Andor Has Taught Star Wars Fans the Wrong Lesson (& It’s Extremely Concerning)

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For a while, Star Wars fans hadn’t had much to cheer about. The most recent trilogy of films left many divided, and other releases haven’t stayed popular for long. Then came Andor. It was a series that surprisingly exceeded expectations. A prequel to the prequel Rogue One, Andor followed the journey of rebel spy Cassian Andor and how he played a key role in obtaining the plans for the Death Star.

Unlike many recent Star Wars projects, Andor didn’t require viewers to be familiar with the existing story. It crafted a compelling narrative that felt both relevant to today’s world and set in the future. Creator Tony Gilroy moved away from the typical focus on Jedi powers and the Skywalker family, instead telling a grounded story about the harsh realities of fighting against an oppressive government. Andor explored difficult choices and the real consequences of rebellion, making it not only one of the best Star Wars shows in years, but one of the best TV series of 2025. While the show understandably excited fans, diving in too deeply might not be the best approach.

Star Wars Fans Are Putting All Their Eggs in Tony Gilroy’s Basket

The series Andor has been a clear hit with audiences. After Rogue One came out in 2016, there wasn’t much demand for a show focusing on Cassian Andor. However, the 2022 series proved doubters wrong. Andor tells the story of the character years before he met Jyn Erso, and shows how events unfolded that ultimately led to Luke Skywalker’s destruction of the first Death Star.

The series Andor began by showing Cassian’s life mirroring Jyn’s at the start of Rogue One. While he already knew the Empire was corrupt, he was primarily focused on personal matters – searching for his long-lost sister and simply trying to survive. The first season followed his transformation from an outsider living on the edges of society into a committed and passionate rebel.

Tony Gilroy’s Andor didn’t shy away from the harsh realities of rebellion. While Luke Skywalker is celebrated for a single, pivotal shot, Cassian and his team did the difficult and often brutal groundwork that made that moment possible. They made tough compromises, took lives, and sometimes sacrificed their own, all in the fight to bring down the Empire. Andor wasn’t just a Star Wars show; it was a stark portrayal of a no-holds-barred battle against tyranny.

The message deeply resonated with fans, offering a rarely seen perspective within the established sci-fi universe. This left viewers eager for more content from the creators, and it’s clear why. Lately, Star Wars has faced a similar issue to the Marvel Cinematic Universe – too much content. However, Gilroy distinguished himself by delivering something that felt more like a work of art than just another franchise installment.

Many viewers want Gilroy to create more content related to Andor, or even take charge of the franchise creatively. However, giving in to that desire would be a mistake. Andor is so strong, in part, because it was a limited series. Shows often lose their impact when they go on for too long, and it’s best to leave a good story at its peak.

According to creator Tony Gilroy, he doesn’t plan to continue working on the Star Wars universe after the second season of Andor. He explained in a recent interview that he’s been involved with the project in some way for a decade, and intensely for the last six years, and feels it’s time to move on.

Gilroy added that he’s looking forward to new projects, and believes his work on Star Wars will be a significant contribution to the franchise. While fans might be sad to see him go, his decision is ultimately what’s best for the future of the series.

The Star Wars Franchise Works Best as a Melting Pot

With such a long run, Star Wars hasn’t always pleased everyone. The first three films, which came out in 1977, remain classics to this day.

Although George Lucas is often credited as the sole creator, many talented people contributed to his films. His ex-wife, Marcia Lucas, played a key role as an editor on A New Hope, tightening the story and making it more focused. Later on, Carrie Fisher even helped improve the scripts of subsequent films.

For many fans, Star Wars provided a deeply satisfying experience, and that connection is likely why it remains popular. After George Lucas stepped away, the franchise has been overseen by numerous people. While not everything has been a success, Star Wars has always been a collaborative effort – and sometimes, that collaboration hasn’t quite worked out.

Let’s be honest, the recent trilogy just didn’t quite deliver on its promise. There was a collective sigh of relief among fans when Dave Filoni stepped up to guide the franchise, and for good reason. As the mind behind The Clone Wars and other beloved projects, he really seemed like the person to steer things right. However, even with all that talent, his run hasn’t been perfect either. It’s a tough job, keeping everyone happy in a galaxy far, far away!

The show Ahsoka tried to recapture the spirit of Rebels, and while it’s commendable for bringing Hayden Christensen back as Anakin Skywalker and exploring his complex story, it wasn’t without flaws. It didn’t quite succeed in portraying the Ahsoka character as fans remember her from the animated series, and many viewers were disappointed by the limited screen time given to Ezra Bridger.

Star Wars has always been a collaborative effort. While George Lucas was central to its creation, he relied on many talented people to bring his vision to life. Just as Lucas wasn’t the sole creator, no single person – even someone like Tony Gilroy with a fantastic series – should fully control Star Wars. The real magic of the franchise lies in seeing fresh perspectives and ideas from new storytellers.

Many fans felt The Acolyte was a strong Star Wars series that was unfairly canceled. It sparked debate because it tried a new approach, and while it wasn’t always straightforward, the show explored a fascinating idea: that the Sith weren’t always purely evil, or at least, they didn’t begin as such.

Everyone sees themselves as the main character in their own life, and that’s true even for the villains in Star Wars. Many fans were excited to see stories told from different points of view, and were let down when that didn’t happen consistently. We should keep trying new approaches, even though Andor was a particularly strong entry in the sci-fi genre.

Star Wars Stories Should Not Stay Dark Forever

Tony Gilroy truly succeeded with Andor. While strong talent was essential, the show’s success also depended on perfect timing and an audience that was prepared for its mature themes. Star Wars had explored the dangers of fascism previously, but never to an audience as receptive to a story that challenged them so deeply.

Andor didn’t shy away from showing the harsh realities of fighting an empire, even depicting characters using terrorism when necessary. The show’s portrayal of a deeply corrupt government helped viewers understand the motivations behind the characters’ actions. Unlike shows from the 1970s, Andor fearlessly presented difficult themes like government-sponsored genocide and intensely personal tragedies, such as a daughter having to end her father’s life to protect him from interrogation.

Andor arrived at the perfect time for Star Wars fans. Creator Tony Gilroy made a smart decision by ending the story after telling a truly impactful one—continuing beyond that wouldn’t have served the narrative. After years of lighter, more playful Star Wars content, audiences were ready for a more mature and serious story, and this show delivered exactly that.

From the beginning, Andor was intended to be a somber story. Because viewers know what happens to Cassian in Rogue One, his journey is inherently tragic, even though he played a key role in the fight against the Empire. Prolonged despair isn’t healthy, so the show aimed to offer a glimmer of hope. Creator Tony Gilroy included the birth of Cassian’s son with Bix to provide that hopeful ending.

Even though Cassian didn’t live to see the Empire defeated, he still improved the world for his son, whom he never knew. The Star Wars universe should continue to tell fresh stories with a variety of styles. While things might seem challenging for the franchise right now, shows like The Acolyte and animated series like Tales of the Jedi are vital for its future.

What makes Star Wars special is its ability to successfully try different approaches and storytelling styles, and it should keep doing so. A highlight has been seeing Hayden Christensen bring more depth to his portrayal of Anakin in Ahsoka. And Andor proves just how powerful Star Wars can be, offering a series fans will want to watch again and again.

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2026-03-29 05:08