How Andor Made the Galactic Empire Scary Again

Andor presented us a competent and personally terrifying version of the Galactic Empire that hasn't felt this scary in years. Here is how the series creators pulled it off!
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[@thedysfunctionalbiographer3314]

I think there was a conscious decision by Andor's writers to introduce OG stormtroopers very slowly with no speaking parts or fight scenes until the last episode. They were very disciplined in holding fire after the bomb went off at the funeral, and once given permission they ruthlessly cut down any rioters in sight. That's how you make stormies threatening again.

[@armok409]

I can't believe it just hit me now, but the discussion of how the empire doesn't try to understand those it rules over has made me think about Grand Admiral Thrawn and how part of his genius is actually *trying* to understand his foes through studying their culture and art, something no other imperial tries to do.

[@stevebreedlove9760]

100% i pray to a god i dont even believe in that Ashoka doesnt totally botch the character of Thrawn.

[@armok409]

(Although now that I think about it, Moff Gideon also seemed to take some interest in mandalorian culture, I guess it checks out given that he seems to have been working for Thrawn)

[@lucasart328]

@@stevebreedlove9760 it probably would tbh i just care when tinothy zahns makes his books

[@blakebarn8739]

Did you know the author is aware and likes Thrawn's story

[@GabrielGABFonseca]

I'm Brazilian, so the torture scene strung some chords given it seemed like something straight out of the 1964-1985 Military Dictatorship, where they'd kidnap suspected dissidents at night and torture them for days on end. As someone who knows people whose grandparents went through that, even if predicated of fantastical elements, that scene felt very hauntingly real.

[@IceSpoon]

Chilean here, it also reminded me of the dictatorship we had back in the 70s.

[@lcflngn]

Knew some torture survivors from Central & S America in those days. That, and knowing children of holocaust survivors, makes it hard to watch this show tbh. It’s a lot.

[@BarberJ95]

It made me think of what my country the United States did just in the 2000s, ‘enhanced interrogation’, literally like how the Empire try’s to sanitize torture by calling it an ‘interview’ with Dr. Gorst.

[@rafaelmarkos4489]

Diego Luna protested alongside the Zapatistas, so I don't think the connection is unintended.

[@haziqali4524]

😊😊​@@lcflngn

[@DSantilena]

My favorite thing about the empire in Andor was the ISB. While obviously evil, it was so refreshing to see the people working there, especially Partagaz and Dedra, actually be good at their job. It humanized these villain's. Even after Partagaz scolded Dedra, he still sympathized with her and praised her other work. Or when Dedra realized how late it was and told one of her subordinates to head home for the night. No one is getting force choked for no reason. The ISB felt like an actual intelligence agency, albeit extremely cutthroat.

[@Nostripe361]

That is something missing in a lot of stories. Just why would someone would support the evil side in a story. I mean employee moral or loyalty will only go so far if you are constantly killing your underlings for little to no reason or for legitimate accidents or mistakes.

[@ryankwon8785]

Yularen may be a pragmatic and competent Imperial leader, but he is responsible for many of the horrific crimes the Empire committed in Palpatine's name. He even supported the Death Star and participated in a meeting there which is evil on a whole other level. Andor does well in revealing how cruel Yularen is as a person and his nice demeanor to people like Kallus and Thrawn may be a mask to cover his dark side. Palpatine recruited and mentored Yularen for a reason.

[@kiarash608]

As someone who lives under the Islamic Republic (which despite the term "Republic", almost gives the Empire a run for its money) Andor really hit home for me, especially given what's happening in Iran right now. This video puts it into words in a fantastic way

[@richardlahan7068]

Praying for you and others around the world living under oppression.

[@chuckvalentine]

Good Luck, and God be with you

[@Orto-jj2di]

Well the old Republic Republic Republic on word too but feels like empire it always was

[@jerdasaurusrex557]

Republic only means that there's no monarch.

[@Wackaz]

🤣 I'd much rather live in Iran, China, DPRK, Cuba etc. than countries like the West.

