Andor Just Changed the Force in Star Wars Forever—Here’s How Force Healing Is Now Totally Different

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Warning! This article contains spoilers for Andor season 2, episode 7.

Thanks to an unanticipated narrative, the second season of Andor, set within the Star Wars universe, has just redefined one fundamental aspect of The Force, six years since its introduction in The Rise of Skywalker. The storyline of Andor season 2 might initially seem an unusual choice to explore The Force, given its emphasis on the foot soldiers, spies, and political figures spearheading the rebellion against the Empire. In fact, the roots of the Star Wars‘ Rebel Alliance were established without the assistance of the Jedi Order or The Force, making Andor an unlikely candidate to incorporate the mystical elements of a distant galaxy.

Regardless, an unexpected turn of events occurs in the seventh episode of season 2 for the series Andor. This episode falls within the third segment of the season’s timeline, taking place about two years before the occurrences depicted in both Rogue One and A New Hope. At the start of season 2, episode 7, the characters in Andor are seen leading a life of rebellion on Yavin IV as the alliance gradually develops into its future well-known form. However, the main character endures a blaster wound to his shoulder, causing a fundamental shift in a Force notion that was introduced six years ago.

The Rise Of Skywalker Introduced Force Healing As A New Power

Thanks To Daisy Ridley’s Rey

As a die-hard Star Wars fan, I find it intriguing to delve into the mystery of Force Healing, a power that made its canonical debut in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” back in 2019. Although it had been featured in several Legends stories prior, this film was where we first saw it on the big screen. In a pivotal scene from the movie, our protagonist Rey demonstrated this power by healing an injured creature called a vexis. She gently placed her hand above the wound and transferred her life force into the creature, mending its injuries and enabling us to move forward.

In the climactic scene of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Force Healing played a more significant role than ever before. Emperor Palpatine aimed to harness the power of the Force Dyad for self-healing, fixing his damaged clone form. But instead, Ben Solo employed Force Healing to transfer all his life force into the late Rey, bringing her back from the dead. As a result, this healing technique became a substantial and confirmed element in Star Wars lore – a notion that was previously suggested but not explicitly confirmed. Now, six years after its introduction, the concept of Force Healing has been expanded and modified.

Now We Know There Are Dedicated Force Healers

One Is Based On Yavin IV

This discussion leads us to the seventh episode of season 2 for the series “Andor,” which was recently made available on Disney+, six years following the release of “The Rise of Skywalker.” However, this installment takes place far before those events on the Star Wars timeline. In this particular episode, we find Cassian Andor being compelled to visit a healing station on Yavin IV due to his blaster wound. Initially, Cassian is hesitant about seeking help because he doesn’t believe in the Force. Remarkably, the Force Healer detects him from afar, approaches him, identifies his injury without being shown it, and believes that Cassian is a messenger who has rekindled her faith in the Force.

The scene significantly alters our understanding of Force Healing due to the disclosure that there are individuals who specialize in employing their powers exclusively for this purpose. Prior to this, it was just an extremely uncommon skill that certain Jedi could wield. In the second season of Andor, it’s hinted that these Force Healers might not have been mentored by the Jedi, but rather people with a strong connection to the cosmic energy flow who possess this unique ability.

In the past, it has been proposed that Force Healing is seldom seen among Jedi because it’s an ability tied to harmony in the Force. Theorists suggest that only those deeply committed to this balance, or young ones like Grogu who haven’t fully pledged their allegiance to the Jedi, can utilize Force Healing. This notion seems to be reinforced by the series Andor. Although the character who heals Cassian may have been a former Jedi, her enigmatic debut suggests that there might exist another category of Force users who employ their powers for healing purposes.

Did These Force Healers Exist In The Prequel Era?

This Raises Interesting Prequel Questions

The intriguing aspect of introducing a Force Healer in Andor is that it raises broader questions about the Star Wars universe. For example, it leads one to ponder if Anakin Skywalker’s descent into the dark side in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith could have been avoided if a Force Healer had been available to save Padmé during childbirth instead of him needing to resort to the dark side. This brings up the possibility that an apparent plot hole may exist within the Star Wars storyline.

It’s possible that Andor season 2 could have provided an explanation for this. Cassian suspects the Force Healer is a fraud, as indicated by his conversation with Bix, suggesting that many claim to have these abilities throughout the galaxy. During the time of the Jedi, who were more focused on the light side than maintaining balance, Force Healers might have had a negative reputation due to this very reason. This theory could account for why the introduction of a Force Healer in Andor season 2 isn’t a plot hole, but rather an intriguing method of evolving and redefining the Star Wars concept.

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2025-05-07 10:12