Andor Easter eggs: 2 Rogue One characters in new episode

Andor, Disney Plus’ excellent Rogue One prequel series, brought back two more characters from Gareth Edwards’ 2016 movie in episode 8, “Narkina 5.” Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor has been here all along, of course (as has Genevieve O’Reilly’s Mon Mothma), but this week he was joined by an old friend and another special guest.

[Ed. note: Spoilers follow for Andor and Rogue One.]

“Narkina 5” is named after the planet that Andor, currently going by the terrific alias Keef Girgo, is imprisoned on. It’s a rough place with a terrifying floor manager played by a jacked Andy Serkis, and Cassian is assigned to a worktable with six other inmates.

The name of one of the inmates is likely to be yours. Rogue One fans — Ruescott Melshi (Duncan Pow), who was one of the key team members who stole the Death Star plans in the climactic final act of Rogue One (he’s the one wearing the floppy hat and glasses). Melshi and Andor have been close friends since childhood. Rogue OneHere in, here Andor They meet for the first time.

Image: Lucasfilm/Disney

Image: Lucasfilm/Disney

Melshi’s version is crushed by harsh Narkina 5 conditions, telling Cassian that freedom is only a pipe dream, that they have harsh Imperial mandates and that it is foolish to trust them.

Another Rogue One guest was a bit higher profile: Forest Whitaker’s Saw Gerrera. Extremist Rebel leader, makes his debut Andor appearance when Stellan Skarsgård’s Luthen meets with him. Luthen wants to sell him stolen Imperial parts in exchange for Gerrera meeting with someone named Anto Kreegyr — a proposition Gerrera is very reluctant to accept, both because of his opinion of Kreegyr and his desire to work alone.

Image: Lucasfilm/Disney

Gerrera was first introduced as a minor character during the Clone Wars Before appearances on TV Rogue One, Rebels, Bad BatchThe, Jedi: Fallen Order Video game. Trained by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, and Ahsoka Tano, he is a divisive figure among the rebel forces in the Star Wars universe for his group’s (known as the Partisans) violent and extreme resistance tactics. This is In Rogue OneHe also serves as the foster parent for protagonist JynErso.

Andor It is much more than Easter eggs or references. This is why it is so exciting to watch and such an interesting change in pace for Star Wars Universe. It feels real and more authentic than it is opportunistic in certain moments. Melshi, Gerrera both play key roles in the stories of our main characters. AndorThese relationships will develop throughout the seasons and it will be great to watch them grow.