The ‘Star Wars’ Rankings and the 'Andor' Miracle

On May the 4th, Sean Fennessy and guest Chris Ryan dive deep into the critically acclaimed Andor Season 2, positioning it as a transformative achievement in the Star Wars canon. They explore how Tony Gilroy’s vision redefined the franchise by treating Star Wars not as mythic fantasy but as a grounded, morally complex revolutionary narrative—drawing inspiration from real-world resistance movements and Cold War-era conspiracy thrillers. The conversation spans the show’s literary structure, its unflinching portrayal of political compromise and sacrifice, and its deliberate absence of Force mysticism, which paradoxically deepens the galaxy’s emotional weight. The hosts then rank 13 Star Wars films and series, placing Andor at number three—behind The Empire Strikes Back and A New Hope—arguing its intellectual and emotional resonance makes it the most mature and impactful Star Wars work for adult audiences. They also reflect on the broader state of the franchise, lamenting the studio’s failure to sustain bold storytelling beyond Gilroy’s work, and speculate on what might have been had earlier creative decisions—like Michael Arndt’s original script for The Force Awakens—been realized. Key takeaways include: Andor redefines Star Wars as a political thriller with Russian novel depth; the show’s strength lies in its episodic, novel-like structure and morally ambiguous characters; the absence of the Force and Jedi makes the galaxy feel more real and lived-in; Andor’s success was possible only because of the Star Wars brand’s cache, which allowed a $600 million budget and creative freedom; and the ranking reflects a mature, adult perspective that values thematic depth over nostalgia. The episode ultimately celebrates Andor as a rare masterpiece of television that transcends genre, proving that Star Wars can be both epic and intimate, revolutionary and deeply human.