What Is The State Of The Galaxy During Season 1 Of 'Star Wars: Andor'?
Image Source: CultureSlate
The Clone Wars are over! The Jedi coup on our brave Emperor has failed. Peace and prosperity reign across the galaxy. All is well, and everyone is happy, right? Not exactly.
In the fourteen years since “victory” at the end of Revenge of the Sith, the Empire has been slowly eroding civil liberties, tightening its grip on star systems, and ensuring that any voices of dissent are quickly and quietly done away with. Below are the five key benchmarks that show the real state of the galaxy shown (so far) in Star Wars: Andor, Season 1.
The ISB
Image Source: Hollywood Reporter
Everybody’s favorite jackbooted thugs are back in nice shiny white outfits. In Andor we see the true extent of their power. They are now free from any governmental oversight. They can command and make demands of both the Imperial Army and Navy, and they can sanction murder like it is a stationary order. Oh yes, of course, they have the finest in cutting-edge torture available to them to get any and all information they need.
Aside from a few notable exceptions at the top (Partagaz and Yularen), they seem to be staffed with back-stabbing career bureaucrats. Historically, even in the real world, that never ends well.
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Rebels
Image Source: Dork Side of the Force
They may not be the Alliance to Restore the Republic quite yet, but influential and powerful figures are looking for allies to fight against the Empire's might. From the highest seats of the Senate to the caves of nameless planets, rebellion is fermenting, and the Aldhani attack is only the beginning.
New Laws And New Punishments
Image Source: Winter Is Coming
Episode 7 of Andor saw our eponymous hero arrested and sentenced to six years in what is essentially a work camp for the crime of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. No due process. No defense. No “one phone call.” He is assaulted by a droid, thrown in a transport, and “disappeared.”
The “Imperial Emergency Act” and the “Public Order Resentencing Directive” are terrifying examples of abuse of absolute governmental control. The fact that Andor had not even heard of it means the public at large either does not know or simply does not care.
The Imperial Bulldozer
Image Source: StarWars.com
This is a slightly more subtle, but insidious indicator of the real power the Empire now has at its disposal. It is relatively easy to kill or remove one or two obstacles from your path. In Andor, we have seen that the Empire has plans to wash away protected and sacred lands with no recompense or plans for the locals. It has taken over planets and regions from the Corporate Sector Authority simply because it can. For a government to decide to remove power and control from an organization the size of the CSA or a whole race is truly terrifying!
Looks like “security and continuing stability” for a “safe and secure society” only applies to some.
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