Warning: spoilers ahead for Andor episode 12.
Across 12 episodes, Andor season 1 has introduced many new characters to the Star Wars universe, but Brasso best encapsulates Andor's differences from regular Star Wars stories. Played by Joplin Sibtain, Brasso was first introduced as a manual laborer on Ferrix and a good friend to Cassian Andor. Brasso's screen time dipped after episode 3 moved the story away from Ferrix, but he returns for the setup and payoff of Andor's ending. In the Andor season finale, Brasso is depicted in a way that showcases just how uniquely Andor tells its story compared to traditional Star Wars releases.
Especially in the main Star Wars movie series, central characters are depicted as unwavering rebellious heroes who have committed their lives to fighting tyranny one way or another. The same can even be said for Cassian Andor and Luthen. Brasso, on the other hand, is simply a normal man trying to live his life on Ferrix, but who rises up to fight against Imperial oppression when pushed to the brink. Andor rightfully shows that everyday citizens like Brasso are integral in the Rebellion's eventual victory over the Empire, and that freedom is not just won by big galactic heroes like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, or Cassian Andor himself.
Brasso's Bravery Typifies Andor's Approach To Rebel Stories
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While telling the story of how Cassian will eventually become one of these integral heroes by stealing the Death Star plans in Rogue One, Andor has also been spinning tales about the smaller, but equally important, rebels at the heart of Star Wars' war against the Empire. Similar to the Andy Serkis character Kino Loy, Brasso is not destined to change the galaxy with actions such as defeating the Emperor or blowing up the Death Star. Instead, Brasso is simply a normal man pushed to a point where he can no longer stand for the Empire's tyranny.
Through characters like Brasso and Kino Loy, Andor is telling stories of rebels akin to real-life freedom fighters, and by extension, exemplifying the much more grounded, mature tone Andor is striving for. This not only makes Andor as a whole unique, but its individual characters become much more compelling by differentiating from the larger-than-life Star Wars stories audiences have become accustomed to. The loftier tales still work, of course, but Andor is currently enjoying critical acclaim not seen since The Empire Strikes Back, and this is partly due to the relatable qualities exemplified by characters such as Brasso.
Brasso Is Key To Cassian Andor's Own Rebellion
Brasso is a personification of what makes Andor different as a Star Wars story, but he is also instrumental in Cassian Andor's final push to rebel against the Empire. After helping Cassian evade capture in earlier episodes, Brasso plays a huge part in Andor's season 1 finale. Not only does he deliver Maarva's emotional final words to Andor, Brasso then joins B2EMO in transmitting Maarva's speech to the oppressed people of Ferrix before striking the first physical blow. These defining moments ignite the fire building inside Cassian Andor, pushing him toward his own personal rebellion. Brasso's influence upon Cassian will undoubtedly continue in a major way into Andor season 2.
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