Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Warning: This article contains spoilers for the Star Wars franchise but most specifically, Andor Season 1, Andor Season 2, and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Introduction
What do you look for in the media you consume? Is it for casual enjoyment? Intellectual fulfillment? A distraction from reality? Or all of the above? For me, I find media most enriching when the stories we watch, read, and listen to reflect deeper truths about reality.
The world is at an interesting state in 2025. Fragile. Resilient. Divided. We’re in a time where a Super Bowl performance by Kendrick Lamar encapsulates present events and sentiments: “The revolution ’bout to be televised. You picked the right time, but the wrong guy”. When I think about revolutions, I think about what I’ve been taught in history classes: the Revolutionary War, the Industrial Revolution, and the French Revolution. It’s easier for me to think about revolutions that happened in our past. Not something that could be impending. Not something that I will live through myself and will one day see written out in a history book. What is easy for me is to open a book or hit play on my television and see these elements play out either on the screen or in the words on a page.
Art Imitates Life
As I grow older, I reflect on the meaning of lyrics that I casually sing and themes of book franchises whose deeper meanings passed right over my head when I was younger. This shift in how I analyze media has influenced my gaze towards these pieces of art and also how I look at the world around me.
As both a child and now an adult I loved the Jurassic Park franchise. The dinosaur chases are what drew me in as a child. What makes me stay increasingly engaged as an adult is the deeper philosophy around human behavior and its influences on nature. Hunger Games was hugely popular in the 2010s when I was in middle school. Everyone was reading the books as the movies were actively being released. The unique plot and love story between Katniss and Peeta pulled me in. The overarching theme of how an oppressive society uses power and deprivation to maintain control is what makes me want to reread those novels now at 24 years old. Peak entertainment for me is when media that can offer me multiple levels of enjoyment.
I’ve recently rekindled my interest in the Star Wars franchise after several years away from it. As a child, from ages 5 to around 12, I watched Episodes I–VI religiously. By the time the sequel trilogy began releasing during my high school years, my enthusiasm for Star Wars remained, but I gradually found myself drawn to other movies, shows, and books. Recently, I have not only rewatched Episodes I–VI and Rogue One but also watched the Clones Wars series and Andor for the very first time. Like Jurassic Park and Hunger Games, I experienced new layers of understanding and meaning far past the basic understanding that I had as a kid. It’s deeper than heroes fighting against evil in a galaxy far, far away. There is social commentary embedded into the very beginning ideations of the story. In a 2005 interview with the Boston Globe, George Lucas—the creator of Star Wars—stated, “I love history, so while the psychological basis of ‘Star Wars’ is mythological, the political and social bases are historical” (Klein, 2017).
Star Wars as a Case Study
Star Wars has always had political undertones that reflect real-life phenomena. Beneath the countless lightsaber duels, the struggle between Jedi and Sith, prophecies of the Chosen One, and a tragic love story, Episodes I-III shows a Galactic Republic slowly turned to an Galactic Empire. When discussing the third film of the prequel trilogy, Revenge of the Sith, Lucas described that the film “was really about the Vietnam War, and that was the period where Nixon was trying to run for a [second] term, which got [him] thinking historically about how do democracies get turned into dictatorships? Because the democracies aren’t overthrown; they’re given away”. Then the original trilogy (Episodes IV-VI) shows us the state of the galaxy roughly 19 years later where the Rebel Alliance is fighting against the tyrannical rule of the Imperial Empire. Two relatively recent pieces of Star Wars media that expertly explores themes of revolution in all its forms are Andor and Rogue One.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was released in 2016. It follows the story of rebels, Jyn Erso and Cassian Andor as they embark on a mission to obtain the Death Star plans. The ending of this film lines up with the beginning of Episode IV: A New Hope. The 2-season television show, Andor, follows thief-turned-rebel spy Cassian Andor during the five years leading up to the film Rogue One, it depicts his transformation from a cynical loner into a committed revolutionary fighting against the oppressive Galactic Empire. The series also shows the broader formation of the Rebel Alliance and the political and personal struggles involved in opposing the Empire’s regime. To further explore the multiple dimensions of revolutions depicted in Star Wars, three different topics will be explored: The narratives created in revolutions, the good and bad guys in a revolution, and lastly, the role of women in revolutions. The stories told in Andor, Rogue One, and the greater Star Wars franchise resonate with us not only because these issues exist in their galaxy far, far away but also because we experience many of the same themes, situations, and crises.
