Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Andor episode 7.Andor features a collection of exciting references which may be teasing new appearances for Emperor Palpatine and the live-action debut of Grand Admiral Thrawn in the Star Wars canon. As seen in Andor episode 7, Palpatine’s name receives a handful of dark mentions as the Empire begins to tighten its grip in response to growing resistance in the galaxy. Likewise, part of that effort results in the arrival of Colonel Yularen in Andor, a major player in the Imperial Security Bureau with significant ties to Thrawn himself.
One of Thrawn’s few allies beyond the Emperor was the ISB’s Colonel Yularen, who once served with Anakin Skywalker during the Clone Wars. Together, Yularen and Thrawn took down several cells resisting the Empire in the years before the original trilogy. As such, the appearance of Yularen in Andor episode 7 could precede Thrawn’s live-action debut. Likewise, Emperor Palpatine is also referenced not only by Colonel Yularen but also by Senator Mon Mothma, who’s secretly financing Luthen Rael and his network of rebels, a potential tease that her ongoing presence in the Imperial Senate will lead to a new canon appearance from Emperor Palpatine in Andor. Here’s what possible appearances from both villains could mean for Andor in the upcoming episodes.
What A Thrawn Appearance Would Mean For Andor
During the height of the Empire’s power before A New Hope, Thrawn gained his reputation and unique rank as Grand Admiral specifically for his ability to root out pockets of rebellion during this era. Additionally, Thrawn’s methods of studying the art and culture of his opponents would make him a natural rival to the early Rebellion’s Luthen Rael, who uses his gallery of artifacts as a cover on Coruscant in Andor. Perhaps Thrawn discovers the existence of Luthen’s network through the work currently being done by the ISB’s Dedra Meero, who already saw the patterns of organized resistance long before the Aldhani incident. If anyone in the Empire were to fully agree and support Meero’s findings, it’s Thrawn.
A live-action appearance in Andor would also be a great way for Lucasfilm to get audiences more familiar with Thrawn ahead of his role in Ahsoka, especially for those who didn’t watch the animated series Star Wars Rebels. Although Ahsoka will take place in the years following the original trilogy, Andor would be the perfect vehicle for Star Wars to showcase who Thrawn was before revealing who he’s become following the Empire’s end.
What A Palpatine Appearance Would Mean For Andor
Likewise, the possibility of the Emperor making an appearance in Andor creates some exciting potential going forward. Through Colonel Yularen, it’s confirmed that the Emperor has given the ISB even greater authority, convening an emergency session of the Imperial Senate to ensure future acts of sedition would be met with extreme prejudice. Mon Mothma reveals to an old friend that she’s learned from Palpatine: “I show you the stone in my hand, you miss the knife at your throat,” a reference to the Emperor’s duplicitous nature and secret manipulations, confirming that Mothma herself is resorting to similar methods to fight the Empire.
As Mothma and Luthen fight fire with fire, it would certainly be exciting if Palpatine were to make an appearance in response. Eventually, Mothma will have no choice but to leave Coruscant entirely to start the Rebellion in earnest. As such, Palpatine zeroing in on Mothma prior to her departure would undoubtedly be a significant moment in the Star Wars canon considering her future as leader of the New Republic following his death. Like Thrawn, seeing the Emperor in any capacity will dynamically prove that the early Rebellion’s efforts are working as they gradually build a full-on Alliance in the Star Wars galaxy. It will also make the stakes even higher and far more dangerous as Andor continues.
New episodes of Andor release on Wednesdays on Disney+.
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