Rogue One: A Star Wars Story was a unique entry into the galaxy far, far away because it felt like the first war of stars Film that was not about the Skywalker saga. While the new entries in the sequel trilogy helped continue the franchise’s themes of family and balance, Villain One was a heist film that happened to take place in the war of stars Universe. This is a sound that Tony Gilroy has continued Andor. The Dark Series Introduces Cassian (Diego Luna) as he enters the world of espionage for the first time.
In this week’s episode “Aldhani,” Cassian succeeds with Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgard). Rael tells him that their meeting was no coincidence; He was specifically looking for Cassian to recruit for a heist team he is assembling. After Rael offers him a kyber crystal necklace as payment, Cassian meets a team with Vel Sartha on Aldhani (Faye Marsay). Though Sartha is skeptical about adding a new member to her team at the last minute, Rael says Cassian is critical to the mission’s success.
Sartha believes her cause is just, so she’s not happy that Rael hired a “mercenary” like Cassian. However, she is forced to obey Rael’s orders and reluctantly agrees to introduce Cassian to her team. He calls himself “Clem”, his adoptive father’s name (Gary Beadle), who was publicly executed for his crimes against the Empire. Although “Aldhani” ends with Cassian learning the details of the plan, it promises to be an exciting heist sequence over the next few weeks Andor.
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Sartha’s team
Once Cassian arrives on the planet Aldhani, he is introduced to Sartha’s guerrilla crew, which also includes Cinta Kaz (Varada Sethu)Arvel Skeen (Ebon Moss-Bachrach), Karis Nemik (Alex Lawther) and Taramyn Barcona (Gershwyn Eustache Jnr). Nemik had been sleeping on guard duty and is scolded by Skeen. Nemik is the only one who seems reasonably friendly when Cassian approaches. The rest of the group is concerned about adding a new member to the group at this stage of the heist.
After the team reluctantly agrees to add Cassian to the team, additional member Lieutenant Gorn (Sule Rimi) comes by speeder. He provides some details about the Imperial presence on the planet, which he learned from patrolling the area. The garrison they intend to attack is heavily fortified and they are outnumbered. Cassian is more of an outsider on this mission. He only served as a cook when he was at the Battle of Mimban, and he’s never served in a real militia before. It’s the first time he’s been part of a real team since he was a child on Kenari.
An economic takeover
At this point in the timeline, the Rebel Alliance has yet to claim a major victory in the eyes of the rest of the galaxy. As Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) Rael admits that resources are tight, especially with the expansion of the Empire. The Imperial Security Bureau announces that Preox-Morlana must cede control of territory they control directly to the Empire. This makes beating the Empire’s finances a priority for Sartha and her team.
Rael explains to Cassian at the beginning of the episode that Sartha’s team plans to rob the Empire of an entire quarter’s quarterly payroll. Not only would this cripple the funds allocated for Imperial weapons development, but it would also give the Rebel Alliance the funds to upgrade their equipment and technology. Rael appeals to Cassian’s hatred of the rich; Cassian had spoken angrily about having to fight for resources on Ferrix.
Leverage the rebellion
Andor takes place in year 5 BBY (before the Battle of Yavin). At this stage of the galactic timeline, the Rebel Alliance is still a collection of diverse resistance cells that have no formal coordinated infrastructure. Both Mothma and Bail Organa (Jimmy Smith) are forced to remain in the Imperial Senate and conceal their involvement. The Empire has worked to systematically pit various resistance groups against each other, causing massacres such as the Battle of Mimban.
The Rebel Alliance needs small victories like the one planned on Aldhani to gain legitimacy. It wasn’t until year 2 BBY that Mothma officially called to arms in a show that aired across the galaxy Star Wars rebels Episode “Secret Cargo”. Even then, it’s not until the Battle of Scarif in Villain One that the rebels have the “first major victory” referenced in the opening crawl Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.
At this point, Andor It looks like it’s continuing to take a macro approach to the saga’s political conflict.