[@myriadmediamusings]

This was one of the reasons I loved Rogue One and I'm glad it carried over into Andor and arguably done even better. I think that while R1 made the Empire a vast, huge scary threat from without with the cinematography of the Star Destroyers, Death Star, TIE Fighter swarms, and Darth Vader, what Andor did was bring them down to an even further and show the Empire's threat from within and on a smaller scale; not showing Stormtroopers until later, three or even one TIE Fighters menacing the ground on a planet, the insidious reach of the ISB, and the prison system of Narkina Five.

[@duescaymania2940]

They understood the empire which I loved. Especially showing that stormtroopers are meant to be an elite corps that isn’t used absolutely everywhere

[@raybarry4307]

Amen to that

[@TK-4044v]

Yes

[@omegawolf2589]

I imagine later in timeline the Empire after fighting the Rebels lost more and more of their elite soldiers and officers that by RotJ they aren’t that scary. Even in the Mandalorian the soldiers aren’t the elite stormtroopers. Just the basic soldiers.

[@TheNorthie]

Reminds me of how “scary” the Waffen SS got as a reputation in WW2. While there were some “elite” units, most were glorified police units. Those that faced battle hardened Allied units were destroyed or completely thrown back by them.

[@omegawolf2589]

@@TheNorthie And by Endor those elite stormtroopers were possibly facing elite Rebel soldiers as well now that I thought of it.

[@myriadmediamusings]

@@omegawolf2589 Palpatine does say that "an entire legion of his best troops" awaited them on the ground at Endor...but then again that could just be Palpatine just BS-ing. He is kooky that way.

[@forrestpenrod2294]

@@myriadmediamusings Nah.These are production choices and should be treated as such. Especially since we don't see most of what happens. The Executor randomly going down due to being hit in a single room is comically absurd. The old rule is stormtroopers and tie fighters are as good or bad as the writer.

[@michaelramon2411]

In WWII, Japan spent years building up a corps of the best fighter pilots in the world, only to use half of them in a year and having to replace them with college students with an ever-decreasing amount of training, eventually leading to the kamikaze program because the new pilots were too outmatched by American veterans to do anything else. The loss of the first Death Star definitely punched a big hole in the Empire's elite ranks that they needed to try and fill in just a few years. I suspect there is also some rank inflation going on - early stormtroopers were fairly elite, but more and more units got the armor and the title without really earning it. So you get things like Lothal's garrison, who really aren't elite at all. They could also have suffered something similar to what the Russian Army did in recent years, with whole units hollowed out by corruption and under-training, and those who notice unwilling to report it up the chain. Thus, Palpatine is completely oblivious to the actual state of many of his units (hence the "legion of my best troops" on Endor).

[@henryhammond7393]

Palpatine’s campaign slogan: Make the Galaxy Scary Again

[@joshuaking8632]

Honestly this is why I was excited for Andor in the first place. Rogue One made the Empire more intimidating than it had been in a long time, making every little step forward cost so much that the characters start to question if its all even worth it. It was one of my favorite things they did, and why I was looking forward to more of that in Andor. What I wasn't expecting was for the show to take what I enjoyed in Rogue One and say "Ok, that, but way, way, WAY more. Aggressively anti-fascism wasn't what I was really expecting out of Disney, but I'm so glad its what we got.

[@dragonstormx]

The best part for me is that Star Wars has always been about fighting against tyranny so being open with the anti-fascist message is embracing the roots the franchise. And it came out a time when I feel the message hits closer to him than it has in years.

