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

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It’s interesting how timelines work in the Star Wars universe. The series Andor did something unexpected by telling a story before the events of the film Rogue One. While Rogue One was a huge box office success in 2016, earning over a billion dollars, it wasn’t long before people started to forget about it.

When Andor was first announced, few people paid attention, especially since it focused on a character destined to die. However, after a low-key debut in 2022, the show unexpectedly became a hit, building real excitement for its second season. While there are several factors behind Andor‘s success, a key one is its skillful use of a specific storytelling approach, similar to what’s found in another well-regarded drama.

Black Sails & Andor Both Benefit From Being Prequels

Both Andor and Black Sails cleverly build on existing stories as prequels. Black Sails, a gritty historical drama, serves as a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island. In Treasure Island, the hidden treasure originally belonged to the infamous Captain Flint, who is the central character in Black Sails.

The writers of Andor understand that viewers likely know Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) will ultimately sacrifice himself for the Rebellion, given the show’s focus on the high stakes of fighting an empire. This awareness actually heightens the emotional impact of the story and makes the deaths of other characters even more meaningful, because it establishes that even the main character isn’t guaranteed to survive.

Both Andor and Black Sails subtly play on what viewers already know to build suspense and connection. Andor uses the familiar threat of the Death Star to create a sense of dread. Black Sails, while not directly adapting Treasure Island, hints at the famous story. A key plot element is the Urca gold, which viewers quickly realize will eventually become the treasure sought after by Jim Hawkins.

The show Black Sails relies on viewers already knowing how the key relationships will ultimately play out. For example, it’s understood that Captain Flint will eventually be overthrown by John Silver, and that Silver and Billy Bones will become bitter rivals. This pre-existing knowledge adds extra depth to moments that hint at future events.

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

Image via Disney+

Andor is a fantastic show, but its original plan for five seasons was cut short to just two, leaving some storylines feeling rushed. In contrast, Black Sails feels perfectly paced, with its four seasons providing exactly the amount of time the story needed.

Both shows are remarkably similar in terms of their overall quality, acting, and the ideas they explore. However, Andor makes better use of being a prequel. While Black Sails benefits from being connected to the classic story of Treasure Island—especially when it comes to character development and backstories—it truly excels when focusing on its own unique narrative of battling against imperial power.

Like Andor, this Star Wars show is powerfully shaped by being a prequel. Every scene with Cassian is tinged with the knowledge of his future death. We constantly see him claim he doesn’t want to die for the cause, and then commit to it, all while knowing his time is limited, creating a sense of foreboding.

The story of Andor connects seamlessly with Rogue One. The movie details the effort to destroy the Death Star, and much of Andor’s plot focuses on the terrible things the Empire did while building it. Andor expands on the world of Rogue One by showing the widespread suffering caused by the Empire, and Rogue One gives Andor a powerful ending point, completing the story arc.

Despite taking place in vastly different settings with completely separate actors and production teams, Andor and Black Sails actually share quite a few unexpected similarities – notably, both shows are connected to larger, well-established franchises. I highly recommend watching both, as it’s fascinating to compare them.

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

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2026-02-26 06:08