Warning! This article contains spoilers for Andor season 2, episodes 1-3.
While surviving Jedi and Force-sensitives fought on the side of the Rebellion,Andorproves that the Jedi and the Rebels aren’t truly comparable.Andoris one of the few shows that doesn’t include the Jedi (or the Sith) as an integral part of its storytelling.Andor, even more so thanStar Wars Rebels, is the true story ofhow the Rebel Alliance came to be, and the sacrifices, hardships, and ethical dilemmas the Rebellion’s leadership overcame in the face of impossible odds.
When the Death Star was destroyed, the Rebellion was a scrappy yet well-organized band of good people trying to do the right thing against an evil, genocidal Empire. ThoughGeorge Lucas’ original storywas bursting with political undertones – theGalactic Civil Warwas inspired by the Vietnam War, with theRebels representing the Viet Cong– the true cost of the Rebellion was never fully explored. There was very little room for nuance.Now, we haveAndor, an honest, brutal exploration of what it means to fight against an oppressive regime.
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Andor Celebrates The Shades Of Gray In The Rebel Alliance
BeforeAndorcame along, we knewthe Rebels made sacrifices for the greater good. This point was reiterated in Lucas’ originalStar Warstrilogy,Star Wars Rebels, andRogue One: A Star Wars Story. Lives were lost, happy futures were obliterated, but it was all to serve a greater purpose.Andor, however, doesn’t just acknowledge the inevitable loss of life in war, but also recognizes, even honors, the ethical trauma and personal darkness that not only allowed the Rebellion to exist but thrive.
Andor doesn’t just acknowledge the inevitable loss of life in war, but also recognizes, even honors, the ethical trauma and personal darkness that not only allowed the Rebellion to exist but thrive.
Andorseason 1, and even more so season 2, explores the dubious, destructive personal choices those involved in the Rebellion are forced to make to keep the dream of a free galaxy alive. Cassian Andor pits fellow yet untrained Rebels against one another to ensure the success of his mission. Mon Mothma’s pre-teen daughter is coerced into an arranged marriage so that the Rebellion can receive the necessary funds. Mon ignores the fact that her childhood friend is about to be assassinated by her co-conspirator’s operatives because she knows the Rebellion needs to remain hidden in the shadows.
Andorseason 2acknowledges and meticulously explores the characters’ choices and understands they do not make Cassian, Mon, or Luthen Rael as evil as the Empire; they’re more morally complex.They operate somewhere between the light and the dark, even thoughStar Warshas traditionally embraced a clear, hard line between good and evil. Darkness can become light when redeemed. It’s a prevalent theme in the franchise’s storytelling, butAndor’s characters don’t need redemption.
Andor’s leading players are trapped in that gray area by their mission. They do not have the luxury of being morally righteous. They do not have mystical powers to save them. This is a far cry from how the Jedi are depicted inStar Wars, who, while fighting on the Republic’s side in the Clone Wars and on the Rebellion’s side in the Galactic Civil War, only truly serve one purpose.
Why Jedi Are Never Allowed To Show Shades Of Gray
Jedi, by their very nature, cannot be morally gray. Thoughthe concept of Gray Jedihas been widely circulated because of its inclusion in the defunctStar WarsLegends continuity – Gray Jedi were said to have straddled the line between the light side and the dark, as well as distancing themselves from the Jedi High Council and the Order at large – the Force is a binary concept. There is only light and the dark. Force-sensitives choose how to use either side.
The Jedi consciously choose, every day, to fight the temptation of the dark side and dedicate themselves to the light.
The Jedi consciously choose, every day, to fight the temptation of the dark side and dedicate themselves to the light. Giving in to the dark side, even a little, means that, though they might call themselves Jedi, they cannot actively be Jedi unless they later fully renounce the dark side and once again embrace the light. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other Force-sensitives whose allegiance to the Force can be morally ambiguous, but they cannot be true Jedi.
Being a Jedi is about more than being able to use the Force. It’s an ideology, a way of life, a religion.That isn’t to say the Jedi aren’t without flaws; we know they are flawed, but their issues are a by-product of their defining moral stance, not because they actively make decisions to sacrifice one life for another. Serving the light side of the Force is accepting the responsibility to protect all life.
That’s why Luke Skywalker didn’t kill Darth Vader or Ben Solo. It’s also why Palpatine and Dooku created a droid army during the Clone Wars – it lured the Jedi into a false sense of security. Jedi have killed, but they only really resort to that as a measure of self-defense or desperation. AsAndorproves, the Rebellion’s most effective agents aren’t constricted by those same moral dilemmas; they make decisions based on the information in front of them, rather than an almost impossible standard of what it means to be good.
New episodes ofAndorseason 2 release weekly on Tuesdays at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST on Disney+.
Andor
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Andor is a Star Wars prequel series set before the events of Rogue One, following Cassian Andor as he navigates a world of danger and deception. The series delves into his transformation into a pivotal figure in the struggle against the Galactic Empire.
