Andor's Death Star Reveal Makes The Original Trilogy Way Darker (& Better)

Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Andor season 1, episode 12.Andor season 1's post-credits scene reveal of the Death Star serves to change Star Wars' Original Trilogy, making it both darker and better. One of the biggest mysteries across Andor season 1 was the question of what Cassian Andor, Kino Loy, and the other inmates were building in the Imperial prison. Despite Cassian's escape and two further episodes taking him away from the prison, the closing moments of the season confirmed theories that they were building parts for the Death Star.

Showing the Death Star in Andor season 1's post-credits scene is a huge twist, but not one that directly impacts Cassian's story for Andor season 2. His journey will eventually take him towards the Death Star, but not until the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Instead, the impact goes on to Star Wars more broadly, in particular the Original Trilogy and specifically A New Hope. The Death Star was already a symbol of the Empire's might, but knowing more of its construction, and the ways people were used to make it, makes it so much more horrifying and adds a new human cost to the battle station.

The Prisoners Building The Death Star Completes Andor's Empire Change

Death Star Imperial Prison Work Confirmation in Andor Finale

The prisoners helping to build the Death Star is a devastating and dark reveal, knowing both how much torture they were put through and the terrible deeds the Empire will perform. But this isn't a twist that exists in isolation - it may be a post-credits stinger, but it fits perfectly with Andor's portrayal of the Empire. More so than any Star Wars media before it, Andor dives into how terrible and outright dangerous life is under Imperial rule. It shows the different methods they used to control people, from deploying forces on the ground to changing laws and sentencing on a whim.

Getting into the day-to-day inner workings, Andor makes the Empire truly scary and proves how it creates an oppressive, suffocating existence for those it has authority over. It has no regard for its people, only for holding onto and enhancing its power. There's a tragic loss of freedom that's best on display in Andor, whether that's literally in prison or not. Having Andor's prisoners, many of whom are in there for no reason at all, build the Death Star, the Empire's greatest show of strength, completes that part of the story on a thematic level while paying off a season 1 mystery.

Andor's Death Star Reveal Makes The Original Star Wars Trilogy Better

The Death Star under construction in Andor.

Andor's reveal of the Death Star fits with its own story and themes, but also helps to re-frame and deepen Star Wars' Original Trilogy. The Empire was already a very clear depiction of a fascist regime, but now there's a much greater understanding of how they really operate that makes them even more horrifying. The Death Star destroying Alderaan, for instance, is more disturbing knowing the battle station was built by prisoners who were forced to do it, with no knowledge of what was happening. At the same time, though, that also makes the Rebel Alliance's victories - especially the destruction of the Death Stars in A New Hope and Return of the Jedi - all the sweeter.

Alongside its focus on the Empire, Andor has shown how different rebel factions started coming together. It has properly evidenced the true human cost of fighting against the Empire - not only the loss of life, but what people had to sacrifice within themselves in order to take on the battle, giving up their own hopes and dreams to ensure a future for others. The Death Star's destruction is only possible because of this; because of people like Cassian and Kino Loy in the prison. They may have unwittingly made the Death Star, but they actively helped to destroy it and defeat the Empire. Andor makes Star Wars' Original Trilogy darker, yes, but also far more satisfying to watch.

All 12 episodes of Andor season 1 are now streaming on Disney+.

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