Although Andor season 1 was touted as "the beginning of the Rebellion," the Star Wars series also revealed a telling connection between the Sith and the Empire. Early episodes of Andor season 1 depicted a budding rivalry between two members of the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB), Dedra Meero and Blevin. Both hold the rank of lieutenant and serve as supervisors for the ISB. While there are contrasting views on the role of the ISB among its constituents, the inception of the Empire's law enforcement agency can undoubtedly be traced back to sinister Sith machinations and possibly Darth Sidious.

While Meero viewed the ISB as the Empire's assurance of security, the agency serves a far more malicious purpose for senior Imperial officers in Star Wars like Major Partigaz and Colonel Wulf Yularen. Derived from the false need to fix perceived galaxy-wide shortcomings, the Empire's relentless quest for power and control gave rise to subterfuge and infighting among their ranks. Blevin's personal vendetta against Dedra Meero embodies the perpetual state of Imperial contradiction, as officers were encouraged to perform acts of espionage against one another. This deceitful Imperial tactic showcased in Andor is eerily similar to the ways of the Sith, hitting at a deeper connection between the two factions.

Related: Star Wars Canon Once Again Proves The Empire's Greatest Weakness

How The Empire Connects With The Sith In Andor

Denise Gough as Dedra Meero in Andor

Major Partagaz described his stance on the collective function of the ISB as a "healthcare provider" that "treats sickness." This take epitomized the Empire's true terror in Star Wars, as the faction's tyrannical belief in their role as a cure to the rebel activity plaguing the galaxy is twisted. These same misguided principles can be observed in Blevin's ploys against Dedra Meero. While Blevin's assertion that Meero was overstepping her jurisdiction held some merit, his efforts to undermine Meero and her subsequent moves against him in turn depicted a game of cat-and-mouse that would have pleased Darth Sidious.

According to James Luceno's Star Wars: Tarkin novel, the Emperor had a "policy to encourage misunderstanding as a means of having his subordinates keep watch over one another." The canon book also stated that this scheme was "a form of institutionalized suspicion" and "an effective fear tactic." The Emperor's policy echoes an evident link to present-day Sith Lords but is even more applicable to Sith practices prior to Darth Bane's institution of the Rule of Two. Sith apprentices were continually tempted to usurp their masters in a lustful thirst for power, a dynamic that was also reflected with Meero and Blevin in Andor season 1.

What The Imperial Connections With The Sith Mean For Andor Season 2

Star Wars Empire Andor

The power-hungry dichotomy between master and apprentice in the Star Wars franchise is explored in other canon material, including Paul S. Kemp's Star Wars: Lords of the Sith, as well as in Legends works, such as James Luceno's Star Wars: Darth Plagueis. More consequently, the subtle inclusion of this analogous relationship between Dedra Meero and Blevin foreshadows exciting possibilities for Andor season 2. Given how akin the ISB parallels have been to the Sith, and the fact that Palpatine was already name-dropped in Andor, it's not unrealistic to expect an appearance from the secretive Sith Lord.

Much of Andor's strength as a Star Wars story lies in its acute focus on the galaxy's unseen heroes and villains, rather than prominent, familiar figures. Ultimately, as plausible as Palpatine/Sidious's appearance would be, his inclusion would be better served in other Star Wars projects like the upcoming Ahsoka show. Regardless of whether the Sith Lord emerges from the shadows in Andor season 2, it's an overwhelmingly positive sign and a considerably rewarding payoff to get a glimpse of the connective tissue spanning Star Wars canon.

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