Was Andor's Dedra Meero Inspired By This Legends Character?
Image Source: SlashFilm
There’s no doubt Andor’s Dedra Meero is a clever and calculating villain, but have we seen her before? She is not the first female ISB Agent to cause problems for the Rebellion. Many fans shiver with fear when they hear the name “Iceheart” from Legends. It appears Dedra Meero may have a lot in common with Ysanne “Iceheart” Isard.
Both rose through the ranks of the male-dominated Imperial Security Bureau. Dedra was the only female ISB supervisor seen at the meetings. This is similar to Ysanne, who was often the only woman working in her area. The two agents were highly intelligent and appeared to be smarter than their peers. This enabled them to defend against political attacks and climb the ranks. Because they were used to being the brightest in the room, they had little patience for those who can’t keep up (which is usually everyone). After Endor, Isard managed to take out the entire Imperial Ruling Council in one day, seizing control of the Empire. Dedra took a colleague’s reprimand and turned it on its head, emerging with an additional two sectors under her. There is no doubt that she will continue to make moves and gain promotions in Andor Season 2.
Image Source: Imperial Officer.com
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However, intellect is not the only trait these two ladies share. Ysanne converted the Executor’s sister ship into a top-secret floating penal colony with high-value prisoners such as General Jan Dodonna and Tycho Celchu. She also set up a prison on Coruscant, ironically named after her father. In Andor, Major Partagaz praised Dedra for the number of detainees at Sev Tok, and said that he may be sending her “more work of that sort.” Clearly, Dedra also had a knack for innovating the Imperial prison system.
Both women also had a perchance for inventive methods of torture. Ysanne Isard inflicted psychological punishments and brainwashing on her victims, preferring to destroy them mentally as well as physically. Similarly, we saw Dedra Meero working with Doctor Gorst using the cries of dying Dizonite children to break down Bix Caleen.
Image Source: Star Wars Holonet
Dedra had shown herself to be single-minded in pursuit of “Axis,” and was willing to travel to Ferrix to root out the fledgling Rebellion herself. Ysanne was also known to be an exceptional field agent with her own team including the James Bond-inspired Jahan Cross (seen in Star Wars: Agent of The Empire). Like the frosty Dedra, Ysanne never got too attached. She threw her father under the bus to further her own ambition, so be prepared for Dedra to hang her allies out to dry if it suited her purpose.
There is not a lot of background information about Dedra Mero at this time. The character was created specifically for Andor and has not appeared in any other books or comics to fill in the gaps in her backstory. However, it is strange that what little we do know about her lines up with Ysanne Isard. Yes, Dedra does not have her iconic heterochromia iridium (one blue eye, one red eye), and as of yet, we have not seen her manipulate men with her beauty as expertly as Iceheart. However, it does look like her subordinates are prone to fall at her feet. Syril Karn clearly has developed a soft spot for her, but we will have to wait to see whether it is reciprocated or if he will be used and discarded.
Image Source: CultureSlate
If the writer intended for Dedra Meero to be a version of Ysanne Isard, then we can only hope they develop it further in Andor Season 2, as she is one of the most memorable villains in Legends. There is plenty of material to use as inspiration as she is featured in twelve books and graphic novels, most notably Michael A. Stackpole's X-Wing series.
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