The Real-World Politics Behind 'Andor': What Season 2 Could Tackle Next

Star Wars

May 2

Star Wars: Andor takes a step back from the grand destinies of the Jedi and focuses more on the grassroots of the rebellion. However, even honest revolutionaries aren't immune from political pitfalls. The show does an excellent job of tackling real-world politics and their effects on various communities.

One of the first things viewers will notice about the beginning of Andor Season 2 is the fracture rebellion. Cassian Andor is taken hostage by another group of rebels and there is no trust between them. With the Empire casting a shadow over every action, there is little room for error, and trusting even a fellow rebel can be the difference between life and death.

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The rebellion survives on secrecy. Unfortunately, this leads to a collapse in trust and communication. In evading the Empire, some rebels may find themselves stamped out by those on their own side. It will be some time before an actual Rebel Alliance emerges.

Another real-world parallel that ties into this is the undocumented status of laborers on Mina-Rau. Imperial Officers come to ostensibly count grains, but Bix and others on the planet are highly suspicious of any Imperial presence. Bix suggests running but her idea is quickly shot down when others who tried were caught by the Empire. The Empire allows the undocumented to work because they need the grains, but that doesn’t come with any mutual understanding. One officer even attempts to make a pass at Bix with his flirtations getting more and more aggressive. He returns when Bix is alone and declares, “I know you’re illegal.” He would use Bix’s earlier refusal and undocumented status as justification for assault. Bix escapes the planet with Cassian after knocking the officer out.

In modern-day America, many undocumented workers work on farms for little pay. Since their status makes them vulnerable, they are willing to put up with abuse to avoid deportation. Bix finds herself with the same vulnerabilities but when the most intimate boundary is crossed, she chooses self-respect over safety and flees.

Andor isn’t just about the rebels. The show also gives viewers glimpses into the inner workings of the Empire. One of the earliest scenes in season two shows how the Empire is using propaganda to cast the innocent Ghorman planet as villains. This propaganda is all too familiar in the real world and is in full force during elections. Whether it’s propaganda in favor of or opposing a particular candidate, and no matter how much truth it contains, these pieces are designed to manipulate public opinion in a certain direction. The Empire seeks some of Ghorman’s natural resources but will not survive the fallout unless the public comes to hate them or at the very least view them with suspicion. The Empire even calls it a weaponized opinion.

This deceitful tactic is amplified by Deedra Meero who schemes to have the anti-imperialist Ghormans rebel and win. This will give them a sense of hope and boldness against the Empire, which, should, in turn, lead to an apparently justified response from the Empire. This plan will come to fruition in Rogue One when the Empire’s Ghorman massacre has the unintended effect of allying various rebel factions into one united front.

Even insiders of the Empire aren’t immune from their manipulation techniques. Deedra makes a deal with Syril Karn’s mother and then manipulates Syril into thinking he’s running Ghorman. Syril accepts an invitation to a meeting of the Ghorman front and proceeds to leak information to them according to the Empire’s plan. In another instance, the Empire discovers a bug in Syril’s office and treats everyone in the office as the criminals who planted it there. Then they up the security and Syril’s anger, perhaps, on purpose. Many corporate workers can relate to their struggles, being used as scapegoats or manipulated to stay through either promises of promotion or threats of being fired.

The season will likely continue these themes and may even go into how far the Empire can push their position of power before the Rebels grow bolder out of sheer desperation. It may even see the Empire creating a Rebel out of one of their own with their treatment of Syril. Public opinion is very fickle and if the Empire seeks to make a public enemy out of Ghorman, they may find the public resistance against them growing even stronger.

As Andor gives viewers a glimpse into the nitty gritty details of ordinary citizens living under Imperial Rule, it dives into some of the darkest story arcs. This leads audiences to reflect on their own experiences. Andor is at heart a political thriller, and the audiences, at least those who have seen Rogue One, know the Rebels initially lose. It isn’t until Return of the Jedi, that the Rebels finally defeat the Galactic Empire. But this final ending that the series is working toward, along with the darker yet relatable story arcs tackled by Andor might give viewers hope for their own future.

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