But at least in the eyes of critics, the most successful Star Wars Disney+ show thus far has been Andor, the prequel to Rogue One starring Diego Luna. Andor was such a critical hit, in fact, that Disney is now giving the show a showcase beyond the confines of its paid streaming service, announcing a big Andor event on other platforms, including old-fashioned free TV. Even people who don’t have Disney+ will be able to watch the first two episodes of Andor, “Kassa” and “That Would Be Me” during the Thanksgiving holiday, via four different Disney-owned outlets. The complete program can be seen down below:
On Wednesday the 23rd of November, the two episodes can be seen on ABC starting at 21.00 till 22.30
On Thursday the 24th of November, the two episodes can be seen on FX starting at 21.00 till 22.30
On Friday the 25th of November, the two episodes can be seen on Freeform starting at 21.00 till 22.30
From the 23rd of November until the 7th of December, the two episodes can be streamed for free on Hulu.
Disney is obviously doing more than just showcasing the excellent writing, acting, and production design that made Andor a hit with critics and (some) fans alike. They are also promoting their Disney+ streaming service in hopes of garnering more subscribers. And they couldn’t have picked a better Star Wars show to snatch from the streaming ranks and make it available to a wider audience.
The quality of Andor is obviously the first thing that makes it the right show to release on ABC, Hulu and other platforms. Perhaps more importantly, Andor is more adult than other streaming Star Wars series, which presumably should make him more appealing to the kind of audience that sits down to watch network TV every night. The thinking here might be that older audience members who might otherwise not be interested in Star Wars (or anything on Disney+ in general) will be drawn to the more mature and complex storytelling featured on Andor. Showrunner Tony Gilroy is obviously known for creating fare that appeals to adult audiences, with credits like Michael Clayton, the Bourne series, and State of Play on his resume.
Of course, it remains to be seen whether Andor’s release on ABC this holiday will prompt all Star Wars-curious moviegoers to sign up for a Disney+ subscription. At the very least, the larger version gives more people a chance to enjoy a show that represents the best Star Wars has to offer, and there’s no downside to that. And all of this is obviously leading up to the final episodes of Andor, including the season 1 finale which hits Disney+ on November 23, 2022.
