I Loved ‘Andor,’ and Here’s 10 Reasons Why It Was the Perfect Star Wars Series

2025 marked a bittersweet year for Star Wars fans, as they just witnessed the end of arguably the best work in the franchise, Andor. This show took a different approach and strayed from the norm, delivering a gritty and realistic side of Star Wars. Its politically thrilling plot captivated viewers, and the hard work of each person involved created one of the best TV shows ever and an instant Star Wars classic.

Now that Andor is over, it is the perfect time to reflect on this show and what made it good, specifically in becoming the ideal Star Wars show. There are way more than ten reasons, but to avoid being too long, this list will only focus on ten, ranging from broad topics such as production design to specific aspects such as the representation of the Empire.

10 The Sheer Realism

It was the most relatable and grounded Star Wars project.

Star Wars burst onto the scene with its flashy productions, imaginative sci-fi world, and innovative system. But at its heart, the franchise has always been semi-realistic, mainly through Star Wars' political relevance, from the Vietnam War in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope to the Republic Revolution in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. But Andor brings a new type of realism on top of this.

It is weird to bring a topic such as realism into the Star Wars franchise, considering it is entirely unrealistic with space magic and goofy aliens. But Andor stood out for its realism in many different ways, from the characters to the themes to the inspiration to the events. Real-life events such as the French, Russian, and American revolutions, paired with the grounded set design and authentic emotions, add a layer of realism that isn't in other Star Wars projects.

9 Attention to Detail

So much care and thought.

Star Wars has always been a detail-oriented franchise, from the original trilogy to the most recent Disney+ shows. Perfection lies in the details, something that many shows don't even attempt, thinking their base story and characters will be fine. While this does the job and can create a great show, attention to detail highlights the creators, cast, and crew's care, thought, and dedication.

Fans can feel the love and care through the details in Andor, and this thought helps establish it as a perfect Star Wars show. Whether it be extra care in the sets, costumes, and performances or hidden references, this show has too many details to count. Andor has many easter eggs that call back or reference the franchise, helping build the feeling of a connected universe, making it all the more perfect.

8 Beautiful Production Design

Everything looked perfect.

One of Star Wars' best aspects in the original trilogy was its production design, which provided never-before-seen sets, props, and costumes that brought George Lucas' sci-fi world to life. However, modern technology has pushed the focus to CGI and green screens, which diminishes the magic of Star Wars. Luckily, Andor brings this feeling back with its flawless production design.

While this entry refers to production design, it highlights most aspects that make Andor perfect, from its set design, costumes, props, on-location filming, to some of the best music in Star Wars. Andor's production often goes overlooked because everything else is also perfect, but seeing what they have built is fantastic, which helps immerse fans in the world. The people, locations, and items felt real, not some CGI slop.

7 Better look into the Empire

Perfect representation of evil.

The Empire and its individuals are supposed to be irredeemably evil fascists with no sympathy and only love for power, which drives them to destroy whole planets. However, the focus has always been on the Rebels, and while that remains in Andor, it also gives fans the best look into the Empire yet and how they work on a fundamental level.

Some fans don't like the way Andor represented the Empire, but they have always been this despicable; fans just never got such a close view before. The series almost made fans sympathize with these characters, but the show displayed one of the most riveting episodes in TV history with the Ghorman Massacre in Andor. The ISB meetings were some of the best segments, giving viewers insight into how the Empire works.

6 Mature and Thought-Provoking

A Star Wars show for adults.

Even though anyone can enjoy the movies, Star Wars has always been for kids/teenagers, even when things were mainly political. Things have shifted where it is an all-inclusive franchise, but it contains many aspects aimed towards a younger audience. This sparked debate about how a show for adults could work, and Andor is the answer.

Like every Star Wars project, all ages can appreciate Andor, but there is no denying that it was made for an older audience. The gritty and mature nature of this show was present through its themes and execution, which are much darker and sophisticated, allowing adults to enjoy it more. Andor is a sad show with tragic moments left, right, and center, culminating in a mature masterpiece that will have fans racking their brains.

5 The Great Acting

Everyone delivered standout performances.

No one watches Star Wars for the acting, and they don't expect Oscar-worthy performances. This stemmed from the original trilogy having decent performances and the prequels having inconsistent acting. However, modern-day Star Wars has improved this aspect, with Andor arguably having the best acting in the entire franchise.

Maybe, since Andor is much more realistic, gritty, and grounded, actors could work with more and deliver heartfelt performances. But whatever the case, this show didn't have a single bad performance. Stellan Skarsgård, Diego Luna, Denise Gough, and Elizabeth Dulau were in particular phenomenal, with Elizabeth starring in her first TV show. But again, everyone did so well that they all deserve their own Star Wars spin-off series.

4 Character Depth

Some of the best Star Wars characters.

Piggybacking off the acting section, those phenomenal performances built the wonderful characters who starred in Andor. Characters are the life and blood of any series, and Star Wars is known for delivering some of the most memorable and lovable characters. Andor didn't stop the trend, providing well-written and endearing personalities, no matter how hateable.

These characters are already intriguing on the surface, but their development and depth only continue as the story progresses. Characters like Syril (Kyler Soller) have remarkable and tragic arcs that play into the story and themes. The moral complexity is astounding and the best executed in Star Wars, with Luthen having a brilliant arc in Andor. Every character has an arc and importance, rejecting the notion of one main character doing everything.

3 Reinvents Core Themes

Rebellions are built on hope.

Star Wars has always had some central themes, including good vs. evil, rebellion, hope, fascism, and the cyclical nature of history. Fans can feel this in all of the movies and most of the TV shows, with Andor adding to it. However, Andor doesn't just represent these themes; it also reinvents them by highlighting them in a different light that applies to the rest of the franchise.

Andor is still about good vs. evil, but it breaks down how fragile that is and that there is good in evil and evil in good, as Luthen and Syril represent. The rebellion and hope aspects also feel different in a jaded world, but hit harder, with moments in Ghorman being the most powerful in Star Wars. Andor also has fans upset that the First Order came to power and that these characters' hard work didn't pay off for too long, but that feeds into the cyclical nature of history.

2 Enhances Star Wars' Legacy

It makes everything better.

When something is as long and prestigious as Star Wars, legacy becomes a key factor for the franchise, and everything that comes out affects it, whether for better or worse. While nothing can take away from the originals, the prequels, sequels, and Disney+ shows have a rocky track record, muddying the franchise's legacy and original content.

However, Andor is a bright spot on the Star Wars legacy. It not only acts as a renowned show but also enhances the previous content, similar to how Star Wars: The Clone Wars improved the prequels. Andor fixes some mistakes and adds some lore, worldbuilding, and characters to liven up the universe. However, its story and impact on the original trilogy enhance the legacy the most, creating the best Star Wars TV show.

1 The Masterful Writing

Masterful storytelling!

Sometimes, the quality of a show comes down to one simple thing: writing, and for Andor, that is the main reason why it is the perfect Star Wars show. It may be boring and too broad, but this show is perfectly written from start to finish, encompassing everything good about it. I wish I could give a more specific reason, but there are ten reasons alone in the writing that make Andor flawless.

Star Wars is known for its shaky dialogue, but one of Andor's major strengths was the dialogue, specifically the captivating monologues from the characters. Fans can also take the writing less literally and apply it to the story and narrative, which is also the best part of Andor. Every action has consequences, and the plot is believable and dynamic, constantly changing based on current events. Andor has no bad episodes and weaves the story through multiple years with the best writing in Star Wars, hands down.

Keep Reading: 10 Easter Eggs You Missed in Season 2 of 'Andor'