Pedro Pascal praises Andor as best political thriller in Star Wars franchise

Pedro Pascal has joined the chorus of praise for Andor, calling the Star Wars series “the best political thriller series maybe ever?” The actor, who will reprise his role as Din Djarin in The Mandalorian & Grogu next year, admitted on Instagram that he was “unforgivably late to this party” but deeply impressed by the show (via Reddit).

Pascal’s praise follows similar acclaim from Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin, who called Andor “this year’s highlight.” Martin applauded the series’ “realism and tension,” noting that such qualities were “sadly lacking” in most recent Star Wars projects.

Since its second season, Andor has grown into one of the franchise’s most critically acclaimed entries, with viewership rising nearly 50% during its run. The show has also become the highest-rated live-action Star Wars project on Rotten Tomatoes, underscoring its success with both fans and critics.

At the 2024 Emmy Awards, Andor secured 14 nominations, the third-highest for a Star Wars show after the first two seasons of The Mandalorian. However, fans were surprised when lead star Diego Luna and Genevieve O’Reilly were overlooked in acting categories. Showrunner Tony Gilroy downplayed the snubs, emphasizing that their “epic, long-term character studies” across 24 episodes will be “celebrated and discussed for years to come.”

With widespread acclaim and strong audience engagement, Andor has secured its place as one of the standout Star Wars stories. Meanwhile, Pascal is set to return to the galaxy far, far away with The Mandalorian & Grogu, slated for release in 2026, while Ahsoka season 2 is also expected next year.