Andorseason 2 will bring the critically praisedStar Warsspinoff to a close, and it already has many notable comparisons to the belovedArcaneanimated series. While the reception to the various live-actionStar WarsTV showson Disney+ has been mixed,Andorhas received near-universal praise from fans and critics, and its upcoming final season is one of the franchise’s most highly-anticipated releases in years.Arcanehas likewise been a massive success for Netflix, known as one of the best-animated shows in recent memory that has won over a passionate fanbase.
Despite the obvious differences in medium, genre, and stylistic choice,AndorandArcanehave quite a few things in common, which will become more apparent inAndorseason 2. The creative success of both shows can be traced to similar choices made by their respective teams when approaching the narrative and how the seasons would be produced. ComparingAndorandArcanein this manner allows viewers to appreciate both series, explains why old and new fans enjoy them, and sheds light on how more TV shows can learn from their excellent storytelling.
8Andor & Arcane Have Incredibly Good Writing & Production Values
They are true works of art
What sets Andor apart from otherStar Warsshows is how consistently well-crafted every single episode is, from the excellent writing to the masterful filmmaking. Dividing the show into multiple arcs allows individual plotlines to be more fleshed out, and every character plays a meaningful role as the story progresses. This narrative is brought to life through gorgeous lighting, incredible set design, and great direction, giving Cassian Andor and some of the most well-roundedStar Warscharacters the treatment they deserve.
Arcanereportedly had a budget of $250 million for its two seasons, whileDisney’sAndorbudget may have been $350 millionby the time the second season started filming.
Arcanesimilarly does justice to its cast by keeping the story character-focused and dividing its seasons into a three-act structure.Every major and minor character contributes something meaningful toArcane’s plot, and there is always a good setup and payoff for everything that happens. Actions always have consequences, there are no easy answers for the characters, and everything comes full circle by then. That’s without mentioning the gorgeously groundbreaking animation that complements every moment, topped off by a talented voice cast and a surprising but unique soundtrack that works perfectly.
7Andor & Arcane Don’t Rely On Fan Service
Anyone can enjoy these incredible shows
The brilliant execution ofAndorandArcaneis even more impressive because neither show relies on references to their respective franchises.Star Warshas struggled with this in recent years, with some shows lacking compelling writing or strong emotion and trying to compensate with easter eggs and characters from movies and shows fans already love.Andor, meanwhile, begins as a very self-contained story but gradually brings in familiar elementswhen they are relevant to the plot. Season 2 will likely have more fan service, but the quality of season 1 proves that the show doesn’t need to rely on it.
The second season ofArcanehas also moved its characters closer to theirLeague of Legendscounterparts while remaining enjoyable for viewers with no knowledge of the game. It would have been tempting for the creative team to focus more on the fantasy and steampunk elements of the world, butArcanealways puts character first and brings in whatever is necessary to tell a great story. It’s rare when a prequel can service existing fans, create new fans, and meaningfully expand on the franchise, butAndorandArcanehave excelled thus far.
6Andor & Arcane Aren’t Afraid To Get Serious
Some of the most captivating drama on TV
WhileStar WarsandLeague of Legendsare primarily designed to be fun,AndorandArcaneprove that neither franchise is afraid to take a darker route. Tonally,Andoris one of the most bleakStar Warsentries to date, perfectly capturing how tyrannical regimes affect the lives of ordinary people from all walks of life. Each arc touches on serious themes and ideas, including police brutality, cold-blooded murder, forced prison labor, and the dark side of a well-meaning rebellion. The episode directors ensure all these plotlines are conveyed in the most impactful way possible.
Arcanebegins each season in the wake of terrible destruction that results in several deaths, setting the characters down a dark path. The creative team wisely decided to have the characters fail, creating heartbreaking moments that push them to their limits and propel the season in fascinating directions.Arcaneviewers will always be on the edge of their seats wondering if the characters will make it out aliveand be captivated by how personal things get.Arcanedemonstrates how animation can sometimes feel more real than live-action with a good team willing to get serious.
5Andor & Arcane Expertly Tackle Moral Complexity
Not everything has to be black and white
TheStar Warssaga may be a battle between light and dark, but the franchise has never avoided moral complexity, andAndoris one of its best examples. The show demonstrates why the Rebellion exists and why the Empire has to be stopped, butit’s not always easy to tell who the “good guys” are.Cassian Andor begins the series with a brutal murder that sets the rest of the story in motion, while Imperial loyalists are horrified by crimes committed by rebels. Luthen Rael’s brilliant monologue perfectly explores the unfortunate reality of great evil being defeated through immoral actions.
