Star Wars’ Andor Shatters Empire Strikes Back’s Rebel Rules 45 Years Later—You Won’t Believe How!

by

Heed this notice: The article ahead may reveal spoilers from episodes 4-6 of Andor season 2. Over four and a half decades ago, The Empire Strikes Back‘s director, Irvin Kershner, underscored one of the core principles that fueled Star Wars’ triumph – a principle that Andor has now challenged. Traditionally, Star Wars has revolved around the constant struggle between good and wickedness, light and darkness. The lines were clearly drawn: the Rebellion battled the Empire; the Sith were the long-standing, malevolent adversaries of the Jedi. As viewers, it was instinctive to support the side of good. Why would we ever find ourselves sympathizing with the villains?

One reason Star Wars achieved such great success is that it conveyed a straightforward yet impactful message that surpassed cultural boundaries. While it had political undertones, as resisting an oppressive regime is inherently political, the politics were simple and relatable due to George Lucas initially aiming at 12-year-old children as his target audience. As the franchise grew, its storytelling became more intricate, and now Andor offers the most detailed and layered portrayal of good versus evil that Star Wars has ever presented.

The Empire Strikes Back’s Rebels Have A Clear Sense Of Right & Wrong

Essentially, the core theme of “The Empire Strikes Back” echoed that of the initial 1977 “Star Wars” film, formerly known as “A New Hope”. The Rebels, our valiant heroes, were dedicated to securing a safer galaxy for everyone. They inflicted a significant damage on the Empire by demolishing the Death Star, but it was clear there was still much more to accomplish. Countless courageous individuals were ready to take up the challenge, fully aware of the perils that lay ahead.

In the initial release of “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back”, director Irvin Kershner had a conversation with Alan Arnold for the book “Once Upon a Galaxy: A Journal of the Making of The Empire Strikes Back“. As Kershner stated during this discussion, one reason why Star Wars resonated so strongly with such a wide audience is that it has a “well-defined structure”. This means that certain things are right or wrong, good or bad, effective or ineffective, and so on.

From the beginning, the portrayal of the Rebel Alliance significantly shaped this contrast. It conveyed a strong sense of morality, demonstrating that there are upright individuals who stand firm on their principles and values, refusing to yield them even in pursuit of their objectives. Such an idealistic world is one we all strive for. Its relevance remains unchanged, resonating just as powerfully today as it did during the late 70s and early 80s.

In the original Star Wars saga, it was emphasized by Kershner that the Rebel forces fight not out of hatred, but because they love. This distinction separates them from the Empire. However, as depicted in the series ‘Andor’, love alone may not be sufficient. The Rebellion had to begin covertly, operating in the shadows to spark its revolution.

Andor’s Rebels Don’t Know Where To Draw The Line

The rebellion shown in the original Star Wars films didn’t just pop up suddenly. It required courage, resilience, strong emotions like determination, grit, fear, anger, and sadness, and a readiness to challenge the rules to become something capable of challenging an oppressive force like the Empire. Essentially, the story of the Rebellion is a tale of revolution, and ‘Andor’ is the first Star Wars series that delves into the sacrifices needed to bring down a dictatorship.

Absolutely, George Lucas’ original Rebel group made sacrifices as well, with rebel pilots and soldiers giving up their lives for the cause. However, what stands out in Andor is a different kind of sacrifice: the early rebels had to give up their identity, morals, personal relationships, and even their sanity, all for the hope of a brighter future. In contrast, during Leia’s and Mon Mothma’s era, the Rebels could rest assured they were fighting for justice. But can we truly say that those in Andor can feel the same sense of moral certainty?

Initially, the Rebels found themselves in a precarious situation due to the absence of clear boundaries; they hadn’t been established yet. Each small victory was painstakingly earned amid constant peril. Suspicion loomed everywhere, making trust a scarce commodity. Amid such treacherous circumstances, it became challenging for someone to maintain hope and kindness, with the ever-present fear of deception lurking nearby. In this preliminary phase of conflict, which hadn’t officially commenced, everything required concealment. Tough decisions needed to be made, a predicament that was consistently portrayed throughout Andor season 2’s latter set of episodes.

In seasons 2, episodes 4-6 of “Andor”, Cassian Andor and Luthen Rael find themselves in disagreement concerning Ghorman. Savvy “Star Wars” enthusiasts are aware that a horrific massacre is about to take place on Ghorman, an event so heinous it prompts Mon Mothma to denounce Emperor Palpatine publicly and rally various Rebel groups into what will eventually be known as the Alliance. This means the viewers have more information than Luthen and Cassian, making Luthen’s choice all the more heart-wrenching.

Cassian travels to Ghorman, finds out that the locals wish to resist the Empire, and argues that aiding their struggle isn’t justified, as he predicts the Empire will respond harshly. Luthen remains unfazed. To him, every resistance against the Empire is a victory, regardless of whether it intensifies the conflict on what was once a tranquil planet. When does what benefits the Rebellion become detrimental for others? When does this difference in outcomes matter?

Both Versions Of The Rebellion Work

The two depictions of the Rebellion in Andor and the original Star Wars trilogy may differ significantly, but neither version can be discounted. In essence, Leia’s Rebels would not have come to fruition without Luthen’s efforts. The title change for the first Star Wars film from The Star Wars to A New Hope encapsulates this idea perfectly. The introduction of hope transformed the Rebel Alliance. They found strength in hope as they united, and their fortunes shifted when courageous rebels like Cassian Andor stole the Death Star plans, offering a glimmer of optimism that ultimately led to victory.

A revolution can’t happen without making sacrifices, and that’s something we can all agree on. The rebellion depicted in Andor may be more extreme and cunning than what we’re accustomed to from Star Wars, but it’s evident that the foundation for Princess Leia, Mon Mothma, and Bail Organa’s future Rebel Alliance is being laid, nurtured by hope.

New episodes of Andor premiere Tuesdays exclusively on Disney+.

Release Date Episode Drop
April 29, 2025 Andor season 2, episodes 4-6
May 6, 2025 Andor season 2, episodes 7-9
May 13, 2025 Andor season 2, episodes 10-12

Read More

2025-05-01 15:09