This 10/10 Dark Historical Series Has The Same Secret Weapon Andor

This 10/10 Dark Historical Series Has The Same Secret Weapon Andor Diego Luna in Andor By  Abigail Stevens Published Feb 25, 2026, 10:01 PM EST Abigail is an editor for ScreenRant, currently writing and editing movie news. You may also have seen her thoughts on animated television, musical theater, and fantasy literature in Paste Magazine, Fantasy Hive, or The Oxford Blue. She has also written SR lists and op-eds covering movies, TV, and books as well. She is an English major through and through, having graduated with a B.A. from UC Santa Barbara and an MPhil from Oxford University. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Add Us On Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Chronology is a funny thing: Andor challenged what we expect from modern Star Wars, serving as a prequel to the standalone Rogue One. The movie grossed more than $1 billion when it came out in 2016, but quickly faded from people's minds.

Thus, hardly anyone was interested when Andor was announced, following a protagonist that we already knew would die. But Andor became a sleeper hit after its quiet premiere in 2022, creating genuine, electric anticipation for season 2. There are many reasons for Andor's success, but one is its expert use of a particular storytelling paradigm, a quality seen in another noteworthy drama series.

Black Sails & Andor Both Benefit From Being Prequels

Andor uses its prequel status to stunning effect; so does the gritty historical series Black Sails, a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure novel Treasure Island. The treasure in Treasure Island was once the loot of the legendary, absent Captain Flint, the main character of Black Sails.

Andor's writers are well aware that most of the audience knows that Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) will die for the Rebellion, as the story explores themes of risking everything fighting an empire. It makes the narrative and other character deaths more impactful, knowing that there ultimately is no plot armor for the protagonist either.

Andor also leverages the audience's knowledge of the Death Star for a feeling of doom. Meanwhile, Black Sails maintains more distance from Treasure Island, but it still leans into viewers' knowledge of basic plot points and iconic literary characters. One of the show's throughlines is the Urca gold, a coveted cache that changes hands several times, which the audience can deduce early on will become the treasure that Jim Hawkins sets out to find.

Black Sails also clearly assumes that the audience knows where the main characters' relationships will end up. Namely, Captain Flint (Toby Stephens) is destined to be usurped by John Silver (Luke Arnold), while Silver and Billy Bones (Tom Hopper) will become mortal enemies, giving moments of foreshadowing an extra layer.

Black Sails Is The Better Show But Andor Is The Better Prequel

Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) piloting his ship next to a robot in Andor Season 2 Ep 11

Image via Disney+

Andor is a stellar show. However, it was significantly truncated from a five-season plan to a two-season plan, and some character arcs simply didn't get the due attention they likely would have with more screentime. Black Sails comes across as meticulously planned out, with its four seasons being exactly the runtime it needed.

In just about every other regard — production quality, performances, themes, etc. — the two shows are equal. Andor, however, gets a lot more mileage out of the prequel device. Black Sails is boosted by Treasure Island's literary status primarily when it comes to character drama and origins, but it shines most of all when the audience is invested in the original story about fighting imperialism.

It's a theme shared with Andor, but the best Star Wars show is arguably affected by being a prequel in every scene with Cassian. His eventual death hangs over every scene where he says he isn't interested in dying for this cause, and when he later commits to the Rebellion. We are always reminded that his luck will eventually run out.

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Furthermore, Andor's overall story ties into Rogue One perfectly when the movie is about what it took to destroy the Death Star, while much of the show's plot happens because of the atrocities the Empire committed to build it. The broader scope of Andor enriches Rogue One by showing the far-reaching horrors of the imperial era, while Rogue One enriches Andor by serving as the culmination of the narrative.

Set in very different worlds with entirely different casts and crews, Andor and Black Sails have many surprising similarities, a key one being that they both tie into properties with a much longer history. They are two shows that I would recommend to everyone, which will allow you to compare them.

Black Sails is available to stream on Netflix; Andor is available to stream on Disney+.

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  Like Follow Followed Black Sails TV-MA Drama Action Adventure 14 8.9/10 Release Date 2014 - 2017 Network Starz

  Cast

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  • Toby Stephens Captain James Flint
  • Luke Arnold John Silver
  Directors Alik Sakharov, Steve Boyum, Lukas Ettlin, Stefan Schwartz, Clark Johnson, Marc Munden, Neil Marshall, Sam Miller, T.J. Scott, Michael Nankin, Rob Bailey, Roel Reiné, Uta Briesewitz Writers Dan Shotz, Lisa Schultz Boyd, Heather Bellson, Doris Egan, Michael Angeli, Michael S. Chernuchin, Peter Ocko, Josh Rothenberger Seasons 4 Powered by Expand Collapse
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  Like Follow Followed Andor TV-14 Action & Adventure Drama Thriller Sci-Fi 8/10 496 9.1/10 Release Date 2022 - 2025-00-00 Network Disney+

  Cast

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  • Diego Luna Cassian Andor
  • Stellan Skarsgård Luthen Rael
  Directors Susanna White Writers Dan Gilroy Seasons 2 Powered by Expand Collapse

• Black Sails
• Andor

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Crave more breakdowns of prequels, character stakes, and storytelling choices? Subscribing to the newsletter gives you careful comparisons and context across TV and film - from Andor and Black Sails to other influential prequel-driven dramas. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime. Trending Now Netflix’s Terminator Series Quietly Cancelled As Creator Breaks Long Silence After Season 1 HBO's Game Of Thrones Replacement Will Show The Rings Of Power How It's Done Netflix's 7-Part Sci-Fi Show Is Past Its Prime, But It's Still Worth A Binge