Is ‘Andor’ the End of Star Wars Prestige TV?

With Andor’s second—and final—season now concluded, some fans and critics are wondering if Disney+’s prestige era of Star Wars storytelling is coming to an end. In a piece for Decider.com, Jesse Hassenger dives into that question, suggesting Andor might be the franchise’s high-water mark for mature, auteur-driven TV.

Despite being just 24 episodes over two seasons, Andor left a profound mark. Unlike its more fan-service-heavy counterparts like The Mandalorian or Ahsoka, Andor pushed the boundaries of what Star Wars could be: dialogue-heavy, politically charged, and deeply human. As Hassenger notes, it felt more like a war drama than a space opera, which made it a gamble for Disney—and one they ultimately chose not to extend to its originally planned five-season run.

Now, as The Mandalorian & Grogu heads to theaters and Disney shifts more Star Wars content back to the big screen, the small screen may become a secondary playground again. Hassenger draws a comparison to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, where scaled-back plans hint at a changing content strategy.

So, what’s next for Star Wars TV? With only Ahsoka Season 2 currently in production and shows like The Acolyte cut short, the future looks uncertain. Hassenger argues that what Star Wars needs isn't just spectacle or nostalgia—it needs the courage to trust bold, creative visions like Andor and The Last Jedi.

If Disney can avoid second-guessing the good stuff, prestige Star Wars might still have a future beyond Luthen Rael’s final monologue.