Andor Season 2 Revives Rogue One’s Flawed Ending

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This article contains spoilers for Andor Season 2 episodes 10 through 12.

Disney+ has now unveiled the last installments of Andor, wrapping up the highly praised Star Wars series and looping the narrative back to the occurrences in Rogue One and, consequently, the 1977 original film. For some Star Wars enthusiasts, Rogue One holds a unique place, as while many admirers consider it one of the franchise’s finest, others are somewhat dismissive of it. Although opinions may vary, most can agree that the movie’s concluding hour, featuring the team reaching Scariff to snatch the Death Star plans, is exceptional. However, some argue that the film’s early segments, where flaws emerge and eventually impact the film’s ending, are less successful. The emotional resonance of the movie’s finale — a self-sacrificing group of rebels striving for the greater good to bring peace to the galaxy — is diminished because the audience hasn’t had enough time to connect with these characters.

Apart from enriching Rogue One with additional context, the series Andor delves deeper into Cassian Andor’s narrative, sheds light on internal conflicts within the Rebel alliance, and redefines the Empire’s downfall, thus enhancing fan’s perception of Rogue One for good. By expanding upon the storyline of Rogue One, which was initially released nine years ago, Andor significantly alters the way fans experience the film.

‘Andor’ Gives Cassian’s Death More Meaning

When I first heard about Andor, I must admit that as a fan, my skepticism ran high. After all, it’s not every day we get a prequel series to a prequel film, especially one focusing on a character whose fate we already know won’t end well. While Rogue One delivered thrilling action, the standout moment for many being the Darth Vader hallway fight, there were criticisms about the character development in the film. Despite boasting talented actors like Felicity Jones, Diego Luna, Riz Ahmed, and Donnie Yen, the characters in Rogue One often felt more like stereotypes than fully developed individuals. This was quite a contrast to The Force Awakens, where after just one film, audiences were immediately captivated by fresh characters such as Rey, Finn, Poe Dameron, Kylo Ren, and BB-8.

Since these characters appeared in only one movie, we didn’t have much chance to get to know them well. However, having just one film should have made it crucial to develop their depth, so their deaths would carry a greater emotional impact for the audience. Instead, it seemed like their demise was portrayed as less significant, perhaps implying that these characters were not as important because they were intended to die.

In a nutshell, the series Andor sheds light on Cassian’s past, which was only hinted at in Rogue One. This additional insight makes his death in Rogue One more impactful. Through showing how he lost loved ones like his adopted mother Maarva and friend Basso, the torture he suffered while serving in an Imperial prison, and the cruelty inflicted on individuals such as Bix Caleen, Andor illustrates the hardships that shaped Cassian into the weary character seen at the start of Rogue One.

As a movie critic reflecting on the series, I find myself haunted by the looming specter of Cassian’s fate. The writers masterfully employ dramatic irony to heighten our emotions, for we, the viewers, are privy to a truth that Bix, his beloved, is not aware of – her hopes of reunion with him will forever remain unfulfilled due to his inevitable demise.

Whenever Cassian treads the sands of Scariff, the weight of his past brushes against us like an impending storm. We’ve witnessed his countless escapes from the clutches of the Empire, but this time, there’s a palpable feeling that he won’t be walking away. The poignancy of his final moments is amplified by the knowledge we possess – it’s a bittersweet reminder of a love story cut tragically short.

The finale of Andor unveils Cassian Andor’s son, adding a mix of bittersweet and hopeful sentiment to Rogue One, beyond its initial setup within the Star Wars universe. Though Cassian would never have the chance to meet or recognize his child, his sacrifice secured a life free from the Empire for his son. The disclosure of Cassian Andor’s offspring implies he was more than just a name behind the Death Star plans; instead, he was someone significant whose legacy continues in the form of “A New Hope.” Thanks to his Disney+ series, Cassian has become one of the most memorable characters in the Star Wars saga.

The Rebel Alliance in ‘Andor’

The show, Andor, may primarily focus on its main character, but it also delves into the backstory of the Rebel Alliance. While fans got a glimpse of these events in the animated series Star Wars: Rebels and saw connections between this series and Andor, the live-action Disney+ production offers a more detailed examination of the gritty, sometimes questionable aspects that led to the formation of the freedom fighters, subtly hinted at in Rogue One. Rogue One aimed to create ambiguity about the Rebel Alliance through Saw Gerrera, depicting radical and extreme methods that contrast with the familiar heroes. However, Saw’s extremism serves to emphasize the grey areas among both “good” and “bad” rebels, resulting in a somewhat incomplete effort to inject complexity into the Rebel Alliance’s mission in Rogue One.

In Andor, a character named Luthen Rael emerges, who brings a layer of ethical ambiguity to the Rebellion’s struggle against the Empire. Andor shows us that Luthen is somewhat shunned by his fellow rebels, even being excluded from the Yavin 4 base. Luthen is prepared to carry out questionable actions essential for the Alliance’s growth and the Empire’s harm, allowing figures like Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and eventually Luke Skywalker to maintain their clean hands.

