Star Wars should learn from Andor and stop making Disney Plus shows that are so obsessed with the Jedi

The Force is no longer strong with traditional goody-goody heroes

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I very much enjoyed theObi-Wan Kenobi, and stuck it out withStar Wars: Ahsoka, when this highly anticipatedStar WarsTV duo landed on Disney Plus. But, by the time the credits had rolled on the latter in mid-2023, I think I’ve had my fill of Jedi-led stories in Lucasfilm’s iconic galaxy far, far away.

Sure, seeing these series' Force-wielding protagonists clash with their Sith counterparts and other overtly villainous folks – amid the crackle and buzz of lightsabers – is always highly enjoyable. But the bits in between – channelling the Force and so on – have become rather stale in my eyes. Blah blah “concentrate”, blah blah “use your feelings”… you get the idea.

Even inDisney Plusshows that initially don’t revolve around the Jedi, such asThe MandalorianandThe Book of Boba Fett, still tread old ground and eventually lead to the telekinetic hot-glow-stick wielders showing their faces. While I was entertained by theKill Bill-style battle between Ahsoka and Morgan Elsbeth at the end ofThe Mandalorian, other appearances from the Jedi have either been a tad underwhelming or overbaked. Yes, I know ‘Baby Yoda’ is cute and all, but seeing Grogu train with a digitally recreated Luke Skywalker in season 2 ofThe Mandalorian(one of thebest Disney Plus shows, in many people’s eyes) wasn’t the dose of nostalgia and role-reversal I think Disney hoped it would be.

Andor, though, showed me and many other Star Wars fans that you can make a great Star Wars show without a single Jedi appearance. In fact, I’d argue thatAndoris the most interesting piece of Star Wars content that Disney has done to date – something that TechRadar’s senior entertainment reporter Tom Power also claimed in hisAndorseason 1 review.

Yes, I know it was a slow-burn to begin with, but the series' determination to explore how planets and societies operate under the yolk of the Empire is fascinating, as is peeking behind the curtain of how the Imperials maintained galactic control (beyond their legions of Stormtroopers) across the cosmos post-Star Wars Episode III. Andor’s morally gray characters with a strange mix of selfless and selfish motivations, including its so-called heroes in the titular renegade, Luther Rael, and even Galactic Senator Mon Mothma, made for far more interesting viewing than the stereotypical good and bad guys that we’ve come to expect from those on the Light and Dark, and the Republic and Empire, sides of the divide.

Andorgave me all of that, as well as a planet-hopping yarn, complete with tense action, cool ships, great costume design, and even discussions over the foundations of society and rebellion to fuel one’s mind with discourse. Throw in its multi-genre appeal –Andoris filled with sci-fi drama, political thriller, and espionage-based action – and here is one of the more recentnew Star Wars shows and moviesthat feels creatively unique among its peers.

So I want to see Lucasfilm lean more into other parts of the lived-in Star Wars universe, especially projects that ask audiences to question what we know of it. Okay,Star Wars: The Acolyte(out on June 4), is yet another tale based around the Jedi, which contradicts the points I’ve made. But, considering it’s set during the High Republic era – the first time we’ll see this period in a live-action production – and it’ll be similarly amoral to Andor with how it positions the too-comfortable Jedi and their Sith underdogs, it should deliver something befitting the kind of show that I want to see from the Disney subsidiary.

But that’s all I’d like to see. Not only do I want moreAndor(thankfully,Andorseason 2is on the way), but how about a series that goes deeper into exploring what life is like from an Imperial point of view – theStar Wars: Tie Fightervideogame did this, as did other recent gaming titles likeStar Wars: Battlefront IIandStar Wars: Squadrons. Disney has a vein to tap into there.

Equally, I’d like to see a series that looks at Han Solo and Lando Calrissian. Okay,Solo: A Star Wars storyalready did this to some extent, but I feel there’s more to dig into there. Could something of this ilk happen in the apparently still-in-developmentLandoproject, which may see Donald Glover play the roguish schemer once more? I live in hope.

Failing that: how about focusing on the adventures of explorers or traders adapting to the new Imperial rule, or ignoring it completely and pushing into the worlds on the far edges of the Outer Rim? We could bounce forward into the era of the recent Star Wars movies and examine how Benicio Del Toro’s DJ, the oddball slicer first and last seen in 2017’sStar Wars: The Last Jedi, came to be. Speaking of those movies, Finn was basically side lined afterStar Wars: The Force Awakens, so I’d love for that wrong to be righted, and for us to get a look at how Finn became a Stormtrooper under the First Order. John Boyega, who played Finn in the sequel films, exclusively told TechRadar (in a chat with Tom Power) that he’s"open" to appearing in another Star Wars movie, so give him the tale that he deserves.

In summary: there’s a rich tapestry of untapped potential in the Star Wars franchise that Disney could explore without looking all doe-eyed at the Jedi – and I, for one, want them to actively lean into this more. Make it so, please.

“Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose”

In a chat with fellow Managing Editor Matt Bolton, we brainstormed a few er… creative…Star Warsshow ideas. Read on for our machinations:

There are some ideas for you there, Disney. Matt and I are happy to consult – just please cut the amount of Jedi shows and realize thatnot everything has to happen on Tatooineand/or feature those crowd-pleasing but overused Jedi, you hear?

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Roland Moore-Colyer is Managing Editor at TechRadar with a focus on phones and tablets, but a general interest in all things tech, especially those with a good story behind them. He can also be found writing about games, computers, and cars when the occasion arrives, and supports with the day-to-day running of TechRadar. When not at his desk Roland can be found wandering around London, often with a look of curiosity on his face and a nose for food markets.

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