Andorseason 2 is on the horizon and it’s possible that the belovedStar Warsshow can improve one ofDarth Vader’s best moments.Disney’sStar Warscanon has been good for Darth Vader, granting him some particularly striking scenes. Hayden Christensen himself even returned inObi-Wan Kenobi, finally getting his chance to play the Sith Lord in all his power.
Darth Vader’s best scene, though, was undeniably inRogue One. It’s so wonderfully stylistic, portraying Darth Vader as a juggernaut who tears through the rebel soldiers, as they desperately attempt to get the Death Star plans to safety. But couldAndorseason 2actually find a way to improve that scene?
Nobody’s Expecting Darth Vader In Andor Season 2
It Would Be An Unexpected Cameo For Sure
This isn’t to suggest that Darth Vader himself will appear. It’s true that Lucasfilm has already confirmed thatAndorseason 2 will bring back some belovedRogue Onecharacters, withAlan Tudyk’s K-2SO and Ben Mendelsohn’s Director Orson Krennic returning.This is in addition to characters who have already appeared in the show, including Mon Mothma and Saw Gerrera. However, nobody is expecting to see Darth Vader inAndor. There’s been absolutely no evidence to indicate the Sith Lord will appear, while Hayden Christensen seems more interested in returning alongside Ewan McGregor (who certainly won’t be in this).
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There’s a good reason Darth Vader is singularly unlikely to be inAndor. He’s a fantastic character, the star of the entireStar Warssaga, but he wouldn’t be the best fit inAndor.Andorseason 1 established a very gritty, boots-on-the-ground vibe that made no mention of the Jedi or even the Force.Andorseason relegated these aspects of the franchise to nothing more than Easter eggs. Bringing in one of themost powerful Force usersinStar Warshistory feels more than a bit disingenuous to what has already been established in the show.
Andorseason 2 is set to premiere April 22 on Disney+.
It’s entirely possible that Tony Gilroy is looking to makeAndorseason 2 feel more like it’s in theStar Warsuniverse, but still including things like Jedi, Sith, lightsabers, and the Force seems to be a backward step. It’s always a treat when Darth Vader is included in aStar Warsproject, butit just doesn’t seem necessary to bring Vader back forAndorseason 2. Allusions and mentions of the character are fine, but an all-out cameo feels like it would be more for fan-service than for plot purposes.
Andor Can Still Make Rogue One’s Scene Even Better
If Not More Tragic
This does not, however, mean thatAndorseason 2 will necessarily have no impact on Darth Vader’s best scene. This is because there is a subtle focus in the story that complementsRogue One; at its heart,Andoris about the Rebel Alliance’s origin, with a particular focus on selected leaders. In the first season, the Rebels were a divided group who were often at odds with one another; Luthen Rael even sacrificed another cell for his own spy. Season 2, however, will show how the various cells come together to form the Rebel Alliance.
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It’s unlikely that we’ll get to meet the specific Rebels slaughtered by Darth Vader inRogue One. We will, however, get to see the Rebels and understand their stories even better.Audiences would get to understand these characters in a way that humanizes them en masse, rather than just showing them as lambs to Darth Vader’s slaughter. Knowing the heartbreak that would follow inRogue One’s hallway scene would only make it better.
Darth Vader’s Rogue One Massacre Is Already Great… But It Can Still Be Improved
Star Wars Has a History of Making Great Things Even Better
Darth Vader’sRogue Onemassacre in the hallway is great because it shows just how horrifying the Sith Lord is, as well as his full capabilities. Compared to Vader’s fighting skills inA New Hopeand the rest of the originalStar Warstrilogy, seeing him dominate a group of people so easily hammered in the idea of sacrifice for the greater good. For manyStar Warsfans,theRogue Onehallway scene is considered the best scene inStar Wars, or at least very close to the top of the list.
Since Disney took over Lucasfilm in 2012, they’ve been telling more and more stories that only enrich the stories we already know and love.
There is no denying the hallway scene’s greatness, butlike most things inStar Wars, another perspective would only enrich the experience.Since Disney took over Lucasfilm in 2012, they’ve been telling more and more stories that only enrich the stories we already know and love. An example is how Ahsoka Tano survived Order 66 inStar Wars: The Clone Warsand how these events took place concurrently with the events ofStar Wars Episode III—Revenge of the Sith. It gave fans a deeper appreciation forOrder 66, Ahsoka, andRevenge of the Sithin a way not previously possible.
When using that as an example, it’s clear that seeing the Rebels before Darth Vader’s massacre can only enrich the hallway scene by making it more tragic. It’ll still be one of Vader’s best shows of strength, but it’ll have that extra layer that makes for such compelling storytelling. Overall,Andorhas a tall order for season 2, but it’s entirely doable in a way that necessitates the appearance of Darth Vader. However, having the audience acutely aware that he’s coming will makeRogue One’shallway scene all the more tragic, andAndorall the better.