[@nadav2003]

I love that the stormtroopers are shown not just as a military force for war but also as what their real purpose is outside of war, the emperors personal force of oppression, the stormtroopers are politically indoctrinated and are the literal representation of the boot of the empire stomping on any that oppose it

[@SyrilsCereal]

This is what makes Thrawn so incredibly competent. He actually takes the time to learn other race/cultures ways of life. He takes a meticulous approach which more often than not leads him to victory. He was the empires best hope… then got teleported by space whales lol

[@Getwright-]

One cool little way andor retroactively makes Rouge one better is the storm troopers in andor are dangerous but clean and crisp and new looking. (Like all the Empire stuff in the show) but the very first one we see in R1, while still scary is filthy. -Because its 5 years later and years of fighting the rebels have started to show in the cracks of the Empire (at least thats my head cannon)

[@Mal-sg6zc]

watching Andor, felt like Timothy Zahn's version of the empire in the Thrawn trilogy. The Stormtroopers showing up in those books were big moments.

[@MeisterGlanz86]

"The very worst thing you can do right now is bore me"

[@stevebreedlove9760]

Great line from a great actress.

[@ADavid42]

The intelligent conversations this show has started are fabulous. Wonder if the Empire will panic and cancel season 2?

[@conlanvanhook2452]

“They’re so proud of themselves, they don’t even care, they’re so fat and satisfied, they can’t imagine it. That someone like me would ever get inside their house.” They probably won’t even bat an eye.

[@IronForce-ff2qx]

(If what I heard was true)The reason why the Empire became a joke in the ROTJ is because a change in the direction that the movie was taking.The battle was planned to take place in Kashyyyk. So the idea of the Empire getting beaten back by wookies is ALOT less embarassing than,them getting beaten back by human sized teddybears.

[@reeceemms1643]

does anyone else think that what we saw on Ferrix is the prefect visual representation of what Laie said to Tarken in a new hope, 'the tighter you close your first the more star systems will slip through your grasp'

[@steverome293]

I thought the same thing.

[@rafaelmarkos4489]

"Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks. It leaks." For me, Nemik's manifesto is the throughline from Andor to Episode VI.

[@DualFury]

I really appreciate you talking about the real world themes of Andor. Art reflects life and Andor is certainly no different showcasing humanity’s struggle to break free from authoritarianism around the globe.

[@Ken-1313]

Nailed it on the head. I always hated the "stormtroopers can't shoot straight" when it was in universe. Because the Empire is serious and needs to be serious for it to matter when heroes rise up and defeats them. Andor understands this, like so much else it understands about Star Wars.

[@andyb1653]

I've always figured that the varying competency of Stormtroopers could be explained by wartime losses. In the early years of the Empire (like Alex said though, ignoring "Rebels"), Stormtroopers were simply more competent. They'd have been trained by battle-hardened Clonetroopers, and many of the recruits would be Clone Wars veterans themselves. By ROTJ the standards had slipped because the Empire needed soldiers, and FAST. Most of the troops would be noobs, and by this point it was the rebels who were the war veterans.

[@IceSpoon]

This was so incredible. I knew you were smart and reflexive, but damn Andor is making you reach some philosophical levels that I love

[@BarberJ95]

I love Alex, he can convey all these themes and explore them ❤ For the first time since I was a kid I felt afraid of the stormtroopers and the Empire. So much of what happened in Andor has so many depressing real world parallels, globally and here in the U.S. I’m Native American so the part with the imperialism/settler colonialism on Aldhani really struck a chord for me and I hope like Diego Luna said you can convey these messages to a wider audience with Star Wars so they can take it to heart. I loved how you see the Imperials as humans not cartoonish mustache twirling baddies, they’re real people following a fascist system with no remorse like in the real world. I find it disturbing how some fans idealize the Empire and even after Andor like some I see with with Dedra Meero, they love the fash aesthetic and I feel totally miss the point. I loved getting to see just why the Empire is so hated in the galaxy and why in the OT so many people are willing to fight and die against them. It made me truly hate the Empire ❤ and I was ready after Narkina 5/Maarva’s speech to join the Rebellion myself. I just hope we can get even more like this, obvs Star Wars is for families but I love seeing a more nuanced approach that feels grounded in the galaxy. Now anytime I feel depressed about real world authoritarianism/tyranny I think of that line “power doesn’t panic”, b/c it’s true they’re inherently weak and can only rule by force and power. Watching on Narkina 5 or Ferrix the Imperials be afraid once they realize they have no fear over the people they oppress was beautiful, that one guard on N5 cowering behind a locked door, the prison announcer be frozen in fear, captain Tigo literally crawling away cowering from the crowd or Dedra Meero being mobbed by civilians was everything!

