What Will Saw Gerrera's Role Be In 'Star Wars: Andor?'
The dream is saved. This past Monday, August 1, we were treated to the first official trailer for Star Wars: Andor. With Diego Luna reprising his role as the titular Cassian Andor, this streaming series will follow the rebel spy from his early life to his joining the early Rebel Alliance. Andor will begin with his childhood as his home planet of Fest is taken over by the Empire and show his growth from another person under Imperial rule to a crucial agent fighting for the liberation of the galaxy. Along the way, we will see the activities of other major Rebel agents and leaders, including the new character Luthen Rael, played by Stellan Skarsgard, and Imperial Senator Mon Mothma, played by Genevieve O’Reilly. But the most standout character appearance in this trailer is none other than Saw Gerrera, portrayed once again by Forest Whittaker.
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Originally introduced in Season 5 of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Saw is a ruthless Rebel fighter from the planet Onderon. Alongside his sister Steela, he and his Rebels fought against a regime backed by the Separatist Alliance. Though they did ultimately win, Saw also lost Steela during the final battle, which only furthered his growth into a hardened warrior willing to do whatever it takes to secure a victory. Following the Empire’s occupation of Onderon, Saw and his freedom fighters, the Partisans, operated on countless worlds and carried out vicious strikes against multiple Imperial targets, often injuring or even killing civilians in the process. At this point, we have seen Saw’s brutal war methods in a variety of Star Wars media from Rogue One to Star Wars Rebels to Jedi: Fallen Order. Now, it seems Saw will be playing a major role in Andor, which is set just a few years prior to Rogue One. So with Saw’s role in the series confirmed, we are now left to wonder what part he will be playing in the story.
As seen in Rogue One and Star Wars Rebels, Saw’s relationship with the Rebel Alliance is rocky at best, with Mon Mothma openly condemning his tactics and willingness to put innocents in harm’s way. By the time Andor starts, the Rebellion has yet to be fully solidified. The trailer shows Luthen seemingly asking for Saw’s help against the Empire, shortly after we see him approach Cassian about joining a larger cause. Perhaps this is actually the moment Saw first becomes involved with the future Rebel Alliance. Getting to see Saw’s early relationship with Mon Mothma’s Rebellion would certainly provide further context for their later rivalry. This would also be a good opportunity to flesh out the Partisans and show just how far they and Saw are willing to go to defeat the Empire. There is also the matter of Saw’s possible relationship with Cassian himself.
By the time of Rogue One, Saw does not seem to trust much of anyone anymore. His paranoia has driven him to the point of even suspecting Jyn Erso, his former pupil from the book Rebel Rising, of coming to Jedha to kill him. Saw also shows visible distrust and dislike of Cassian when he and the Partisans imprisoned the Rogue One crew. What better reason would Saw have not to trust Cassian than if they had worked with each other in the past and the Rebel agent had either betrayed or abandoned him? This kind of development could also add to Saw’s departure from the Rebel Alliance and have Cassian responsible for how uncompromising and isolated Saw became.
Saw Gerrera is one of the most unique and fascinating characters in the current Star Wars canon. His way of fighting the Empire and ensuring loyalty make him far more complicated and human than most of the other leading figures in the Rebel Alliance. His personal philosophy for what it takes to win a war also opens the possibility for a strong conflict of interests between him, Cassian, Mon Mothma, and the Rebellion as a whole. Whatever role Saw does end up playing in Andor, he is sure to have a long journey ahead of him.
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