This Sci-Fi Series Quietly Became Disney+’s Most Acclaimed Show of 2025

Disney+ always has a lot releasing thanks to both original content and the addition of older titles, but in 2025, one series has stood out among the rest. Andor may have premiered in 2022, but Season 2 was a highlight this year, stunning audiences and critics alike with its emotional story and impeccable production, ultimately becoming Disney+’s most critically acclaimed series of 2025. Although Andor was a fascinating show from the beginning, Season 2 elevates the story, covering the lead-up to the rebellion against the Empire that defines the Star Wars franchise.

‘Andor’ Holds a Unique Place in the Star Wars Franchise

While it would be easy to write Andor off as another Star Wars project, the show immediately sets itself apart. Not only is the story removed from the Jedi and Sith that are often the center of the franchise, but Andor also explores the complexities of the Rebellion and raises questions about morality that are often overshadowed by the dichotomy between light and dark. The series largely follows Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), who is first introduced in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story as a reluctant Rebel hero, and the series plays into that, showing how his unique skills helped to build the Rebellion that fans saw in the original trilogy. Yet Cassian isn’t the only character in the ensemble cast that makes Andor so compelling. Throughout Season 2, Mon Mothma’s (Genevieve O’Reilly) storyline adds political intrigue with an exploration of the Empire’s rule, turning the series into a political thriller. Meanwhile, original characters like Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård), Dedra Meero (Denise Gough), and Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) add personal and political stakes to Cassian’s arc.

Andor Season 2 leans into more mature themes as characters are forced to decide what they are willing to sacrifice for the Rebel cause: their reputation, their morality, and, in some cases, their lives. With that question baked into the show’s premise, the series becomes darker than most modern-day Star Wars content, using political violence, corporate corruption, and even sexual assault as a reminder of the Empire’s cruelty and why the Rebellion was so necessary, even if it was an imperfect response. Andor is not a story about heroes and their triumphs, but people fighting for what they believe in, even at a horrible cost. Though, in the end, Andor reaffirms Star Wars’ message of hope, it also serves as a reminder that the rebels’ ultimate victory was hard-earned.

‘Andor’ Has Become a Critical Success for Disney+

Image via Disney+

There are many ways to measure a series’ success, and while critical opinions aren’t the only thing that matters, positive reviews tend to indicate that a show has done something right. With a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, Andor Season 2 has become the highest-rated installment of any Star Wars show, surpassing Andor Season 1 and Star Wars: Visions Volume 1 by 1% and sitting a comfortable 4% over the widely popular early seasons of The Mandalorian. In a franchise that is usually divided in terms of reactions, Andor‘s success with critics and fans alike is an impressive accomplishment.

Good reviews alone don’t create the kind of acclaim Andor has enjoyed, as the series earned several awards this year. The Emmys recognized Andor‘s writing, production design, picture editing, costumes, and visual effects, choosing them above any other series in the category — and, though it didn’t win, Andor Season 2 was one of only a handful of shows nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. Other awards bodies have recognized Andor Season 2’s accomplishments, proving that the series excelled with its complex and fascinating story.

‘Andor’ Tells a Complete Star Wars Story

It shouldn’t be a surprise that Andor is the most acclaimed Disney+ series of 2025, but the shock is how quietly it happened. It’s only been seven months since Andor ended, and already, the series seems to have faded from the conversation, which is odd for a show that garnered so much praise. Perhaps this is because Andor, as accessible as it is to those less familiar with the wider galaxy, is deeply associated with the larger franchise, and, since it is only one of the Star Wars series released in 2025, viewers have simply moved on.

For all of Andor‘s successes, it does lack one thing that would have kept it in the conversation: an upcoming season. As a finite story, Season 2 was always meant to be the show’s ending, and while it’s disappointing to say goodbye to beloved characters, this choice allowed Andor to reach the conclusion it deserved. The absence of speculation about a follow-up season may contribute to the lack of attention the show has received in the months following its ending, but Andor ended in an impactful place that enabled it to be the spectacle that it is.

Andor is streaming on Disney+ in the U.S.

Release Date

2022 – 2025-00-00

Network

Disney+

Showrunner

Tony Gilroy

Directors

Susanna White

Writers

Dan Gilroy

Franchise(s)

Star Wars