Why Andor's Depiction of the Imperial Senate is Perfect

[@featgorgon3985]

The emptiness, the people who remain being indifferent about mothma, the fact that the emperor doesn’t even show up to the senate gatherings anymore, all these little details make this perfect

[@rcschmidt668]

In some ways, much like our own Senate and House.

[@jebalitabb8228]

@@rcschmidt668 I mean not really at all, as there’s not an entire system of checks and balances in Star Wars designed to limit power like what we have

[@rcschmidt668]

@@jebalitabb8228 I was meaning more directly that there are often many empty seats when Congress is in session. A bureaucrat is a bureaucrat no matter the galaxy.

[@Arauto_Kagnos]

I really liked how everyone just ignores Mothma, its a cool detail to show how that society is just willing to let atrocities go unchecked.

[@klaykid117]

It really highlights how horrifying the destruction of the lasat with disruptors must have been for the imperial Senate to actually be outraged and pass a law banning them

[@CJvzla]

Maybe, but everyone was also ignoring her because they were getting the reports of the massive heist by the rebels

[@BarberJ95]

It really rings a bell to the real world, the senate has totally checked out and only a few (Mothma,Organa) actually care about what’s going on in the galaxy. I loved how it shows the ruling class does not care in the slightest and as Mothma says they prefer Palpatine’s decrees over any kind of legislation.

[@BigMikeMcBastard]

@@CJvzla A payroll robbery half-way across the galaxy is hardly a thing that every senator is going to personally respond to. The ISB would be interested and would be taking immediate action, but otherwise what's to be done apart from sending more credits to replace what was lost? The fact that something interesting but not immediately relevant drew the interest of all these senators speaks to their disinterest in Mothma, not the importance of the reports.

[@CJvzla]

@@BigMikeMcBastard ok Mothma just stops mid sentence and goes directly for her tablet and changes her expression just because? So 80 million credit payroll robbery is just common for the empire? It's hardly about the money, it's about who the hell is crazy enough to pull this off. Sure most senator could be ignoring her but since the senate is almost empty, the ones that are there maybe actually care about some stuff?

[@neofulcrum5013]

A loud and powerful voice in a cold empty tomb of democracy. No wonder she wanted to revive it again.

[@cryptonian101]

Perfectly stated 👌

[@Greg8098]

This seems like the direction that the United States is headed toward.

[@articusramos808]

@@Greg8098 possibly, same can be said for other major bodies too.

[@Tyfonen]

@@articusramos808 Indeed, while the Empire is being portrayed as comically evil at times it has so much more in common with the worlds current political climates than people want to recognize.

[@cm275]

I know that Palpatine is often compared to Hitler but he also strongly parallels the early Roman emperors like Augustus who paid lip service to the Senate but was effectively a military dictator.

[@raghuvarv]

Parallels can also be drawn with Narendra Modi (and his own Plagueis - Amit Shah). How they're operating today in India is frighteningly similar to Palpatine's rise in both Canon and Legends.

[@lucasm8528]

I think this shows whether it’s Ancient Rome, Nazi Germany, modern India or a long time ago in galaxy far far away, people are willing to sacrifice their freedoms for a false sense of security and there will always be autocrats ready to pounce on this emotion, and the people must always be vigilant or risk losing everything.

[@raghuvarv]

@@lucasm8528 Well said, friend.

[@junli6065]

@@lucasm8528 You said it yourself, it’s simply a “sense of freedom”. A subjective feeling. The average galactic citizen “feel” more free in a world dominated by corporations and core world oligarchs instead of an empire. But the truth is they’re just as locked in as ever, scrambling for credits to survive. The examples you named are built upon pillage as the main form of economic infusion. They need outward expansion. On the other hand, a nation can be democratic but still vastly violent and bent upon conquest, like Great Britain in the 19th century. How do you explain that phenomenon?

[@pink_kino]

@@junli6065 well said

[@carlosighd]

I’m loving Mon Mothma character development, how this woman no one pays attention, not even his family becomes a leader of the rebellion

[@BarberJ95]

Who apart from Luke Skywalker will go on to do the most to save the galaxy at great personal peril. 🚩 Like Cassian i love watching this person become the hero we eventually know

[@kubli365]

@@BarberJ95 an uncountable amount of enlisted men and an even more uncountable amount of civilians in their own way. Despite how profound you think that statement is, a lot of people fit that.

