If you’re a casual fan of Star Wars, and the name Cassian Andor doesn’t get you too excited, you’d be forgiven, since his only cinematic appearance so far was in Rogue One.
However, die-hard fans like us know that Cassian played a pivotal part in jump-starting the events of the original trilogy of films.
The new Disney+ Hotstar series, Andor gives us a deeper look into Cassian’s backstory and his role in the larger Star Wars universe. But if that’s not enough, here are five reasons why we can’t wait for the premiere of Andor!
#1 Without Cassian Andor, Darth Vader would rule the galaxy
We first meet Cassian Andor in the standalone Star Wars movie Rogue One, as the soldier, pilot and intelligence officer fighting on the side of the rebels.
The movie follows a small insurgent team - of which Cassian is a key member - as they aim to obtain the plans that help destroy the Death Star. That’s right: the very plans we see (spoiler alert!) Princess Leia gives to R2D2 within the first few minutes of Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.
#2 Cassian Andor has been fighting since he was six years old – and now we’ll finally find out why
In Rogue One, we see Cassian Andor as a jaded and weary Rebel fighter, having been fighting for decades.
He also notes that his newfound comrade, Jyn Erso, who also plays an important role in obtaining the Death Star plans, has only started to care for the Rebel cause after she (spoiler alert again!) loses her father to the Empire, hinting that his devotion may come from similar losses. All of this makes for a rich back story we can’t wait to see in Andor.
#3 An exploration into a time of political turmoil – ‘the dark times’
Going from Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith to Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope can be a little confusing.
The former shows how Darth Vader and the Sith came out of the shadows, while the latter depicts them ruling the galaxy as the Empire – so what happened in between? This time period is referred to by Obi-Wan Kenobi as ‘the dark times’, and that’s just where Andor is set, giving us a look into the tense political circumstances of the Galactic Republic (the government before the Empire) that allow the Sith to take over.
#4 Stories involving returning characters, Mon Mothma & Saw Gerrera
Andor seems set to explore the journeys of two returning members of the Rebellion from the larger Star Wars universe. One is Mon Mothma, a Galactic Senate representative who helps create the Rebellion during the prequel trilogy and later becomes a Rebel leader in the original films.
Another is Saw Gerrera, who saved a young Jyn Erso in Rogue One before becoming an aged and increasingly paranoid resistance fighter. How they get to this point are just two more stories you can’t miss in Andor.
#5 Two more strong female characters: Bix Caleen & Dedra Meera
Two different women, on two different sides in the Star Wars universe.
While not much is known (yet) about the new characters Bix Caleen and Dedra Meera, one thing is for certain: these are two strong female characters we’re excited to see on screen. From seeing Bix navigate trouble with the Empire to Dedra on the hunt for Rebel sympathisers, we wait with bated breath to see how their character arcs play out.
Watch it on Disney+ Hotstar now!
