Summary
The return ofAndor, with its highly anticipated season 2, seesthe reemergence of Cassian Andor, the newly turned rebel who survives against the odds while the Galactic Empire attempts to track him down.Andorresonated with manyStar Warspurists 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 theStar Warsfranchise,Andormanages to stand on its own two feet, pushing the boundaries of sci-fi on television. For eager fans ofAndorwho are unable to wait for the return of the second season, there have been many non-Star Warsshows that share its intricate and slow-burn plot, sci-fi elements, or the complexities of politicking that characterizeAndor.
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 thrillerCounterpart. 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 arefurther 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.
Despite having a completely different setting and world from that ofAndor,The Wireand theStar Warsshow share resemblances in their examination of various sectors of society. Corruption, politicking, and the fight against a system become prevalent themes in both shows. InThe 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 Wireserves as a pivotal crime drama, handcrafted to perfection, thanks to its creative direction and layered writing that have inspired future generations of the medium.
Although its harrowing historical depiction differs from the fictional setting ofAndor,ChernobylandAndorshare 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’sChernobylstunned audiences asit 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.
Chernobyl’sdark 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.
Based on Bong Joon-ho’s English-language movie debut of the same name,Snowpierceris set ina 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’sexploration 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 likeAndor.
In the 2000s, no sci-fi show came close to the quality and relevance ofBattlestar Galactica.The influential series told the story of a civilization of humansaboard the Battlestar Galactica starshipas they attempt to evade detection by humanity’s enemy, the Cylons. While depicting stereotypical sci-fi tropes,Battlestar Galactica’sthemes 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 mirrorAndor’srepresentation of robots in a rich sci-fi backdrop.
The Americansadded 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 twoSoviet 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.
Despite the differing landscapes,The AmericansandAndorfind 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.
The Expansehas 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. InThe Expanse, the search for a missing affluent girl revealsa series of conspiring eventsthat 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 ofAndor, a sci-fi show that undoubtedly drew influence fromThe Expanse.
