Andor season 2: the Rebellion will be televised—but only if you pay for Disney+ (trailer).

The anticipation for Andor‘s second season is palpable, not least because it carries the unenviable weight of being “the only good Star Wars TV series to come out of Disney.” Bold claim? Maybe. But after slogging through space soap operas (The Book of Boba Fett), inexplicable biker gangs with fluorescent scooters (The Book of Boba Fett again), and nostalgia marathons (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Andor stood out as a beacon of adult storytelling in a galaxy otherwise obsessed with its action figure sales.

Season one left us breathless with its raw, gritty exploration of rebellion, politics, and Cassian Andor’s evolution from cynical loner to reluctant revolutionary. Naturally, season two promises to take us even closer to the events of Rogue One, where our dear Cassian graduates from “man on the run” to “man on the kamikaze mission.” But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Season two still has a four-year span to cover, and it’s anyone’s guess what twists and turns await in Tony Gilroy’s carefully crafted universe of moral ambiguity and Imperial bureaucracy.

Let’s start with the obvious: Cassian himself. When we last saw him, he had returned to Ferrix to say a very metaphorical farewell to his past and a very literal farewell to his mother, Maarva. Her death sparked an all-out rebellion on the streets, but instead of sticking around for the after-party (or clean-up), Cassian decided to confront Luthen Rael, the most enigmatic antiques dealer-turned-rebel spy in Star Wars history. Season two will presumably kick off with Cassian officially joining Luthen’s crew, marking the start of his full transformation into the cold, calculating rebel operative we meet in Rogue One.

Of course, Cassian’s journey will hardly be smooth. He has a penchant for making terrible decisions that somehow pay off in the long run—like the time he killed his heist partner mid-mission or escaped a prison that couldn’t even afford proper guards. Expect season two to double down on Cassian’s knack for morally dubious choices, all while Diego Luna serves up the kind of smouldering intensity that makes us forgive Cassian’s… let’s call them “character flaws.”

Speaking of Luthen, Stellan Skarsgård’s performance was an absolute masterclass in season one, so it’s hard not to speculate about what the second season holds for his delightfully shady rebel mastermind. Is he truly the noble revolutionary he pretends to be, or is there a darker, self-serving edge to his rebellion? The guy gave a whole monologue about sacrificing his soul for the cause, but that doesn’t mean he won’t throw someone under the proverbial starship when the chips are down. Will Cassian challenge his authority, or will their uneasy alliance grow into something resembling mutual respect? Either way, Skarsgård’s gravitas will make it compelling to watch.

Mon Mothma, played with ice-cold precision by Genevieve O’Reilly, has her own high-stakes game to play. Season one ended with her reluctantly arranging a marriage between her daughter and the son of a slimy Chandrilan banker. Yes, even in space, politics are messy, and sacrifices are often personal. Season two will likely see Mon Mothma’s descent into outright rebellion against the Empire, as she balances her Senate duties with her burgeoning role as the public face of the Rebel Alliance. Expect plenty of scenes where Mon quietly sips space wine while outmanoeuvring her enemies with a well-timed cutting remark. It’s like House of Cards, but with fewer shady deals and more alien side characters.

And then there’s Syril Karn, the Empire’s most pathetic zealot, who still somehow makes you root for him to figure out his mess of a life. After failing miserably at his Pre-Mor Security job in season one, Syril latched onto Dedra Meero, the Imperial officer who makes Tarkin look like a warm and fuzzy grandparent. Their weird dynamic—half mentorship, half creepy obsession—could blossom into something even more dysfunctional in season two. Will Syril finally prove his worth to the Empire, or will he crumble under the weight of his own ambition? Either way, Kyle Soller will undoubtedly continue to deliver a performance that’s equal parts cringe-inducing and tragic.

Dedra herself is primed for a big arc. As an ISB officer, she’s ruthless, ambitious, and uncomfortably competent, which makes her one of the most intriguing Imperial characters since The Mandalorian’s Moff Gideon. Season two could see her grappling with the fallout of her failure to capture Andor while navigating the shark tank that is the Empire’s bureaucracy. Maybe she’ll rise through the ranks, or maybe her obsession with Andor will lead to her undoing. Either way, expect plenty of tense moments where Dedra’s icy exterior cracks, just enough to remind us that even Imperials are human—just, you know, evil.

Then there’s the rest of the sprawling cast. Vel and Cinta’s relationship, simmering with unspoken tension in season one, is bound to be tested further as their missions grow increasingly dangerous. Saw Gerrera, played by Forest Whitaker with his trademark “I swallowed gravel for breakfast” voice, will probably pop in to remind everyone that the Rebellion isn’t all kumbaya and noble ideals. And let’s not forget about K-2SO, the sassy droid who hasn’t shown up yet but will inevitably steal the show when he does.

Season two will also likely lean heavily into the broader world-building that made season one so compelling. The gritty, lived-in universe of Andor feels miles away from the glossy sheen of the Skywalker saga. Expect more deep dives into the Empire’s oppressive mechanisms, the Rebellion’s messy origins, and the countless civilians caught in the crossfire. Tony Gilroy’s writing doesn’t shy away from the complexities of war, and season two will undoubtedly explore the moral grey areas that make Andor such a standout in the Star Wars franchise.

Ultimately, the second season of Andor has the daunting task of bridging the gap between its grounded, nuanced storytelling and the high-stakes drama of Rogue One. Can it deliver another twelve episodes of smart, character-driven TV while keeping the Star Wars diehards happy? If season one is any indication, the answer is a resounding yes. But even if it falters, one thing is certain: it’ll still be better than The Book of Boba Fett.