Would Saw Gerrera Be A Better Leader Than Mon Mothma?
Image Source: GQ
“I hope, Senator, after you’ve lost and the Empire reigns over the galaxy unopposed, you will find some comfort in the knowledge that you fought according to the rules” - Saw Gerrera
Andor has given fans a deeper look into the early formation of the Rebel Alliance. We were introduced to newer characters like Luthen Rael and Karis Nemik while we learned the backstories of fan favorites like Saw Gerrera and Mon Mothma. Both leaders were integral in the creation of the Alliance to Restore the Republic but differed greatly in how far they would go to achieve victory. While Mon Mothma felt deeply about not sacrificing her morality, there is nothing Saw Gerrera would not do if it meant beating the Empire. With the knowledge that the First Order will come to power only 30 years after the Empire’s defeat in Return of the Jedi and the fact that some of the Rebel’s biggest victories were not Mon’s victories, it is a fair question to wonder if Saw Gerrera would have made a better leader than Mon Mothma?
Saw Gerrera was an Onderonian that first started fighting against the Separatists during the Clone Wars. He and his sister Steela were trained by Anakin, Ahsoka, and Captain Rex. They used their training to help free their homeworld. While Steela perished in the fight, Saw carried on and began fighting the Empire as soon as they took power. He has since appeared sporadically throughout the saga in series like The Bad Batch, Andor, and the movie Rogue One. Most of the Rebellion at large viewed him as an extremist (for killing enemies who are surrendering and supposedly targeting civilians), but also as a skilled fighter, leader, and intelligence gatherer.
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Mon Mothma, by contrast, was more of a politician than a fighter. She only had a few small appearances in a couple of shows and in Return of the Jedi and Rogue One. This changed when the new Disney+ series Andor premiered, and Mon was given a proper backstory. Set a few years before A New Hope, Mon was still a Senator while working with Luthen Rael behind the scenes to help organize the seeds of the Rebellion. Mon was undoubtedly crucial in the formation of the Alliance, but it was clear that she had a hard time committing to what needed to be done. She vehemently opposed the raid on Aldhani, which could be considered the first blow to the Empire and the Rebel's first victory, going as far as to even scold Luthen for what he had accomplished.
Image Source: Collider
Saw appeared in the show as well, but as more of a cameo role that connected where he was to where he would meet his end in Rogue One. In contrast to Mon, when he was informed he had to let a fellow Rebel die to keep an informant secret, he was reluctant at first but agreed for the greater good.
While Saw Gerera may have many problems, it is undeniable that without him, the Empire would have remained in power. He was crucial in getting the Death Star plans to the Rebels, convincing Clone Force 99 (The Bad Batch) to open their eyes and see the Empire’s corruption, and saving various members of the Ghost crew and other Rebel cells throughout the years. Additionally, several victories that were essential to the Empire’s defeat came as a direct result of ignoring (or just not involving) Mon Mothma. Towards the end of Rogue One, the leaders of the Rebellion (including Mon) voted against the raid on Scariff to retrieve the Death Star plans. Jyn, Andor, Melshi, and her crew disobeyed orders (and perished) but were successful in stealing the plans that led to the Rebels blowing up the space station. This led to Luke Skywalker blowing up the Death Star and Ezra defeating Thrawn. These wins led to the downfall of the Empire and came about with minimal involvement from Mon. However, one could say those victories were less about following orders but rather about a pair of Jedi’s following the will of the force.
Andor is due for another season and undoubtedly will add to Mon Mothma and Saw Gerrera’s stories. It is plausible that if Saw was embraced by the larger Rebel leadership (and survived the war), he would have prevented the rise of the First Order. However, it is just as likely that the events would have happened exactly as they did. If Star Wars ever followed Marvel's suit and added a What If…? series to its roster, it would be an interesting way to see how things could have developed.
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