Andor Uses Deep Cut Star Wars Lore PERFECTLY

[@ProdCritic]

What I love most about the "adult" nature of Andor isnt any increase in violence or language etc... it's the nuance in the writing and acting. It's trusting us to understand the subtlety and empathize with the cognitive dissonance in the storytelling. Seeing the internal stress of Mon Mothma chipping away at her facade in an otherwise perfectly calm conversation with her husband & seeing the ties of their relationship begin to fray can be more riveting and suspenseful than another galaxy ending space laser.

[@federov100]

@I Always Spoil Your FunYou don’t know what ‘nuance’ even means. Maybe you should you go watch your cartoons and let the adults enjoy their show.

[@eziop5539]

Compared to Kenobi or She Hulk, it's like an alternate reality.

[@johnn8795]

@@ryokodeivisu Then don't watch it and let other people enjoy it. I never understand why people have to go and tell people who like something why they're "wrong" for liking something. You can dislike it for whatever reasons you want, people can like something for whatever reasons they want. If you have complaints, direct it at the showrunners, not the fans.

[@przemekdude]

@I Always Spoil Your Fun child

[@dakkat7199]

This is well said!

[@Blazecap]

Imagine having a dinner party with Sly Moore of all people.

[@Solo13508]

I know Tony Gilroy said we're not going to see the Force in this show but I wonder if we'll see Sly using it subtly like maybe she uses it to manipulate Mon's husband or something

[@collecter343]

@@Solo13508 As long as it's not super obvious, from the outside it just looks like she's just persuasive.

[@MeisterGlanz86]

or Sly Stallone

[@rileyhughes5613]

I can't blame him, she's a literal baddie👀👀🥵🥵🥵

[@spunkynuggs7173]

Who knows, she might be a party animal

[@myriadmediamusings]

I haven't been this excited yet nervous for a fictional dinner for a long time. It's gonna be like being at a Christmas and Thanksgiving dinner with in-laws that have uncomfortable viewpoints and opinions.

[@Blazecap]

Why is the so accurate?

[@kalpbhavsar]

Or dinner party in the office

[@DiehardMechWarrior]

Except, in this instance, said in-laws are *actively, knowingly supporting and perpetuating a fascist regime being run by a megalomaniac.* So, apples and oranges.

[@donlalo2002]

You guys are way too grown up for me

[@flexi2394]

so you mean an regular family dinner

[@SpagmanAus]

Small scene, but the bit in orbit where Luthen changes into his rich dude disguise and practices the body language and mannerisms. Damn that was good.

[@mattygunner]

Perrin is the type of guy who posts selfies in Mon Mothma's apartment and act like he paid for it.

[@anydaynow01]

Haha, about mid way through this scene I did a mental cut and paste of a Desperate Housewife over his face, the role fit perfectly!

[@lemonynora]

i love the politics in star wars, it’s an aspect that was desperately needed in the sequel trilogy

[@usctrojans001]

Genevieve O'Reilly is a Delight as Mon Mothma just as Stellan Skarsgård is Ruthless/Charming as Luthen Rael. I'm So Happy these Two Power Houses are Collaborating as Characters as much as Actors. So Good!

[@Jedi_Spartan]

I know it's unlikely and probably difficult to show in the series but it would be interesting if Bail and Mon Mothma secretly looked into ways of hiding their thoughts from force users since Yoda and Obi Wan likely told Bail that Palpatine was a Sith.

[@TheHobbitNinja]

It's such a rad time to be a SW fan. I'm 42, and if I could go back and tell fifteen year old me what was in store for us... The level of intricate and gorgeous connectivity at play here makes me think Pablo Hidalgo. I'm not only super stoked because this show is fantastic; I'm equally as stoked for the precedent it's seeing for SW moving forward. I've always hoped we'd see SW told like this, slower, edgier, more deliberate. And now Andor is proving that not only can it be done, the public likes it. Wednesday is the best day of the week again!

[@Blazecap]

Alex being the best in the Star Wars community as always. Your analysis are always insightful and make me appreciate it so much more.

[@MSeanMcManus]

I do hope we see her speech in live action, and I'm really hoping the last we see of Mon Mothma in the show, is her being whisked away to hand off with the "Secret Cargo" episode of Rebels.

