It’s the end of an era. And so many lives.

This week, we trace the ways that Andor knits itself together into the wider tapestry of Star Wars, specifically by tying itself to Rogue One. We question whether the Rebels’ sacrifices are cheapened by Luke Skywalker’s heroism in Episode IV, define heroism through two key characters—Bix and Nemik—and investigate the reasons why Rebel High Command…is like that.

We also name our favorite aspects of Andor, and crown it the ultimate Star Wars show.

New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! We’ve got a Rogue One recap and a book club (Claudia Gray’s Star Wars: The Lost Stars) coming your way.

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:02:07 Plot Summary

00:11:13 Initial Reactions

00:24:02 Luke and the Next Generation of Rebels

00:31:09 Heroism and Anti-Heroism

00:45:14 Alliance High Command

00:55:44 Favorite Parts of Andor

01:01:32 Bae Watch

01:09:23 Closing Thoughts

We feel pretty confident that most sane Andor viewers skipped right from “Who Else Knows?” (S2, E11) into the finale. Turns out, there’s still a LOT to discuss in the penultimate episode of Andor ever.

We spent significant time this week digging into ISB hierarchies, and how the rise and fall of ambitious Imperials has hollowed out the Empire’s institutions. We dissect ISB politics and competency through lenses of race and gender. We also paint parallels between Luthen Rael and French revolutionary Charles de Gaulle, and delight in Rebel downtime.

New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.

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Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:03:23 Plot Summary

00:11:27 Ambition, Competency, And Is The ISB Crumbling From Within?

00:43:44 Luthen as Charles de Gaulle?

00:59:51 Bae Watch

01:08:28 Closing Thoughts

And the death count grows.

This week, in “Make It Stop” (Andor S2 E10), everyone is either leveling up, going rogue—or shuffling off this mortal coil. As we get booted another year forward in time, we talk through Lonni’s growth into a true spymaster and Dedra’s grief curdling even deeper into fanaticism. Then, looking deeper into the past, we examine Luthen and Kleya’s father/daughter relationship and parse why Luthen felt compelled to begin the Rebellion.

In a fun turn, we also get to theorycraft about medical tech in Star Wars. (Spoiler alert: It exists!)

New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:02:31 Plot Summary

00:12:01 Lonni and Dedra, Another Year Later

00:23:06 Kleya and Luthen

00:45:06 Medical Tech in Star Wars

00:55:23 Bae Watch

01:05:40 Closing Thoughts

Two ferocious monologues close the penultimate chapter of Andor, “Welcome to the Rebellion” (Andor S2 E9).

To do a proper recap of this week’s episode, we also rewatched Rebel’s “Secret Cargo” (S3 E18), showing the conclusion to Mon’s journey to unite the Rebellion. We talk through Senate corruption, Luthen’s role—or lack thereof—in the Rebellion proper, and just how many conspirators it took to deliver the Rebellion their leader.

New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:02:24 Plot Summary

00:14:17 Linking This Episode to Rebels’ “Secret Cargo” Speech

00:25:55 Luthen’s Role in the Rebellion

00:33:59 Why Cass Wants to Leave

00:40:43 Getting Mon to the Rebellion

00:51:28 Bae Watch

01:03:58 Closing Thoughts

Our hearts are heavy this week as we compare the Empire’s actions on Ghorman to real-world parallels. This week, as we recap Andor’s “Who Are You?” (S2, E8), we draw connections to the Gleiwitz incident that kicked off WWII, student massacres in Tiananmen Square, and sniper deaths in Syria—plus the Los Angeles protests and Minnesota political assassinations. It has not been a fun week, y’all!!!!

We talk false flag operations, compare the story of Ghorman to that of Lothal, and ask whether non-violent protest would have gotten the Ghormans any further. And we finally close the chapter on Star Wars’ most compelling couple.

New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (We had 45+ minutes of bonus audio content to record for this episode!)

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:02:44 Plot Summary

00:13:10 Historical Parallels to Ghorman

00:28:15 Violent vs. Nonviolent Protest

00:35:18 The Gorman Story vs. Lothal

00:39:29 Dedra and Syril’s Fall From Grace

00:55:49 Bae Watch

01:05:02 Closing Thoughts

The girls are fighting!! And by the girls, we mean the Rebellion and Luthen (probably).

In Andor’s “Messenger” (S2, E7) we parse the schism between the Rebellion proper and…whatever Luthen is up to. Relationships are at the core of this episode, and we dig into Bix and Cassian’s healthy, established love; Dedra and Syril’s anemic but weirdly passionate love affair; and Vel’s grieving process. We also watch Cassian fight to remain a free agent, even as the Rebellion grows steadily more organized. Also, does Bix have a job??

New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (We had 45+ minutes of bonus audio content to record for this episode!)

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:03:51 Plot Summary

00:10:16 A Schism in the Rebellion?

00:33:40 The Force in Andor

00:36:44 False Flag Operations on Ghorman

00:57:30 Bae Watch

01:04:35 Closing Thoughts

It was the best of times, it was the bloodiest of times. And for some, it was a very festive evening.

In our recap of “What A Festive Evening” (S2, E6), we dive into relationships in the Rebellion. Should our Rebels be giving them up for the cause, or clinging to what makes them feel human? We dive deep into engineering ethics and why Dr. Gorst definitely should have suffered more. And we parse whether a show with such a high death toll can still be faulted for Burying Its Gays.

New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content! (We had 45+ minutes of bonus audio content to record for this episode!)

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:04:00 Plot Summary

00:12:52 Relationships in the Rebellion

00:27:19 Dr. Gorst and Engineering Ethics

00:38:58 Cinta and the BYG Trope

00:59:09 Bae Watch

01:07:24 Closing Thoughts

Wake up babe, new Saw Gerrera backstory just dropped.

This week, we’re asking what makes a Rebel cell the “real deal.” Is it Saw Gerrera’s Cave Angels, who have all the fire—but lack direction? Is it the Ghorman Front, who want the Empire gone, but haven’t looked past their front doorstep? And do Luthen, Kleya, and Cassian count, when they keep raising the barrier to entry to the Rebellion?

We’re asking all this, and whether Dedra cares if Syril lives or dies, in our recap of “I Have Friends Everywhere” (Andor S2, E5).

New to Growing Up Skywalker? Come join us for non-toxic Star Wars recaps from a veteran and a new fan. New episodes every Tuesday.

Want more Growing Up Skywalker? This is a great time to sign up for our Patreon for bonus audio content!

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Who Are We?

00:01:53 Plot Summary

00:13:35 What It Takes to Grow a Rebellion

00:29:21 Are The Ghormans The Real Deal?

00:36:54 More Saw Gerrera Backstory

00:52:42 Syril and Dedra 4ever???

00:59:56 Bae Watch

01:06:57 Closing Thoughts