The latest news fromAndorseason 2 has convinced meStar Warsis finally bridging the gulf between canon and Legends. There’s always been so much more toStar Warsthan just the movies. I’m living proof of that; I remember first watchingA New Hopein Christmas 1991, and within a week I’d started buying books from the oldStar WarsExpanded Universe. Granted, I don’t really recommend that approach; they kind of spoiled me forThe Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi.
The EU expanded massively over the decades that followed. Sadly, Disney found the sheer scale of the EU too much when the House of Mouse purchased Lucasfilm back in 2012, and it didn’t take long for them to declare all these stories “Legends.” That said,Star Warshas continued to bring some of my favorite Legends characters and stories back into canon. Now, it looks as though it’s about to happen again, in the best possible way.
Andor Season 2 Is Showing A Major Legends Event
The Ghorman Massacrewas one of the worst atrocities committed by the Empire, first mentioned in tie-ins as far back as 1994. Appropriately enough, Wilhuff Tarkin - at the time just a captain in the new regime - was personally responsible for it when his ship arrived at the planet Ghorman in the Sern Sector. Peaceful protesters tried to prevent his landing by standing on the pad, and he simply hadhis vessel land on them, killing them.
In Legends, this event happened just a year after the events ofStar Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. It persuaded Mon Mothma and other senior politicians that the Empire could not be overthrown by peaceful means, and they began the build-up to what would become the Rebel Alliance.The Ghorman Massacre made the jump to canon inStar Wars Rebels,now moved to 2 BBY and turned into the event that led Mon Mothma to leave the Senate and declare rebellion.
Andorseason 1 name-dropped Ghorman, andI personally felt it was inevitable that the canon version would happen in season 2. This was confirmed when subtitles confirmed a language spoken by crowds demonstrating against the Empire was “Ghorm.” After 31 years,Andoris finally showing the Ghorman Massacre.
Andor Season 2 Has Improved The Ghorman Massacre
This Is So Much More Powerful
Looking at the footage, it’s clear thatStar Warscanon is going to improve the Ghorman Massacre, making the story so much more compelling - and straightening out some of the confusion in canon. As showrunner Tony Gilroy explained:
“There’s also a bit of confusion about the Ghorman Massacre, and what is the Ghorman Massacre? There’s a lot of confusion within canon. So, it was an opportunity to rebuild in a really significant way.It’s a very significant part of our show that can do a lot of different things for us. Quite honestly, it’s very expensive to build, so we really want to use it as much as possible soit carries over five different episodes. I’m really confident that the really deep, passionate Star Wars community will appreciate how we’ve straightened out that story.”
“We’ve Straightened Out The Story”: After 31 Years, Star Wars' Best TV Show Is About Reveal One Of The Empire’s Most Evil Acts
Andor showrunner Tony Gilroy reveals more details on bringing one of the Empire’s most horrific atrocities to life, including rebuilding its story.
The imagery reminds me of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, in which up to one million anti-government protesters gathered in one of Beijing’s most famous landmarks. At first, the government proved reluctant to act; as the protests continued, though, hard-liners won through. They were crushed with brutal military force, and estimates of deaths vary from 200 (according to the Chinese government) to a heartbreaking 10,000 (mentioned in diplomatic cables).
The Tiananmen Square protests are famous for one powerful image; a lone man standing in front of a tank, shopping bags in either hand. He was pulled out of the way by other protesters, and his fate is unknown. Still, that image went around the world, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to seeAndorseason 2 honor it.
Andor Is Bridging The Gulf Between Legends & Canon
This Is The Best Way To Honor Legends
The Ghorman Massacre was never actually shown in Legends; it was mentioned retrospectively and in reference books. It’s takenStar Wars32 years to finally show the events, and they’re clearly going to be tremendously powerful. Gilroy is telling a timeless tale of the battle against fascism, and it feels so very right that he’s honoring those who paid for protest with their lives.
I can’t help feeling this is the best way forStar Warsto do justice to Legends, too: not simply to copy-paste the stories and concepts, but rather to adapt them, giving them so much greater meaning.Andorseason 1 was short on Easter eggs, but the second season promises to be revolutionary.
