The latest trailer for the Star Wars show Andor is filled with Easter eggs and references to the birth of the Rebel Alliance. While the first wave of Star Wars Disney+ TV series explored the galaxy after Return of the Jedi, the current batch seems focused on a far more sinister era: the Dark Times of the Empire's reign, between the prequels and the original trilogy. Andor specifically features the return of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), a spy who's drawn into the birth of the Rebel Alliance.
Star Wars has always been political, and George Lucas essentially saw the Rebels as terrorists, basing them on the Viet Cong. They were a ground-level insurgency, battling desperately against a massive Imperial war machine. There was always a sense of "David and Goliath" to the action, perfectly symbolized by a last X-Wing fighter diving in to attack a Death Star like a shepherd boy tossing pebbles at a giant. Viewed from that light, Andor promises to be the story of how the insurgency began, and no doubt it will shine a light on the Imperial atrocities that led so many to risk their lives opposing the Empire. The more Palpatine tightened his grip on the galaxy, the more resistance grew.
Lucasfilm's latest Andor trailer presents the Disney+ TV show as a spiritual successor to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which introduced the title character. Viewers will have to wait a little longer than expected to return to the Dark Times, though, because Andor has been pushed back to September 21 (meaning it no longer clashes with Marvel's She-Hulk). Still, this definitely looks to be worth the wait. Here are all the major takeaways from the Andor trailer.
Andor Opens With The Shadow Of A Star Destroyer
The opening shot of the Andor trailer shows an Imperial Star Destroyer looming over a planet. The shot is an iconic one, reminiscent of the opening of the first Star Wars film, serving as a reminder of the Empire's might, as well as a nostalgic nod that ensures viewers feel like this story is important to the overall saga. This time, though, the arrival of the Imperial Star Destroyer is viewed from the ground, reinforcing the dramatic sense of power difference.
The Empire's Overconfidence Is Its Weakness
The Andor trailer shows a number of shots that appear to be Cassian Andor on his homeworld of Fest, a planet ravaged by the Empire, presumably through strip-mining. Tie-in books released alongside Rogue One: A Star Wars Story revealed Fest served as a regional headquarters and operations sector for the Rebel Alliance, so it's not hard to see why Cassian came to the Rebellion's attention. These shots are accompanied by a voiceover in which Andor explains the key to infiltrating the Empire lies in simply looking confident because, as Luke Skywalker rightly observed in Return of the Jedi, the Empire's overconfidence is its weakness.
Andor Returns To The Imperial Senate
The trailer offers a glimpse at how Andor revisits the Imperial Senate, but it has changed a little since the prequel trilogy - presumably a result of renovations conducted after the battle there between Palpatine and Master Yoda in Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. The central dais is now surrounded by an Imperial cog, deliberately portraying the Emperor as the center around which the galaxy turns. In thematic terms, Andor feels as though it will serve as a bridge between the political focus of the prequels and the rebellion of the original trilogy. Palpatine maintained the Senate to keep his political enemies occupied while construction continued on the Death Star, but he is underestimating them.
Cassian Andor Infiltrates The Empire
Cassian Andor proves his point by successfully infiltrating the Empire. Ironically, this is probably the easiest way to move freely around the galaxy; civilians had chain codes allowing the Empire to track their movements, but there has never been any evidence that Imperial agents were monitored in the same way. The shots are not necessarily presented in sequence, so it's entirely possible Andor is performing a mission on behalf of the Rebellion.
Cassian Andor is Recruited Into the Rebel Alliance
Andor introduces viewers to Stellan Skarsgård as Luthen Rael, a mysterious figure who recruits Cassian to the Rebellion. It's reasonable to assume that Luthen is quite high-ranking, but he's unlike to survive given he wasn't present in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. No doubt some major characters are destined to be killed off, proving the cost of opposing the Empire.
Cassian Andor's Greatest Threat - Imperial Intelligence
Andor will feature Imperial Intelligence and their Death Troopers — a terrifying enemy for the Rebel spy to face. Imperial Intelligence is an espionage agency reporting in directly to the Empire's leaders, and they are responsible for a number of black ops projects. They also police the Empire, keeping an eye out for any evidence of disloyalty, and executing anyone who steps out of line. The Andor trailer includes a shot of a high-ranking Imperial Intelligence agent, identifiable due to her white uniform, and it's possible there's something of a cat-and-mouse game going on in the Disney+ TV show.
Saw Gerrera & the Partisans Return in Andor
The Andor trailer features the return of Forest Whitaker's Saw Gerrera, leader of the Partisans, a group willing to go to any lengths to fight the Empire. Trained by the Jedi during the Clone Wars, Saw Gerrera found himself unable to coordinate with less extreme groups, and by the time of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story his group was essentially isolated on the planet Jedha. Andor is set much earlier on in the timeline, and Saw looks a lot healthier; it's unclear whether his group has already settled on Jedha.
Andor Promises To Build On Unused George Lucas Ideas
One shot in the Andor trailer hints that the Disney+ show will build on unused ideas from George Lucas. Elevators are shown going down into Coruscant's undercity; the ecumenopolis may be the galactic capital, but its lower levels are poverty-stricken, and Lucas was always keen to explore them. He proposed a live-action TV series called Star Wars: Underworld, set during the Dark Times and exploring the chaos and lawlessness of Coruscant's lower levels. The Sith operated with impunity in the shadows here during the prequel era, and it's fitting to imagine the Rebel Alliance taking advantage of them during the Dark Times.
Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, & the Birth of the Rebellion
The Andor trailer features the return of Genevieve O'Reilly's Mon Mothma and Jimmy Smits's Bail Organa, two key figures in the Rebel Alliance. Mon Mothma appears to be particularly important to this story, which makes sense; Bail had too much to lose because he knew he was secretly raising Leia Organa, daughter of Anakin Skywalker and one of two children destined to overthrow the Sith. Senator Mon Mothma has generally been portrayed as something of a pacifist, using politics as her primary weapon right up until the moment Palpatine disbanded the Senate. It will be interesting to see whether that reputation is earned, or whether that approach was in itself a front, a way of winning the Rebellion time to organize.
"This Is What Revolution Looks Like..."
The Andor trailer ends with two thrilling lines of dialogue, both of which feel like promises for the themes at play. "This is what revolution looks like," a character named Kleya declares, followed by a series of action-packed shots. It seems Mon Mothma is using her role in the Senate to distract attention away from what she's truly doing: trying to start a revolution that will overthrow the Empire.
Cassian Andor is Tired of Losing
One final line from Cassian gives a sense of how bleak the show will be: "I'm tired of losing," he observes. The sad truth is that, originally, the Rebel Alliance was on the back foot for years, suffering one defeat after another at the Empire's hands, until the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. The protagonist of Andor may be tired of losing, but he's going to get a lot more experience of it.