A notable retcon toCassian Andor’s backstoryis included inAndorseason 1, but this continuity change distinguishes itself from most retcons in the Disney era ofStar Wars.Andorstands apart from most Disney+Star Warsshows, approaching the establishedStar Warsmythos and characters with a surprising amount of respect and maturity. The show’s first season explores the titular Cassian Andor as he joins a Rebel cell and grows into the character introduced inRogue One: A Star Wars Story. Meanwhile,Andoralso explores the broader concepts of totalitarian oppression and the nature of an opposing rebel movement.
Andorseason 2will continue to explore the backstories of both Cassian Andor himself and theRebel Alliance, with the forthcoming season apparently bridging the gap between the end of its predecessor (set in 5 BBY) and Cassian’s introduction inRogue One(set in 0 BBY). Viewers have already begun to speculate that the season will include key events from the Rebellion’s history (or pre-history) in the modernStar Warscanon, such as the Ghorman Massacre. The season may also perform continuity maintenance in a similar manner to the first season ofAndor, which would be welcome for some viewers.
BeforeAndor, Cassian Andor’s backstory was explored (or referenced) in properties like Pablo Hidalgo’sStar Wars: Rogue One: The Ultimate Visual Guide. Cassian Andor was initially established to have come from the Outer Rim world of Fest and was a child soldier in the Separatist Alliance during the Clone Wars. These early sources also established that Andor’s biological father protested theGalactic Republicon Carida but was killed during said protest.Andorseason 1 retcons elements of this backstory, however, reestablishing Cassian as having been born on the Mid Rim world of Kenari and going by the name Kassa.
Andor Season 2’s Place In The Star Wars Timeline Explained
Now that Andor season 2 is set to premiere in April 2025, here’s where it fits into the Star Wars timeline and what that means for the story.
Unlike many modernStar Warscanon properties, however,Andordoes not pave over previously established sources in its new backstory for Cassian. The show also establishes that Cassian’s homeworld of Fest was a fabrication that he and his adoptive parents – Maarva and Clem Andor – maintained. Andor’s retcon, therefore, allows for previousStar Warsproperties to maintain their canonicity, with the new origin simply recontextualizing them. Cassian Andor’s homeworld being listed as Fest still makes sense as a façade, and perhaps his birth father’s death and Cassian’s background as a Separatist are also fabrications.
Andor Season 1’s Retcons Harken Back To The Star Wars Legends Era
TheStar Warsfranchise – having existed as a multimedia franchise for over 47 years – is no stranger to retcons, unsurprisingly.Howretcons are deployed, however, has depended on the era and continuity of the franchise. TheStar WarsExpanded Universe – now known as Legends– was the officialStar Warscontinuity for the franchise’s first 37 years.During the Legends era, retcons were frequently used and nearly always served the purpose of clearing up continuity snarlswithoutdecanonizing properties.
For instance, Boba Fett had multiple conflicting origin stories for a time, yet all would remain canon in a sense when a retcon established hisStar Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clonesbackstory as the “real” one, while his previous backgrounds were fabrications or rumors. Similarretcons would allow the descriptions of the Clone Wars in Timothy Zahn’sThrawntrilogy to coexist with the prequel films andClone Warsmultimedia project, and for Wes Janson’s “death” in Marvel’sStar Warscomics to be a tall tale used by Wedge Antilles to scare newly-recruited Rebel pilots.
After replacing the Legends continuity in April 2014, the modernStar Warscanon took a drastically different approach to continuity and retcons. While the Legends timeline used retcons to ensure that allStar Warsproperties were equally canon,the modern canon approachesStar Warsas more of a folktale, with continuity snarls being embraced and welcomed. In the Disney era, there are numerous instances ofStar Warsproperties completely overwriting each other, withStar Wars: The Bad Batchand the final season ofStar Wars: The Clone Warspaving over published works.
TheStar WarsLegends continuity had a canon tier system that was, ultimately, never necessary. In the modern canon, however, a tier system would be far more appropriate.
Andor Season 2 Promises To Have So Much More Continuity
Andorseason 1 used a retcon in the same way that the Legends continuity used to. Rather than simply decanonizing the previous sources that list Cassian as a Fest native and former Separatist, the show allows them to maintain their legitimacy and canonicity – albeit with added context.Andorseason 2, in addition to further exploring the Rebellion and Cassian Andor’s backstories, may also deploy more retcons in this manner, allowing it to contradict older properties without decanonizing them.
Andor
Cast
Andor is a Star Wars prequel series set before the events of Rogue One, following Cassian Andor as he navigates a world of danger and deception. The series delves into his transformation into a pivotal figure in the struggle against the Galactic Empire.
