boundaries for what kind of stories can be told in a galaxy far, far away. It’s a show that takes an incredible amount of risks, but those risks paid off in the eyes of countless fans. However, not every Star Wars show has those same lofty ambitions.
Has Andor Raised the Bar Too High?
Unlike Andor, Season 3 of The Mandalorian has received anything but universal acclaim. It’s nowhere near as controversial as The Last Jedi or as widely reviled as The Rise of Skywalker, but it has nevertheless been met with mixed reviews. Compared to the massive popularity of the show’s earlier days, the lukewarm reception of the series’ newest season feels quite jarring. And while it’s highly unlikely that Andor is the main cause of this sudden drop in popularity, it may be a contributing factor.
When comparing one series to the other, the difference between them is like night and day. Andor is a mature, multilayered story of tyranny and revolution that breaks new ground for the Star Wars franchise. By contrast, The Mandalorian Season 3 feels as if it’s content to play the hits. It’s an over-the-top adventure filled with monsters, jetpacks, and laser swords — about what one would expect from a Star Wars show, in other words.
Of course, one could easily argue that The Mandalorian shouldn’t be judged by the standards of Andor. They’re very different shows trying to accomplish very different things. And indeed, The Mandalorian wouldn’t be better off trying to copy the grittier tone of Andor. Darker stories are not inherently better than art that’s more lighthearted in nature. A swashbuckling adventure story can be just as nuanced, well-crafted, and compelling as an intense political thriller. But even so, that doesn’t mean that The Mandalorian is as good as Andor. Despite some fun action sequences and the best efforts of actors like Pedro Pascal, Katee Sackhoff, and Giancarlo Esposito, the show’s story just isn’t on the same level as that of Andor.
In the end, what separates Andor from other recent Star Wars media isn’t just the tone of its story, but the level of talent, passion, ambition, and ingenuity that went into bringing that story to life. Andor has raised the bar for all of Star Wars higher than ever. To meet the standard it’s set, future shows and movies in the franchise will have to provide something truly fresh and new for Star Wars fans, not just more of the same. Otherwise, they’re likely doomed to fall short.