Arcaneplaces its characters in a similar predicament of wanting to fight back against those in power or change the world, but such changes often come at great cost. The show takes the time to develop characters on each side of a conflict, making it difficult for the audience to know who to root for when not everybody can win.This creates a story lacking easy answers to problems where actions always have consequences, forcing the characters to question what is right and wrong.
4Andor & Arcane Have Heart
Great stories should have something powerful to say
One area that long-running franchises can struggle with is creating characters that viewers genuinely care about and themes that resonate with people on an emotional level. Thankfully,Andorhas plenty of heart in its story, fromcharacter bonds that feel earned to gripping monologs that will leave viewers speechless. BecauseAndoris about how people suffer under oppression, it’s crucial to create rich characters who grow to care about others more than themselves, making it heartbreaking when they die or fail in their mission.
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Arcanehas so much heart that it would be impressive if anyone could watch the first three episodes without crying.Both seasons ofArcanehave excelled at portraying love, affection, and intimacy, creating relationships that raise the stakes as the characters are put in danger.Arcanealso has some of the most emotionally devastating moments in modern animation, combined with timeless themes that are sure to affect people from all walks of life. If the characters care, then the audience will care, and few shows capture this as perfectly asAndorandArcane.
3Andor & Arcane Were Given Plenty Of Time Behind The Scenes
Too many projects are rushed nowadays
In an age when many popular movies and TV shows feel rushed, it’s refreshing thatAndorandArcanewere given the time necessary to be great. When discussing the relationship between the writers and directors,Andorcreator Tony Gilroy toldColliderhow"They have three [to] four months to prep and 55 days to shoot. It’s big. They get a lot of time. We spend a lot of time with them.“He also noted that there were no writers on set, meaningthere was plenty of time forAndor’s story to be communicated to the directors well before shooting began.
AndorandArcanehave a three-year gap between their first and second seasons, and while that’s a long time, the end result makes them worth the wait.
Arcaneseason 1 reportedly took six years to complete, and it shows in every frame of the breathtaking animation. The film industry is infamous for its animators and visual effects artists being overworked to meet deadlines, so it’s nice that so much time was given to the series.AndorandArcanehave a three-year gap between their first and second seasons, and while that’s a long time, the end result makes them worth the wait. FutureStar WarsandLeague of Legendsprojects would be wise to follow this trend and give creative teams more room to breathe.
2Andor & Arcane Will Both Employ Time Jumps
Not all shows can make this work
Although a decent amount of time passes inAndorseason 1, season 2 will feature several time jumps, a strategyArcanehas already employed brilliantly.Andorseason 2 will begin four years before the events ofRogue One: A Star Wars Story, and each subsequent arc will jump forward 1 year, allowing the show to cover the remainder of Cassian’s story with only 12 episodes. To ensure that this structure works,Tony Gilroy has stressed that eachAndortime jump will feel like the next logical place to continue Cassian’s journey.
Arcaneseason 1 went even further by having several years pass between episodes 3 and 4, aging the characters while having plenty of off-screen development. Despite how much occurred between the season’s first and second acts,Arcane’s time jump feels natural because every character’s development feels like a logical conclusion based on where they were when viewers last saw them. Devoting the first three episodes to the characters' backstories makes the remaining six episodes more impactful by illustrating how far the narrative has progressed.
1Andor & Arcane Will Only Have 2 Seasons
Prioritizing quality over quantity
Considering the time and money required to make shows likeAndorandArcane, it makes sense for them to only have two seasons, but it also works from a creative perspective.Many popular shows tend to overstay their welcome because of their success, resulting in redundant plotlines and a gradual drop in quality. However, becauseAndorwill only be two seasons, it can be short, sweet, and to the point, structured with a clear beginning and end that doesn’t become muddled with time.
Arcanesimilarly took this two-season approach, which is surprising since Netflix has produced several seasons for its most popular shows. Thankfully, the team behindArcanebelieved that it would be"irresponsible"to do more than two seasons, forcing them to be smart in crafting the story. While it’s sad that there won’t be more episodes of such incredible shows,it’s ultimately better to wish that a series had more seasons than to wish that it had ended sooner. The fast-approaching end ofAndorandArcanewill help solidify this mindset and bring two brilliant TV shows to a close.
Andor
Cast
Andor is a Star Wars prequel series set before the events of Rogue One, following Cassian Andor as he navigates a world of danger and deception. The series delves into his transformation into a pivotal figure in the struggle against the Galactic Empire.
Arcane
Arcane is an animated series set in the League of Legends universe, debuting in 2021. It explores the conflict between the affluent city of Piltover and the oppressed undercity of Zaun. Central to the story are two sisters whose allegiance to opposing sides of a technological and ideological war strains their bond.
