Despite Star Wars Rebels having finished over five years ago, the series is more relevant to the Star Wars franchise than ever before. At first, many who saw Rebels believed it could never live up to The Clone Wars because Disney shied away from showing any real violence on-screen. Had any other director been in charge, Disney’s tone for Rebels may have held the show back. Nevertheless, Dave Filoni was able to infuse Rebels with realistic themes that both children and adults can empathize with. Furthermore, a lot of Rebels takes place in the most pivotal moment of the Star Wars timeline.
In particular, the latter seasons of Rebels tend to lean more toward drama than comedy. In Rebels season 3, episode 18, Hera Syndulla and the crew of the Ghost are tasked with escorting Senator Mon Mothma—the future leader of the Rebellion—away from the Empire. Mothma seeks solace on Dantooine, where she hopes to establish the first Rebel base. Mothma goes from the upstanding Senator we see in Andor to being a priority target for the Empire. And if the crew of the Ghost fails to protect the Senator, then the Rebellion would be over long before it ever began.
Mon Mothma Denounced The Empire In 2 BBY
Seen in Star Wars Rebels season 3, episode 18
In 2 BBY, Mon Mothma publicly denounced the Empire and the Emperor for their atrocities against the Ghorman people. A portion of Mothma’s speech on the Ghorman massacre can be heard at the beginning of Rebels season 3, episode 18, where she makes a point to call Palpatine out as their “self-appointed Emperor.” Not only did this cause the Empire to seek her capture, but it also marked one of the first instances where someone was brave enough to speak out against the Empire on an intergalactic scale. Mothma’s position in the Senate allowed her comments to spread across the galaxy.
While Mothma’s speech about the Ghorman’s did not outright discuss the Rebellion, she did call on the galaxy to stand against the Emperor’s tyranny. By the end of Rebels season 3, episode 18, the crew of the Ghost manage to successfully get Mothma to Dantooine. Once there, Mothma calls out to the scattered Rebels cells, urging them to unite and stand against the Empire as one Rebellion. In many ways, Mothma’s speech marked the true birth of the Rebellion, as it gave others the courage to stand up against the Empire.
Andor Season 2 Will Cover This Time Period
Andor Season 2 is expected to place around 4-1 BBY
While Star Wars Rebels merely showed a portion of Mothma’s tipping point, Andor season 2 is also set in 2 BBY, and is likely to show more of what led Mothma to publicly denounce the Empire. Genevieve O’Reilly has already teased a darker journey for Mothma in Andor season 2. Andor season 1 was merely setting up the problems Mothma faced, not only in the Senate, but also in her own home. Meanwhile, Andor season 2 will explore the ramifications of Mothma’s family twists in the season 1 finale.
On the political side of things, Mothma has been stepping on eggshells in the Senate in Andor season 1. She’s discussed the Ghorman massacre with the Senate, but she has yet to fully denounce the Empire and its involvement. Instead, she says what she can without risking the loss of her position as a Senator, all while struggling with her personal problems at home. Be it at work or at home, Mothma never gets a break from her problems, and this strain will cause her to break soon.
Mon’s Turning Point Could Be Seen In Live-Action
Things are only going to get worse for Mon Mothma in Andor season 2
At some point between Andor and Rebels, Mothma reaches a turning point where she abandons everything in order to found the Rebellion. She forsakes her status in the Senate and leaves her tumultuous family by denouncing the Empire for causing the Ghorman massacre. In other words, Andor season 2 will likely lead directly into the events of Rebels season 3, episode 18. By showing Mothma speak about the Ghormans in season 1, showrunner Tony Gilroy has already planted the seeds for Mothma defecting from the Empire.
While stories like Rebels and Rogue One have shown what will become of Mothma, not much is known about the fate of her husband, Perrin Fertha, and daughter, Leida Mothma. Neither of them seem to support Mothma’s radical beliefs about the Ghorman massacre, so it’s likely her speech will turn them away in Andor season 2. That is, if Mothma doesn’t cut ties to them beforehand. In any case, Mothma publicly denouncing the Emperor is one of the most important moments in Star Wars Rebels that Andor season 2 is likely to cover in live-action.