[@icomarv17]

When star wars was your first lesson in Political Science growing up.

[@IsaacKuo]

I was like six years old when Star Wars came out, so ... well ... yeah.

[@starwarsnorway2462]

Same it got me interested in politics

[@icomarv17]

@@starwarsnorway2462 i like how this show is an allegory to real life. So much subtext. It's as if warning us from the dangers of fascism

[@S3Cs4uN8]

@@icomarv17 Also the dangers of Apathy.

[@MrDude826]

@@S3Cs4uN8 "Apathy is death."-Kreia

[@PlayersPurity]

Leia must've been feeling awfully bored if the senate sessions were like this during her time as the Senator of Alderaan.

[@malena5026]

It would be so interesting reading about that and her becoming part of the rebellion

[@janikd7948]

@@malena5026 you can, in the book "Leia" from Claudia grey. It's literally that 😅

[@malena5026]

@@janikd7948 good to know thank you 😊

[@d4rksonic474]

No wonder why smol Leia ran away in Kenobi XD

[@johnminer8672]

As a child of the original trilogy, and before the internet, I was always extremely fascinated when I would hear tidbits and rumors from friends and relatives about the grand story that that was hidden away somewhere. It almost seemed like an actual history that was lost and our imaginations went wild. Although it was fun to see this played out with the prequels, I think there was a sense of letdown because we were losing the childhood myths we has built up in our minds. I think that's what all prequels potentially suffer from. However, I am enjoying Andor immensely!

[@MTBJJ2001]

That’s so cool that you got to experience this, I bet it was a bit of pain with those decade and half breaks 😂hopefully Disney can keep pumping out shows that are half as good as andor

[@exurii5844]

@@MTBJJ2001 that'll be mando s3

[@johnvermintide]

Andor is truly a golden series. Give tony gilroy more star wars projects please

[@abeautifuldayful]

I was in high school in 1977 when A New Hope was released. I bought a ticket and was hooked instantly. I've seen every Star Wars but the animations since then, including the spruced-up versions of the first episodes IV-VI (Hope, Empire, and Return) with added details in the 90s right before the prequels, which were okay, I thought, but disappointing in places. However, as I've rewatched all the movies, I've come to appreciate more the way those "childhood myths" that I also "built up," as you describe it so well, were not so much a letdown when lost later but a way to keep me surprised and interested in the plots and even more in the political and economic workings that I can see are meant to give us cautionary tales of things that can still happen or is happening in ways that previous generations throughout history, especially in the world wars, already warned us about. Now the Star Wars franchise is steadily providing a more entertaining but grittier and more interesting warning than it did when we were young. I have a feeling the writers are also growing more heavily vested in knowing historical details and current events too. This is why I'm more interested in Star Wars, by far than almost all the dumb Marvel stories.

[@WiseOwl_1408]

Star wars is beyond ruined. It's rep ruined.

[@ChillinWithTheCapuchins]

Something I love about the prequels and I feel goes underrated is all of the political intrigue. In fact as an adult watching all of Palpatine's Chess pieces fall into place is incredibly haunting. So I've loved getting a small taste of that sort of thing once again in Andor, and I really hope it continues, even if it is more to show the aftermath and contrast rather than another political chess game.

[@noahfenech3369]

It was one of my favourite parts watching as a kid, this was also done very well in the Clone wars I thought, where unlike other shows, the reasons behind every battle and mission (mostly) seemed to fit into that grand larger world: A diplomats daughters being abducted and held for political coercion, the invasion of and enslavement of the Twi'lek's, the destruction of the newly discovered droid foundries, Amidala knowingly putting her life and limb in harms way in the name of diplomacy and peace, and all the while the softly spoken and approachable Chancellor of the Republic is making innocuous decrease one day, and the next has secretly traveled to a distant world for the purposes of personally quelling a rival that was once his pupil who he left to die. Its all terrific.

[@KesselRunner606]

As you see greated tonal differences between the adult themed Andor, and the more family friendly Star Wars of the movies, animation and TV shows so far, I start to see the originals as the stories people who lived in the time tell their children; very clear cut, black & white, goodies versus baddies stories. Then Andor (and by extension, Rogue One) is the parents remembering, "Well actually, this is what really happened."

[@ormapa1206]

Hopefully in season two we get her speech from secret cargo and the rest of the episode is she escaping the senate facility as the boss she is.