[@andrewxu3602]

We know Season 2 is gonna take place over the course of 4 years, with every three episodes jumping ahead one year. So maybe there's one arc in Season 2 that ends with her leaving the Senate and being whisked away to the Ghost, and then we see her on Yavin 4 after the time jump.

[@anydaynow01]

@@andrewxu3602 Oh wow, I didn't know there was going to be such a time jump, I hope they handle the transitions well; and yes, that would be an awesome way to handle Mothma's exit from the series.

[@Iceskyguy]

I think my favourite scene from the episode was everything in Luthen's shop. Seeing Mon and Luthen interact and keeping up appearances but then dropping the acts once they get out of earshot was so good and I love that we're learning more about Luthen throughout that whole scene and how he and Mon operate at this time but I did also love the scene in her apartment. I need to say: Genevieve O'Reilly is absolutely killing it. I loved that moment where Mon just snaps at her husband, I did not see that coming. It felt so different for Mon because she's usually the calm, level headed one and then she just flips out. It was awesome and understandable. I mean inviting your wife's political enemies to a party without telling her? Dumb move. And I also freaked out when I heard that name on the list because I *knew* it meant trouble. Like damn. Freaking Sly Moore?!?! That's the Emperor's inner circle. The only thing he's short of doing is inviting Palpatine himself to the party. I can only imagine the reaction that would have gotten out of Mon. I also loved the reference to Rebels when Mon mentions Ghorman recently. I didn't catch it immediately but I am always happy to take references to animated shows in liveaction, especially the major events. The moment when she condemns Palpatine for ordering the massacre on Ghorman before she goes on the run is one of my favourite for her character and it felt so validating. I don't know how important it will be to the rest of the show, I kind of doubt we will get into the event or her speech above Dantooine but it was another really cool reference from this episode.

[@vinroc]

Her Husband is the definition of the Elite

[@RS2KR]

I was hoping Mon Mothma’s husband would be part of the rebellion but this makes her situation more perilous. Great writing.

[@Solo13508]

Andor episode 4 has me really questioning Tony Gilroy's claim that he's "not a Star Wars fan"

[@tylerjsmithers8385]

I know right? He's packed so much Deep Cut Lore into these episodes!

[@backtothefutureman1]

From what I heard he said he wasn’t one growing up but now he is a Star Wars fan.

[@andrewxu3602]

He's very open to collaboration with the Story Group is all.

[@juansebastian9259]

Maybe it's the lore group putting all these subtle easter eggs without him even knowing.

[@DarthRelkew]

I think it’s a combination of really good writing, direction and acting in this show.

[@AndoCommando1000]

I genuinely love how we're getting substantial Mon Mothma exposure. For the person who is THE LEADER of the Rebellion, she was little more than a bit-part in Return of the Jedi - back in the original trilogy, where the Original Trilogy was pretty much all there was. For someone who is supposed to be the anti-Emperor and anti-Palpatine (from a galactic and political perspective), Star Wars did a phenomenal job of not really ever making the most of her character.

[@Zeemis]

I *really* think that Mon Mothma's husband is going to get himself killed, just because he's the husband of Mon Mothma. I think that'll be the catalyst that really pushes her to move out of the shadows.

[@ericstahmer720]

Divorce at least

[@Farlomous]

i think it is going to be more sinister than that. he is going to grow "concerned" about her caring for those that need help and the possibility that it will get her in trouble. he will go to the blonde chick at ISB and tell her he is worried about her, and the blonde chick will investigate and find she has been secretly visiting with rebel sympathizers. she will then go after her, and the husband will say the "I did it to protect you" kind of thing Mon Mothma will be taken away to be interrogated but rescued by the rare goods dealer and she will eventually call out the Empire. and we will likely see the scene from Rebels played out in live action. I think we will also start seeing Coruscant turning darker as the series goes on.

[@Zeemis]

@@Farlomous I like that a lot. Something else that could happen is we find out that Luthen Rael is actually triple agent for the empire, pretending to be a spy for the upcoming rebel alliance, and artifact dealer. This would explain why he was so easily able to just enter Coruscant and has all these rare artifacts that haven't been taken by the empire. He does have two Holocrons. As a triple agent, he sniffed out the beginnings of the rebel alliance but won't report his findings to the ISB until he has more than just Mon Mothma and some rebels on that armory moon we saw him take Kasian to. I feel like towards the end of this series, he'll betray Mon Mothma, getting her husband killed, and forcing her to flee from the Coruscant and renounce the Empire.