[@Palpatine001]

If Colonel Yularen's speech where he informed everyone he SPOKE with Emperor Palpatine didn't put the living daylights up you either you skipped a beat or were sympathetic to Yularen. Tarkin was a devilish snake and he could still instill fear before Alderaan became a "mining accident." Palpatine going full Emperor reminded us who WAS Star Wars... Grand Admiral Thrawn is the anti hero we all love to bits. But Yularen... Holy heck that made the ISB hit extremely close to home

[@bryannkam]

The way the Empire is depicted in Andor really makes me hope we get to see Palpatine in season 2, not as the Sith Lord Darth Sidious but as the Emperor of the Galactic Empire. Because I feel that him potentially being viewed through this more grounded version of Star Wars can be able to highlight another terrible truth about dictatorships and fascism. Everyday, countless people suffer and die under the rule of these kind of systems, and the reason as to why is more often than not is because it is all in service to one sick, greedy, vain, cruel, vindictive old man’s lust for power and their twisted ambitions. And they desperately cling on to life and any sense of relevance they can because they fear and outright refuse to acknowledge the possibility of a world that doesn’t revolve around them and one that can live on and grow beyond them.

[@BlueHooloovoo]

I would love to see Palpatine interact with Mon Mothma. That would make for some great drama.

[@starbog1]

I genuinely don't think we saw Palpatine as Emperor as much as Chancellor or Sith, so yes please

[@StarWarsSublight]

Fight the Empire!

[@CloneScavengerVulpin8389]

Ezra: "we'll show the galaxy that for all their power they can be defeated."

[@neofulcrum5013]

He’s right

[@CloneScavengerVulpin8389]

@@neofulcrum5013 as the battle of endor proved.

[@palestblue]

That first Tie Fighter on Aldhani was so insanely cool and scary. I love how we see so few of the Empire space craft, so few storm troopers, but when they're there they are so freaking scary. I completely agree with you and I love the show for it! Thank you as always for the amazing Star Wars content!

[@ImpeachBushNow]

its why Rogue One was by far the best movie since jedi.

[@raybarry4307]

Stalin encapsulated exactly what you were talking about when he said the death of an individual is a tragedy and 100,000 is a statistic. And Long Live The Empire.

[@IamtheTruman]

Now only if they give the same treatment to the death troopers. They seem to show up when the Empire means business but they get taken out so easily.

[@forrestpenrod2294]

The old joke goes a Stormtrooper or TIE Fighter are only as good as the writer. Star Wars, like most stories, works best when antagonists do better then protagonists, push them to their limits, and victory comes at great cost. In too much of SW the antagonists feel like underdogs against unstoppable heroes in fights that ultimately have no real stakes. Andor was a very nice return to form.

[@Bad_Wolf_Media]

I think it's fair to call Karn something of a "wannabe," but I take exception to the disparagement of Sgt. Linus Mosk. Mosk didn't want to be anything other than what he was, and he was a perfect characterization of a senior NCO. If you want another example in entertainment, put on Clint Eastwood's "Heartbreak Ridge" and pay attention to Arlen Dean Snyder's Sgt. Major Choozoo. His job isn't to be the leader, but to take the orders he's given, come up with a plan to execute those orders, and make the officer in charge look good in the process. Mosk wasn't going in to cause trouble on Ferrix. He did not order his men to "put down" anyone getting in the way. He didn't say the words, but by his actions, he showed that the best thing to do was simply to ignore everyone that wasn't part of the mission. And that mission was not to kill Cassian Andor. It was to serve and arrest warrant and bring him in on suspicion of his part in the death of two security officers. Those weren't made-up charges, Andor did that. As the audience, we know he didn't instigate, but in-world, they have two dead bodies and a guy they suspected of doing it, or at least being involved. Are they supposed to shrug that off because his file said "main protagonist, do not pursue?" Mosk was great at his job, whether or not you LIKE that job. The only person I think that got screwed over more than him was Chief Hyne, but that's a "buck stops here" thing, because he was in charge, so it's ultimately his responsiblity. Yeah, defending Sgt. Linus Mosk is a hill I will die on!