The Narratives Created in Revolutions
They say there’s three sides in every story: one person’s side, the other person’s side, and the truth. There is a strong connection between revolutions and propaganda. It’s a necessary evil used in many causes. It rallies support, legitimizes causes, and creates a common enemy. To quote another famous piece of popular culture, the Wizard of Oz from Wicked says, “The best way to bring folks together, is to give them a really good enemy”. This is a tactic that is used in real life as well. Many world leaders have used this approach to either unify their countries, further their agendas, or sow division.
Common Enemies as Rhetoric
World leaders, both past and present, such as Adolf Hitler, Winston Churchill, Joseph Stalin, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Donald Trump, and more have used rhetoric that spoke of enemies to their followers. During the 2024 Presidential Election campaign, Donald Trump made the following remarks at a Fox News town hall: “We have two enemies. We have the outside enemy, and then we have the enemy from within. And the enemy from within, in my opinion, is more dangerous than China, Russia, and all those countries, because if you have a smart president, he can handle them” (Johnson, 2024). Rhetoric like this emboldens potentially violent and fatal actions because it appeals to the pathos of many people. When there are emotions stirred such as fear, anger, and doubt, it causes people to mobilize. This rhetoric also strengthens the ethos of the leader. They establish themselves as protectors and trusted individuals who can save people from the “enemies”. Trump even uses the phrase “smart president” to elevate his standing as someone who could handle the enemies he speaks of.
The Ghorman Massacre
In season 2 of Andor, there is a prominent storyline dealing with the star system, Ghorman. Ghorman is a planet known for producing high-quality silk and being a cornerstone for the fashion industry in the galaxy. When the Empire rose to power it quickly asserted its presence on the planet. By the events of season 2, tensions between the Ghor people and Imperials rise over the course of the season and a massacre ensues where countless Ghor people are slaughtered while peacefully protesting. It’s an alarmingly cruel and saddening episode as we see characters we’ve grown familiar with die undeservingly after fighting for their home.
As the season progresses, the Empire frequently relies on the media to shape the galaxy’s perception of the situation on Ghorman. Lio Partagaz, a high-ranking member of the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) and supervisor of most field operations on Ghorman, underscores this strategy when he asserts, “The only story that matters is Ghorman aggression” (Season 2, Episode 8). By deliberately framing Ghorman as the enemy, the Empire seeks to justify its actions and silence dissent. This propaganda-driven approach, with state-controlled news reporting as nearly the only available source, creates a damning, singular narrative of the Ghor people causing insurrection for citizens to absorb.
The dangers of this manipulation are articulated in a riveting Senate speech by Mon Mothma, who warns, “Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous. The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil. When truth leaves us, when we let it slip away, when it is ripped from our hands, we become vulnerable to the appetite of whatever monster screams the loudest” (Season 2, Episode 9). Her words highlight the dire consequences of the Empire’s tactics, emphasizing that the very foundation of truth is at stake.
With Mon Mothma’s words ricocheting in the depths of my mind, I reflect on the current status of the United States of America. What truths have we lost or buried in this new age of division and hatred? Have we lost the very virtues that we once claimed so proudly about our nation? As George Lucas questioned when telling the stories of the prequels, are we actively giving away our democracy? There’s so much noise nowadays. News of executive orders, inflammatory tweets for US leaders, new restrictive laws appearing in different states, the country being added to a Global Human Rights watchlist for a decline in civic freedoms, and far much more are additions added to our reality on a daily basis. “So much going on, so much to say, and all of it happening so quickly. The pace of repression outstrips our ability to understand it” (Season 1, Episode 5).
Nemik’s Manifesto
A powerful motif that appears throughout the Andor series is Nemik’s manifesto. The quote above was spoken by Nemik to Cassain Andor and serves as a turning point in Cassain’s development and journey through the show. Their meeting holds a lot of significance. At the time of meeting, Cassain was on his first rebel mission but was still not aligned with the rebel cause, he was more motivated by financial and survival needs. Nemik is spirited, idealistic, and a true believer in the rebel cause. This contrast creates an interesting dynamic between the two. Cassain’s role within the series and in Rogue One is further defined and sharpened due to his meeting Nemik. While Nemik dies early in the first season, his manifesto is given to Cassain. And while the manifesto is a physical object that is handed over, metaphorically it is a torch that Cassain carries forward with him. He is not just a fighter; he’s positioned as a vehicle for transmitting revolutionary ideals. As the story progresses, Cassian emerges as a messenger and catalyst, someone who amplifies the hopes and convictions of others, even as he struggles with his own internal conflict. Read Nemik’s full manifesto below:
“There will be times when the struggle seems impossible. I know this already. Alone, unsure, dwarfed by the scale of the enemy.