[@Farlomous]

@@Zeemis that sounds plausible as well, and probably the way they take the show. the Emperor isn't above sacrificing his own troops to root out subversion. I would like to see him remain part of the rebellion, but maybe turn into a Talon Karrde type character down the road. Also, his artifact dealership screams for Grand Admiral Thrawn to show up and take it over. Unless of course Luthen Rael isn't Grand Admiral Thrawn in disguise.

[@thedoctor755]

Agreed. Either he will be caught up in the Empire trying to find out what Mon's doing, or he'll side with her and make the sacrifice.

[@undead_corsair]

It's funny how people are in such a rush to criticise fan service now that they'll refer to what is simply consistent world-building and continuity as 'fan service' and 'easter eggs'. These references to lore to me represent an investment by the storytellers behind the show in a carefully crafterd interconnected universe. It all helps stuff feel more real.

[@MarcoCarag]

All the rich detail in this show has completely sucked me in. I've paused and rewound several times already. Hard to pick a favorite scene, but one detail that stood out in this last episode was when Syril returned to Coruscant looking totally defeated, gets in an elevator that goes down, the sunlight dims substantially, and he gets out on an incredibly brutalist looking floor of apartments and arrives at... his mother's place. Humble origins for a young Corpo. This is I feel the most humanity I've seen in Star Wars that I can remember. And I'm loving it all.

[@omegawolf2589]

Fun if Sly tries to manipulate Mothma but finds out she can’t because Mothma is resistant to her abilities.

[@BigusShrimpus]

Perrin makes me think of a Kreia quote “Apathy is death.”

[@b.johnathanwarriorinagarde7980]

Was gonna say that. Exactly.

[@christianburnett236]

It's easy...when your living high and luxerious to look down on or forget those whom are suffering, especially when your protected behined walls.

[@TigerofRobare]

Based on the first three episodes, where a lack of honesty and trust in a relationship resulted in Cassian betrayed and Tim dead, I wonder if Perrin will betray Mon Mothma (perhaps, incited by Sly Moore, he'll suspect her of having an affair with Luthen) and still wind up executed by the Empire to set an example. Also, I really want them to canonize Garm Bel Iblis and Andor is the perfect series in which to do it.

[@pmduguay]

This TV show is absolutely great. The acting is great, the character development is so well written. The balance between tension, questioning and action is on point. The visual is great. I mean, this might surpass Rebels as my favorite SW tv show... We'll see!

[@Major98]

Mon Mothma is what I was excited for when we saw the trailers for this show. Shes probably the most important non-main character considering she is the in universe face of the Rebellion and New Republic.

[@lucasbiscaro8705]

Alex, I love how you always manage to talk about something of the star wars universe and bring the reflection for our world. ❤

[@SeanKL107]

I must say, Mr. Mothma being an apathetic centrist is an intresting plot point I did not see coming.

[@ChrisfromLeedsinUK]

Seeing Mon Mathma's speech from Rebel's in live action would be almost like the reverse of Hux's speech we saw again in Resistance with added weight.

[@70briareos]

Reminds me of that quote that goes the only way for evil to succeed in this world is for good men to do nothing.

[@michaellalli7693]

It’s a good thing you tube has explanations about these convoluted episodes. I don’t have time to re watch each episode. Thanks

[@danieltouzdjiann8678]

I'm sooooo hyped for this dinner scene. Hope we get to see it in the next episode as well

[@stevebreedlove9760]

they have already done a bit of parallel story telling. it would be super intense to have the dinner cut with the heist to show how the stakes are high for all involved.

[@thesharpercoder]

I’m an Art Deco nerd. I love all of the Art Deco designs that you see in Star Wars. The apartment simply shout it out loud.

[@justinhamm6539]

You probably loved the Walter Donovan's penthouse scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Art Deco fan here, as well.

[@ph03nixflame]

Top notch coverage. I'm also definitely looking forward to some dinner party verbal daggers.