[@damandelorean]

Season 2 ? We still have 6 episodes left.

[@ormapa1206]

@@damandelorean yeah but the speech in which she leaves the senate won't happen until season 2.

[@MSeanMcManus]

I agree.

[@kevind3974]

Plus it would be a great way to do an appropriate big cameo as the phinix crew and Ashoka are the one who picks her up. This would both give us the earliest live action visual of the crew, the ghost and for those who have never had a live action their first and possibly only one (kanon)

[@omarbaba9892]

@@damandelorean but it’s still 5 years before yavin and her speech doesn’t happen till around 3 years before yavin

[@justonceinawhile]

I’ll have to rewatch but he seems like all in the Senate for Mothma’s speech we’re humans - like the Emperor showed the door to the non-human species

[@mitwhitgaming7722]

Between this and Bad Batch now I wanna find out what happened to the Kominoan senator from the Clone Wars.

[@matthewinviere1816]

I do too! I hope season two of the bad batch tells us since the emperor is seen showing the senate the bombardment of the cloning facilities.

[@Subviolaceus]

I really enjoyed how the Darth Plagueis novel detailed those plans while keeping Palpatine a mystery. Would love to see the Acolyte or another show touch on this.

[@petekwando]

There is something fascinating about stories/myths where a Devil figure looks at society and says, "Here is where they are weak, here is the lever we can exploit to corrupt and destroy them." I hope the Acolyte has the guts to go there.

[@mauricerose3082]

"TAGGE: The Rebellion will continue to gain a support in the Imperial Senate as long as.... Suddenly all heads turn as Commander Tagge's speech is cut short and the Grand Moff Tarkin, governor of the Imperial outland regions, enters. He is followed by his powerful ally, The Sith Lord, Darth Vader. All of the generals stand and bow before the thin, evil-looking governor as he takes his place at the head of the table. The Dark Lord stands behind him. TARKIN: The Imperial Senate will no longer be of any concern to us. I've just received word that the Emperor has dissolved the council permanently. The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away. TAGGE: That's impossible! How will the Emperor maintain control without the bureaucracy? TARKIN: The regional governors now have direct control over territories. Fear will keep the local systems in line. Fear of this battle station. TAGGE: And what of the Rebellion? If the Rebels have obtained a complete technical readout of this station, it is possible, however unlikely, that they might find a weakness and exploit it. VADER: The plans you refer to will soon be back in our hands."

[@raider_reaper_4194]

The Eye escape scene lives rent free in my head

[@MTBJJ2001]

Honestly I thought the heist would take place at the same time as the dinner it woulda been cool switching back between tense scenes, both very tense but in different ways and for opposite reasons, but in the end the heist deserves a full episode and I think staying on planet for 99.9% was a good choice

[@johnpittsii7524]

The attendance of the imperial senate and repulic senate is quite shocking in way

[@nickc6380]

George Lucas was heavily inspired by American politics. If you ever flip on C-SPAN, you’ll see that the US House and US Senate are almost never full unless there’s an important vote, and then right after they clear right back out to go continue their meetings with lobbyists

[@mydreaminorbit9297]

Andor makes Kenobi feel like a Saturday morning cartoon. Finally a live action SW show with a little more sophistication.

[@kenji6492]

I love Kenobi but it doesn’t need anything else to make it feel cartoony, haha. That’s just its tone

[@WhiteWolf496]

I love Andor and quite enjoyed Obi-Wan Kenobi tbh. I do prefer Andor and would like more star wars like it in terms of approach to storytelling but I don't want everything to be like it because that would be boring... I want a large variety of kinds of stories in Star Wars and Obi-Wan and Andor are both feeding different parts of what I like.

[@BigMikeMcBastard]

I dunno are you sure you don't want a scene in Andor where a 10-year-old girl somehow outruns and escapes from three fit, grown-ass adults?

[@wildfire9280]

Even actual SatAM cartoons can be more sophisticated.

[@Lr.Laecro.Lirus3445]

@@BigMikeMcBastard At 10 year old I would've outran them as well

[@ilir_ah]

I really hope we'll see more of her. I'm kind of disappointed by how short her appearances are in the show.

[@cane6074]

I think that's the point this scene is supposed to illustrate, showing how she and her like have been rendered powerless, and painful realization that force now the only option left to fight the Emperor and restore democracy, she have to be the one to lead the effort.

