Andor Ditches Jedi and Proves Star Wars Can Thrive Without Them

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The charm of the Star Wars universe lies heavily in the mystique of the Jedi Order, which is why each film in the Skywalker saga showcases at least one hero wielding a lightsaber battling an evil adversary. Nevertheless, there are Star Wars productions that manage to be engaging without relying on Jedi characters. The Mandalorian serves as a compelling demonstration of this, despite Ahsoka Tano and Luke Skywalker’s cameos adding to its enjoyment. Regrettably, Star Wars tends to shy away from fully detaching itself from the Jedi Order, even when Star Wars: Andor successfully showcases the vast array of stories within a galaxy far, far away.

In the timeline of the series Andor, not all Jedi manage to survive Order 66, with Emperor Palpatine almost eradicating them. As Cassian Andor and Luthen Rael work towards establishing the Rebellion, there are few Force-users available in times of crisis. However, Andor is self-sufficient and doesn’t require such assistance, even if it were available.

Andor Actively Avoids Referencing Jedi – And It’s Better for It

Similar to how Rogue One: A Star Wars Story reveals the unseen efforts leading to significant change, Andor illuminates the covert actions required for change within the oppressive Empire. Everyone must tread carefully to avoid raising the Imperials’ suspicions about the resistance brewing beneath them. Luthen excels in this secretive work, gathering influential individuals like Mon Mothma to his cause. In the first two seasons of Andor, her role aligns with her prominence within the Rebellion in the original trilogy. However, her reliance on a Jedi in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi suggests she’s navigating an even more challenging game with limited resources, as if she’s bound by unseen constraints.

What sets Andor apart is its historical accuracy. It’s easy to overlook, but at the end of the prequels, when the Jedi Order collapses and faith in peacekeepers wanes, this reality isn’t lost on influential figures like Mon Mothma or Bail Organa, who knows Obi-Wan Kenobi’s whereabouts. Yet, despite their proximity, they never consider contacting him. Star Wars Rebels suggests that Luthen may be unaware of it, but he is indeed laying the groundwork for the Rebellion with two Jedi, Kanan Jarrus and Ezra Bridger. However, Andor chooses to concentrate on different narratives, and other parts of the franchise could learn from this approach taken by the Disney+ series.

Star Wars Can Survive Without the Jedi

In the Star Wars universe as it stands currently, there’s limited space for Force users who embody justice, with only a few movies like those focusing on the Jedi Order’s history and future, such as Ahsoka, taking center stage. Upcoming projects from Lucasfilm include The Mandalorian & Grogu, which might include brief appearances of Jedi but won’t revolve around them, and Star Wars: Starfighter, a film helmed by Shawn Levy, director of Deadpool & Wolverine. This movie is set after Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and while it may not maintain the same somber tone as Andor, it could benefit from its strong character development.

In the series Andor, none of the characters are flat or simple; instead, each has significant imperfections and grapples with complex moral dilemmas due to these flaws. Characters in the Skywalker Saga, particularly several Jedi from the prequels, lack depth initially, making them unremarkable. Additional content like Star Wars: The Clone Wars helps flesh them out and make them intriguing. If Lucasfilm takes a more forward-thinking approach instead of reacting to situations, they can guarantee that their future projects will captivate audiences with compelling characters, and they’ll owe it all to Andor.

Andor Season 2 is streaming now on Disney+.

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2025-05-11 20:08