Andor, Star Wars’ best TV show, included one line of outstanding dialogue that encapsulates a franchise theme that has been prevalent since its inception. Since Andor season 1 aired in 2022, many have come to regard it as one of the best-ranked Star Wars TV shows primarily due to its fantastic writing. The scripts of Tony Gilroy, Dan Gilroy, Stephen Schiff, and Beau Willimon combined to allow Andor season 1 to shine, something that bodes well for Andor season 2’s story.
With Andor season 2 one of Star Wars’ upcoming TV shows, rewatches of the first season have been commonplace. Among the fantastic writing of the show is the brilliant work of Andor‘s cast and their respective characters. Undoubtedly one of Andor‘s best characters was that of Luthen Rael, played by Stellan Skarsgård, who had one of the greatest monologs in all of Star Wars in Andor episode 10, “One Way Out.” In this monolog, one line of dialog perfectly summarized a theme that has been present in Star Wars since 1977 and the release of A New Hope.
Luthen’s Speech Points To The True Nature Of Heroism In Star Wars
In Andor episode 10, Luthen is asked what he is sacrificing to build his rebellion against the Empire. Luthen’s ensuing speech is one of the best-written passages in Star Wars history and can be epitomized by one single line: “I burn my life to make a sunrise that I know I’ll never see.” This one single line sums up the true nature of heroism across the entirety of Star Wars, stretching back to 1977’s original movie. Star Wars’ heroes have always fought for what is right but, most importantly, they often sacrifice their own future for that of others just as Luthen points out.
From Obi-Wan Kenobi sacrificing himself for Luke’s future in A New Hope to Yoda doing the same in Return of the Jedi, Star Wars heroism has always surrounded the building of a future for others that more than likely will not be experienced personally. This applies to several other Star Wars characters including Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor, the rest of the Rogue One crew, Kanan Jarrus from Star Wars Rebels, and even Luke, Han, and Leia in the Star Wars sequels. All of these characters – among many others – have sacrificed themselves for the betterment of other people’s lives.
The True Nature Of Villainy Is Revealed Through Luthen’s Speech
What makes Luthen’s speech in Andor even better, however, is how it simultaneously reflects upon Star Wars’ villains. While Star Wars‘ various heroes are committed to destroying their own lives for the sake of others living through peace, Star Wars’ villains have always dedicated themselves to robbing people of their future to better serve their own. Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader proved this in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith in the darkest way by killing Jedi younglings to save his and Padmé’s lives.
Vader’s master, Emperor Palpatine, is also a perpetrator of this. Since the days of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Palpatine has turned Jedi younglings into his pawns from a young Anakin to the other people he manipulated in the Jedi Order. Even the Star Wars sequels showcased this with Palpatine’s First Order taking children from their homes and grooming them to become stormtroopers. Each of these situations proves how Star Wars’ villains directly contradict Luthen’s line – and the franchise’s heroes – as they rob other people of their futures for the preservation of their own.
Luthen Even Reveals How Redemption Always Works In Star Wars
Finally, another deeper aspect of Luthen’s Andor speech – that continues to prove how great it is – is that it links to how redemptions have always worked in Star Wars. As alluded to, Star Wars’ heroes are usually all bound by the same purpose: preserving the future of those around them no matter the personal cost. Star Wars’ villains are the complete opposite and sacrifice the future generation for their own gain. In the case of Star Wars’ redemptions though, the villain nature is swapped for the hero nature.
This was shown in Return of the Jedi with Darth Vader turning back into Anakin Skywalker and in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker with Kylo Ren’s redemption back into Ben Solo. In both of these situations, the villains turn on their masters to save someone they love. In Anakin’s case, he saves Luke and in Ben’s case, it is Rey who he saves. Both characters are killed in these moments, sacrificing their own futures for Luke’s and Rey’s and truly solidifying themselves as Star Wars heroes, especially in the eyes of Andor’s Luthen Rael.
