STAR WARS HAS always been political, no matter what the MAGA types who cosplay as Imperial agents and scream about Disney shoving diversity into “their Star Wars” say.
The original trilogy showed a band of anti-imperialist fighters going up against a vicious pan-galactic state — based, according to its creator George Lucas, on the Vietnam War, with the Viet Cong “rebels” going up against the United States “Empire.”
The prequels showed the transformation of the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire of the original trilogy. In 2018, during Donald Trump’s first administration, James Cameron interviewed Lucas about Star Wars’ anti-authoritarian messaging, highlighting a line spoken by Senator Padmé Amidala as Emperor Palpatine declares that the Republic is now an Empire: “So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause.”
Lucas sold Star Wars to Disney in 2012 and hasn’t been involved in production since then, but Andor, the new series set in the universe, doubles down on its anti-authoritarian roots, focusing on the creation of the revolutionary Rebel Alliance. In the process, it gives us a glimpse into the messiness and conflict that often accompanies building a movement on the left, as activists fight over which political philosophies and strategies work best.
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This is beautiful - thank you for sharing!
Andor is easily the best Star Wars related live action story since the original trilogy
I actually re-watched the original trilogy after watching Andor and the characters of the trilogy actually feel less relatable now than they did before and the whole thing feels somewhat shallower.
I would say that the original Star Wars movies were always “chewing gum for the brain”, whilst Andor is more of a full meal, even compared with other Star Wars TV Series (I don’t think it’s the extra time that a series has compared to a film that explains the difference).
I agree with the other comment, it is the best in general. I’m not as old as the other person, but Star Wars has been a part of my life always. I wouldn’t even say any other video media holds a light to it. Obviously the original trilogy have had more influence, but Andor does a much better job of telling a story of rebellion.
Honestly, the jedi aren’t relatable, and that’s why everything else falls flat. They’re spectacle and almost no substance. Andor is entertaining while telling essentially true stories of rebellion that have actually happened. We can see ourselves in the characters, and it’s so much more impactful because of it. They’re also not afraid to show the horrors of war, while the original series mostly handwaves it away. They show a planet blowing up, but they don’t show people suffering. They show battles, but they don’t show civilians or what happens to their loved ones. They’re just rebelling because they were written to, but they’re never actually given a reason.
Joke’s on Andor.
The US doesn’t have a “left”
The US certainly does have a left. The left just isn’t in power. There are many leftist organizations and individuals outside the halls of power.
Eh, do we have a left in the US? Technically, yes, but it lacks all rigidity and strength.
The left is caught in a cycle of self canabalization at the moment, and anyone that I’ve seen attempting to pick up the flag and carry it forward is torn apart. People are too concerned with being ethically and morally pure so that when we’re all sitting in the gulag, they can say, “Well, at least I never compromised my values.” And I’m not saying those values aren’t important, but to have the opportunity to address those, we have several prerequisites to tackle first.
Progress is messy, and if you’re not on board, you’re holding it back.
People are too concerned with being ethically and morally pure
I’m sick to death of the idea that actually wanting the party to be better and quit sliding to the right for no gain is somehow purity testing from unreasonable people.
The people who paint progressives as throwing tantrums when they don’t get 100% of everything they wanted have had 100% of everything they wanted in every single presidential election since 2008, when they hated the idea of a Black president so much that they formed a PAC to support his opponent.
I am wondering if i didn’t convey my point well enough?
Im a progressive and as left as they come. I think we should aim for perfect, but be ok with better or good. What i have a problem with is seeing the front runners of the progressive left(AOC snd Bernie) being called out, by people who claim to be leftist, because they don’t say something out loud or often enough. They’ve been very clear on where they stand. They don’t need to keep reaffirming that, especially when it halts momentum, which we so desperately need yesterday.
And yet I see those leftists(not neo libs) say that AOC isn’t the future or anywhere near it, So if not them, then who? Who checks off all the boxes that’s not a milque toast moderate dem?
What i have a problem with is seeing the front runners of the progressive left(AOC snd Bernie) being called out, by people who claim to be leftist, because they don’t say something out loud or often enough.
Yeah, that’s stupid when AOC and Sanders are about the only ones even trying.
But then you have people who expect the left to accept biden as a progressive.
