AndorLet Saw Gerrera Be Right Again

Saw Gerrera ’s post - Rogue Onecareer has forge him into one ofStar Wars‘most engrossing elementsof the Rebellion . A sometime friend and often outside depreciator to the unequivocal paladin of the original films , Saw became the embodiment of an unsanitized look at the reality of resisting a totalistic government like the Galactic Empire , a fascinating foil put up firstagainst Mon Mothma , and thenAndor‘s own Luthen Rael as one facet of the greater whole of the Rebel Alliance . But while he ’s regularly made some very valid point across his appearance — often alongside him being othered or in some ways villainized by the eventualtellers of the historythat is the Alliance ’s victory against the Empire — this hebdomad ’s plant ofAndorepisodes gave an incredible moment over to the partisan leader to articulate his perspective .

AcrossAndorseason two’ssecond trio of episode , Saw ’s story is know less through the man himself directly , and more from the position of former Ferrix aboriginal Wilmon Paak . Wilmon himself is already an interesting mirror to Saw ’s own origins inClone Wars — Wil ’s Father of the Church , Salman , was tortured to death by the Empire in an attempt to hunt down down the guerrilla operative codenamed “ Axis , ” take to Wil project an incitive equipment that further wake the riot at Maarva ’s funeral in time of year one , an interesting mirror to hear lose his baby in Oderon ’s commonwealth - back up insurgence against breakaway rule in the Clone Wars . But over the course of instruction of this act , we see Wilmon , sent to provide expert livelihood to Saw ’s partisan by Luthen , transform from an initially untrusting , almost captive peter manipulated by Saw through equal parts dread and double-dealing to a willing disciple of Saw ’s imaginativeness .

It climax in a hazardous second to see on blind inStar Wars , where , having used Wilmon ’s engineering knowhow to help steal a supply of fickle starship fuel , rhydonium , Saw invite the young man to join him in snort the toxic vapour that make it so dangerous to palm in the first place . At first , learn waxes lyrical about “ rhydo , ” as he almost lovingly calls it , a symbolic representation for everything he idealise about resistance to the imperium : it ’s violently powerful , essential , a pith practically pine to defy the hands of whoever attempt to control it , and honour that desire for control with painful , inevitable last . Up to this pointStar Wars ‘ inherent need to other Saw ’s stance in line to the Italian sandwich of the eventual Rebellion that we meet in the pic — a canonic requirement to prove their way of underground was ultimately the justified one — has previously been determine by confront Saw as too distrusting , too irregular , too stubborn , even , no matter how valid his sentiments , to ever effectively contribute a broader coalescency against the Empire . But in this moment you really get to see the charisma that negate that prior framing of him , as we take in Wilmon go from abject repugnance at Saw to volitionally get together him in inhaling the spoils of their victory .

Andor Season 2 Saw Gerrera

© Lucasfilm

But what helps trade that furore of personality is that in this momentAndortreats Saw ’s volatility not as a potential liability as it has been across his prior appearance sinceRogue One , but the inevitable decision of a life lived under the tyrannic jackboot of an organization like the Empire . see ’s fuel - huffing is simultaneously presented as the actions of an unstable person and also the almost tragical extent of what he ’s been crowd to by , at this percentage point , X of electric resistance against first Republic , and then Imperial , occupation of every part of his biography .

“ You retrieve I ’m crazy ? Yes , I am . Revolution is not for thesane , ” Saw gasps to Wil as he sweet-talk the young man into breathing in the rhydonium , the substance that is both a death judgment of conviction and , as Saw has just evangelize to his latest follower , the symbolic representation of everything resistance to the Empire should be . Saw has put up scrap to survive since he was a stripling , internment in confinement camps , mislay his family and his home , and convert it for a life where , as he key out to Wil , for his volition to fight back back at any cost he is both hunted by his oppressors and lead unloved by his would - be allies . In the face of that iniquity , what alternative is there for him than to lose his mind , to burn from the inside out , knowing his Clarence Day in this fight are numbered whether he want them to be or not ?

In that moment — reflected against the struggles hiscounterparts in Luthenand Mon inAndorhave face asthey both reckonwith becoming part of a greater coalition against the Empire — Saw is present not as he has been while making valid stop before , but unambiguously justified in his actions , even if the justification is a tragic one . Star WarsisStar war : even if we roll in the hay Saw ’s final fate , there ’s still plenty of chance to return to his character in the streak up to this moment . But hereAndorhas give us a Saw that is , chronologically speaking , on the edge of oblivion , crowd nearer and closer to the end of those numerate Clarence Day we see inRogue One .

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© Lucasfilm

If this is to be the last time we really pass clip with him before that closing chapter , then it ’s only fitting that he is finally presented with justified vindication — and allow to burn as brightly as his beloved rhydo .

Andorseason two is now streaming on Disney plus .

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Andor Season 2 Wilmon Saw