Editor’s Note: The following contains spoilers for the Andor Season 2 finale.
As a franchise,Star Warsis far from lacking in emotional deaths, both obvious and unexpected. From Obi-Wan’s (Alec Guinness) fate at the hands ofDarth Vader(David ProwseandJames Earl Jones) to Han Solo (Harrison Ford) being killed by his son to Anakin (Hayden Christensen) murdering all those younglings in, there have been many moments in the saga’s history that have left me and many other fans in the brink of tears. It is, thus, far from a surprise when aStar Warsmovie, game, or TV show kills off an important character and instantly turns our world upside-down. Sowhy on Earth, Alderaan, and Coruscant, didAndormanage to catch me so off guard with the death of Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård)?
Luthen was never the most likable character in Andor, nor was he a representation of everything pure and innocent, not to mention the future of the Jedi, like the younglings. Instead, he was a grumpy, manipulative man who made it clear from the get-go that he wasn’t a team player. Using the Rebellion as if it was his own personal plaything, swearing with everything he had that he was on the resistance’s side, but still keeping vital information from his allies, he garnered a lot of suspicion around him. I mean, I can’t be alone in stating that I spent most of Season 1 and perhaps even a portion of Season 2 doubting his allegiance to the cause. Still, when the time came to say goodbye to him, in the first episode of the last batch of three to be released on Disney+,I have to admit I was more than a little bit emotional and kind of blaming myself for being wary of him for so long. As it turns out, Luthen Rael was indeed a true rebel, and one that was willing to put his life on the line for the people fighting against the Empire.
Luthen Rael’s Death in ‘Andor’ Is His Ultimate Declaration of Allegiance
Luthen Rael’s ultimate sacrifice was indeed a shocking moment. Cornered by Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) after nearly two whole seasons of escaping her grip, he picks up a ceremonial dagger in his shop under the guise of showing it to her. At that moment, Meero was still pretending to be a paying customer at Luthen’s shop, so it made sense for him to show her around. When she finally reveals her purpose, though,Luthen simply declares that she is too late and, turning his back on her, drives the dagger into his own chest. It’s a way of guaranteeing that he won’t be taken into questioning by the Empire and, therefore, won’t reveal the location of Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), and so many other important assets to the Rebellion. Most importantly, it is the only way to make certain that Empire won’t come into contact with intel regarding how much the rebels know about the construction of the Death Star.
In other words, Luthen Rael’s sacrifice is enough to silence any doubts viewers or characters may have about his true allegiance. Some people say they are willing to die for the cause, but Luthen puts his money where his mouth is. Sadly, though, he doesn’t die right away. Meero manages to take him to a hospital, where he is kept on life support until Kleya (Elizabeth Dulau) comes to his rescue. Well, okay, rescue is a strange word for what she actually does. After staging an attack on another area of the hospital to divert imperial attention,Kleya enters Luthen’s room and turns off the machines keeping him alive. She does all of this with tears streaming down her face, proving that she is also willing to put her personal connections on the line in favor of the Rebellion, for Luthen was more than a mere boss to her.
I’m So Glad the ‘Andor’ Finale Never Confirmed the Show’s Most Popular Fan Theory
Sometimes Star Wars needs a rebel more than a Jedi.
Episode 10 ofAndorSeason 2also tells us a lot about how Kleya’s ties with Luthen developed over the years. Rescued as a child by Rael when he was a distraught soldier working for the imperial machine in one of its many genocides,Kleya grew up to become to him what a Padawan is to a Jedi master. Sure, she might only play the part of his daughter when that is convenient, but Luthen very much shaped that little girl into the woman that she became. He taught her to garner her hate for the Empire, to feed it until she was strong enough to act on it, and he taught her the toll that this fight takes on a human soul. That he felt fear for what would become of her as he was teaching her the best way to attack imperial convoys and getting away with it shows not only the extent to which he grew attached to her, but that he also had morals that he had to leave behind when fighting the good fight.
‘Andor’ Could Have Handled Luthen’s Backstory with a Bit More Grace
Granted,Andorcould’ve handled this backstory a bit more gracefully. It could have spread bits and pieces of it throughout its 24 episodes instead of merely shoehorning all the information in between scenes of Luthen’s path to the other side. Still, it works surprisingly well. As Luthen sends Kleya away, knowing that this will be his last trip to the shop, we learn that he wants to protect her, but there is something else there. As he drives the dagger through his chest,it becomes clear that he doesn’t just see the lives of others as expendable if it means earning the galaxy a better future: he also sees his own life in that light. The only life he sees as worthy of saving is, perhaps, Kleya’s. Luthen may have killed Jung (Robert Emms) in cold blood, he might haveset the Ghorman on a path to destruction, but he was willing to do the same to himself. Just not to Kleya. Or, at least, not for the time being.
All of this - the revelation of the depth of his bond with Kleya, his self-sacrifice, the fact that Kleya has to be the one to off him for good - makes Luthen’s death one of the most painful in theStar Warsuniverse, perhaps the most painful inAndor. He might not have started the show as a sympathetic character, and maybe he didn’t even become one by the end, buthis tragic fate is a reminder of what it truly costs to be a rebel in the end. So, the next time you’re partying in Yavin, pour one for Luthen Rael. He was a real resistance fighter, if there ever was one.
