He sacrificed his sanity He’s holding on but super strained psychologically and psychically We cannot see his wounds and scars they are there thank you This is about his way🙏✌️
@@TammyGordin He could be a Mandalorian. He has the armor in his shop and it could be his or he is just selling it. I think most things in his shop is there for a reason. Might be his escape plan
Luthen is my new favourite character... He is memorable and compelling. Truly fascinating with a lot of depth and complexity. He stole the show...and stood out from the rest of the characters and kept me watching the show.
We speculate on Luthen's sacrifice because we're taking the word too literally. Everything we've seen him do involves endangering or flat out destroying everyone he uses to get to his goal, and it's clear that he knows what those lives were worth and the pain he's caused. Luthen's real problem is that he still knows right from wrong and the weight of all those painful but necessary losses drags him down, but being sworn to win the struggle by any means necessary leaves him constantly trying to prove to himself that the sacrifices are worth it. He tries to wall off his emotions or offload the guilt to people like Saw Guererra, but he can't fool himself; he knows he's doing wrong, and the fact that he's doing wrong the right reasons still leaves him holding the bag one more time for one more slaughter. This makes a lot more sense than sorrow for lost relationships. It's a much deeper loss, the loss of compassion for one's self because we've lost the connection to the world that we maintain through empathy with the rest of humanity.
Luthen is an ex-jedi who stopped being a jedi when he started turning to dark because of his anger. He said how completely tormented he is because of it.
Loved this show. Watched each episode 3 to 4 times already. Cannot wait for season 2. This was so well done storytelling, set design, it makes you really see the difference between shows being shot on location in actual places. Makes you really see the limits of the volume. I hope they continue with this bigger wider storytelling. The galaxy is infinite so we don’t need to see the same characters over and over.
Excellent video and analysis. I think Ferrix had a profound effect on Luthen. He's a chess player, a puppet master...in a similar fashion to Palpatine...he has to use "the weapons of his enemy" (Right?). He enters the field only when he has to, and he's in Ferrix only because he believes that he was careless which potentially made Cassian a dangerous loose end that needed to be removed from the chessboard. I distinctly got the impression that Ferrix was the first time that he experienced an uprising firsthand. He seemed bewildered and perplexed by the event, if not outright shaken...a few feet closer to that explosion and we may have been talking about Luthen posthumously! I like to think that when Luthen turned around and saw Cassian standing before him on his ship that he had to be thinking two thoughts: 1. How the hell did this guy best me..."Check" to Luthen; and 2. I could really use someone with his talents. I hope Luthen remains a mystery in season 2....not all questions need answers. The mystery of Luthen Rael is a big part of his intrigue...and it's a big part of our ability to have these discussions.
UA-cam has no shortage of Star Wars channels but your content along with your honesty and sound logic is absolutely refreshing. I'm fairly new to your channel but I am loving your videos. Thank you for all your work. Well done!
Thank you so much for that! I really wanted to be different. I’m a naturally positive person and wanted that to reflect in the greatest franchise ever.
Totally agree with all ur points. The show was absolutely flawless for me apart from one thing. How Cassian ended up getting arrested before he ended up in the prison. I felt like that was done a bit too quick and didn’t make sense. Like surely with his experience he would’ve seen those Beach Troopers and the commotion and avoided it, especially if he was meant to be laying low after the heist.
In all the other Starwars movies, when someone is hit by blaster fire they just fell down dead. In Andor, the plasma blast sends them flying as if the blast was a 50 pounder! That heavy mounted blaster in the end, it was shooting 100 pounders! If blasters were real, it would probably just burn a hole right through you and you wouldn't move. If vital organs were hit you would just fall straight down. A blaster bolt would be a charge of plasma that doesn't dissipate its heat, staying in a desired form. That would be the hard part to invent. Then another stage of the weapon is to send it with accuracy at a speed that is at least fast enough that a target doesn't just move out of the way. The gun would have to be able to resist the heat and not melt down. The gun would have to have a magazine with stored energy. At the command of the trigger pull, makes all that happen from a 7 1/2 pound weapon. 3 1/2 pound if holstered. Out of all the Starwars, future tech possibilities. The blaster, because of it's small size is the most difficult to make a reality! And yes, the force is somewhat more realistic because of quantum physics. The blaster has a lot of energy is a small package!
