Whether you’re a supporter of the two-season Rogue One prequel Andor (we definitely are) or not, one defining aspect of the series distinguishes it from every other Star Wars live-action material to date: the complete lack of Force users. Positioned during the grim “Dark Times,” when the Empire reigns supreme and the Rebellion is merely starting, Andor illustrates a galaxy where the Jedi are long absent—eradicated by Order 66—and the Force has become little more than a dim legend.

Or so we believed.

This perspective shifted in Season 2, Episode 7, titled “Messenger.” Following another leap in the BBY (Before the Battle of Yavin) timeline, we find Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and his accomplice Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) on Yavin 4, the renowned jungle moon where the Rebel Alliance is beginning to form as it gears up for the events of Rogue One and the original Star Wars film. With Cassian dealing with a severe back injury, Bix brings him to a mysterious individual known only as a “Force healer”—a cook in the base’s kitchen.

Though skeptical, Cassian finds that the healer (portrayed by Josie Walker) not only tends to his injury but also undergoes a striking vision of his future. She doesn’t witness specific occurrences—no Death Star, no concealed plans—but she perceives his fate. She refers to him as a “messenger” and insists he has a significant destination to reach. The experience visibly unsettles her; it’s the strongest connection to the Force she’s felt in years.

So, how much of the Force truly exists in Andor?

According to showrunner Tony Gilroy, not a great deal. In a conversation with Mashable, Gilroy mentioned that he consulted the Lucasfilm Story Group—the keepers of Star Wars canon—regarding the extent of knowledge about the Force during this phase of the timeline. The conclusion? Almost nobody is aware of it. “It’s such a rarified, small segment,” Gilroy stated. “But I would have felt wrong if I didn’t include it, and it fit.”

As he crafted Season 2, Gilroy recognized that the notion of destiny was integral to Cassian’s character. “The idea of reluctant destiny is always fascinating,” he remarked. “We have some religions based on that.”

Gilroy clarified that the Force healer is not a Jedi and harbors no hidden agendas. “She has no game,” he noted, likening her to Whoopi Goldberg’s character in the 1990 film Ghost—an unqualified psychic who unexpectedly has a genuine supernatural experience. This comparison grounded the scene for Gilroy. “She thanks him because she hasn’t felt it in a long time,” he expressed. “That made it real. That made it more powerful.”

The healer’s interaction with Cassian also serves an additional narrative function: it gracefully facilitates Bix’s departure. Fans have long speculated about her destiny, particularly since she doesn’t appear in Rogue One. The healer tells her, “Maybe you’re the place he needs to be,” leading Bix to leave Yavin 4 the following day. She leaves a message for Cassian, indicating they’ll reunite once his mission is fulfilled.

Naturally, we know they won’t. Cassian’s fate is determined in Rogue One, enhancing the poignancy of the moment. However, the scene clarifies how phrases like “May the Force be with you”—first uttered by General Dodonna during a briefing on Yavin 4 in the original Star Wars—began to echo within the Rebellion.

Andor Season 2 is now available for streaming on Disney+, with new episodes dropping every Tuesday.