Remember this, Freedom is a pure idea. It occurs spontaneously and without instruction. Random acts of insurrection are occurring constantly throughout the galaxy. There are whole armies, battalions that have no idea that they’ve already enlisted in the cause.
Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.
And remember this: the Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural. Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear.
Remember that. And know this, the day will come when all these skirmishes and battles, these moments of defiance will have flooded the banks of the Empires’s authority and then there will be one too many. One single thing will break the siege.
Remember this: Try.”
The Good and Bad Guys of Revolutions
Andor and Rogue One do an amazing job of showing the different figures aligned with rebel activity. Specifically at the beginning of the Andor series, there is no centralized Rebel Alliance yet like we see in Rogue One and the original Star Wars trilogy. In these beginning years of the rebellion, we can see how different groups and figures went about revolutions. Some groups could work in tandem with one another and others couldn’t agree with the methods used. But one thing that Andor as a series makes clear is that there is a purpose for all in the revolution.
Luthen Rael and Saw Gerrera
Characters of the revolution such as Saw Gerrera and Luthen Rael are both favorable characters in the eyes of the Star Wars fandom. They are favorites. But what makes them and every other character so interesting is that they’re all flawed. Although they fight alongside the rebellion and are protagonists, other rebel groups do not view them favorably. They are extremists, cold, and morally-ambiguous. However, without them, the Rebel Alliance wouldn’t have gained its traction or ultimately defeated the Empire in Return of the Jedi (Episode VI).
So when you ask the question who is good versus who is bad in a revolution, the answer can be complicated. Of course, the shared enemy is the Empire but that doesn’t mean that your own house is free of snakes. Saw and Luthen are truly standouts when it comes to rebel leaders. They fight for the future with the certainty that they won’t be around to enjoy it themselves. The word that comes to mind with both of these characters is sacrifice. They have fully given their lives, loyalty, and allegiance to the rebellion. There is no greater priority for them than the rebellion. During season 2, Saw Gerrera says the following to the character Wilmon Paak: “You think I’m crazy? Yes, I am. Revolution is not for the sane. Look at us. Unloved. Hunted. Cannon Fodder. We’ll all be dead before the Republic is back and yet… here we are” (Season 2, Episode 5).
Luthen’s perspective on sacrifice is central to the conflicts he faces with other key characters like Cassian Andor, Vel Sartha, and Mon Mothma. When questioned about what he has sacrificed for the rebellion, Luthen delivers a powerful reflection: “I yearned to be a savior against injustice without contemplating the cost, and by the time I looked down, there was no longer any ground beneath my feet. What is my sacrifice? I’m condemned to use the tools of my enemy to defeat them. I burn my decency for someone else’s future. I burn my life to make a sunrise that I know I’ll never see. And the ego that started this fight will never have a mirror or an audience or the light of gratitude. So what do I sacrifice? Everything!” (Season 1, Episode 10). His willingness to sacrifice goes beyond love, friendship, and moral decency.
Mon Mothma could never forgive Luthen for orchestrating the death of her childhood friend Tay Kolma, even though it was to protect her from blackmail threatening to expose her rebel activities. Vel refuses to work with Luthen again due to his readiness to sacrifice rebel operatives, especially after the death of her lover, Cinta. Cassian Andor, while understanding Luthen’s ultimate goal to dismantle the Empire, struggles to accept the cost of Luthen’s ruthless decisions on individual fighters. Ultimately, Luthen prioritizes the rebellion’s overall mission, even if it means sacrificing people and resorting to morally ambiguous tactics.
The Rebel Alliance on Yavin largely looked down on Luthen, but in reality, without the efforts of Luthen and his assistant Kleya in establishing their master network of communications that mobilized rebels across the galaxy, the knowledge of the Death Star would never have been revealed, or would have been revealed too late for the rebels to combat it.
Neutrality as a Theme
There is a way that Andor uses its characters and its storytelling to warn about the dangers of neutrality. You have major story arcs that occur at the end of both seasons, the Ferrix Riots and the Ghorman Massacre. Both events have corresponding speeches that occur during or after which touch on how neutrality has led to their current predicaments. Maarva, Cassian Andor’s mother, pre-records a speech to be played at her funeral which occurs at the end of season 1. In the speech she states, “There is a wound that won’t heal at the center of the galaxy. There is a darkness reaching like rust into everything around us. We let it grow, and now it’s here. It’s here and it’s not visiting anymore. It wants to stay. The Empire is a disease that thrives in darkness, it is never more alive than when we sleep” (Season 1, episode 12). Similarly, in Mon Mothma’s senate speech when she talks about the monster “who will come for us all soon enough”, she makes the point to include the line: “The monster we’ve helped create” which implies the fact that the senate and galaxy have a role and responsibility in allowing the Empire to have the overreach that it achieved by that point.
