Star Wars’new TV show,Andorseason 2, is using a trick from George Lucas' playbook, and that’s why it’s certain to be a success amongStar Wars’movies and TV shows.Andorseason 2is the next to be released ofStar Wars’upcoming TV shows, and it is the long-awaited second and final season of the show.Andorseason 2’s place in theStar Warstimelinealso means the show will lead directly intoRogue One: A Star Wars Story. This means audiences already know where the story is going.
In SFX Magazine’sAndorspecial, it’s clear thatthe fact that audiences know where this story ends is in part why the show works so well. As the special edition explains,“Andor’ssecond and final season is as much about the journey as the destination,” andAndorshowrunner Tony Gilroy shared additional insight, saying:
“Diego put his finger on it last year when he said ‘If you know where you’re going, it just makes it so much easier.’ …I think a lot of people start big projects, particularly in TV, then all of a sudden it takes off and they aren’t really sure where it’s supposed to go. We always knew where we were going, and that was a very helpful thing.”
Some may see the fact that Cassian Andor’s fate is pre-determined as a negative forAndoror a limitation for the show, but Gilroy (and Cassian Andor actor Diego Luna) clearly feel just the opposite—andthat’s taking a page right out of George Lucas' own book.
Like Andor, The Prequels' Story Was Already Set In Stone In Many Ways
BecauseRogue Onecame beforeAndor, certain elements (some of them rather significant) are already known aboutAndorseason 2. For example,as Cassian dies inRogue One, his story inAndorseason 2 will already be dictated in some ways, including, most obviously, that he can’t die. This is not dissimilar to theStar Warsprequel trilogy. In fact, likeAndor, many of the main characters in theStar Warsprequels had fates that had already been set in stone in the original trilogy.
Among those characters are Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Yoda, all of whom die in the original trilogy. Likewise, Anakin was doomed to fall to the dark side of the Force, although the exact steps alongAnakin Skywalker’sStar Warstimelinein terms of his fall weren’t entirely known. However,far from detracting from the prequels, this knowledge about what would happen to these characters eventually made the events of the prequel trilogy so much more affecting.
If You Liked Rogue One, You’re Going To Love Star Wars' New TV Show: Andor Season 2’s Marketing Is A Promise From Disney
Star Wars' new TV show continues to promise direct connections to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story—one of Star Wars' best movies—and we can’t wait.
The Original Trilogy Didn’t Ruin The Prequels—It Made Them Better
Like The Prequel Trilogy, Andor Season 2 Is Enhanced By Rogue One, Not Limited By It
Just like with the prequel trilogy,knowing where Cassian Andor’s story, and other stories inAndorseason 2, go inRogue Oneand beyond will actually improve this final season. Rather than ruining this storyline, knowing the ‘ending’ will only make it so much more meaningful to see what the final years of Cassian’s life entailed. Like Gilroy and Luna both voiced,Rogue Onegave them a clear direction, andAndorseason 2 is just filling in the fascinating details and providing essential context.
This also provesStar Warsdoesn’t need a twist or shocking ending to make a story work, which demonstrates how solid the writing in this franchise can be. Arguably, too often stories rely on a plot twist to make a show or movie feel exciting.Star Warshas consistently shown, in the prequels, inAndor, and in other projects, that there are ways to build excitement other than just twists and surprises.Andorseason 2 is therefore using one of George Lucas' bestStar Warstricks, and it’s in part why I’m so thrilled about the show.
Andorseason 2 premieres on Disney+ on June 15, 2025