[@stevebreedlove9760]

As you should. He was great.

[@keyabrade1861]

They made the Empire banal. That's what made them scary. Darth Vader and the Death Star are scary, but in a cartoonish kind of way. _Andor's_ Empire, on the other hand, is scary in a "Nazi turning the valves on the gas chambers, then going home and having a perfectly respectable dinner with his family" kind of way. Previous Star Wars works have made the Empire scary. Andor? It made the Empire _vile_ .

[@FATE522]

I think what made the stormtroopers terrifying in Andor is their silence. Following orders without remorse or fear. Having a face for leaders to relate to made the Empire unsettling and foreboding. You really get a sense of Andor that their pride has really consumed them. They are self-assured, competent and competitive. When freedom is expressed by the numbers I love how terrified they are and how they shrink in fear knowing they did wrong and are powerless.

[@BenWillyums]

"They let.us.go." Leia in ANH

[@danielgielow8482]

Thank you for these and your other videos to Andor. I love the show, too, and I like your reviews and analyses a lot. And I agree to your analysis in this video, too. Rogue One and Andor has made the empire a real threat again by showing their inner workings only focussed on efficiency lead by ruthless people who don't care for others and their individual destinys. Another big issue shown by "Andor" is the progressed colonisation of other planets and their peoples by the empire, not caring or willingly destroying their collective culture, traditions and values (Kenari, Ferrix, Aldhani, Narkina 5). "They don't care because they don't have to" and "Nobody's listening". And that is sometimes scarier than any battleship. And don't forget the slave factories as "prison" and the random arrestings. The whole prison arc sets the tone and the danger of the empire on a very much higher level and make it a real regime and not just some poor aiming stormtroopers lead by a dark sith. And in "Andor" also are the shown forces not so far from police and military in the real word. Arrestor cruisers for police control, crowd riot control forces like on demonstrations and special trained military forces shooting very aimed.

[@ObiClon]

It is nice to see the Empire as they were as a serious threat as opposed to now when they're mostly a joke

[@raybarry4307]

I'm afraid you're KZbin picture is a bit seditious. I'm afraid the ISB will be wanting a word with you

[@spartansam6322]

I'd say Andor's approach to the Empire is almost perfect. The Death Troopers could have been done better if you ask me, something you also pointed out in a previous video

[@cassianandor5795]

I like this Star Wars Explained Channel.

[@leocmen]

It is a Masterpiece, - not only story - cinematography, music, performance/actuation... Everything is beautiful

[@bold1066]

Question: With the Empire being made scary again and recognizing that Dedra is an evil villain through and through, how do you think it will play out in the Acolyte? Isn't the story for the Acolyte following the Sith?

[@stevebreedlove9760]

Are you asking if the morality of the Sith characters will be nuanced? I hope so but i dont suspect so.

[@bold1066]

@@stevebreedlove9760 Would you watch a show about Dedra? Where she is the main character and we are following her and rooting for her to succeed? I am looking forward to Acolyte, but I wonder if the main character is a Sith doing things like torture.

[@raybarry4307]

@@bold1066 Hell, l would

[@neofulcrum5013]

Maybe now people can finally stop complaining about stormtroopers not hitting anything. Oh wait. This is the Star war fandom that can’t be satisfied.

