‘Andor’ Creator on That Stunner “Genocide” Speech and Its Real-Life Inspiration

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Great sci-fi often serves as an allegory for current social and political issues.

However, Star Wars hasn’t resonated with such contemporary relevance as the episodes of Andor season two on Tuesday, when a character delivered an impactful speech that highlighted the dangers of escalating government control and the erosion of truth, while passionately criticizing the hesitance to acknowledge “genocide.”

In no other Star Wars installment has the narrative felt so timely as it did in the episodes of Andor season two on Tuesday. A character delivered a powerful speech that emphasized the threats posed by increasing government power and the distortion of facts, while vehemently expressing disapproval towards the unwillingness to use the term “genocide.”

Both sentences convey the same message in an easy-to-understand manner.

Debuting simultaneously on Disney+ and when a Drudge Report headline warned of America’s “Slide Towards Authoritarianism,” the critically acclaimed series showcased a scene in which bold politician Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) bravely delivered a speech before the Galactic Senate, fiercely condemning Emperor Palpatine and his escalating Imperial forces. It wouldn’t be hard to imagine such impassioned words being spoken by a contemporary politician on C-SPAN today.

Mothma expresses her concern, stating, “I think we’re facing a critical situation.” She explains that the gap between what people say and what’s really true has grown into a vast chasm. Among all the things at stake, she warns that losing touch with objective reality might be the most perilous. The demise of truth is the supreme triumph of wickedness. When truth fades, when we allow it to disappear, when it’s taken from us, we expose ourselves to the hunger of whatever force shouts the loudest.

Reflecting on the heartbreaking events of the day before, I can’t help but use the term “unprovoked genocide” when referring to what transpired on Ghorman. The Imperial forces, who invaded this peaceful planet for its precious minerals, mercilessly massacred innocent protesters. This is a chilling reminder of the atrocities they are capable of.

At this point, other senators voiced their objections loudly. “Yes, it’s genocide!” she echoed. “The very creature we have nurtured, the one that will hunt us down, is none other than Emperor Palpatine.” (Emphasis added to clarify the subject of the sentence)

It’s important to mention that the filming for season two of Andor started in November 2022 and ended around February 2024. This means that production was finished well before Donald Trump’s reelection, which took place later, and only a few months after the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. This event generated significant discussion among experts about whether it was appropriate to use the term “genocide” when referring to Israel’s military actions in Gaza. Relevant discussions can be found here and here.

When asked about the sequence and its real-world influences, Andor creator Tony Gilroy told The Hollywood Reporter, “Unfortunately, the truth is that peace, prosperity, and calm are exceptions rather than the norm. These are rare occurrences throughout the last 6,000 years of recorded history. You could place this show at any point in the past 6,000 years, and it would resonate with some people about what they’re experiencing.”

(Note: I have simplified the sentence structure a bit to make it more conversational and easier to read.)

Gilroy explained, “In essence, controlling the truth has always been a tool of power. Power shapes the storyline, and it has consistently aimed to do so. Consider the propaganda campaign used by the Empire on Ghorman, which mirrors the Wannsee convention – a meeting where the Nazis devised their final solution over a casual lunch. The same could be said about the Gulf of Tonkin incident that led America into Vietnam, or the burning of the Reichstag that paved the way for the Nazi’s rise to power, or even the sinking of the Lusitania that drew America into World War I. Throughout history, power has been about controlling the truth. I believe our aim with that speech was to be timeless and classic.

Added the creator, a bit wearily, “And I’m not psychic.”

The second and concluding season of the Star Wars drama series doesn’t shy away from portraying a gritty wartime narrative. Notably, a scene reminiscent of the Wannsee convention (comparable to real-life events as depicted in the Andor setting) has drawn attention. Furthermore, during its initial episodes, the show caused a stir by including a rape attempt scene, which is a first for Star Wars content, featuring the character Bix played by Adria Arjona.

Gilroy emphasized the importance of packing as much detail, color, and truth as possible into his portrayal of revolution and battles, without making it too overwhelming. He explained, ‘The history of civilization has a significant violent element, including rape, which we all carry within us. So, it felt natural and appropriate to address this topic in the story, not only because of its historical prevalence but also as a means for the character Bix to gain clarity.’ Essentially, Gilroy aimed to create a challenging yet enlightening journey for Bix.

Andor is Disney+’s highly-rated Star Wars drama series, surpassing all other Star Wars TV shows and films on Rotten Tomatoes. This series chronicles the exploits of Rebel Alliance leader Cassian Andor, portrayed by Diego Luna, leading up to the events in the movie Rogue One. The last three episodes will be aired next week.

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2025-05-07 05:55