[@samwalters6170]

I really like how they're doing the deep cuts and Easter eggs in Andor. I usually roll my eyes at this sort of stuff but this is way more well done than people constantly just saying they have bad feelings about things or just redoing events from previous Star Wars stuff with different characters. They're doing it in a way that makes it feel bigger and more natural as opposed to how they usually do it that makes it feel small and obviously constructed.

[@buzzbomb6650]

I cannot wait for this dinner party. When her husband said Sly Moore was coming, holy crap. I love the Coruscant stuff, Rael's shop, Mon Monthma's apartment, the Imperial bureaucracy. How about Mon Monthma's ride? This show is just great so far and will only get better.

[@christopherdowning9382]

I thought it would be cool to see imperial probe droids hovering around Coruscant, spying on the population

[@StuartLugsden]

Maybe Sly Moore is fun once she lets her hair down.

[@AbisexualCarpenter]

Complacency is a luxury only some can afford to have and I love how the show portrays it

[@matthemming9105]

Thank you for this analysis. Your observations are thoughtful, sensitive, and deeply informed.

[@thomassmart4088]

Perrin really just wants bbq and beers with the lads

[@zen1647]

Amazing video. Great analysis. Love it!

[@omnitheus5442]

Liked the ship tracking scene earlier on. Seeing how those screens work was excellent world building…

[@fairlymoon448]

The level of continuity in the new star wars stuff is A+ It's details like this that make it a more cohesive universe and fun.

[@WrenFJ]

The relationship between Mothma and her husband hits hard. My mum is way too stressed all the time and my dad is way too laid back, so it's allllll too relatable.

[@scoobidywoobidy7214]

Andor has been so damn good so far. I've loved the plot depth that's being shown. It's a nice breath of fresh air to get stories outside of the main jedi/sith archetypes. StarWars is more nuanced than that and Andor does a great job of showing it.

[@stevewheeler5667]

Maybe Sly Moore used that force influence power to get Mothma's husband to invite her to the party...

[@nyanarchy]

Apathy is death! (One of my favorite Star Wars lines)

[@benschultz1784]

Part of me feels like the Ghorman Massacre will just be the Empire going "civil unrest? Glass the planet from orbit."

[@imissnewspapers]

While Sly Moore is more well known, Ars Dangor, our creation from West End Games in 1989, has some 14+ years seniority on her. At least his Canon now. I don’t like how much later fan art depicts him as a sinister looking villain, we always pictured him as nondescript and plain looking but fully rotted inside as a human being.

[@martincamacho2444]

1:32 I think the fact is that her husband simply doesn’t know what he sees her doing is essentially fighting a losing battle

[@Jakub_Visek]

Nice video

[@federov100]

This dinner party will be better than the dinner party in The Office…

[@DeedUNo]

…that’s what a Reckoning sounds like- you’d have to ask, what happens when it Stops?

[@kalpbhavsar]

Caring about anything is hard but it's definitely worth it

[@andrewjohnson6716]

This might be the video title that I most agree with ever.

[@_thomas1031]

So far Mon Mothma reminds me of Princess Diana so much👏

[@PlayersPurity]

I hope they'll talk about senators such as Padmé Amidala and the politics during the time of the Republic. I wonder if Padmé names was still around druing the reign of the Empire as she was a huge influense during the Rebuplic's time.

[@leahwyman6924]

we all know palps was clapping her umbaran cheeks

[@Lr.Laecro.Lirus3445]

Perrins personality obviously reesembles mine pretty well

[@Zeemis]

I feel like Luthen Rael is actually triple agent for the empire, pretending to be a spy for the upcoming rebel alliance, and artifact dealer. This would explain why he was so easily able to just enter Coruscant and has all these rare artifacts that haven't been taken by the empire. He does have two Holocrons. As a triple agent, he sniffed out the beginnings of the rebel alliance but won't report his findings to the ISB until he has more than just Mon Mothma and some rebels on that armory moon we saw him take Kasian to. I feel like towards the end of this series, he'll betray Mon Mothma, getting her husband killed, and forcing her to flee from the Coruscant and renounce the Empire.

[@ryanb9749]

I love this show. Everytime I think about it I like it more.

