Andor is the rageiest Star Wars ever

Traditionally in Star WarsAnger doesn’t get you far. Like so many nasty things in Star Wars mythology, you can blame the Jedi for this: When your most iconic characters and ideas revolve around great space mages who adhere to a strict moral code, stepping outside of that rule becomes the sole source of Bad guys. This becomes difficult for the Jedi as normal, understandable human emotions become a tumor. While expanding the rule adds a bit of nuance – for example, love isn’t as forbidden as Attachments and how it can alter the Jedi’s balance in the Force – more negative emotions like fear and anger are revealed more.

As Star Wars stories move beyond the Jedi, its heroes slowly remove these limitations. The clone army of Clone Wars and Bad lot deal with all the emotional and moral dilemmas that make up the show’s premise – the clones that are brainwashed to figure out who they are and (sometimes) screw up their show – really interesting. Shows that follow the Jedi at the edge as the Order is about to go extinct, like Kanan Jarrus or Ahsoka Tano In Rebels and more, join the stories that give hardened mages a more pragmatic remake, treating them like the first and the second Jedi.

However, in part because the majority of Star Wars shows are geared towards general audiences, a lot of its darker angles have been dropped. The main character has angry moments, but no one gets angry Everyone. Even Jyn Erso’s Rogue One, perhaps the most quietly raging character to lead the Star Wars movie, is finally on a mission to redeem her father’s legacy and find a lofty ideal. Anger, in her story, is a distraction.

Image: Lucasfilm / Disney

Cassian Andor is built differently. As flashbacks in the first three episodes of Andor shows, his primary trauma was the moment the Imperials fell from the sky and murdered his friends. He was adopted by rescuers, who saw him beat hell from a deck console. When we were introduced to him as an adult, it was clear: He never stopped being that kid, venting his rage blindly on the only thing left he could do. blame.

Crucially, when Luther Rael decided to recruit him to the newly formed Rebel Alliance, Cassian’s anger was why Luther wants him, and that’s how he pushes him. “You really don’t want to hurt these bastards, do you?” he asked, knowing it was the most compelling pitch he could make for Cassian. This is the complete opposite of Rogue Onewhere the Rebellion begins its campaign that will eventually overthrow the Empire and Hope is the message that freedom fighters carry with themtook the movement further than bitter old soldiers like Saw Gerrera could.

But Andorand the small group of rebels we met in this week’s episode, “Aldhani,” are not there yet. At this early stageThe rebel alliance is fragile, suspicious, and vulnerable – there are conflicting ideologies and ideas about how things should be done, both in the high-profile submission of secret traitors of the Royals like Luther and Mon Mo Henrich, and in ground operations conducted by a handful of rebels such as Vel Sartha. What unites them now is anger: a rage so ingrained that they readily accept arguments and plays like the addition of Cassian Andor, a guy they know nothing about. , as long as they can agree that it’s time to make the bastards pay.

Image: Lucasfilm

It is this palpable anger that makes Andor feel worthwhile and different. The show isn’t necessarily the first Star Wars story about angry heroes, but the main focus of most Star Wars movies and series is powder adventures. paper, good triumphs over evil. While there is almost certainly big, melodramatic action in the store, Andor established himself in the first episodes as primarily interested in the character’s drama. It’s a quieter show, allowing you to immerse yourself in the unsettling feelings of Cassian and the people he meets.

The anger of the characters will form the Rebel Alliance – their roots are currently unknown, although that is subject to change – forming the bricks to build an alliance to overthrow the fascist empire. Ultimately, higher goals, more concrete and just ideals can emerge, if they can survive and not lose sight of their ultimate goal. But now, Star Wars fighters are finally going crazy, and that has never felt more appropriate.