In this series, Luthen Rael is portrayed as a character who, though deemed too risky by top Rebel leaders, stops short of being as extreme as Saw Gerrera. He positions himself as a middle ground figure, standing between the radical extremes represented by Saw Gerrera and Mon Mothma. This delicate balance underscores the ongoing struggle against the Empire. The rebels are all working towards the same goal, yet they often clash internally due to their differing ideologies and methods. Despite these disagreements, they were compelled to unite in order to face the threats posed by both the Empire and their own internal conflicts.

The climax of “Rogue One” becomes even more impactful after two seasons of internal conflicts and disagreements, as all the disparate groups come together for a pivotal moment where their combined efforts culminate in a powerful united front attack, showcasing the strength and power of the Rebel Alliance. Moreover, “Andor” has transformed Mon Mothma, a seemingly minor character from “Return of the Jedi,” into one of the most compelling characters in the “Star Wars” universe.

Fixes the Fatal ‘Rogue One’ Flaw

One significant issue with the movie “Rogue One” lies in its portrayal of the Death Star’s vulnerability: a tiny, two-meter-wide exhaust vent that, if hit accurately, would cause a catastrophic chain reaction. Some viewers mistakenly call it a plot inconsistency, but in reality, it wasn’t. George Lucas intentionally inserted this detail to highlight the overconfidence of the Empire. They believed they had crafted an invincible weapon that no force could vanquish, thus, they couldn’t fathom such a weakness. The Rebels, with their seemingly insignificant strength compared to the Death Star’s might, were deemed incapable of causing any harm.

In a somewhat unexpected move, Rogue One appears to have addressed an issue that wasn’t actually a plot hole in the original Star Wars trilogy. The Death Star’s critical weakness wasn’t due to imperial oversight, but rather a deliberate flaw engineered by the weapon’s chief designer, Galen Erso. This new backstory might have done more harm than good to George Lucas’ original series, generating controversy that rivals fan reactions to The Last Jedi. By portraying the Rebel’s victory as a premeditated safety measure rather than a daring exploitation of the Empire’s arrogance in a seemingly hopeless attack, it seems like the essence of the original storyline has been undermined.

Andor subtly depicts the Empire’s downfall as being primarily due to their overconfidence and red tape. Throughout the series, the banal nature of evil has been emphasized, and in the concluding episodes, the Empire’s fundamental flaws are exposed. It transpires that the Rebels learn about the Death Star super weapon thanks to a spy within the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB), who was covertly assisted by Luthen. But how did this agent gain knowledge about a highly classified weapon? An imperial work email was inadvertently sent to the wrong recipient and disclosed information. A seemingly minor computer glitch set off a chain reaction that ultimately resulted in the destruction of the Death Star, symbolically as well as literally. This is much more fitting.

Franchise Patches Are the Name of the Game for ‘Star Wars’

As a die-hard cinema enthusiast, I can confidently say that no other franchise has quite the same impact on my appreciation of its previous works like Star Wars does. For instance, the prequels have undergone a remarkable reevaluation, thanks in large part to “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” providing fresh context for “Revenge of the Sith” and delving deeper into themes that the prequels struggled to execute effectively. Disney is currently enhancing the franchise by series such as “The Bad Batch”, “The Mandalorian”, and “Ahsoka”. These spin-offs are shedding light on the perplexing aspect of Palpatine’s return in “The Rise of Skywalker”, making the broader narrative and themes more coherent. While these additional elements don’t necessarily rectify the original films as standalone pieces, they certainly bring everything together neatly.

In a more casual and engaging way, one could say that “Andor” sets up the story that unfolds in “Rogue One”. Some viewers might view “Rogue One” as a grand finale to the “Andor” series, but it’s more accurate to consider the two seasons of “Andor” and the first “Star Wars” spin-off movie as a trilogy. This trilogy serves as a bridge between the events of the prequels and the original trilogy. It delves into the intricate and grim beginnings of the Rebel Alliance, focusing on one man who was part of something bigger than himself. Like other heroes and villains in the series, his name may be forgotten over time, but the choices he made have far-reaching effects. These consequences are felt not only in the original trilogy, but also in stories like “The Mandalorian” and the sequel trilogy.

According to my perspective, I believed that the 2016 film “Rogue One” left me feeling somewhat chilly. Although it showed promise, I felt it didn’t meet the grand expectations it aimed for or carry the deep emotional resonance its ardent fans claimed. It seemed overly distinct from previous “Star Wars” movies, prioritizing a fresh appearance over well-developed characters, which might have been exacerbated by the reshoots. However, after watching “Andor,” I find myself reevaluating my opinion of “Rogue One” and finding more appreciation for it. In fact, I now enjoy “Rogue One” thanks to the influence of “Andor.” Stream both Andor and Rogue One on Disney+.

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2025-05-14 04:16