[@TheGeekyHippie]

When folks online comment about how bad Stormtroopers are when it comes to their aim, I think back to all those men defending the Tantive IV when it was boarded by Vader and his troops. I then just shake my head at such comments. How quickly some forget the very first experience we ever had with Imperial Stormtroopers. What folks forgive in other film regarding soldier's efficacy, they utterly ignore when it comes to Star Wars. Even when those films are set in the real world, and so should have more real stakes, and a greater sense of verisimilitude. "Those Nazis missed with every shot they took! Lucky for our main characters!" they say in one case, while "look at those incompetent Stormtroopers! They can't hit our heroes! How lame they are!"

[@jeffreycarman2185]

One of the strengths of Andor is that the agents are laughably petty, conniving to the point of embarrassment, and also terrifyingly or boring in their evil. Blevin and Commandant Beehaz that are so boring and vane in their cruelty so as to nearly make us forget that their intentions are so evil. Then we have Dedra and Major Partagaz who don’t bat an eye about torture and murder.

[@KieranK812]

Watching them walk forward firing calmy while the crowd fell and bombs went off in the finale gave me chills

[@muhammadhabibieamiro3639]

Yes they did

[@facundopollacino7956]

"Tuvimos qué esperar 45 años para este momento". - cualquier fan de Star Wars desde 1977.

[@Batmans_Pet_Goldfish]

Stormtroopers SHOULD be scary. If you have villains that are highly competent, you get a greater challenge for your main characters. It's even better if they grow as time goes on.

[@null_verdict]

6:52 The Empire: "Once more, with feeling"

[@mechtech220]

Couldn't have said it better!

[@photomatt11]

The downtrodden people of Ferrix seem way scarier to me.

[@rhob2422]

Andor is literally a macrocosm of our modern society.

why does everyone keep referring to the Palpatine space telescope as 'death star', now that we now better? The whole planet killer thing is just because no one read the fricking manual... they just need to dial down the auto focusing laser, when watching objects close by... nothing to be afraid of, when used right!

[@magiv4205]

Something that especially struck me, apart from the incredible nuances of the main bad guys, was how often they showed unimportant empire grunts doing _mundane, everyday things._ Things like enjoying themselves while eating fast food pasta at work, going on coffee breaks, eating cereal, being generally fed up with their superiors but only in the way that they want to keep doing their daily routine in peace, being stressed over the fact that other members of the team aren't doing their job because that will mean they too get in trouble (especially in the prison arc), and in general, the fact that it's not the comically evil supervillains and overlords who make fascism so terrifying, or even the nuanced Gestapo - aehm, I mean _ISB_ - officer, it's the complacency of the normal people around you. And then, even more striking was something I didn't expect: Small acts of compassion - but, almost always, only for themselves and those on their own side. The policeman at the start who was distraught by the death of his colleague, way before he even realized that he should be afraid for his own life. The policeman on Ferrix who shot Timm out of fear and was in immediate shock over what he just did - before his superior set him "straight" and reminded him in no uncertain terms that it wasn't the fact that he took a life, but the fact that he looked incompetent while doing it. Thus, enforcing the message that there's no use talking about "bad apples" when even good apples are driven by an injust system to become just as bad as everyone else (This show really keeps saying ACAB and it's amazing). Sergeant Mossk who, instead of ordering his remaining men to chase down Cassian and Luthen, instead shouted for immediate assistance and a medic for his injured and dead men. And the Aldhani Imperial who gave his life without hesitation for the boy the rebels took hostage. More than anything, this showcase of oppressive regimes initially breeding an us vs. Them mentality and then continually slowly sucking all light and compassion out of otherwise normal people was... haunting. The first ones you dehumanize will be those on the enemy side. And in the end, your only goal will be saving your own hide, no matter if you have to step over foe or friend to accomplish it. "I don't have to outrun the monster. I only have to outrun the slowest of my friends so the monster gets them instead." We're so used to seeing villains trample over eachother to achieve their goals, and that is and will always be the end result. Evil has no friends. Evil is isolating. Evil is lonely. Good, hope lies in community, in compassion, in helping eachother to be better than each one of us could be on our own. There's a very good reason that "the power of friendship/love" trope will never die and is a central theme in almost any story that stood the test of time. But, while we're used to seeing the end result and loneliness of evil, Andor rolls back the clock. It shows us the beginning, the mundane, the good in humanity - and its gradual, step by step erosion. We are all frogs sitting in a pot of water that is slowly heating up. And we don't realize we're being cooked alive until it's too late. And that is absolutely _terrifying._