When discussing the different “sides” in a revolution, there is often a third party who stays neutral and does not take an active role supporting either side of the conflict. Neutrality is a complex topic as not taking a side can often come off as implicitly siding with one.
Thinking about both Andor and Rogue One, how does the story encourage us to feel about people who stay neutral? The majority of characters that are followed in the Star War franchise are not ‘average joes’ of the galaxy. They are either force sensitive or a significant politician, or a rebel pilot, or someone else with daring character traits that average people don’t have. So when we are shown glimpses of the average citizen, especially ones who remain neutral, it is interesting to see what commentary the story gives.
Of course, not everyone is going to be Cassian Andor or Kleya Marki but there are smaller acts of revolution as well that are just as important to the cause. Remember Nemik’s manifesto, “The frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward”. As an example, the hotel receptionist in Ghorman helps Cassian keep his cover and is the person who first tells him the infamous line that both he and Jyn say in Rogue One, “Rebellions are built on hope”. Another example is the family on the planet system Mina-Rau who helped Cassian, Brasso, Wilmon, and Bix keep tabs on Imperial movement because the group was hiding on the system without proper documentation. There’s no one way to rebel and many of these secondary characters show that.
The transformation from neutrality to taking an active stand is a journey that we see reflected in both Cassian and Jyn Erso. Jyn goes through a transformation into a revolutionary in Rogue One that is similar to the one that Cassian has in Andor. In an exchange with Saw Gerrera, Jyn highlights her stance of neutrality.
Jyn Erso: “The Alliance … the rebels, whatever it is you’re calling yourself these days… all it’s ever brought me is pain.”
Saw Gerrera: “You can stand to see the Imperial flag reign across the galaxy?”
Jyn Erso: It’s not a problem if you don’t look up” (Rogue One).
Much like Cassian, she is someone who while disliking the Empire, is mostly focused on survival and personal interest. Through discovering Project Stardust (the Death Star) and her father’s involvement, Jyn is motivated and finds purpose to help the Rebel Alliance and finish the work that her father started. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that you have both these characters go through these developments.
Andor powerfully challenges the idea of neutrality and urges viewers to question the comfort of looking away instead of choosing a side. Luthen Rael’s words -“Most people look away, we can’t be like that. Life shows us what we stand to lose”—highlight the moral danger of indifference (Season 2, Episode 10). Andor suggests that disengagement only reinforces the status quo and, by turning away, we risk losing not just freedoms, but our very sense of justice and purpose. Vel Sartha’s assertion, “We’ve chosen a side. We’re fighting against the dark. We’re making something of our lives,” voices another striking argument (Season 1, Episode 9). Vel and Mon are wealthy cousins that intermingle with the upper class of Coruscant, the capital of the Empire. They have privilege but both of them use their privilege to aid the rebellion. Together, these quotes remind us that while neutrality may seem safe, true meaning and change are found in facing adversity and committing ourselves to what’s right, even when the cost is high.
Conclusion
As a fan of Star Wars since childhood, I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the Star Wars media that I have watched and read. They will always have a special place in my heart (especially Episodes I-VI). When it comes to Andor in particular, there is just something that is so glaringly honest, striking, masterful, and iconic about the story. It brings a fresh perspective to the universe that I already loved so much. It was amazing to watch a story that still felt rooted in what Star Wars is about but didn’t have any of the typical elements like the force and jedi and lightsabers.
For those of you readers who know Andor and Rogue One, you’ll know that I barely scratched the surface on characters, story arcs, and social commentary that is present in both stories. Even within the theme of revolution, there are multiple other examples I could have pulled from the seasons or film. Perhaps in the future, I’ll return to both media and do further commentary on the vast topics of discussion there is to uncover.
Sources
https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/george-lucas-star-wars-facts
https://www.history.com/articles/the-real-history-that-inspired-star-wars
https://deadline.com/2024/10/trump-fox-news-town-hall-enemy-from-within-1236117589
https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/Main_Page
Andor, Season 1 (Disney+)
Andor, Season 2 (Disney+)
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (Disney+)
Author
