The galaxy far, far away has just experienced a harrowing tragedy in Andor — but did it genuinely comprehend what transpired? And will those in our galaxy grasp its full significance?
Season 2, Episode 8 of Andor, titled “Who Are You?”, represents not only the most somber chapter in the series to date but possibly the most dismal moment in the entire Star Wars saga. On the planet Ghorman — once a thriving world abundant in a mineral crucial for the construction of the Death Star — Imperial stormtroopers unleash gunfire on a peaceful assembly of protestors. The slaughter draws rebel fighters into a tumultuous clash, as both factions race to govern the narrative and secure a propaganda victory.
The horror is preceded by a tense and heart-wrenching buildup. Protesters, conscious of the planet’s brutal history under Imperial control, gather in the square where a past atrocity occurred. They chant defiantly: “We are the Ghor! The galaxy is watching!” Their aspiration is that their defiance will be perceived across the stars. And it is — but not in the way they envisioned. The event is being broadcast live by journalists who, as showrunner Tony Gilroy reveals, are essentially agents of the Empire’s Ministry of Enlightenment.
“They’re present to sell the narrative,” Gilroy clarifies — a contrived story of a rebel assault on an Imperial depot. Later, the Empire’s media coverage zeroes in on “Imperial martyrs” — deceased stormtroopers and personnel. Among the fatalities is Syril, a character who nearly uncovered the truth but perished before he could address Cassian’s haunting inquiry: “Who are you?” Ghorman itself is left in ruins, a casualty of what Senator Mon Mothma later denounces as “genocide.”
The phrase “the galaxy is watching” resonates with a stark irony. It’s a purposeful reference to real-world protest slogans, especially “the whole world is watching,” which has been utilized in demonstrations for many years. Gilroy acknowledges the connection, referencing its use during the 2011 Occupy Wall Street protests, when New York police conducted one of the largest mass arrests in U.S. history.
Yet the chant’s origins trace back even further. It was popularized during the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and immortalized by Bob Dylan in his 1964 protest album The Times They Are a-Changin’. Perhaps its most notable use occurred during the 1968 Democratic National Convention in Chicago, when anti-Vietnam War demonstrators shouted it as they faced violence from police and National Guardsmen — all while the world observed via live television. Even the renowned broadcaster Walter Cronkite was compelled to apologize on air after labeling the security forces “thugs,” despite the clear evidence.
This historical resonance is no coincidence. Gilroy’s choice to draw comparisons between Andor and real-world protest movements aligns with the original vision of Star Wars creator George Lucas. Lucas, who was once poised to direct the Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now, envisioned the Galactic Empire as a metaphor for the U.S. military during the Vietnam War — a technologically superior force ultimately overcome by a tenacious, underdog resistance.
As bleak as “Who Are You?” is, it’s not the first portrayal of genocide in Star Wars — a franchise frequently marketed to children. Gilroy reminds us of two staggering examples from the original trilogy: the annihilation of Alderaan by the Death Star, and the subsequent destruction of the Death Star itself, resulting in the deaths of millions aboard.
“There were no cameras on Alderaan,” Gilroy states with a hint of irony. “But that’s the essence of our show — when you keep the camera on the ground instead of in space, you feel it more.”
Andor continues to push the limits of what Star Wars can entail, root its galaxy-spanning conflict in raw, human emotion — and remind us that even in a fictional universe, the reverberations of our own history are never far away.