I was recently chatting with a colleague at work about HBO's plan to adapt Harry Potter into a TV series.

It's a bold vision to create a series for each of the 7 books, spread over a decade.

My friend went on to claim, 'Original stories are dead!'

I had to admit, he had a point...

Between endless sequels, reboots, and “reimaginings,” it can feel like the spark of fresh, original storytelling has truly dimmed.

But there are exceptions.

New explorations of existing story worlds are not without merit too.

And, every so often, something comes along that takes a familiar franchise and breathes such authenticity, intrigue, and plot skill into it that it feels brand new again.

For me, Disney+'s Andor is exactly that.

I've never been a Star Wars buff, and I'm guessing the same for you, but I do think the original trilogy is a masterwork.

The Mandalorian was a success in the space Western genre. It lacked the bigger picture but was certainly entertaining.

Also, having written a little dystopian/rebellion book myself, those notes coming through strong in Andor are like catnip for the right viewer.

Much to Liv's dismay, I'm not a binge-watcher, preferring to savour a good series...
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But the writing of Tony Gilroy, Jared Bush and co. has put that to the test here.

Especially when I was knocked out with the flu last week!
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​My pitch for Andor in 5 super short bullets:

1. It grounds the stakes in everyday people’s lives – By centring on Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), Syril Karn (Kyle Soller), and other non-Jedi characters, the show explores how the Empire’s oppression shapes the lives of miners, merchants, and rebels alike.
2. Moral complexity – Figures like Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) and Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), who are both superb in this, face ethical compromises and hard choices, blurring the line between good/evil. I love this in modern TV, films & novels.
3. Stunning worldbuilding – Locations such as Ferrix and Coruscant are portrayed in rich detail, from street-level culture to high-level politics, making the galaxy feel more lived-in and layered than was ever possible with the originals. And let's not mention the final trilogy.
4. Explores the desire to escape – Whether it’s Cassian running from his past, Kino Loy (Andy Serkis) dreaming of freedom, or whole communities resisting the Empire’s grip, the show captures the personal and collective urge to break free. Think Claude & the Refugers.
5. Puts the war back in Star Wars – Through gritty prison breaks, insurgent raids, and the sacrifices of everyday people, Cassian’s journey reminds us that freedom in this world is hard-earned.

So for me, original stories aren't dead (just yet).

Nor are well-done story world reimaginings.

Do you have a franchise you keep coming back to?

Even if people say it's had its time.

More so, maybe.

Hang Comfy,

​J. R. Roberts

P.S. I've got the eBook promo going live from next weekend. I'll be in the Romanian mountains but will schedule-send instructions in case you want to win yourself a signed copy of The Monkey State​. More info about that in my last newsletter on marketing.