ANDOR. SEASON 2. (No) Hope [REVIEW, Episodes 7–9]

Episode 7 of Andor opens in a familiar setting – on the moon Yavin 4, in the secret rebel base. On the horizon looms the pyramid-like structure remembered from A New Hope, familiar-looking ships soar through the sky, and brave freedom fighters bustle around the nearby hangar. Great – we’re home again, right?

Not quite. The story in Andor is steadily drawing closer to the events of Rogue One (and by extension, the original trilogy). The Rebellion is beginning to take the shape we remember, familiar faces appear on screen, iconic quotes from earlier films are repeated, and in one scene, we even meet a healer who uses the Force. At times, the creators evoke a sense of cautious triumph, only to immediately undercut it with the grim realities of life under the Empire.

The latest episodes of the series are largely built on the contrast between idealism and ruthless pragmatism. Naturally, the rebels’ growing organization fuels the characters’ motivation to press on. In one scene, we even hear the familiar line from Rogue One: “Rebellions are built on hope.” But the Alliance’s determination also spurs the Empire to intensify its oppression – both militarily and through propaganda. This escalating war machine eventually begins to crush everyone – rebels and Imperial officers, leaders and subordinates alike. Sooner or later, everyone may reach a breaking point and say, “That’s it, I can’t go any further.”

Hope in Andor, however, has always had a complicated nature. The most striking example so far was Maarva’s “funeral” speech at the end of season one – a sincere call to rise against injustice, an appeal to all the oppressed. But the social anger she sparked led to violent riots on Ferrix, which the Empire brutally crushed.

In many ways, the new episodes mirror that earlier scene. In the continuation of the Ghorman storyline, we see how the growing frustration of the planet’s population is manipulated by the Empire. Righteous collective fury ends up backfiring on the rebels themselves – resulting in one of the most brutal scenes in the series. Meanwhile, the increasingly isolated Mon Mothma continues her diplomatic struggle, culminating in a speech before the Galactic Senate. Like Maarva before her, she calls out the Empire’s methods and urges political resistance. The similarities between the scenes are emphasized through shared musical themes and parallel editing that intercuts rebel operations with the actions of Imperial spies. But unlike Maarva, Mon Mothma is met not with support, but with angry jeers from regime-fed opportunists.

This is the paradox that Andor and his comrades face – the more effectively they organize their resistance, the further they seem from victory. No surprise, then, that even the most zealous believers begin to question whether the struggle is worth continuing. This tension is clearest in the Ghorman storyline, which becomes a turning point for almost every major character. Crucially – breaking from the show’s usual structure – the creators deliver the season’s most powerful moment in the second of the three discussed episodes.

The third episode ends, however, with a shift – a small but meaningful ray of hope. With only three episodes left until the finale, we’re getting closer to the opening scenes of Rogue One. But it’s clear that Andor’s events will reshape our understanding of that film – just as Rogue One redefined how we viewed the plot of A New Hope. The further we go back in time, the darker this saga becomes. As Andor says in one scene: “Soon, we’ll be home.” But after everything that has happened so far, that “home” may no longer be what it once was.