The first season of Star Wars: Andor ends with Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) finally deciding to give up his life as a selfish scoundrel and give himself body and soul to the burgeoning Rebel Alliance, leading to an interminable wait before what will surely be a thrilling season 2.
Cassian commits himself by giving an ultimatum to rebel operative Luthen (Stellan Skarsgård): either kill me to keep me from spilling rebel secrets like you were planning, or bring me into the fold. “I think if you could read his mind, at the end what he’s saying is, ‘This is no life. Take this thing I have away from me because it means nothing unless you let me fight for freedom,'” Luna told Collider. “He’s saying, ‘There’s no point of living like this.’ He finally gets it.”
"I think that’s what makes Cassian a beautiful character, because he’s imperfect. But there is one thing about him, I think makes him different. He’s willing to forgive himself, therefore give himself another chance. And he might fuck up many times, and mess up, but he gives himself another chance. And there he is in the same place where he was the first time Luthen found him, and he’s there saying, “Sorry, I get it now. I get it. Now that I got it, either you get rid of me or you make me part of the fight.” And I think it’s a very strong finale, man. And also the one you need for another season to happen. You need that."
Diego Luna: Star Wars: Andor represents “the best time in my career so far”
And we will get exactly one more season that bridges the gap between the end of Andor and the start of Rogue One. We don’t know exactly what’s going to happen, but based on the quality of season 1, we can bet that it’s going to be excellent.
“y reaction is, I don’t get shocked anymore about the quality of the writing because I know , I know the writers, I know the process,” Luna said. “And even though when you read something that is a work in progress, it’s already better than half of what you’ve read before in your life. It’s incredible. It’s incredible. Most of what’s happening in this season, since we started planning Season 1. Structurally, it got tighter. And obviously, by deciding to do just two seasons, things got compressed. But structurally he had it clear from scratch, from the beginning. That’s why it doesn’t feel like TV. It’s not like, ‘What should we do now?’ It was never that way. It was never that way. We had a clear idea of where we were heading, and what was going to happen, and which characters were going to be part of this journey. Everything was there from the first time he pitched me his idea.”
"And now knowing that there’s an audience that likes it and that cares about this, and that celebrates the show for the same reasons I celebrate the show, makes me feel that I couldn’t be luckier. It’s clearly the best time in my career so far. I’m enjoying this. I’m part of the whole process. As a producer, I get to witness the process of everyone in this team, and the learning, and the journey is amazing."
And the process will be doubly enjoyable now that they won’t have to operate under strict new COVID guidelines that no one really had a handle on yet. “So I can’t tell you how happy I am to be doing this second season.” Us too.
Cassian Andor has never heard of Jedis or lightsabers
But what exactly will happen in season 2? What loose ends from the first season will be tied up? For example, is Cassian’s quest to find his sister over?
"I don’t think so. I don’t think it’s over. I don’t think it’s ever over. I don’t think it’s over in Rogue One, because I see that as one thing. It’s like the feeling, it’s one of those things that kind of follow every decision you make, or never letting [go] anymore, not again. That kind of thing. And I think that’s behind the decision of that last mission, that suicide mission in Rogue One. That’s for her. That’s for Maarva, that’s for his people, for his community. I love the arc that Tony has built, and the arc ends in Rogue One, not in Season 2. I think it’s going to be quite amazing to watch Rogue One after you see Season 2. I think you’ll see a different film. For sure, you’ll understand the character from a different perspective, and you’ll be with him in a different way."
And then there’s the reveal that, while he was unjustly detained in an Imperial prison, Cassian and his fellow inmates were building parts for the Death Star. Cassian didn’t realize that’s what he was doing. Will he find out in season 2?
“I think it’s definitely something you’re going to have to wait for the answer, but I love that you’re already thinking in the right direction, obviously,” Luna said. “And obviously, everyone is, and that’s why I love going back to Rogue One because even after watching this first season if you go back to Rogue One, so many things look different and mean something else. And that’s going to happen in Season 2 even more.”
And finally, what of Jedis and lightsabers and stuff. Will they ever show up in this show? “Even if he had heard of them he clearly doesn’t believe in them,” Luna said. “But I don’t think they’ve even heard of that. No.”
Then again, there’s always a possibility things could change. “We’ll see the second season,” Luna finished. See you in 2024.
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