Did ‘Andor’ Season 2 Just Ruin Star Wars Forever?

It’s been a week now since the three-episode finale arc of Andor Season 2. I, like so many others, am still processing what I found to be some of the best Star Wars content in the history of the franchise. Between the exquisite writing, stunning wardrobes and visuals, and phenomenal acting across the board, one has to wonder…. Did Andor just ruin the future of Star Wars?

I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say that Andor Season 2 was superb in nearly all aspects. Showrunner Tony Gilroy and Executive Producer Diego Luna truly crafted something exceptional. Episode eight, “Who are you?” instantly became not only the highest rated episode of any Star Wars series, but one of the highest rated episodes of any television show. Ever. How is anyone or anything going to top that level of excellence?

Did Andor Season 2 ruin Star Wars forever?

Make no mistake – for many fans, what we saw through twelve episodes of Season 2 just became the gold standard for future Star Wars projects. To paraphrased from K-2SO In Rogue One: Would you like to know the probably of fans using Andor Season 2 against you (Lucasfilm)? It’s high. Very high. My fear is that whatever comes next, or next after that, simply isn’t going to measure up. The real question, though, is whether or not it has to.

In 2026 we’ll be getting not only the feature film The Mandalorian and Grogu, but also Season 2 of Ahsoka. Critics have lauded The Mandalorian as top tier Star Wars in terms of televised series. It’s had its down moments, sure (Lizzo and Jack Black, anyone?), but overall remains highly entertaining. Likewise with the Ahsoka series. Will their next offerings be as good as Andor Season 2? No, I don’t think they will. But they don’t have to be, because they are very much different products.

Filoni and Favreau v. Gilroy

Dave Filoni and Jon Favreau have created, and are creating, a whole new era of Star Wars not previously seen (in the post-Disney acquisition canon, at least), i.e. following the fall of the Empire. That in and of itself lands their stories in a whole different arena than the one in which Gilroy came to play. There is far less urgency and intensity in the galaxy at that time than there was during Andor Season 2. (Although, things are tensing up in the Mando-verse now that Thrawn has returned.)

Their storytelling simply doesn’t require the same gravitas as did Gilroy’s. But… that gravitas is precisely what made Andor so special, so impactful, and so extraordinary. Does that mean that we won’t still enjoy The Mandalorian and Grogu, Ahsoka Season 2,or whatever else follows? Absolutely not! But will we be watching them with Andor in the back of our minds? Likely.

To catch up on Cassian, Mando & Grogu, or Ahsoka, head on over to Disney+.