Warning! This article contains spoilers for Andor season 2, episodes 7-9.

The ending of Andor season 2, episode 9 retcons the formation of the Rebel Alliance in the best possible way after providing an excellent Star Wars story. Since episode 1, a throughline of Andor season 2’s story has been the increasing tensions on the planet of Ghorman. The Empire wishes to occupy Ghorman to mine a material that Director Krennic needs to presumably finalize the construction of the Death Star. In season 2, episodes 7-9, Andor‘s cast of characters finds themselves at the center of the Ghorman situation as it boils over.

The arc begins with the basis of Star Wars’ Rebel Alliance forming on Yavin IV, yet Cassian does not stay for long before jetting off to Ghorman thanks to a tip from Luthen. Cassian is presented with the opportunity to assassinate Dedra Meero, who was responsible for the subjugation of Ferrix shown in Andor season 1’s ending. This coincides with the tipping point on Ghorman as the Empire’s plans come into full effect in heartbreaking fashion, leading to Andor season 2, episode 9’s politically-charged storyline that perfectly retcons a former storyline from the Star Wars franchise.

The Ghorman Massacre: Why Mon Mothma Speaks Out Against The Empire

Mon Has Reached A Point Of No Return

In Andor season 2, episode 9, the story focuses on the aftermath of episode 8’s Ghorman Massacre. The events of episode 8 showcase the Imperial plan to stoke violence among the Ghorman people while using propaganda and false stories to convey to the wider galaxy that it was not a massacre at all, but instead an act of insurrection and terrorism by the Ghorman civilians. Mon Mothma, however, sees right through this attempt and spends Andor season 2, episode 9 trying to speak to the Imperial Senate about what really happened.

Mon is shown burning all bridges and cover stories she has built up over the years, with the Ghorman Massacre – different from Star Wars‘ Tarkin Massacre – proving to be her final straw. Mon mentions to Bail Organa that they always stated they would leave Coruscant when the Empire goes too far. The Ghorman Massacre proved to be exactly this event, with Mon risking everything to speak out against the Empire. Mon manages to use her connections to get in front of the Senate and calls out Palpatine and the Empire for their veiled genocide, all before being smuggled out of Coruscant by Cassian Andor himself.

Andor Season 2 Explicitly Retcons Star Wars Rebels’ Mon Mothma Story

Andor Seamlessly Blends With – And Retcons – Another Star Wars Story

Curiously, Andor season 2, episode 9’s ending simultaneously blends seamlessly and retcons another Star Wars story that features the same event. In Star Wars Rebels season 3, episode 18, the Ghost crew – the main characters of the show – are tasked with smuggling Mon Mothma away from Coruscant and towards Yavin IV after her speech about the Ghorman Massacre. This episode ends with Mon giving another speech to the galaxy, calling for action against the Empire and allowing the Rebel Alliance to grow exponentially.

As a big fan of Star Wars Rebels, I was hoping that Andor season 2, episode 9’s version of the same events would blend well with the animated show. Thankfully, it does, though not without adding a few wrinkles. Amusingly, Andor perfectly retcons Rebels by explicitly stating that the Rebel Alliance changes the story to benefit them. Rather than tell the Alliance of Cassian and Luthen’s involvement in helping Mon get to a Coruscant safe house, General Draven plans to tell a different tale.

This explains how Mon gets from the Coruscant safe house to the Ghost ship in Star Wars Rebels. Rather than give Luthen credit, who is now seen as somewhat of an untrustworthy outcast among the rebels of Yavin IV, Draven has Gold Squadron – aided by the Ghost in the aforementioned Rebels episode – pick up Mon from Coruscant and broadcast her speech. This order of events benefits the wider Rebel Alliance, with Andor explicitly and intentionally retconning another Star Wars story masterfully.

Mon Mothma Calls Out Palpatine For The First Time

Labeling Him A Monster Who Will Destroy Everyone If Allowed To

Moving beyond the connections between two stories set in the same era of the Star Wars timeline, Mon Mothma’s speech in Andor season 2, episode 9 is simply a massive event for the galaxy. Based on what is known from other projects in the Imperial era of the Star Wars galaxy, it is fair to say that Palpatine often rules from the shadows. The Emperor rarely shows himself or goes out into the galaxy himself, instead allowing factions like the Imperial Security Bureau, Darth Vader, and the Inquisitors to do his bidding for him.

