Star Wars’ Past 12 Months Restored My Faith In The Franchise

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As a lifelong Star Wars fan, I have to say the last year has been amazing! After the somewhat rocky finish to the Skywalker saga with The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, I was starting to lose hope. But moving to Disney+ has been exactly what the franchise needed. It’s given Lucasfilm the freedom to try new things, and honestly, some of the best Star Wars content I’ve seen in years has come from these shows. Not everything has been perfect – I really think The Book of Boba Fett could have been great – but overall, my excitement for what’s coming next is totally restored, especially with a big premiere on the horizon!

The past year has been particularly strong for Star Wars storytelling. Season 2 of Tony Gilroy’s acclaimed series, Andor, launched on April 23, 2025, and concluded on May 14, delivering one of the most thought-provoking, politically charged, and well-made shows in recent memory, whether within the Star Wars universe or beyond. Following Andor was a challenge, but Dave Filoni’s animated series, Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord, has successfully continued this trend, offering a careful and compelling look at one of the franchise’s most complex and tragic characters during the fall of the Republic. The big question now is whether Star Wars can consistently maintain this high standard of quality.

How Andor Season 2 & Maul – Shadow Lord Season 1 Have Renewed Faith In Star Wars

Both Andor and Maul – Shadow Lord demonstrate the depth and emotional complexity Star Wars storytelling can achieve. What’s great about a universe as vast as Star Wars is its flexibility – it can explore different genres, styles, and formats without losing what makes it special. In fact, these two shows prove Star Wars should embrace more creative storytelling. Unlike the recent sequel trilogy, which relied too heavily on familiar elements, now is the time to take chances with new narratives.

Andor is a remarkable show, brilliantly combining innovative storytelling with the rich history of Star Wars. It’s a deeply human story that emphasizes the importance of resisting oppression, even when facing impossible challenges. The acting is phenomenal, with moments – like Mon Mothma’s speech in the Imperial Senate – packing a powerful emotional punch. While aimed at a more adult audience and adopting a darker, more realistic tone – notably without Jedi – Andor perfectly captures the core message of Star Wars: the vital need to stand up against evil.

The story of Shadow Lord centers on Darth Maul’s life after becoming a former Sith. What makes Maul so interesting is that he’s unique – he’s a compelling anti-hero because of his contradictions. He resents his old master, yet often behaves just like him. He loathes the Jedi, but acknowledges the strength of their values. He exploits galactic chaos while ignoring his own flaws. Shadow Lord portrays Maul in a way that’s arguably unprecedented in Star Wars, openly addressing both the trauma he experienced and the harm he’s inflicted on others.

As a huge Star Wars fan, I’ve been loving how different both of these shows are, and you can really feel the creativity, thoughtfulness, and heart that went into making them. It’s easy to forget that none of this would be happening without The Mandalorian – it really paved the way for streaming Star Wars! But now, with Din Djarin and Grogu heading to the big screen, everything feels different. The success of this movie feels huge, not just for them, but for the future of Star Wars movies in general. There’s a lot riding on this dynamic duo!

Star Wars’ Recent TV Success Means The Pressure Is On The Mandalorian And Grogu

Instead of making a fourth season of The Mandalorian (which hasn’t been cancelled, but doesn’t seem likely), Star Wars is bringing Din Djarin and Grogu to the big screen – their first movie appearance in seven years. This makes sense, as Mando and Baby Yoda have become incredibly popular. However, the success of critically acclaimed shows like Andor and, more recently, Shadow Lord, makes you wonder if Star Wars stories that start on TV can work well as movies. If they don’t, what will happen?

The success of The Mandalorian and Grogu isn’t just about making money; the story also needs to be good. If this series works well, it could lead to exciting new possibilities for Star Wars, like more diverse stories and creative crossovers. However, if it fails, Star Wars might rely even more heavily on streaming, with fewer big-screen releases. While it seems like a sure win, this is actually a big risk for Lucasfilm, and a lot is at stake.

Disney+ has had some strong Star Wars shows, with seasons one and two of The Mandalorian, the conclusion of The Clone Wars, Andor, and Shadow Lord demonstrating the franchise can work well on television. However, Star Wars is fundamentally a cinematic experience, and it’s up to the next Mandalorian story to remind viewers of that. Hopefully, the positive reception to Andor and Shadow Lord will give the upcoming Star Wars movie the lift it needs.

Season 3 of The Mandalorian, featuring Grogu, will arrive in movie theaters on May 22, 2026. You can watch all episodes of Andor and Star Wars: Maul – Shadow Lord right now, exclusively on Disney+.

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2026-05-10 15:19