Warning! SPOILERS for Andor episode 9.By telling a unique villain origin story, Andor is breaking a Star Wars tradition in a good way. Despite technically being a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Andor is one of the most original and innovative pieces of Star Wars content in years – both in terms of visuals and storytelling. Andor is revisiting the Age of Empire, a time period Star Wars has covered since its very first movie, yet the show brings a singular perspective on the origins of the Rebellion and how the war between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance came to be. More than yet another Empire versus Rebellion story, Andor has been so far a character-focused show.
In addition to the Cassian Andor character study, Andor is exploring its villains in a way that Star Wars had never done before. Of course, non-Force sensitive villains are nothing new to Star Wars, as exemplified by Moff Tarkin or Grand Admiral Thrawn. Yet, previous Star Wars movies and shows had never developed its non-Force sensitive villains in such a detailed level as Andor. For example, Andor explores how the dynamic between Syril and his mother Eedy influences the former’s journey into becoming a classic imperial Star Wars villain, which by itself breaks a Star Wars tradition of focusing mostly on father figures and their influences on future heroes and villains.
Why Andor's Syril & Eedy Story Is So Good
From Darth Vader and Luke to Han Solo and Kylo Ren, Star Wars has told dozens of fatherhood stories. The dynamic between a main character and their mother is not so common in Star Wars, especially if said character is a villain with no ties to the Jedi or the Force. The idea of Force-sensitive characters having to choose between following their parents’ legacy has been present in Star Wars since A New Hope, but a mother pushing her son into becoming an imperial is something Star Wars had never explored. The moments between Syril and Eedy raise the interesting question of whether Syrill’s actions in Andor reflect who he really is and how he really thinks, or if he is somehow catering to his mother's wishes.
Andor Proves Star Wars Traditions Should Be Broken More Often
Andor is the perfect example of why Star Wars should break its own traditions more often. Syril and Eedy's relationship has been one of the highlights of the show, and it does not necessarily mirror that of any previous Star Wars characters. Granted, Star Wars moments that rhyme with previous movies and shows are part of the franchise’s identity, but Andor is a great reminder why Star Wars should not be limited by its legacy. The character-focused approach, especially for the human villains, has made Andor’s take on the Empire far more realistic than any other Star Wars movie or show. Moments like Eedy criticizing Syril because of how his uniform looks humanizes all characters involved, and it makes their villainous actions even scarier.
Whereas The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi felt way too familiar when it comes to Star Wars tropes, Andor has so far tried different character dynamics. Apart from Cassian Andor and Mon Mothma, most of Andor’s characters are original characters created for the show – which allows Andor to be more innovative and less restricted by the Star Wars canon. Without any Jedi or Sith involved, the unique dynamic between Syril and his mother Eedy shows that the best Star Wars stories are yet to be told.
New episodes of Andor release on Wednesdays on Disney+.