[@noahfenech3369]

I notice that Mothma is a character that has held very little screen time over the course of the entire series/franchise, but has always maintained a level of importance and significance despite this. The scenes of hers I wish more than anything had come to the film series was her meetings with and forming of the Republic Loyalists in Revenge of the Sith. Those scenes added character to Mothma, Bale Organa and Padme that was otherwise severely lacking in the final product. On a side, it (and a couple other cut scenes) also add to the conflict between Padme and Anakin and their deteriorating relationship as Anakin falls more into Palpatine's grip.

[@GingerPisces2023]

Love the new remodeled look after Sheev “threw the whole Senate” at Yoda

[@Bowiiihowdy]

Go for papa palpatine

[@totallynotalpharius2283]

What the hell is an aluminum falcon?

[@Bowiiihowdy]

@@totallynotalpharius2283 who's they

[@jasonisonbass]

I think that MIGHT actually be Sly Moore in the shot at 3:19 to the left of the screen, in the main pod…

[@milesg7877]

The show runners have done a masterful job of a storytelling

[@LordVader5738]

I feel like the next episode we will see a full house in the senate. I did some quick and dirty math. 80 million credits is half an Imperial Class Star Destroyer. Now, the Empire had 25,000 ISDs at its highest point. Dividing 80K credits by the cost of building 25K ISDs, then multiplying that result by the worth of Apple (2.24 trillion dollars). That equals about $50 million. So, this heist was like if a small group stole $50 million from Apple on a single night. I feel like that would raise some eyebrows for sure.

[@noahfenech3369]

Something interesting to think about, in a similar vein as how over the lost several centuries, as autocratic regimes in parts of the world gave way to more democratic-republican systems of government but the old emperors/rulers retained their 'position' in a figurehead/traditional role (British monarchy, Imperial Japan, many European Monarchies), in the inverse case, where an authoritarian subverts a once thriving and effective democratic-republic, how the once elected (or otherwise) representatives would keep their positions and titles in spirit but without any true power. I appreciate George Lucas' pursuit of crafting a complex and political world in his Star Wars galaxy for the purposes of introducing children to the realities of the world in which they live and conveying important messages.

[@deanthemachine8879]

It’s a fair analogy and amalgam to the shift of the Roman Republic to Imperial Rome. Octavian is wasnt a nigh immortal Sith Lord and Diocletian didn’t have magic powers and super weapons, but the means of establishing imperium don’t require those things. In the real world, corruption, apathy, and a ideology that sees it as preferable is sufficient

[@sjk8495]

Now that sounds like excellent fan service that serves the setting/story! Even I didn't know Lucas had those ideas! Although, I am curious as to how the Senate will prove to be a legitimate hindrance for the next five years until it is disbanded. After all, Minister Tua in the Rebels season two premiere did mention that those on her list of potential Rebel allies couldn't be dealt with since they had friends in the Senate, indicating the Senate is still a bit of a roadblock to the Emperor. Plus, one of the Imperial generals on the Death Star did state the Rebellion was getting support from the Senate, further proving my point. Hopefully Andor will give more of an explanation.

[@terranempire2]

Nice touch is they seem to have redesigned the Floating platforms. Presumably replacing the ones trashed in the Palpatine Yoda fight.

[@commando_barrage501]

i really liked it how it feels empty. just like how the empire is, an empty war machine with no love for the people

[@colbyboucher6391]

Most people: "Wtf why is there a political scene in Star Wars" Lucas in the 70s:

[@Juni232]

I could be wrong, but to me it looks like Sly Moore is there. If you pause you can see a shiny head at the center, then again, could be a light..

[@rejvaik00]

"So I threw the Senate at him, the _whole_ Senate, true story"

[@papalaz4444244]

Show, don't tell. Perfect storytelling. It also helps Mon Mothma to make the difficult decision to leave Coruscant (I am speculating)

[@akolyt]

She leaves Coruscant in the Rebels show and they help her

[@papalaz4444244]

@@akolyt I doubt that cartoon for children has been seen by Tony Gilroy

[@akolyt]

@@papalaz4444244 this "cartoon show for children" is canon and characters from it will appear in upcoming live action shows

[@akolyt]

@@papalaz4444244 whether Tony Gilroy has seen it or not is irrelevant, they wouldn't let him retcon such a huge part of Mon Mothma's story

[@papalaz4444244]

@@akolyt This channel doesn't have any content

[@michaelramon2411]

Palpatine: "The Senate is gone. I am what remains." Mothma: "You ARE the Senate!" Palpatine: "The bureaucracy didn't kill the Senate. I did. The same way I will DESTROY you!" Mothma: "Then my friend is truly dead. Goodbye, 'Emperor.'"

