The Star Wars Andor series highlighted a great many ideas in the Star Wars universe.
While these ideas were sightly hinted upon in earlier Star Wars stories, the Cassian
Andor series has been the most profound.
Political ideologies were always present in Star Wars, but they weren’t really the theme
of hope in the Star Wars universe.
Now…we get a much bleaker Star Wars story.
Where, at one time, hope was almost promised at the end of a lightsaber, for those fortunate
enough to understand the power that came with it.
But Andor is different.
It isn’t about those who can wield the Force…it’s about average people standing up to an oppressive
fascist regime bent on galactic domination.
But there is one piece to the Andor series that solidifies just what revolution means…absolute
power corrupts absolutely.
This is the real-world comparison of that idea and how our own real-world history was
the inspiration for the first nails in the coffin for Emperor Palpatine’s fascist regime.
But a small disclaimer.
I’m not here to say one ideology is right over another.
I agree that Palpatine’s administration had to go.
But I ask the question, was it replaced with a better system?
I don’t know…maybe I shouldn’t make this video.
It’s deeply political and politics is really something I don’t like discussing.
Especially here.
Like I said, this isn’t to say the rebellion is wrong.
It’s just a comparison to our own world.
And how our own history was the basis for the Rebellion against the Empire.
But before we get into it, I’ve noticed a lot of you watch my videos but aren’t
yet subscribed.
If you’re enjoying my Star Wars content, then what are you waiting for?
Subscribing really helps my channel in so many ways.
So, if you haven’t done so, go on and hit that subscribe button and help this channel
grow to new heights.
All of you are so appreciated, you have no idea.
And soon, I will be breaking away from the Andor stuff and getting back to more of the
galaxy far, far away.
This may be my last video about the Cassian Andor series for a little while.
Next up, we will get more into the Bad Batch and the Mandalorian…my favorite Star Wars
culture.
But until then, enjoy this comparison of real-world events and ideologies to that of the Star
Wars universe.
and make sure you stick around to the end to understand the full meaning.
George Lucas created Star Wars with no lack of real-world politics.
The Empire was always setup as a fascist regime similar to that of the Third Reich.
With a powerful leader who used his own confidants as pawns in order to solidify his power and
remain in control.
He would encourage unhealthy rivalry among his ranks in order to gain his favor.
In the beginning he was often giving lavish speeches and seen in the public…but not
long after he became reclusive and controlled his Empire from the shadows.
But the biggest similarity is the idea of state before all else.
Sacrifice for the state…join the ranks for the state.
For peace and security.
In the meantime he was committing inhumane acts against the very citizens he was swearing
to be part of.
Wait…am I talking about Hitler or Emperor Palpatine?
Both!
During both administrations fear was created in order to keep anyone from rising up in
large numbers.
Fear that even your closest friend, family member, or neighbor may turn you in for anti-government
thoughts.
It happened during the era of Nazi Germany, and it happened in Andor.
Remember Timm Karlo?
What about Nurchi?
The man who sold out Cassian to the Empire just before the Ferrix uprising.
But with oppression comes a natural instinct to resist.
And the Star Wars universe is in no short supply of those willing to risk everything
for a chance to be free.
Where in the past, we saw a unified rebellion that was well structured and a well-funded
Rebel Alliance led by entire planetary systems joining the cause, now we see rag tag groups
using whatever they can get their hands on to fight back.
Now, everyone has a reason for why they fight.
And I’m not going to say the sole reason for the beginning of the rebellion was politically
motivated.
Because it wasn’t.
But with the victory of an uprising does come certain political freedoms.
But first is just freedom.
A life without fear of retribution for thoughts and natural actions such as disagreeing with
the politics of the current administration.
Karis Nemik’s Manifesto is one of these freedoms that are not tolerated under Imperial
rule.
Just having the thoughts contained in this journal are enough to warrant a death sentence.
Let alone writing them out.
But let’s look at the word “Manifesto.”
This word was chosen wisely by the writers of the Andor series.
It wasn’t called a journal.
It wasn’t called a diary.
