Season 2, Episode 12, titled Jedha, Kyber, Erso, directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios and written by Tom Bissell, concludes the journey of Cassian Andor, his allies, and his enemies. It has been a roller coaster ride watching a mere thief evolve into the Captain of Rebel Intelligence—a figure respected and beloved by his peers, despite his roguish tactics and morally gray decisions. This episode not only completes his arc within the series but also serves as a direct lead-in to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Watching or rewatching that film after this episode gives full closure to Cassian’s remarkable evolution.

The central theme of this episode is hope. In a galaxy far, far away, the universe is filled with wonder—adventure, exploration, and the mystical energy known as the Force, once protected by the Jedi Order. But just as there is light, there is also darkness. The Sith Order, through their Galactic Empire, represents tyranny, corruption, and control, operating under the greed and malice of aristocrats, nobles, and manipulative politicians. Yet hope endures. Even after the Jedi were purged during Order 66, rebels rose to carry on the fight for freedom. Civilizations may fall, cultures may be erased, but hope never dies—it lies dormant, waiting to be rekindled by those brave enough to resist. It is unnatural to control the destinies of others, for every sentient being is born with the right to choose. These choices, great or small, determine the fate of the galaxy—whether to save it as the Jedi once did or doom it to ruin like the Sith.

Rebel High Command

Cassian (Diego Luna) and his team successfully kill Supervisor Heert (Jacob James Beswick) and the ISB troopers in their path, managing to extract Kleya from Coruscant and return to Yavin Four. However, their unsanctioned mission earns swift reprimand from the Rebel Alliance’s top leadership: Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), Senator Bail Organa (Benjamin Bratt), Senator Nower Jebel (Jonathan Aris), Senator Tynnra Pamlo (Sharon Duncan-Brewster), General Davits Draven (Alistair Petrie), and Admiral Raddus (Paul Kasey). General Jan Dodonna and a few others are notably absent from this session. As a consequence, Cassian, K-2SO (Alan Tudyk), and Melshi (Duncan Pow) are confined to their quarters, and barred from active duty until further notice.

Cassian takes this time to grieve the loss and sacrifice of Luthen Rael with his companions. Vel (Faye Marsay) tries to comfort Kleya, who is emotionally shattered and drowning in grief. Andor pleads with Rebel High Command to acknowledge Luthen’s discovery of the Empire’s secret superweapon, but his warning is dismissed due to a lack of hard evidence. The leadership, long frustrated by Luthen’s paranoia and relentless scheming, are unwilling to act based on the legacy of a man they considered a liability. To Cassian, this feels like betrayal—a sacrifice ignored. Still, the Rebellion endures. It has grown beyond any single figure, even one as critical as Luthen. The Alliance will move forward without his ruthless brilliance.

Ultimately, Cassian is sent on a mission to meet with a Rebel informant named Tivik, a contact from Saw Gerrera’s Partisans, at the Ring of Kafrene. This assignment marks the beginning of Rogue One, where Cassian’s story will reach its final, heroic chapter.

Unbeknownst to Cassian, Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) is now living in Mina-Rau, raising a child who will never know their father. That father is Cassian Jeron Andor, Captain of Rebel Intelligence—one of the many unsung heroes who gave his life for the creation of the Rebel Alliance and the theft of the Death Star plans so that others like Luke Skywalker could rise and defeat enemies like Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, and the Sith Order.

The Death Star’s Near Completion

While the Rebel Alliance grows in strength, the Galactic Empire begins to unravel under the weight of its own secrecy and cruelty. Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) lays blame on Major Partagaz (Anton Lesser) and Supervisor Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) for their failures in protecting the secrecy of the Death Star project. Facing the inevitability of a public fall from grace and the wrath of the Emperor, Major Partagaz dies by suicide to avoid a brutal execution. Dedra, disgraced and discarded, is sentenced to a lifetime of forced labor in an Imperial Prison Complex—relegated to a fate worse than death.

In a cruel twist of irony, the Empire’s greatest enemy has always been itself. Its authoritarian rule, oppressive policies, and obsession with power continue to push more systems toward rebellion. It was this exact dynamic that Luthen Rael exploited, knowing full well that the Empire’s extremism would inspire defiance. Their cruelty is what turned heroes into martyrs, and martyrs into movements.

The Empire has lost some of its best strategists—such as Grand Admiral Thrawn—through exile, death, or disillusionment. Moreover, the very existence of the Death Star and the tyranny it represents begins to erode support even within the Imperial Senate by the time of A New Hope. The Death Star was meant to be the Empire’s ultimate triumph, but instead, it becomes a monument to their arrogance and undoing. Not even a second Death Star could extinguish the flame of rebellion.

The Ending of a Great Series

Star Wars: Andor stands as Disney’s greatest Star Wars achievement to date, hailed by many fans as the franchise’s finest modern offering. It surpasses the adventure of The Mandalorian, the tragedy of Kenobi, the somber introspection of Ahsoka, and far outshines the missteps of The Acolyte. Every character, no matter how much screen time they received, left an emotional impact. The series offered some of the most profound and nuanced dialogues ever written in Star Wars, shedding light on the Rebellion and the cost of resistance.

That said, the series is not without flaws. It introduced retcons, such as K-2SO’s origin, that contradicted established lore. Promising characters like Perrin Fertha, Leida Mothma, and Davo Sculdun were sidelined despite potential. Wilmon, who many assumed would join Saw Gerrera after his rousing speech, instead remained with Luthen, with little explanation. The time jumps left much to the imagination, skipping over the crucial emotional and logistical developments of many characters. At times, the story felt as though it needed more space to breathe.

One can’t help but wish Andor had been extended—more time to see characters like Cassian, K-2SO, and Melshi grow together, more time to follow the intersecting paths of revolutionaries, politicians, spies, and citizens. Still, we should be grateful that Andor exists at all. It gave us two powerful seasons that explored the complexity of rebellion, the gray morality of war, and the heavy cost of freedom. It reminded us that hope is not always loud or heroic—it is often quiet, painful, and personal. And in that, Andor is a true masterpiece.

Rating: 9/10