Favorite Characters: Cassian Andor (Star Wars)

Cassian is one of many characters I love in Rogue One, and in light of the news that Diego Luna is going to reprise the character in his own series for Disney+, I figured it was time he got a write-up.  Also, side note:  I was indifferent to Disney+ when we heard about in as a streaming platform for their existing properties, but now that we’ve been hearing about their plans for original shows, I’m there.  Okay, Disney – you got me.  (Some Cassian-related spoilers.)

Cassian is in an interesting position as a character, in that he’s clearly shown as one of “the good guys” without being a decidedly good guy.  He’s a dedicated soldier of the Rebellion, having been part of the Alliance since unnamed tragedies relating to the Empire destroyed his family at the age of six.  He believes totally in the cause and will do anything to see the Empire overthrown, and that right there is the rub.  Despite the well-intentioned aims of stopping an oppressive government that rules the galaxy through fear and subjection, rebellions aren’t won with unstained hands, and Cassian is our major viewpoint into that.  In his first scene of the film, he shoots an informant to keep him (and his possibly-persuadable tongue) out of Stormtrooper hands, and a major part of the plot involves Cassian enlisting Jyn to help him find her father, who, unbeknownst to Jyn, Cassian has been ordered to kill.

This isn’t something we’re used to seeing in the Star Wars universe.  We’re used to good guys and bad guys, with the potential for eleventh-hour corruption or redemption thrown in, depending on which side we’re talking about.  When it comes to grayness, we’re mainly looking at people who started out either indifferent or on the opposing side, people who gradually start to figure out what they’re made of and step up to do the right thing.  Han, Finn, and even Jyn in this film would fit into template.  But Cassian is someone different, someone who shows that the white hats have never been as clean as they’ve often been painted.  War is about hard choices, and it doesn’t always mean killing only the bad guys.

In this way, Cassian reminds me of Cole and Jones (and later Cassie) from 12 Monkeys, all of whom have done some really bad things in pursuit of changing the past for the greater good of stopping the virus.  He started down his road a long time ago, and though it’s taken him further and further from who he would’ve wanted to be, he doesn’t really know how to stop.  Because, if he doesn’t help the Rebellion in any way he can, will the Rebellion fail?  And if that happens, what will it all have been for?  He can only live with his actions if they ultimately bear fruit and bring down the Empire; if he stops now, it will all have been meaningless, immoral acts that served no purpose.

It’s a great, meaty conflict for his character, and I love watching Cassian grapple with it.  Realizing the Rebellion doesn’t know everything – all this time, Galen has been trying to sabotage the Empire from within.  Realizing there are some lines that shouldn’t be crossed, no matter what it’s in service of.  And yet, through it all, continuing to believe in the overarching goal of the Rebellion and finding a new way to serve the Alliance on his own terms, outside of the orders he’s been given.  Still fighting the good fight, but fighting it the right way.  Then, knowing that both his cause and his actions are just, being willing to give his life in order that others might live to see the hope he’s been working toward all along.