[@joethahobo]

this video is where i learned Sly Moore is force sensitive. That is incredibly fascinating and i had no idea. Now i need to read those comics and books

[@StuartLugsden]

Why has the intro been absent for several videos?

[@diekomet6950]

I like this show and its charecters, fhat moument in episode 2 [i think] with the tall alien [what?] I liked how it cut bsck for just that reaction like thier conversation kept going off camera

[@alfredocoelho8088]

This is one of the TOP 3 SW channels.

[@uosdwiSrdewoH]

I love that they're just bringing back anything they can from Legends and re-canonizing it again. It's great for nerds like myself who love all that stuff and was a little disappointed it was no longer canon. Even better for non nerds, those weirdos, who finally have a chance to fully appreciate the crazy attention to detail all that stuff has. They're probably thankful when writing the series they can just refer to the detailed history instead of trying to create it all from scratch. When they try it never feels quite right. Like the name Grogu.

[@PaulGuy]

Imagine getting the escape with the crew of the Ghost in live action. Firmly placing the animated shows unquestionably equal to the live action shows for all the doubters.

[@gabriel.skywalker44]

Very Interesting

[@thedysfunctionalbiographer3314]

The Andor trailers and excerpts have shown protestors facing off against Imp Army Troopers, a trooper being beaten up and separate footage of a stormtrooper shooting into off screen adversaries. But until we reach that episode we don't know if the stormie is reacting to the protest turned riot and if it's on Ferrix or elsewhere.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

Andor is shaping as a good story, thats being told very well.

[@onenerd9573]

In Legends, Tarkin didn't just massacre peaceful protestors. He landed his Star Destroyer on them. Which is...yikes.

[@LairOfLair]

It was shuttle, no? Star destroyets, well, cannot land...

[@onenerd9573]

@@LairOfLair It might have been a shuttle. I remember it being a star destroyer, but memories are notoriously bad.

[@jendaar]

I think it's time that the term "fan service" is redefined. Tony Gilroy went on record saying Andor wouldn't have any. However, we've seen some awesome Easter eggs and references. If this is fan service I'm loving it.

[@Seacai150]

I LOVE this show!

[@jonathanperry8331]

There is evidence that Sly moore and palpatine were intimate. It was alluded to in a few comic books and a novel although I forget which ones there are so many

[@Repossessedurass]

In legends I believe they were but not in current canon.

[@banthafodder1408]

I hope we get to see that dinner party!

[@Geeksmithing]

Would you say that Episode 4 was A New Hope for the series?

[@Nevad25]

Nope. It was already great from the beggining.

[@woutwvg6139]

This show is fantastic.

[@DorsenFilm]

How did mon mothma marry this guy?

[@Solo13508]

Could've been back during the Republic when things were better in the galaxy. When the Empire rose Mon's husband may have seen it as a good thing and taken advantage of it while she of course did the opposite

[@MSeanMcManus]

IDK for sure, but I saw someone say they think on Chandrilla they have arranged marriages.

[@jasonisonbass]

People change over time. In this case I think it’s likely that both of them changed. For her to gain privileged status as a powerful senator with a rich, lavish lifestyle I think it’s likely that she hasn’t always been a scrappy supporter of rebel sects. This likely came over time as she saw those in power ignoring and exploiting the lives of citizens across the galaxy. And her husband has likely changed in the opposite direction as he is enjoying the life of luxury without the burden of actually hearing about and working for the benefit of every day people. As Alex mentioned in the video, after a certain point it’s easier to bury your head in the sand and ignore some of the problems of the world, especially if you haven’t seen impactful change.

[@yeahthatstheguy44]

Political reasons.

[@michaelkaduck1915]

I had this feeling that Mothma's husband may be secretly terrified for her safety, but doesn't know what to do other than sit down with evil people like Sly Moore or the Emperor's cultists to avoid any sort of suspicion. He might be cowardly, but I'm not certain he's doing this for outright malicious intent.

[@wildfire9280]

That would make him cunning rather than cowardly. Which I’m not too sure the writers are going for.

[@anthonyyoutubefan7567]

@@wildfire9280 Well, he did adroitly hint that, having the enemy/your political opponent over for dinner, is a beneficial way to gain insights and footholds for future political debates and skirmishes. I think he knows things aren't quite as ideal as he portrays. Otherwise, he never would've been attracted to Mon in the first place.