[@BarberJ95]

Andor is too damn good omg it’s giving me so much of what I’ve wanted and was hoping when Disney announced these live action shows on D+. It was really brillant showing how different the senate had changed from the Old Republic, senators don’t even pretend to care, it’s almost empty, Palpatine doesn’t show up, gone are the days of open lively debates and impassioned struggles. I do wonder though who was presiding over the Imperial Senate b/c it’s outta focus when the camera looks there. It’s really touching on the theme of a reckoning coming and people rising up against the Empire like Mon Mothma here, disgruntled with the charade that is the senate at this point.

[@roystonlodge]

In the prequels the senate was full because it was a speech by the chancellor. It was analogous to the State Of The Union address. Mon Mothma is just a backbench senator giving a routine speech. _Of course_ it’s sparsely attended. The senate would have been sparsely attended for such a non-critical speech even in the Republic era.

[@aliensinnoh1]

The depiction is very much similar to the current US Congress. Sure “debate” happens in the floor, but everything is accomplished through wheeling and dealing outside. You can turn on C-Span any day of the week and see Senators and Representatives given speeches to a mostly empty chamber.

[@Greg8098]

Yes. Haunting isn't it?

[@MrDude826]

@@Greg8098 The signs of a failing democracy.

[@corujariousa]

The series has been great. It explorers the background of the Star Wars universe in ways the "Cape and Sword" movies never did. We need more of that. Sci-fi doesn't have to be all special effects. There are lots of good stories with interesting and complex human aspects to be explored.

[@goblinpresident4234]

My country, Portugal, was in a fascist and colonialist dictatorship from 1928-1974 and this senate reminds me of our parliament during those days. Most MPs belonged to the National Union (the sole legal political party) with only a few independents if I'm not mistaken, basically applauding and rubber stamping government decisions. After the first free elections, one of the communist MPs joked that the janitor called him "Dr" when he first arrived there and he replied "I'm no doctor" and the janitor replied "Oh, sorry Mr. Engineer". No working class person had ever taken a seat at that parliament before lmao

[@Plutonicmess]

Good video. I really liked that From A Certain Point of View story about the meeting in the Death Star with all of the top guys, where one guy discusses the importance of the senate in keeping the galaxy in check.

[@zevle176]

it's true that real-life legislatures are often mostly empty when a member is making an ordinary speech. but when discussing critical issues, they do fill up. i think the main point of this scene was to show that nobody cared about the ghormans. it's not an important issue, so nobody's there. but now that there's news of an attack, the senate may become more lively again. but i doubt they'll start caring about the ghormans. because it's all about "what's in it for me?" and "and that affects me...how?", isn't it? btw, i'm finding your channel to be the best. because you cover all the topics and the angles of this sci-fi universe. tech, politics, literary commentary, etc. as someone who grew up with the original trilogy and therefore having an older person's perspective, i dig it. thanks!

[@IsaacKuo]

Yeah, here in the USA there are a lot of useless symbolic speeches to empty chambers, playing only to the three people watching C-SPAN.

[@sonicguyver7445]

When the right people are in charge they can really bring out Star Wars as it was intended. That whole scene really showed how far the Senate had fallen since the rise of the Empire. I'm betting Dave Foloni was the mastermind behind that. From what I heard he was something of George Lucas' apprentice during the Clone Wars series and is the most knowledgeable of what Star Wars was meant to be right from the source.

[@almor2445]

Andor is the only series or movie to make me truly fear and hate the Empire.

[@elwizschold]

I thought Sly Moore was the person visible in that scene... might need to rewatch it.

[@greenlantern14882000]

How many speeches have our own Senators and Members of Congress give speeches to empty chambers?

[@MeisterGlanz86]

Now into the Imperial Politics LETS GOOOOOOO!

