Andor Season 1 told the Star Wars story we need for times like this

[Editor’s note: The following contains spoilers through the Season 1 finale of Andor.]

Many of the major plot points were filled in in the Season 1 finale AndorBut really, one of the most powerful episodes of television of the year was a letter from a dead woman.

Fiona Shaw’s work was an Amy-worthy definition in the back half of the season, as Cassian Andor’s (Diego Luna) adoptive mother, fully aware she was nearing the end of her days, became fully committed to one goal: doing everything she could to combat the rise of Empire. Her departure in Episode 11, as seen through the eyes of her loyal bot B2EMO, was indeed a heartbreaking moment for the show – the childish sadness of an “I want acquaintances” cry from anyone who has lost a loved one. But then came her speech at her funeral, courtesy of the B2EMO Projection.

That’s the whole damn talk, because it was noteworthy:

My name is Maara Qarase Andor. I am honored to stand before you. I am honored to be Ferix’s daughter, and I am honored to be worthy of this stone. Strange, … I feel like I can see it. I was about six, I think, the first time I touched a funerary stone. I heard our music and felt our history. He held my sister’s hand as we walked all the way from Fountain Square.

Where are you now, I’ve been there more times than I can remember. I’ve always wanted to lift. I was always anxious, always waiting for inspiration. I remember every time it happened, every time the dead would lift me up… with their truth. And now I’m dead. And I am a year to raise you. Not because I want to shine or even be remembered. This is because I want you to keep going. I want ferix to continue. In my last hours, this is what comforts me most.

But I fear for you. We were asleep. We’ve had each other, and Ferrix, our work, our days. We had each other and they left us alone. We kept the trade lanes open and left us alone. We took their money, ignored them, kept their engines running, and the moment they pulled out, we forgot about them. Because we have each other. We had ferix.

But we were asleep. I was sleeping. And I was turned away from the truth I didn’t want to face. There is an unhealed wound in the center of the galaxy. There is a darkness that reaches like rust to everything around us. We let it grow, and now it’s here. He’s here and he doesn’t visit anymore. wants to stay. Empire is a disease that thrives in the dark – it is never more alive than when we sleep. It’s easy for the dead to tell you to fight and maybe it’s true, maybe the fight is useless. Maybe it’s too late. But I will tell you this. If I could do it again, I would get up early and fight these bastards from the start. Fight the empire!

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Andor (Disney +)