[@brendankim6015]

Props for the 13th shoutout, should be mandatory viewing for everyone

[@m.a.2633]

My favorite thing about Andor is that they've made the Empire look efficient and strong throughout the show thanks to some smart plot writing. A series deserving of the Star Wars name.

[@GameTavern2224]

The empires show of force has always ended in failure. It failed on Farrix, it failed at Lothal, it failed spectacularly at Endor.

[@user-cd4bx6uq1y]

For a supposed fairy tale that plays on general understanding, the discussion behind it is much more deep and complex then about most historical documentaries

[@allanjstark]

As I Child, back in the 70s 80s I was amazed and scared how the Stormtroopers rolled up the Tantive V and Echo base.

[@Cmmdre977]

Can’t wait for mando season 3 to make them cartoon villains again

[@michaelm6384]

It made the empire even more badass.

[@maclunkeystudios21]

I think the best part about the stormtroopers in Andor was not how they could actually aim, but how disciplined and sharp they were. They don’t immediately open fire on the civilians when the riot breaks out, they just watch coolly with their fingers resting on the trigger, ready to start shooting if they need to

[@GardenFootCreature]

This is the most astute and intelligent star wars youtube video I have ever seen.

[@michaelkaduck1915]

I think it's telling that most of the villains don't have their helmets on. The Imperials think they are invulnerable, much like the corrupt police forces of the US, Russia, Iran and China. It makes it even more satisfying to see them crumble at how weak they are when overwhelmed. Every colonial empire collapses eventually. The Vietnamese defeated the French and the Americans, the Russians defeated Napoleon, the Mozambique rebels laid the Portuguese fascist army to waste. Props to the writers fir making the empire intimidating, while also showing they could be defeated.

[@soniaholcombe7002]

I’m lost on Wednesdays without Andor. 😭😭😭😭😭😩😩😩💖

[@Jerao]

Shout out for plugging Thirteenth, Alex . Good connection.

[@xanmontes8715]

If your soldiers cannot follow orders, they will not do some of the horrible things we hear about. But you also risk having your army destroyed. So, blind obedience is cultivated and encouraged. Reckless loyalty to one's Empire, tempered with absolute loyalty to one's squadmates. Thus your soldiers will defend their brothers in arms and when those brothers die, they will avenge them with righteous fury, taking heed to no one else, for those who fight them are those who killed their brothers in the first place and thus are unworthy of mercy or compassion. They are become the faceless specter of Death that hangs over every soldier. That's why Stormtroopers are scary.

[@psnitkin4059]

The Stormtroopers in the finale were crack shots. Made them terrifying.

[@nancygreen3962]

You continue to be the best commentator on SW content. Your pieces are always well thought out and thorough.

[@a.jordan9288]

Empire literally started with a genocide dunno who would think they became less evil.

[@frogsaup]

Something that would fully get the message trough to everyobe that the empire is powerful would be a orbital bombarding of the ferrix city but maybe thats too dark

[@kallewardracing]

I loved this, it’s one thing to say Andor did _____ but it’s another to really explain with examples.

[@brunobertossi]

The real fear of Stormtroopers and its imagery doesnt come from their skill with blasters or their violence. Its the fact that under that armor stands a radicalized human being who really believes in the Empire, who really believes in Fascism and order over society and thats the really scary part.

[@yaotlenemy666]

Alex and Molly getting breadpilled by andor, LETS GOOOO

[@stevebreedlove9760]

They seem breadpilled already they just keep it to themselves. EA Voss is another that suprises me with his knowledge of the philosophy Gilroy wove into Andor.