[@myyklmax]

The concept of How an Emperorship is created was not George Lucas' brainchild. We all know that George is a history buff. The concept of an emperor has been quite prevalent in Northwest European Highlanders/Vikings, the Arabian Desert nomads, and ancient Asia (China, Japan). Individual tribes had their chieftains. To quell the constant warring, a council of chiefs was agreed upon to settle disputes about territory, property possession, and even marriage arrangements and doweries. But as Lucas points out, their is always someone who desire to have the power and influence for life. This usually meant elliminating rivals secretly to not bring suspicion upon himself. So he would barter deals with ambitious underlings of his rivals by promising lifetime positions of influence at his side. Even offering to gift him the one he desired, even if that person was promised to or joined with a rival. Once the deeds are done and the position of power achieved, what is the first order of business? Eliminate all co-conspiritor (Duuku, the Separatists, the cooperative Senators). That is how a democracy is subverted into an Empire ... From within.

[@nick240p]

I know it's additional work but the video clips are so engaging, as apposed to the still images. I appreciate the extra work!

[@the_lichemaster]

I would love to know what Lucas' opinion of Andor is.

[@news4706-q5v]

The emperor was a leader of a political fiction that aimed to create more of the problems they claimed to be able to fix if they just had more power. Kinda reminds me of authoritarian leaders everywhere

[@McAster99]

I like to think that the whole speech and issue about the Ghormans goes back to the start of the Separatists as well as it was similar to how many felt to lead to the Clone Wars, but where as in the past it got people talking and discussing things one way or the other, now a speech and a plight is just forgotten and ignored as no one is using it as "fuel" to spark things politically speaking.

[@thrawn01]

Thanks for the insight, I really enjoyed this bit of SW history!

[@garethalford682]

It’s scary how close to real world politics Star Wars is

[@soffren]

Waiting for Templin Institute to cover this in a week.

[@jon6309]

The Imperial Senate at this point was more of a ceremonial position and many senators knew this since most of their political power was transferred to regional Moffs. Some were probably complacent and was just happy to keep a useless job that continued to pay them to live a comfortable life in Coruscant. The Empire only continued to maintain the institution to satisfy the rulers of member worlds and giving the impression that they had some representation.

[@LordTelperion]

Hell yes. I want more of the politics.

[@dangle3392]

Empty senate, not just in star wars, it is also real.

[@fadedjem]

Brilliantly evocative of moments in history from the downfall of the roman republic, the rump parliament that ushered in Cromwell's regime, through to the dictatorships of the early 20th century. There's a lot in Andor I don't love, but in little details like this the direction of the show is spot on.

[@PaulHFleming]

" This is how Democracy ends with thunderous applause. " Senator Amidala Star Wars- Phantom Menace

[@BatKraken742]

I love how in Return of the Jedi, we have Mon Mothma talking about Bothans and then we have her talking about Ghormans here in Andor.

[@gabriel.skywalker44]

Great video

[@joshuam.6027]

And some "Star Wars nerds" thought Andor "isn't Star Wars" cause it lacks lightsabers and the usual Jedi vs Sith troubles while the mastermind himself, George Lucas has crafted his universe beyond those concepts.

[@EnragedTofu]

It is painfully true to life, much like what happens to indigenous people in Canada, the U.S. & Brazil, etc when huge oil or lumber companies commit harassment, mass pollution on their lands or just plain committing low profile kidnappings, killings & genocide and our governments & media turn a blind eye with just a handful of corporate donation-free politicians actually speaking out.

[@colors6692]

Andor is the first "Adult" Star Wars series!

[@ugoeze7360]

What is the underground computer under Coruscant that kept track of everyone who was a part of the Empire? Would it also have info on the senators who were bought/paid off prior to the Empire?

[@StuartLugsden]

Not even Tommy 2 Horns was there.

[@frojoe2004]

Andore is the Best Star Wars show to come out to date. Honestly, I don't understand why people complain about Star Wars politics. The setting is PERFECT for political drama. Even though this is a story about a maverik outlaw turned rebel, the politics are fantastic. Honestly, the franchise could do well with a straight up political drama in during the rise then fall of the empire....

[@peterg76yt]

I can totally see the Imperial Senate sitting still for this.

[@StuartLugsden]

Not even the 4 people below the chancellor was there. Why was the podium even raised?

[@omegawolf2589]

I imagine overtime the senate is losing much of its power as well. So many senators are just like giving up.

