I absolutely love how Andor refuses to be a typical Star Wars property 

I recently completed watching Andor Season 2, and I love how the show refuses to be a typical Star Wars property. It boldly challenges long-standing conventions of the Star Wars universe, infusing the saga with a grounded, morally complex narrative that resonates with contemporary themes. The new show doesn’t feature any lightsabers. Moreover, it embraces the slow-burning, long-take style of storytelling, unlike typical Star Wars shows.

In addition to this, the Rebellion in Andor isn’t portrayed as an inherently noble force. Characters like Luthen Rael make morally ambiguous decisions, such as manipulating the Ghorman Massacre to galvanize support, blurring the lines between right and wrong. Read on to know more about such instances where the show stands out as a Star Wars creation.

**Disclaimer- The below article is the author's opinion; the reader's discretion is advisable.

Here is how Andor 2 refuses to be a typical Star Wars show

Andor doesn’t feature any monster-of-the-week or a space battle every 10 minutes in the episodes. While it takes time to build atmosphere, tension, and character depth, it reaches the climax through lingering scenes. The Aldhani arc, the prison arc, and Mon Mothma’s unravelling are masterclasses in sustained, escalating storytelling.

Secondly, the new show doesn’t assume rebellion is noble, but builds on why it is necessary. It showcases oppression from the ground up in the form of prison systems, surveillance, censorship, and economic control. As mentioned, by completely excluding lightsabers across all 24 episodes, it sets itself apart as a Star Wars film visually.

Andor is grounded in its portrayal of ordinary people—spies, dissidents, and laborers—doing heroic work to fight oppression. It reminds us that rebellion isn’t just for Jedi or chosen ones, but for everyone. It reinforces the idea that rebellion is for everyone, not just Jedi. Andor breaks one of Star Wars’ most enduring storytelling habits: the comforting promise of redemption and closure.

Andor 2 also humanises the icons of the Rebellion, unlike Star Wars

The series understands that revolutions aren’t led by saints—they’re led by people who can be flawed, confused, or impulsive while taking action. They can be forced to make choices they don’t want, and face instances that blur the lines between right and wrong.

Mon Mothma is the best example, I feel, who transforms from an idealist to a strategist. She secretly launders money for the Rebellion and is forced to marry off her daughter in a political alliance to fund the cause. She works with Luthen Rael, someone whose methods—like sacrificing innocent lives for a greater cause—she viscerally disagrees with. Her leadership comes at some cost, but Andor doesn’t diminish Mon’s heroism—it contextualises it.

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Most importantly, for the first time, a Star Wars show has shown the genocide of the Imperialists. It makes us sympathise with the Imperialists. Syril, who starts as a mid-level security officer, believes in law and order, but his idea of justice is shaped by obsessive control. On the other hand, Dedra Meero is efficient and competent, and the viewers may root for her as she navigates the male-dominated Imperial Bureau. But the show reveals that she isn’t some misunderstood idealist—she fully believes in the machinery of oppression.

Therefore, the show simply puts a mirror in front and shows us how people become part of something monstrous.

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