[@JohanMsWorld]

I lived how they showed the inner working of the ISB and its company powerhouses. But apart from that I expected more. J.

[@isaaclavoie]

NAILED IT! Love your reviews and insights, thanks!

[@user-Jay178]

Yeah the empire was actually threatening in this show

[@Apollo_Sierra]

I mean Mandalorians joking about Stormtroopers not being able to hit stuff makes sense, Mandalorians are all about the martial prowess.

[@zebropl3973]

Well, its makes even more similarities to the American intervention in Vietnam.

[@chuckvalentine]

Well Said! This show is exactly what a bitter old SW fan needed! 3 more seasons!

[@joncarroll2040]

The Empire has always been the comic book version of facism. Like blowing up a planet it bad but its so over the top impossible that it loses its impact. What the Empire does in the prison is deeply disturbing in how real it feels.

[@thesharpercoder]

Alex is the best. He explains things almost as well as Threepio can tell a story.

[@jayburdification]

Great content, thanks. Love your insightful essays.

[@bigdadybojangls9219]

I honestly don’t understand why more starwars creators don’t take a lot of inspiration from how the German Wehrmacht and the SS are portrayed in WW2 films since the empire is based on them.

[@gabriel.skywalker44]

Very Interesting

[@interviolet6675]

Rogue one had a brilliant ambush scene, I don't know quite how realistic it is But I buy it, the Jedha ambush is brutal and innocents get caught in the crossfire Even if the rebels take out as many imperials they get smoked with ruthless efficiency And the reality sets in when reinforcements are around the corner and the iron fist is terrifying

[@landonweldy5468]

I feel like instead of Ewoks, RotJ should've had wookies... maybe they put Chewie on trial for leaving them or something. Or maybe some of them are enslaved by the Empire. But whatever. I'm fine with the teddies. And I guess the Empire isn't on the forest moon to colonize it, but just to have the shield generator. My biggest gripe with RotJ is Han not having anything to do. His arc was finished already.

[@paakdisayaniyom]

And this makes their downfall even more ironic (the proud, fat and satisfied Galactic Empire are losing to a bunch of teddy bears)

[@tavernburner3066]

0:43 should have gone with wookies.

[@rbw3000]

Love the plug of the doc 13th and political analysis, which potentially went over the heads of many.

[@bluegrassboy2448]

Agreed. Not many Star Wars expressions trigger my PTSD, but I had to pause a few times watching episodes 7-10 of Andor.

[@petimanus]

I loved in recent star wars shows when they show us how terrifying the empires weapons can be when they are against single footsoldiers. The first of that was the AT-ST in mandalorian...That was scary...It was not the same when teddy bears took down one after another. Then it was a TIE fighter at the end of season one...One TIE fighter was the big boss fight at the end of mando season one. And now...Andor shows us how scary and cold blooded the empire is to the individuals...That is what the emperror and Tarkin wanted to build. A cold blooded terrifying entity that keeps the people in fear so they never have to fight a war. But when the rebellion goes big the empire slowly starts to crumble. They were meant to be opressors not soldiers of war. ISB shows how important was for them the prevention yet they were realy oblivious of what people can do when they start to yearn freedom. That is the gritty star wars I have been waiting for! When the fight is real and every loss is meaningful.

[@jamesgravil9162]

"The death of one man is a tragedy. The death of millions is a statistic." Josef Stalin must have been thinking of Obi-wan Kenobi and Alderaan when he made that famous statement.

[@jeffreycarman2185]

What an excellent analysis of this awesome show.

[@TheRosadochris]

Not releated but I hope we get a Indy 5 trailer break down from you

[@connormcleod9595]

Too good for star wars

[@irishrailenthusiast1977]

Keep up the good work! Love your content

[@Penguin-lc3eg]

I cant imagine this ends well for ferrix if we see it in season 2. The empire will like you said respond to the finale with even more extreme measures

[@garrettjackson1451]

I need to rewatch andor I never got to into it