[@IsaacKuo]

Obviously, George Lucas was inspired by Ancient Rome ... maybe more directly he was inspired by I Claudius, a fantastic (and popular) BBC series at the time. I mean seriously it is incredible. As for modern relevance ... sigh ... for me it's hard not to see the parallels with Russia. Like ... the way the Commandant and the engineer pleasantly discuss genocide of the locals they look down upon. It's too much like the way Putin supporters talk about genocide of the Ukrainians. And it's not like the first time ... Putin, and before him the Soviets, have been committing such genocide and other atrocities for a century. There's a reason ex-Soviet states were so eager to join NATO to defend themselves. They felt it first hand. Let's not forget that in 1977, George Lucas would have been living in a Cold War world where the Soviets were a feared empire and ... given Vietnam ... it felt like they were winning.

[@CarbonMage]

Worth noting that George has explicitly compared his good guys, the Rebel Alliance, to the Viet Cong, though Also, a lot of the rise of Hitler in here. Probably why he chose the term chancellor, for instance

[@leftygurl]

i think the barren senate shows that palpatine could absolutely get away with dissolving the senate, even without the death star. hardly anyone’s there and even fewer care about what they’re doing, it’s one of those situations where if they got rid of it, would anyone even really notice or care?

[@bursegsardaukar]

The Senators were working from home...

[@tristankawatsuma8962]

I kind of want to see what it was like when the executive position was weak while the Senate had too much power. You know, like how it was with the New Republic. With the Galactic Republic, it basically had problems opposite the issues with the Empire. Too many voices shouting with few ever being heard above all that. So the only way you can be heard is to align yourself with coalitions full of rich and powerful senators like from the megacorporations. I like to see how instead of deploying forces to protect people moving into the Outer Rim or giving these people the funds and equipment to protect themselves, the Senate instead decided to leave the issue of security and the Outer Rim’s economy to companies like the Trade Federation and Techno Union. Even though Palpatine was pulling the strings, some of the things he did really were necessary for the sake of a Republic. A military that can respond to any type of crisis instead of depending only on the Jedi Order and the underfunded Judicial Forces. An executive position that can get the Senate focused on the important issues. Even a steady line of credit instead of depending on the Intergalactic Banking Clan, who if they cut ties with the Republic would lead to the collapse of its economy. I have to give Palpatine credit. He made his reforms so necessary that most people didn’t take issue with him going too far. If anything, they saw it as him doing his job.

[@poatrykdas]

this series is the first good star wars that came out of disney

[@rossphillips3891]

he went full nerd mode in this video :D

[@vinny142]

Sorry but my Autism has some objections.... 1:03 and 1:17 Look at the tunnel, look at the persons sitting in the bowls... they can't stand up in that tunnel. And where is the door at the back of the floatbowl to let pelople in and out? Also: this room is huge, it's going to take half an hour to walk from one side to the other just to get to your floaty bowl. Do they plan toiletbreaks ahead of time? Also also: the room is huge, they can't see eachother's faces if they tried so why are they all in here if they are all just watching monitors? Also x3: who is flying the bowls? Is there a room full of drone pilots that fly the bowls while the people speak?

[@charlesajones77]

I always felt that the concept behind the prequels was very good and well thought out. It was the execution that was the problem. The sequel trilogy has the opposite problem. Good execution of not very good ideas.

[@goeegoanna]

Thank you

[@TheSorrel]

Funny that most authors of Star Wars Books completely ignored Georges ideas and instead wrote it like the Republic was conquered by the Empire.

[@KuDastardly]

From what I learned a long time ago, it's because of the rampant bureaucracy that it became one of many reasons why the Emperor ultimately disbanded the entire senate altogether. Rebels were taking full advantage of the clogged and congestion of the red tapes making the bureaucracy so bloated in the first place. But I suppose the Canon might make it slightly different as we already can tell in the Andor series. If what he says about the Senate becoming a bit more active because of Cassian's actions, it might be the straw that breaks the camel's back that causes Palpatine to finally disband the imperial senate for good.

[@swnerd-2320]

The Senate was regarded as ineffectual even as far back as the Phantom Menace.

