Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Andor season 2, episodes 1-3.The premiere ofAndorseason 2 has quickly proven that it’s unlike anythingStar Warshas ever done before, but it’s true to a vision thatGeorge Lucasundoubtedly desired to execute. Political commentary inAndoris nothing new; season 1 is deeply rich with everything from a flawed incarceration system to a fascist regime’s most subtle yet sinister machinations. In the first three episodes of season 2, it takes an even darker, yet necessary, turn.
It deepens this commentary by focusing on the everyday people of the galaxy, taking a massive step away from the Jedi, the Sith, and the like. While this isn’t the first timeStar Warshas taken a step away from all of this, as seen inThe Mandalorianseason 1 - excludingGrogu’s Force powers- this is certainly a different approach than any otherStar Warsmovie or TV showhas ever taken. Its messagingisits story, rather than being a small part of it.
While this is certainly different from otherStar Warsprojects,it’s not a complete breakaway from what the franchise is at its core. In fact, it delivers very well on Lucas' vision for the franchise. Many see Lucas’Star Warsas family-friendly heroic storytelling that ultimately wins happy endings, as Lucas himself has insisted that he intended for his prequel trilogy particularly to cater to a younger audience, but centrally, the franchise has always fit within thisAndornarrative.
Andor Understands That Star Wars Has Always Been Political
The TV Show Just Takes Things Further Than Mere Messaging
Andorfeels different from otherStar Warsprojects because it truly understands that the franchise has been political from the beginning.Lucas wasn’t shy in hiding the fact that both the original and prequel trilogies were based on real-world conflicts: the wars in Vietnam and Iraq, respectively. In fact, one of Lucas' main goals with the prequel trilogy was to dig into the politics of the greater galaxy, something he saw as a necessity despite criticism.
In the end, he was right, and the critical success ofAndorproves that. Of course,Andorhas taken what Lucas first did and has truly run with it, dedicating itself completely to the political storytelling that has always been woven into the fabric ofStar Wars.“Wars” is literally in the franchise’s name; there’s no way to avoid this strong political focus in a story that details the origin of theRebel Alliance, especially in such a microscopic view of it.
If Lucas wasn’t shy about indulging in politics for his prequel trilogy, then there’s no reason whyAndorshould have had to fear the same thing, and thankfully, they didn’t. The way in whichAndorseason 2 has already started to dig in even more proves that this was the right decision.It may be a difficult watch at times, but it’s also a necessary one, and that’s becauseAndorisn’t just pulling from our contemporary world.
Andor Isn’t Just Contemporary… It’s A Meditation On History
There Are Specific Historical References In Season 2
There are several moments in theAndorseason 2 premiere that are direct references to moments in history, particularly those where fascist regimes, or simply more powerful ones, were closing their fists around certain groups, countries, and the like. In episode 3,Dedra Meero speaks of her difficult childhood in the “kinder block,” with “kinder” being an evident callback to Nazi Germanyduring World War II.
Even the scene in which Bix Caleen fights off a rape attempt by an Imperial officer seems to be reminiscent of Vietnam, acting asa horrifying example of how power is often abused under the threatening fist of fascism.Andorseason 2 is laying it all out for their viewers and isn’t holding back in a true, real-life glimpse at what fascism actually looks like, especially in its ugliest, most revolting moments.
Andor season 2 is laying it all out for their viewers and isn’t holding back in a true, real-life glimpse at what fascism actually looks like, especially in its ugliest, most revolting moments.
The juxtaposition of the aforementioned moments of Dedra and Bix proves this point even further. While an ISB officer, working on behalf of the fascist regime, sees the first dinner with her partner’s mother as a difficult endeavor, an innocent woman, who has already been unjustly imprisoned and tortured by the same regime, is fighting for her life not to be raped by an Imperial officer.There is a stark disconnect between the two that is intentionally jarring, and has been seen throughout real-world history.
Andor Strips Away All The Star Wars To Get To The Core Of Lucas
This Is What Star WARS Is All About
Truly, the main difference - and perhaps the only true difference - betweenAndorand Lucas’Star Warsis thatthe former focuses more on the “wars” than on the “stars.“It makes theStar Warsgalaxy feel more grounded, much more like our real world, in an effort to truly get its audience to understand just how unjust theGalactic Empireand their actions truly were over the years - and why rebellion was not a choice, but a necessity.
There are signs of this hidden underneath the more sci-fi/fantastical elements Lucas included that makeStar Warsexactly what it’s known for. The prequel trilogy, and even the animatedStar Wars: The Clone Warsseries, are certainly the best examples of this.Lucas showed firsthand how a fascist regime could rise not only without question, but also with enthusiastic support, even if he hid it behind the Jedi, clone troopers, and plenty of battle droids.
Andorhas simply made the choice to step out boldly into a form that its viewers are more familiar with, because it’s similar to their own day-to-day lives. For a show that’s truly digging into the horrors of fascism experienced by everyday individuals, that’s an absolute necessity.It’s easy to condemn fascism when thinking on a larger scale; it becomes more uncomfortable to imagine ourselves in the shoes of characters like Bix, who could quickly become the subject of unjust abuse at a moment’s notice.
Rebellion was not a choice, but a necessity.
Only three episodes in,Andorseason 2 is certainly taking things up a notch in a way that Lucas surely would admire. It may not contain as many of the elements that makeStar Warswhat it is, but with a story like this, that’s okay. If anything, it’s the right choice.
Andor, in a way, acts very much like a wake-up call to the signs of fascism on the rise, urging its audience to know when it’s time to take action.Andortakes a vastly different approach to this than any other franchise project has thus far, but it’s still at the heart of what Lucas always set out to do withStar Wars.
Andorseason 2 releases new episodes Tuesdays at 9 PM ET on Disney+.
Andorseason 2, episodes 1-3
Andorseason 2, episodes 4-6
Andorseason 2, episodes 7-9
Andorseason 2, episodes 10-12