It was called a manifesto after the real-world Communist Manifesto written by Karl Marx.
And don’t confuse the word Communist with the current ideal of totalitarian rule.
The modern idea is more Machiavellian than Marxist.
In this case, Communism is something more akin to a utopian society where everything
exists in harmony.
And don’t worry, I’m not sensationalizing it.
Just explaining the thought behind it.
But Nemik’s Manifesto is just that.
The idea that it takes just one person to be the decisive strength of victory.
That there is a whole revolution coming and you may feel alone, but you’re not.
But this revolution is not unlike what we have seen before…the communist revolution
in Russia of 1917 was along the same lines.
This revolution was led by the same thing we see in Andor…normal, average citizens
tired of a government that didn’t listen to them.
We tend to romanticize revolutions of the past.
The partisans in Europe during WWII for instance.
Yes!
They were fighting for a good cause.
But during this time, there were two leading ideologies in Europe…fascist and communist.
And these are the basic groundings for Andor.
An average person…laborer…rising up against those who oppose their ideas of freedom.
Ferrix looks an awful lot like it could be a steal worker’s union.
And what do we do for the people of Ferrix when they uprise?
We cheer for them.
We romanticize what they are doing.
As we should.
They are downtrodden and oppressed in almost every way.
I know a lot of people will think I’m off my rocker for this, but George Lucas set Star
Wars up this way.
He didn’t like the capitalist government of the US and compared it to the governments
of the Axis powers during WWII.
So, he needed that fascist system to have an enemy.
And the natural enemy of the right is the left.
An idea that the Rebel Alliance was more based on a Utopian existence of harmony.
And the Cassian Andor series takes those ideas a step further by taking away the super-powered
Jedi and putting the revolution in the hands of average people…workers.
The irony of the Andor series is that the one writing the manifesto going against capitalism
and fascism was killed by money.
The Empire’s capital crushed Karis Nemik, thus ending any further entries into his manifesto.
Thus showing that money is the root of evil.
In the end, the Empire gets vanquished.
And that’s a good thing.
But we are shown that the New Republic is only slightly better than the Empire.
With the novel Bloodline we are shown that dissenting views within the political system
are shown to have negative consequences on the one disagreeing.
Senator…General…Princess Leia Organa is ostracized by those within the government.
They use the cover that she was Darth Vader’s granddaughter, but the real truth is that
she was anti-Empire and any form of that.
The New Republic had a lot of senators who were still pro-Empire.
And we see that in our own world.
Look at the fall of communism in Russia.
It was a celebration larger than anything we saw on Endor.
Yet, there are those still within the government still holding onto the ideologies of the past.
By the way, if you’re one of those who wondered why there is an AK-47 in the Cassian Andor
series, or why Karis Nemik wears a red hat, think about who designed the AK-47 and what
the color red is synonymous with politically.
A lot of Star Wars fans say they don’t like Andor because the political aspect is too
much, and it makes the show slow.
But Star Wars has always had a political side mirroring our own history and political atmosphere
of the times.
“How will the Emperor maintain control without the Bureaucracy?”
Not to mention the premise for the Phantom menace with trade disputes and political elections.
Even though I’ve made claims that the Andor series has huge references to our own world.
There’s one tone that remains in the series that has always been true to Star Wars…Hope!
To wrap this up, I’m not saying that my thoughts are the be all end all.
We all have different ideas of what Star Wars is.
If you have a differing opinion, I encourage that, and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
So, leave a comment and let’s discuss Star Wars.
Next up, we will be traveling back to the animated series, The Bad Batch.
I like the Andor stuff, but it’s time to move on.
I’ll also be doing some stuff on the Mandalorian and the rest of the Star Wars universe.
So, if you haven’t yet subscribed, go on and hit the subscribe button now to stay up
to date on everything Str Wars.
I’ll see you in the next video.
Until then, This is Gerald, a Star Wars Fanatic signing off, wishing you all great health,
happiness, and peace.
Be good to each other.
Thank you all for watching and remember, this is the way…and positivity in the Star Wars
Community is the only way!