[@NRRenggli]

All of these reasons why the Senate is so ineffectual all played into why her bratty teenager didn’t want to be treated as a public prop. If Mon Mothma’s family isn’t clued into what she is doing with the rebellion, they won’t support her. Cuz there just isn’t much of a point sadly in how Senators try to do good. Not at least on a galactic scale. Dude, lay off the kid…

[@internetstrangerstrangerofweb]

After years of not quite understanding how palpatine could disband the senate with such little public dissent, this single scene pretty much explains it. THE SENATE WAS DEAD!

[@phoenixboyz]

George Lucas is a genius, screw those prequel trilogy haters that don’t understand his vision. The prequel is awesome and it opened up so much for Star Wars lore, yes the writing is questionable , but the original fans vision is so narrow they only fixated on rebel vs imperial, good vs evil; there are so much more things happened behind the war against evil. I grew up with original and prequel trilogy, is still sad to see how original fans still hates prequel trilogy

[@chandlerbwilson]

That shirt is dope. Pls lemme know when the shirt link is updated 🙏🏼🙌🏼🔥💚💚

[@Garryokee100]

Wow, where did you get that t-shirt from????

[@Isaacisaperson4677]

do you know where Lucas talks about the imperial senate and the other topics in that book

[@chrisaguilera1564]

"How can the Emperor maintain order without the bureaucracy"? Those words were spoken shortly after Palpetine dissolved the Imperial Senate, the last vestibule of the old Republic. Still five years away and there is barely any Senate left. I guess when the Senate was finally dissolved no one realized that their democracy was bled dry. One can have Democracy with Bureaucracy but one cannot have Bureaucracy with Democracy as the later only gives the appearance.

[@ariesstorm9577]

Is the mention of the Ghorman a reference to the Ghorman massacre (apologies for the spelling)?

[@elainesauerwein2858]

Please do every tool a r2 unit has and what they use it far

[@crmesson22k]

No shots of the emperor yet.

[@patches179]

If we are not careful this could our future.

[@nickc6380]

George Lucas was VERY inspired by contemporary American politics. If you ever watch C-SPAN, the US House + US Senate are almost never full. It’s always politicians giving speeches to empty galleries unless there’s an extremely important vote. Then they clear out right after to go meet with lobbyists

[@PxNxWxGxW]

Long live Darth Bane.

[@fantasymangacomicvisionary5688]

Finally people like the politics of StarWars like they do with GoT and appreciate Palpatine/Lord Sidious Strategic Master Plan plus manipulation to use Political War to create a Physical War, to then help him win both Political War, the Physical War and everything. It's a shame people trash George Lucas for actually breaking down Palpatine Genius to the point he sold StarWars to Disney.

[@THE_REAL_POLITIK]

I think it would make sense for the Andor to jump forward about a year to when the Rebellion is more active, this could give us some insight into that through away line in ANH " 'The Rebellion will continue to gain support in the Imperial Senate.." Q&A question why is the ISB and other imperials referring to Cassian as Rebels, shouldn't they be using a term like insurgents or terrorists? Doesn't calling them rebels give them legitimacy?

[@Vasher-The-Destroyer]

Honestly it's sad to watch We went from a thousands of people showing up to solve key issues in the galaxy To basically no one wanting to solve any key issues at all everyone who isn't their has been corrupted or if they are their they aren't their to solve any issues they came their to look good however it appears that they realize they just didn't care and started leaving

[@SynchronicitySOS]

In the Legends universe, the late Imperial Senate is described as a hotbed of rebellion and disloyalty. Honestly, I hope that there does come a scene when the Imperial Senate is depicted in one last great gathering, where they put the Empire's officials on blast and dangerously court Palpatine's ire. It would serve as a great excuse/catalyst for Tarkin's statements in Episode 4 when he appears on the Death Star announcing the disbanding of the Senate. The scenes shown here make the Imperial Senate look overly useless empty, rather than an institution that Palpatine and Tarkin have an impetus to replace via the absolute power of the Death Star. We know at the end of Episode 3 that Death Star construction has already begun, but an Imperial Senate that suddenly grows a pair would be a great plot device for Palpatine's triumph.

[@Greg8098]

Well done. I would love to see that

[@ZacharyGreenberg18]

I think having it empty and useless is better. Makes it feel more hopeless. And Tarkin disbanding it is just getting rid of an old bad habit.

[@sasasasa-lx6cl]

Actually it is Imperial senate which should be packed full, since you need quorum to vote properly for Emperor's decision. Every absentee is demonstrating lack of respect bordering on trason.