Why Revenge of the Sith deserves more credit for setting up Andor

The Star Wars franchise has successfully created multi-dimensional stories and characters that have gone on to lead their own independent projects later on. Many films from the early 2000s set the tone for futuristic projects, and one such film was 2005's Revenge of the Sith, which laid down the foundation for Andor.

While Andor is often praised for its grounded, gritty portrayal of rebellion, its emotional core and political urgency are rooted deeply in Revenge of the Sith. The 2005 prequel showed us the moment freedom died when the Republic fell, the Jedi were slaughtered, and fear became law. Andor lives in that aftermath.

Palpatine's Empire didn’t rise overnight—it was built on quiet compliance and public exhaustion, both of which the Sith captured hauntingly well. Characters like Mon Mothma and Bail Organa, sidelined in the films, are given the spotlight in Andor, but their resistance began the moment democracy ended. The tone of loss, betrayal, and slow-burning rage that defines Andor? That started in Revenge of the Sith, and it’s time we gave it credit for it.

Why Revenge of the Sith is one of the most important films in the Star Wars franchise

When people talk about the best Star Wars movies, Revenge of the Sith doesn’t always get the love it deserves. Sure, it’s dramatic, and yes, there’s a lot of CGI, but underneath all that, it’s one of the most emotionally devastating and politically sharp films in the saga. It’s the turning point where everything falls apart, and that matters. Often overlooked, it has gone on to become one of the best films in the franchise, and as Star Wars continues to grow bigger, one might find themselves revisiting the film again and again.

This is the movie where Anakin doesn’t just become Vader; he loses himself. We watch someone who wanted to do good slowly break under fear, grief, and manipulation. And that’s what makes it hit so hard—because it doesn’t happen in one big moment. It’s slow, painful, and eerily believable. Palpatine doesn’t force Anakin’s fall—he gently, persistently pushes him there. And the galaxy? It falls right alongside him.

Padmé’s line “So this is how liberty dies… with thunderous applause” isn’t just iconic, it’s chilling. Revenge of the Sith doesn’t show the Empire rising in glory. It shows people getting tired, giving in, and looking away. And that’s exactly the kind of quiet horror we see again in Andor. This film set the tone for every rebellion, every exile, and every fight for hope that comes after.

It’s not just a prequel—it's the emotional heart of the entire franchise. Without Revenge of the Sith, the pain in Obi-Wan’s eyes, the resistance in Leia’s voice, and the hope in Luke’s journey wouldn’t mean as much. This is where the real weight of Star Wars begins.

How Revenge of the Sith connects to Andor

At first glance, Revenge of the Sith and Andor feel like two very different stories. One is filled with Jedi, lightsabers, and the fall of legends. The other is quieter, grittier—a slow-burning story about ordinary people finding their place in something bigger. But emotionally and thematically, they’re deeply connected.

Revenge of the Sith shows us how the galaxy broke. It’s not just the story of Anakin’s fall—it's the story of how fear wins, how people give up freedom for a sense of order, and how empires rise when no one fights back. That quiet, creeping sense of dread? That’s the world Andor is born into.

By the time we meet Cassian Andor, the Republic has long since fallen. The Empire rules everything. But the emotional weight of Revenge of the Sith is still there—lingering in the background. You see it in the broken trust, the paranoia, and the way people are scared to speak too loudly. The world is haunted by what happened in Episode III.

Andor doesn’t work unless we’ve seen how everything got this bad. We understand why Mon Mothma is afraid, why Luthen is ruthless, and why Cassian is so reluctant to trust anyone—because we’ve seen the betrayal, the fall, and the silence that came before.

In the end, Revenge of the Sith gives Andor its soul. One shows us how the galaxy collapsed. The other shows us what it takes to stand back up.

The latest season of Andor

After a successful run in 2022, Andor is back for a brand-new season as we continue to follow Andor and more of our favorite galaxy. It stars Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, the titular character. More stars who have joined him include Kyle Soller, Adria Arjona, Stellan Skarsgård, Fiona Shaw, Genevieve O'Reilly, Denise Gough, Faye Marsay, Varada Sethu, Elizabeth Dulau, and Ben Mendelsohn.

The series serves as a prequel to the 2016 movie Rogue One, which is a prequel to the 1977 original Star Wars movie. During the five years preceding the events of the two films, the series follows Cassian Andor, the thief who later turns into a rebel spy, and how he becomes politicized against the Galactic Empire and the formation of the larger Rebel Alliance. Cassian had been a lone man looking for his family before he recruited Jyn Erso. The death of numerous comrades and frequent encounters with the Galactic Empire, however, turned Cassian into the fervent, anti-Imperial outlaw we meet in Rogue One.

The official plot synopsis reads,

"Season 2 carries [on] the story of Cassian Andor and the emerging rebel alliance over the climactic four years that lead to the discovery of The Death Star and the events of Rogue One. Season 2 will see relationships intensify as the horizon of galactic war draws near. Everyone will be tested and, as the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices and conflicting agendas will become profound."

As one of the best Star Wars series to emerge from the current Disney+ run, Andor, written by Tony Gilroy, who also wrote Rogue One, has received widespread praise and has become one of the biggest TV shows as of now. Additionally, plans for more seasons are in the air, although nothing is confirmed as of now.