Warning: Spoilers for Andor episodes 1-3
Andor’s first three episodes have revealed an interesting link between the Disney+ series and The Mandalorian. On the surface, the two shows are hardly similar. However, it seems the shows’ protagonists have more in common than originally expected.
From the beginning, Andor was shaping up to be different from all three of the live-action Star Wars shows that preceded it. And so far, it’s living up to that promise. Although Diego Luna’s character is an established Star Wars character in the same vein of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi, he’s not embarking on grand adventures or taking on armies of enemies. In a sense, Andor comes across as a story on a smaller scale, in that it puts its focus on normal people surviving in the Galaxy under the Empire’s rule. And Cassian, for his part, is far from the Rebel hero he’s known to be in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Plus, it features a darker tone than what viewers have become accustomed to with The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and The Book of Boba Fett.
In spite of their many differences, Andor and The Mandalorian share a deep connection. The three-part premiere of Andor delved into a previously unknown aspect of Cassian’s life by using flashbacks to explore his childhood. Apparently, he grew up as a boy separated from his people by tragedy. A crashed ship on his home planet led to his people seemingly getting wiped out with Cassian being rescued by a couple of salvagers. This backstory is reminiscent of what The Mandalorian did with its protagonist, who is also an orphan. Not unlike what happened to Cassian, Din Djarin began his Star Wars journey when the Mandalorians saved him from a massacre that devastated his homeland.
Why Andor & Din Djarin’s Orphan Backstories Are So Important
For the Mandalorian, his roots are crucial to his entire story in the Star Wars franchise. In a way, it’s what drives him. Having no one and then being taken in by the Mandalorians is a core element of his character. The Mandalorians became his family, which has a lot to do with why following the Way of the Mandalore is so important to him in his Star Wars show. Where he came from perfectly explains why Mando cares so much about being a part of the clan.
With Cassian, the significance of his backstory is a bit less clear than the situation with The Mandalorian, considering that Star Wars is only three episodes into his Disney+ series. That being said, it’s become apparent that it’ll be a huge factor going forward. Cassian has a new life now, but it’s obvious that he hasn’t let go of his past, which is ultimately what set the show’s story in motion in the first place. Making an inquiry into his long-lost sister from Kenari is what got him into the mess he found himself in Andor episode 1. Since the matter has yet to be resolved, it’s likely that finding out what happened to his sister will be one of his main goals in Andor.
Andor releases new episodes on Wednesdays on Disney+.
