Summary
- Andor stands out by blending its unique storyline with Star Wars elements on TV, offering a fresh take on the sci-fi genre.
- Non-Star Wars shows like Counterpart offer similar intricate plots and espionage elements for fans eagerly awaiting Andor’s return.
- Shows like Chernobyl, The Wire, and Battlestar Galactica share thematic similarities with Andor, exploring politics, rebellion, and societal issues.
The return of Andor, with its highly anticipated season 2, sees the reemergence of Cassian Andor, the newly turned rebel who survives against the odds while the Galactic Empire attempts to track him down. Andor resonated with many Star Wars purists due to its grounded portrayal and its extensive, detailed examination of an emerging rebellion and the forces that attempt to quell the potential uprising.
While being a part of the Star Wars franchise, Andor manages to stand on its own two feet, pushing the boundaries of sci-fi on television. For eager fans of Andor who are unable to wait for the return of the second season, there have been many non-Star Wars shows that share its intricate and slow-burn plot, sci-fi elements, or the complexities of politicking that characterize Andor.
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7
Counterpart
Mirrored Worlds Come To Blows, With J.K. Simmons Portraying A Spy
J.K. Simmons has had a brilliant and storied career. However, his dual role as two versions of Howard Silk marked a new challenge for the actor, acting as the anchor of the ambitious sci-fi spy thriller Counterpart. While working as a UN office worker, Howard discovers a parallel world in his employment, with the newfound world waging a war with his own through the use of espionage.
The clever concept and tremendous worldbuilding are further enhanced by Simmons’ talent. He acts as two points of interest in a drawn-out spy war for control and dominance, similar to Andor’s rebellion, which involves the employment of espionage against the Galactic Empire.
6
The Wire
The War On Drugs In Baltimore
Despite having a completely different setting and world from that of Andor, The Wire and the Star Wars show share resemblances in their examination of various sectors of society. Corruption, politicking, and the fight against a system become prevalent themes in both shows. In The Wire, the war on drugs in Baltimore is portrayed from both the perspective of the streets and its participants, and the Baltimore police force, a corrupt and misguided institution that has very few good police in the building.
Among its introspective examination of society and its systemic failures, The Wire serves as a pivotal crime drama, handcrafted to perfection, thanks to its creative direction and layered writing that have inspired future generations of the medium.
5
Chernobyl
Harrowing Historical Show Featuring Actors From Andor
Although its harrowing historical depiction differs from the fictional setting of Andor, Chernobyl and Andor share parallels beyond their gritty tone relating to their shared actors, such as Stellan Skarsgård. Their representation of politics, with the ISB and Soviet government meetings, also provides overlap. HBO’s Chernobyl stunned audiences as it retold the historical horrors from 1986, when a reactor from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant exploded, causing a nuclear disaster that wrought major devastation. The show examines the failures of specific high-ranking individuals.
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Chernobyl’s dark retelling and its extensive look beyond the explosion and its effect on people, highlighting topics such as bureaucracy and corruption, led to the masterful miniseries captivating all who watched.
4
Snowpiercer
The Last Remaining Humans Live On A Train, Segregated By Wealth
Based on Bong Joon-ho’s English-language movie debut of the same name, Snowpiercer is set in a futuristic and apocalyptic world. The only remaining humans on Earth are confined to a single train, separated by their social class and affluence, with people experiencing poverty forced to endure treacherous conditions at the train’s tail. Meanwhile, wealthy passengers reside towards the front of the ginormous train.
Headlined by big names such as Jennifer Connelly and Sean Bean, Snowpiercer’s exploration of rebellion, social hierarchy, and politics in a dystopian setting provided the four-season show with ample quality material to work with. The themes of the show correlate with those of sci-fi contemporaries like Andor.
3
Battlestar Galactica
Humans Try To Reclaim Their Home From Cylons
In the 2000s, no sci-fi show came close to the quality and relevance of Battlestar Galactica. The influential series told the story of a civilization of humans aboard the Battlestar Galactica starship as they attempt to evade detection by humanity’s enemy, the Cylons. While depicting stereotypical sci-fi tropes, Battlestar Galactica’s themes encompass internal politics, faith, and morality, adding depth and nuance to the fictional world.
The show’s villains, the Cylons, are AI robots that are intent on exterminating the human race. They feature complexities that mirror Andor’s representation of robots in a rich sci-fi backdrop.
2
The Americans
The Struggles Of Living Two Lives
The Americans added to FX’s historic catalog of premium shows, delivering a riveting and engrossing storyline that explores morality and the complexities of working under the guise of the enemy. Centered on two Soviet spies who infiltrate America, the Jennings family lives an undercover life that involves building a family and garnering valuable information on the American government. However, their disguises come under strain as the years pass.
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Despite the differing landscapes, The Americans and Andor find similarities in their brilliant espionage storylines. Mon Mothma and Luthen Rael’s undercover and dangerous exploits mirror those of the Jenningses, who lead complicated dual lives.
1
The Expanse
The Protagonist Tries To Unwind A Conspiracy
The Expanse has often been regarded as a sci-fi gem on television, yet it has been underappreciated in its genre due to its airing on Syfy. However, the show offers a distinct dystopian world riddled with a nagging mystery. In The Expanse, the search for a missing affluent girl reveals a series of conspiring events that threaten the universe’s course, unveiling layers of a vivid and detailed landscape.
The show’s grounded yet exquisite world, meshed with the tremendous and compelling performances, gives the fictional world a sense of reality that bears a resemblance to that of Andor, a sci-fi show that undoubtedly drew influence from The Expanse.
- Release Date
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2022 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Disney+
- Showrunner
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Tony Gilroy
-
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Stellan Skarsgård
Luthen Rael
