As published on Correio do Estado

For the past few weeks, I have been keeping a secret that I regret not being able to tell everyone, but it will finally be possible to share with the release of the final season of Andor: it is the best series of 2025. Yes, I am aware that it is still April, that there is a lot to come throughout the year, that The Last of Us is sensational, and that it is too early to seal the deal. It doesn’t matter: Andor is the best series of 2025 — and what’s more, it is the best series of the entire Star Wars franchise.

But suppose you are not a fan of George Lucas‘ franchise, and have not been strongly impacted by any of the three trilogies that have shaped the imagination of several generations since 1977. In that case, you will think I am exaggerating. It doesn’t matter. There are several divisions among fans of the saga: it has expanded to such an extent that the originals are lost in the universe of characters and Jedi (I am still faithful to Luke Skywalker). So here we have those who idolize the original trilogy and who, after it, also love Rogue One. To follow Andor and love it, you have to be in this group.

Now that you have your team figured out, let’s join the rebellion and understand the daunting challenge that the second season of Andor had ahead of it, and that — NO SPOILERS — it overcame with unparalleled brilliance. The film Rogue One broke box office records in 2016 and took a fragment of the story created by George Lucas in 1977 to develop what was crucial to the entire saga: “Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans for the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the DEATH STAR, an armored space station with enough power to destroy an entire planet.”

We know that the “first” film in the franchise shows Princess Leia being chased by Darth Vader to take this information to the rebel base, but… who were these secret spies? What happened to them? Why are they never even mentioned?

Well, coherence has never been Star Wars’ strong point, but Rogue One tried hard — and managed to — tie up many dots, giving the whole adventure an even more heroic and tragic tone. It’s a “serious” take on a science fiction world, and that’s why it’s so spectacular. There are no Jedis or other beings with powers: they’re the rabble, the abandoned, the oppressed who rebelled against the Empire and — literally — gave their lives to destroy it.

Cassian Andor, played by Diego Luna in the film, isn’t even the protagonist, because that mission falls on the shoulders of Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), but I consider him the perfect mix of Luke Skywalker (before he became a Jedi) and Han Solo. In other words: the perfect hero.

We could have explored Jyn’s youth, which is equally tragic, but it was he who won the spin-off that premiered in 2022, to great critical acclaim. One problem with the project was that the series begins five years before Rogue One, with several flashbacks, telling how Cassian ends up getting involved in the Rebellion. His story is very sad, and there are an impressive number of other interesting characters who cross his path. In this original concept, another four seasons would have been needed, but Disney said, “You have one more”. Or something like that, because Andor actually returns with 12 episodes to spread out four intense years, tying up so many loose ends that at some point you’ll think something will be forgotten. Be warned: nothing is left loose.

We pick up the plot one year after where we left off, and from there, every three episodes we advance another 12 months, until we stop — literally — where Rogue One begins. Everything is more intense, scarier, and even more violent, which makes us finally share the political conflict because we witness who really suffers from the Empire (they are not Senators or Mercenaries): they are the strangers from poor cities, planets exploited by the rich, and who have no hope. Cassian Andor is one of them (the Skywalkers would be too, but since Luke and Anakin were taken when they were young to be trained as Jedi, this is not developed).

I wanted to tell you in detail about each episode, but I run the risk of revealing what I shouldn’t — and, in this case, surprise is essential. Bet on the series: it will move you until the very last scene. We will talk more about it in a month.

I know that cynics will not understand how journalists who had access to the complete season have already declared it the best of the year, but trust me: Andor is. It’s everything that brings back the enchantment of the Star Wars saga, representing everyone who seeks to overcome their difficulties in the face of a devastating universe. I’m a huge fan of Cassian Andor — and I loved every second of the season. One of the highlights of 2025.