[@stevebreedlove9760]

I think the show is drawing a clear distinction between classes. as was said in this monologue, Paren (?) just wants to ignore the negative and have fun. he definitely knows Mon's rabble rousing could cause him to lose his privilege. I thought it's great because it feels like a real marriage where partners have fundamentally different life philosophies. I know what that is like.

[@OxenOrb2]

Wonder if Perrin has a sibling called Lea

[@Rezzanine]

They need to lay off the sauce

[@michaelfragoso6572]

I’m surprised Sly Moore never an appearance in the clone wars despite there being so many Senate focused arcs

[@PRAISE_HASHUT]

U.K. fans may recognise Alaistair Mackenzie, who plays the husband, as the lead actor from the long running 00’s BBC sitcom ‘Monarch of the Glen’!!

[@jonthrower7797]

Rebellion would do well to recruit Golly to be fair...

[@banzaifx]

If Mon Mothma can handle her daughter, than ofcourse she can handle Jyn Erso

[@W4kT3k]

First off, I love this show. It's exactly what I've been waiting for in the Star Wars universe. My favorite scene was the meeting with the Imperial security bureau, seeing the inner workings of the Empire is something else I've been waiting for, I thought we'd get something of that in Kenobi, instead we got an inept guard worried about getting in trouble with the grand Inquisitor for doing his job. Definitely got spoiled with 3 episodes in the first day, I was so pissed when episode 4 ended so quickly. Andor is ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@schroder1972utrecht]

I hope they do not let us wait as long for season 2

[@2TRICK]

That was a great screen altogether but there was one tiny and easily overlooked incident that took place that I think is worth noting, and I hope will be flushed out in a future episode. As she enters the dinning room to ask her husband about what he was preparing for and begins to receive the terrible news of the dinner party, she quickly and harshly yells at her human servant to get out in a tone that didn't seem to line up with her character... Perhaps if it was a droid servant it wouldn't have seemed as noteworthy, but this small incident did feel out of place for her character. For someone so caring for all life forms in the galaxy, is it weird that this small incident would seem so out of place for her, or maybe it is part of the larger cover of her true self...

[@wraith7298]

No fan service, my behind! There is TONS of fan service, but it's not hitting you over the head.

[@screamofcontinuousne]

I just can't get over how MUCH she looks like Mollie.

[@ttrestle]

I’m hoping we don’t see her speech until season 2, 3 4 or even 5 of ANDOR. I legitimately hope ANDOR has 5 seasons representing each BBY leading to BY.

[@carmeloesterrich4182]

I want your High Republic tshirt!

[@chm1701]

Well said.

[@wahn10]

Mothma's husband is absent of morals or empathy. And he hangs out with the worst people in the galaxy. He needs to be taken out.

[@alsharpe7213]

I love this show!! I grew up in the 80 s and love Starwars!! But Disney has been making my favorite thing in the world kiddie and fake !! I do like mando but this is the first Disney Starwars that actually feels right.. They should hire me lol. Anyway I’m loving Andor and telling all!! I wish they put out two episodes at a time! Any good job this time

[@johnnyg2501]

Mon Mothma is hot end of discussion

[@ezravanmelle4333]

I really hope we get to see Sly Moore and Ars Dangor at some point and get to watch them verbally sparring with Mon Mothma and other future rebel leaders. Scenes like that between these political arch-enemies would be showing the true beginning of the rebellion.

[@97CelticPredator]

YES!! I loved that kind of stuff In Plagueis, Catalyst and Tarkin Novels.

[@doublebackagain4311]

Mon Mothma's husband clearly spying on her (even if unwittingly)

[@ormapa1206]

Hopefully the dinner party is similar to the episode of the office of the same name

[@jeffreycarman2185]

I think it was apathy that allowed the Emperor to take power in the first place and fomented the rebellion.

[@gavinsmith9871]

Wearing your High Republic shirt today I see. Nice.

[@jonathanmurray834]

I refuse to believe that Tony gilroy isn’t a Star Wars fan

[@josephwantock1993]

He wasn’t a Star Wars fan before being hired to help write the script for Rogue One. But since then he really seems to have delved into the lore before making Andor