This article contains spoilers for Andor episode 12.Andor comes to an explosive climax, with Cassian Andor ing the Rebel Alliance in the wake of an uprising on Ferrix. Lucasfilm's latest Disney+ series, Andor has taken an unusual slow-burn approach to storytelling. Most Star Wars TV shows have focused on Easter eggs and fan-service, but Andor is different; it's fundamentally a character piece. It's also deeply politically charged, extending George Lucas' own metaphors on the fight against fascism into the 21st century.
Andor's season 1 finale faced a daunting task. All the different characters had their own arcs and subplots, and somehow the finale had to balance them out. Its success is testimony to the skill of showrunner Tony Gilroy, with the funeral of Maarva Andor drawing most of the key players to Ferrix so their stories could tie together effectively. There's been a sense of pressure building up against the Empire over the last few episodes, and this finally explodes to the surface in Andor episode 12.
Andor Season 1 Finale's Rebellion On Ferrix Explained
Ferrix has changed a great deal over the course of Andor season 1. Viewers were introduced to the planet as part of the galaxy's Corporate Zone, a sector allowed a degree of independence from the Empire. A single incident prompted an Imperial occupation, however, and the Empire has grown increasingly repressive. Structurally, Andor season 1's ending feels as though it lends weight to Leia's words in the first Star Wars film. "The more you tighten your grip," she told Tarkin, "the more star systems will slip through your fingers." The bells of Ferrix begin to ring, calling the citizens to Maarva Andor's funeral before the time agreed with the Empire, a subtle act of rebellion that swiftly escalates because of Maarva's last message. She knew she was dying, and she issued a last call to arms by hologram.
This isn't an organized uprising, coordinated by Star Wars' Rebel Alliance. Rather, it's a spontaneous event, swiftly escalating when Wilmon - whose father was tortured by the Imperial Security Bureau - tosses a bomb at the Empire. The uprising will be a major blow in ISB Supervisor Dedra Meero's career, because she was personally overseeing the funeral in the hopes of capturing Cassian Andor. Although the rebellion on Ferrix is swiftly crushed, it will leave a lasting legacy.
Why Andor Was Going To Let Luthen Kill Him
Dedra Meero never really understood her quarry. She thought Cassian would be at the funeral, but he knew his adopted mother would have preferred him to use this as cover to rescue their friend Bix Caleen. Having conducted a successful jailbreak and got Bix offworld, Andor then seeks out the enigmatic rebel leader Luthen. By now Cassian understands he poses a threat to Luthen's operation, and he would rather be killed than compromise the nascent Rebel Alliance. Cassian has finally come to understand the need to rise up against the Empire, encouraged to do so by Maarva's last message to him and the Rebel Manifesto he was given by Karis Nemik earlier in Andor season 1. He offers Luthen a simple choice: kill him, or recruit him.
What Happens To Cassian & Luthen Now?
Luthen's decision, of course, was never really in doubt. Cassian Andor will the Rebel Alliance, and Andor season 2 will tell his continuing story, as he actively works against the Empire. He is now on a path that will take him to Scarif, where he will give his life for the sake of the Rebellion, stealing the Death Star plans and allowing them to discover the Rogue One: A Star Wars Story; this likely means Cassian will outlive his boss, with Luthen discovered by the Empire and killed.
Mon Mothma's Family Twists Explained
Meanwhile, on Coruscant, Mon Mothma continues to navigate treacherous waters. Aware her driver is an ISB spy, she stages an argument with her husband about his gambling habit - a neat way of covering up any holes in their finances. This won't be enough, though, and so she pays a very personal price for of the rebellion. She caves in to sleazy financier Davo Sculdun, who was only willing to her if she introduced his son to her daughter, Leida, in a Game of Thrones-style marriage pact. Mon Mothma is sacrificing her own family for the Rebel Alliance, and it is telling that neither husband nor daughter seem to have stood by her side during the coming Galactic Civil War.
What's Happening With Dedra & Syril In Andor Season 1's Ending?
Dedra Meero's life takes an unexpected turn as well, with the ISB Supervisor caught up in the riots on Ferrix. She is rescued by Syril Karn, and seems genuinely grateful in a rare moment of emotion. Many viewers had hoped for a twisted romance between Dedra and Syril, and they may well get their wish. At the very least, Andor season 2 will surely show their relationship develop in some way.
Andor's Post-Credits Scene Confirms The Prisoners Were Building The Death Star
Andor episode 12's post-credit scene confirms a popular fan-theory that the prisoners on Narkina 5 were unknowingly working on the Death Star project. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith - so this is most likely the second Death Star. The shadows of the Death Stars loom over the galaxy's future, and indeed over Andor's life.
But the words of Karis Nemik foretell the Empire's defeat. "The Imperial need for control is so desperate because it is so unnatural," he reflected. "One single thing will break the siege. this.Try." That "one simple thing" would be the destruction of the Death Star, with Luke Skywalker firing what has been called "the shot heard across the galaxy." Far from securing the Empire's future, the Death Star would ensure it fell; it proved the Empire guilty of overreach, and convinced people Palpatine could be beaten.
Andor Season 2 Story Setup In Season 1's Finale Explained
The end of Andor season 1 sets up Cassian Andor's personal rebellion in season 2. This first season has essentially been the ing of the torch, with Maarva encouraging her adopted son to finally be everything she believed he could be. Gilroy will continue his segmented approach to storytelling, using three-episode blocks to chart the next four years of Andor's life. He will serve as a major intelligence operative for the Rebel Alliance, using his skills against the Empire, and he won't be alone; Gilroy has promised many of season 1's surviving characters will return, hopefully including Bix. It's reasonable to assume Andor will end just before the beginning of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, in which Cassian discovered the existence of the Death Star.
The Real Meaning Of Andor's Ending & How It Changes The Rebellion
The end of Andor season 1 is a fascinating glimpse of the nature of rebellion. Andor's rebellion story feels like a continuation of George Lucas' own political themes, now placed in the context of the 21st century. According to actress Fiona Shaw (who plays Andor's adopted mother Maarva Andor), Andor is "a great, scurrilous [take] on the Trumpian world." As she explained in an interview with Empire Magazine, "Our world is exploding in different places right now, people’s rights are disappearing, and Andor reflects that. [In the show] the Empire is taking over, and it feels like the same thing is happening in reality, too."
The creeping nature of fascism - both in Star Wars and in the real world - is perfectly demonstrated through Andor's thoughtful use of stormtroopers. Stormtroopers are entirely absent from the first few episodes, with the people of the galaxy still able to ignore the darkness overshadowing their lives. But Andor season 1's ending sees the streets of Ferrix filled with stormtroopers, who open fire on civilians as they brutally suppress a riot. Fascism conceals itself as it builds strength, acting forcefully when it is finally ready. But the end of Andor season 1 is optimistic even in the face of such evil, for even the most powerful regime can be resisted. As Karis Nemik foretold, "One single thing will break the siege."
Andor season 1 is streaming now on Disney+.
