Spoilers for Andor episode 6, "The Eye" belowEagle-eyed Andor fans have spotted a heartbreaking Rogue One: A Star Wars Story parallel in episode 6, "The Eye." The latest Disney+ Star Wars series stars Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, a Rebel spy who was part of a team who stole the Death Star plans from the tyrannical Galactic Empire in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Set five years prior to that film, Andor depicts Cassian's journey from smuggler to a soldier who becomes dedicated to dismantling and destroying the Empire. Along with Luna, the series sees the return of other Rogue One: A Star Wars Story characters including the militant resistance leader Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker) and Imperial senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly).
Episode 6 finds Cassian and the Aldhani Rebel cell set their plan in motion as they infiltrate the Imperial garrison and steal its payroll. The heist nearly goes off without a hitch until a communications officer stationed at the top of the dam tunes into the team's radio frequency, alerting him to the Rebel's actions. Following a tense firefight, Cassian manages to escape the garrison in a small freighter, flying into the dangerous natural atmospheric phenomenon, known as the Eye of Aldhani, which lights up the planet's skies in a kaleidoscope of colors. Unfortunately, the team incurred heavy losses with the deaths of former Stormtrooper Taramyn Barcona (Gershwyn Eustache Jnr), turncoat Imperial Lieutenant Gorn (Sule Rimi), and young idealist resistance fighter, Karis Nemek (Alex Lawther).
With Cassian struggling to escape the planet's atmosphere in the small spaceship, Karis is gravely injured in the group's quick escape and painfully reads his navigational device instructing Cassian to "climb" and dive to avoid destruction. At that moment, keen Star Wars fans spotted a heartbreaking parallel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in which robot K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) instructs Cassian to "climb" before being destroyed by Imperial Stormtroopers. Those words proved to be one of Karis' last before dying later in the episode. Check out fan reactions to the scenes below:
How Karis' Death Affects Cassian?
Both uses of the word "climb" came from characters Cassian cared for and who died while guiding the hero out of danger. While the K-2SO moment came at the end of Cassian's life as a Rebel spy, Karis' death comes at the beginning of his Rebel journey. Karis' sacrifice to the cause will likely soften Cassian's resolve to be a loner guided by his personal desires instead of the greater good. The use of the word "climb" can also be viewed as a metaphor for Cassian's long and arduous road ahead of him.
Following Karis' death, Rebel cell leader Vel Sartha (Faye Marsay) gifts Cassian Karis' manifesto, a small book in which the young fighter wrote his thoughts about the galaxy around him and hopes for the Rebellion. This book may help shape Cassian's view on the efforts of Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) and guide him to become the dedicated Rebel spy as seen in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. With Andor season 1 only halfway completed, Cassian's journey feels like it only just begun.
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