The last three episodes of Andor Season 2 on Disney+ (JioHotstar) are enough to prove why this Tony Gilroy masterpiece is the best Star Wars show ever—and it may even emerge as the best show of 2025.
The majority of the Star Wars fanbase strongly believed that Andor was unnecessary when Lucasfilm first announced it in 2017. This skepticism followed the outstanding success of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), which earned over $1 billion and depicted how a rogue group of Rebel spies infiltrated the heavily guarded Scarif planet, led the attack against the Imperials, and stole the schematics of the Death Star—events that led directly to Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977).
But Andor defied all expectations and emerged as one of the best Star Wars projects in recent years. Tony Gilroy raised the bar for Season 1 so high that many fans believed it would be almost impossible for the second season to outperform the debut in terms of both critical and audience reception. Well, the sophomore entry has pulled off a miracle, ladies and gentlemen!
Covering nearly five years of the Rebels’ struggle against the Galactic Empire in just over 12 episodes is a mammoth task. But Gilroy and his cast—Diego Luna (Cassian Andor), Adria Arjona (Bix Caleen), Kyle Soller (Syril Karn), Stellan Skarsgård (Luthen Rael), Genevieve O’Reilly (Mon Mothma), Denise Gough (Dedra Meero), and Ben Mendelsohn (Orson Krennic)—do it with such ease that every episode feels natural and seamless.
Andor Season 2 touches on the most important events that shaped the Rebels’ war against the Empire and lays the foundation for the events of Rogue One. As a result, we get an ambitious, poignant, breathtaking—but also emotionally crushing and haunting—second season that not only emerges as one of the best Star Wars projects ever, but also one of the best TV shows of the decade.
SPOILER WARNING!
The last three-episode arc (covering Episodes 7, 8, and 9) of the second season has taken Andor to new heights—heights that we’re not sure any future Star Wars TV project will reach, to be quite honest.
Episode 7 teases the beginnings of the Ghorman massacre and beautifully showcases Cassian’s inner conflict. He doesn’t want to lose Bix again, but also realises, deep down, that the Rebellion needs him. A Force healer at Yavin reveals to Cassian that he will play an integral role in the Rebels’ struggle against the Imperials.
Episode 8 is where all hell breaks loose. Viewers witness a haunting, brutal, and emotionally devastating portrayal of the Ghorman massacre, led by Dedra Meero and her Imperial squad.
Captain Kaido sets a trap in Palmo’s Square by inciting a protest, blocking exits, and deploying inexperienced police. Syril sees this, learns about the Empire’s horrific plan from Dedra, and leaves horrified. Dedra orders the troops to fire, causing a bloodbath made worse by Kaido’s droids.
Amidst the chaos, Syril fights Cassian (who tries to kill Dedra) and is killed by the rebel leader Rylanz. Cassian flees with a captured droid, while Wilmon helps Dreena spread the news. Dedra and Eedy face their losses as the Empire lies about “rebel agitators.”
Episode 8 is undoubtedly one of the greatest TV episodes ever. It has also scored an impressive 9.8 out of 10 on IMDb and a 100% “Fresh” score on Rotten Tomatoes—which is no joke, folks. Then comes Episode 9, which features Mon Mothma delivering a heartfelt speech about the Ghorman massacre. She reveals what really happened at Palmo’s Square and exposes the Senate’s corrupt attempts to hide the truth.
Andor Season 2 is truly exceptional and potentially one of the best TV shows of the decade, even surpassing previous Star Wars content. Its ambitious tone, emotional depth, and timely political commentary make it stand out. Season 2 has also been lauded for addressing broader societal issues like complacency and the fight against authoritarianism, rather than focusing solely on Cassian’s character.
Yes, the second season starts off a bit slowly, but by the time we reach Episode 8, it masterfully builds tension and suspense and delivers phenomenal character development. A must-watch! Stay tuned for more updates.
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