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This was even touched on in previous Andor season 2 episodes, with one Ghorman civilian stating that he does not think Palpatine knows of the evil of the Empire. This theory proves that some civilians in the Star Wars galaxy think the will of the Empire is instead coming from organizations like the ISB, rather than Palpatine himself. Of course, we as the audience know better, as do characters like Mon Mothma. This explains why her direct speech against Palpatine was so important.

In outwardly labeling Palpatine as the monster who orchestrated the Ghorman Massacre, Mon began sewing doubt into the minds of people across the galaxy about who was really responsible for the Empire’s cruelty. Mon’s words made it clear that Palpatine is the one in charge and that he will come for everyone if allowed to expand the Empire’s reign of fascism unchecked. This not only inspires rebels across the galaxy, but it leads to the aforementioned plot of Mon leaving Coruscant and becoming a true, functioning part of the Rebel Alliance.

How Mon Mothma Escapes Coruscant, & Why Bail Doesn’t Join Her

The Rebel Alliance Still Needs Time

As already alluded to, Cassian is on hand to help Mon escape Coruscant. With the aid of Mon’s ally Erskin, Cassian gets Mon out of the Senate building and to the safe house where he and Bix once lived. From there, Mon is transported in a cargo container to the Ghost crew of Star Wars Rebels and escorted by Gold Squadron to Yavin IV. Interestingly, Bail Organa stays behind. Bail insists that the Rebellion needs more time to form fully, meaning he will keep an eye on things in the Imperial capital until it is time for him to leave too.

Cassian & Bix Are Finally Moving Out Of Luthen’s Shadow

The Two Fully Dedicate Themselves To The Rebellion

Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking moments of Andor‘s entire run comes in the final moments of episode 9. Bix, after learning from a Force Healer that Cassian is important to the Rebellion and realizing he would sacrifice it all for her, leaves Yavin IV. She leaves Cassian a video message, telling him that without her around, he can fully commit to the Alliance and be the rebel they need. This is made all the more tragic by Bix’s promise that they will reunite and live a life together, despite Rogue One confirming that this will never happen.

Via this plot point, both Bix and Cassian are moving out of Luthen’s shadow and committing to the wider Rebellion. Bix is doing so by sacrificing her relationship with Cassian, which, in turn, allows him to become the rebel who is integral to stealing the Death Star plans. Not only that, but this leaves Luthen incredibly isolated on Coruscant, tying to another harsh reality about the rebels of the Star Wars galaxy at the time of Andor season 2, episode 9’s ending.

The Rebels Are Even More Fractured Than We Thought

Luthen Is Viewed As An Outcast

The harsh reality in question is that the rebels of the galaxy are still fractured in the final moments of Andor season 2, episode 9. A big focus of the episode rests on Luthen, specifically how he is isolated on Coruscant and is regarded as an outside party to the Rebel Alliance on Yavin IV. This, as well as elements like Bail Organa’s rebel team being infiltrated, Saw Gerrera’s continued acts of extremism, and even Cassian’s own disregard for the authority of Yavin IV, proves how fractured the Rebel Alliance truly is in Andor season 2, episode 9’s ending.

What Will Dedra Do Now She’s Paid A Heavy Price For Serving The Empire?

Dedra Showed Remorse For Her Actions On Ghorman

One of the more interesting things about Andor as a whole is how it depicts the Imperials. The Empire’s agents are shown with a lot more depth than normal, though the show always manages to reaffirm them as the bad guys. This was the case with Dedra Meero in Andor season 2, episode 9’s ending, who was shown suffering from a panic attack after single-handedly spending years orchestrating the Ghorman Massacre. The question now is what becomes of Dedra Meero.

Andor season 2’s final arc will answer this question and it will be interesting to see how Dedra goes on. Will she continue to suffer from the remorse she clearly suffered or will she simply move on to another assignment that furthers the Empire’s dark agenda? Based on how good Andor is at highlighting how the Imperials are still firmly the root of evil in the galaxy, the former can be assumed, but the depiction of Dedra remains compelling nonetheless.

Andor

8/10

Release Date

2022 – 2025-00-00

Network

Disney+

Showrunner

Tony Gilroy

Directors

Susanna White

Writers

Dan Gilroy