Rogue One. Despite these aspects drawing significant praise for the show thanks to its individuality, it is a mistake to think that all Star Wars should be like Andor.
One thing that Andor did was end a run of divisive Star Wars TV shows for 2022, at least in of live-action. Both The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi were released in 2022 to mixed reactions. With the release of Andor, those other TV projects began receiving more criticism for their differences from the former, namely in their differing styles or tones. Aspects like The Book of Boba Fett's colorful biker gang or more typically Star Wars action set pieces have been negatively compared to Andor's grittier depiction of the galaxy, for example. However, Andor only proves that Star Wars actually thrives on its differences, as opposed to proving every story should be the same.
Andor’s Mature Tone Works Because It Is So Different
The first thing that was immediately evident about Andor season 1 from its first episodes was just how mature the show was. From seemingly inconsequential things such as cigarette breaks, close-up killing, cursing, and casual sexual encounters, Andor showed its maturity by including these aspects that other Star Wars projects have never had. What this did was differentiate Andor in of its tone, making it stand out from the more overtly Star Wars stories of Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Mandalorian for example.
Those shows, alongside The Book of Boba Fett, cover stories that incorporate the most well-known elements of Star Wars, such as the Sith and Jedi, the Force, or that tie into the Skywalker Saga in some way, so they feel more intrinsically Star Wars than Andor. However, while Andor is certainly different, it still manages to capture that intangible feel of Star Wars and thrives because its maturity makes it different from everything that came before it. This comes from its creator, Tony Gilroy, who was previously known for his work on similarly toned projects like the original Bourne trilogy and Rogue One. Like Rogue One, Andor is more concerned with the ugly realities of war and espionage than other Star Wars projects.
Without Other Star Wars Stories, Andor Would Not Work As Well
Despite many believing that all future Star Wars shows should strive to be more like Andor, it's actually the opposite that is the case. Andor works largely because the other Star Wars shows are so different, tonally, so it brings something brand new. Without the more lighthearted, more inconsequential romp of The Book of Boba Fett or the continuation of a Sith and Jedi story from the prequels with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor's differences would not be as impactful. If every other Star Wars project were done with the same grittiness, maturity, and tonal aspects of Andor, the show would feel stale and unoriginal.
Because Andor is made using all those things that other Star Wars projects tend not to have outside the likes of Rogue One, the show's quality shines. One thing that Star Wars fans have been clamoring for is a move away from aspects like the Force and the Skywalker Saga. Andor does this and the differences are evidently why the show is receiving so much love, along with the tight storytelling and the excellent acting. However, without the elements of Star Wars that lean heavily into these subjects, Andor's differences - that will undoubtedly continue in Andor season 2 - would instead be unoriginal Star Wars formula.
Star Wars TV Shows Are Proof That The Franchise Can Be Varied
If anything, Andor furthers the idea that Star Wars should be different and that the differences between each project are what make the franchise work so well, contrary to current beliefs from the fandom. The Mandalorian, for example, which is one of the more beloved Star Wars TV shows alongside Andor, tells a Western-infused father-and-son story that leans into what Star Wars was initially envisioned to be like in the mind of George Lucas. This differs in nature from something like The Book of Boba Fett which instead tells a crime/underworld-centered story that harkens back to some of the arcs from Star Wars: The Clone Wars.
The Clone Wars itself is an animated show that tells many different unconnected stories in the form of arcs, each massively differing from the others. From The Umbara arc which feels akin to a war movie or the heist arcs including characters like Boba Fett to name a few, the show also thrived in telling different stories. This is also different from Star Wars' other animated efforts, with Star Wars: Rebels for example telling a connected, three-season story that is steeped in aspects of the original trilogy as opposed to the episodic arcs of The Clone Wars set in the prequel era.
All that being said, it proves that Star Wars' biggest strength is variation. Each project can tell a story that has a distinct style and tone. While Andor proves that the more mature stories can sometimes be better, it also proves that it would not be as successful without the variation of the shows that came before it. With Star Wars' shows containing projects like Ahsoka which will further the vibe of Rebels or The Acolyte which will explore the dark side and a brand-new era in the High Republic, Star Wars' future is expected to carry on the trend of variation. All of this only goes to show how Andor's differences highlight the best of Star Wars.