I couldnt help but notice how many callbacks to Darth Maul that Luthen made over the course of the series. 1, He exists in the shadows, plotting and killing in secret until it is time to reveal himself in the open. 2, In the last episode he does the same thing that Maul does when he is hunting the Jedi on Tatooine, he leaves his ship, raises his dark hood and zooms away on a personal speeder, exactly as Maul did. 3, The ship even has a double-sided lightsaber, for crying out loud. This in no way can be all coincidence. I'm not saying that he IS Maul or even a Sith, just that there's a bunch of visual callouts connecting Luthen to Maul in tPM either in style or motivation.
@@StarWarsFanatic that's the funny thing, i thought they were obvious, but no one is really picking up on them, even with the glaring lightsaber modifications on his ship. I couldnt tell if they were just visual call-backs used by the show's director to show that Luthen was in the same business as Maul was, a knife in the dark taking down the establishment from the shadows or if it meant anything more significant to the plot as a whole.
I agree with your comments early in the video. I never understood this strange tendency among the SW fandom to assume that a character MUST secretly be a Jedi simply because they are highly intelligent/skilled in certain areas. Force-sensitives don’t have a monopoly on excellence, which is deliberately conveyed in the grounded context of Andor.
Would love to see you do character analyses of everyone’s favorite female Mandalorians: Bo-Katan Kryze and Sabine Wren. Especially as we have Sabine coming into live action in Ahsoka and Mando S3, and the complexities of Bo-Katan’s character from Rebels and now in Mando.
Absolutely.... Great idea. I can't describe how much I adore these characters, especially Sabine who means hell of a lot to me. I am now getting excited about star Wars again, coming out of hibernation as Mando and Ahsoka are back on the scene.
Excellent. My thoughts are he might fall under the category of Gray Jedi”, but again, like you said, it’s just a thought. Thanks again for all you do Gerald!
Luthen is a great character, and Skarsgard does a wonderful job. We may never know his true motivation or even his ultimate role. I only wish there was one small scene to confirm he did recover his crystal, showing Cassian to be a man of his word.
Perhaps Luthen just made his monologue on the spot, in order to effectively respond to Lonnie and saying whatever he needs to keep his mole on-mission. From a narrative perspective, Luthen's speech is likely (or mostly) authentic but, still, he is shown to be untrustworthy.
Personally, I'm hoping for a kind of redemptive arc for Luthen. It'd be nice to see him literally sacrifice "everything" for the cause. Yes, he's working to undermine the Empire and he supports the various Rebel sects, but he does so with a relatively ruthless detachment. Granted, he's not as zealous, single-minded, or 'blind' as Saw, but he clearly doesn't have any issues sacrificing 'assets' for his ultimate goal. It'd be pretty powerful to see him give the ultimate sacrifice to protect his informants, contacts, and 'agents.' Especially if it turns out he's neither a Jedi or a Sith. He's clearly aware of both and likely familiar with just how dangerous the Sith are. I'd love to see him (as a non-force user) maintain his convictions even when confronted with the pain and torment of the Empire and its darkest sides.
Hi Gerald awesome video I think Luthern was an amazing part in Andor I really think that he and Andor will work well together in series 2 he plays an arrogance in both areas that he is in I really enjoyed his dhip and how he controlled everyone thank you Star Wars Fanatic
The popular theory is Luthen was a Jedi. I thought that too. But, in his sacrifice speech, he mentions something that happened 15 years back. We all know that is when order 66 was inacted. What if the kyber crystal wasn't his, but that of his child's. What if his child was a young-ling or a Padawan who was killed. That would devastate any parent. The crystal could be his last link to his child and the life he had before the Empire. That would make his story so much more tragic than if he was a fallen Jedi.
The sadness in his expression also supports that theory. Yes, there was anger…but who wouldn’t be angry at the loss of a child at the hands of an evil tyrant?
An excellent analysis of Lutheran. I think the key is whatever happened 15 years before. Do correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that how long the Emperor has been ruling? Fascinating character!
The name “Rael” is a variant of the Hebrew, archangelic name “Raphael;” more specifically, it is an *apocope* of the name “Raphael”-a shortened version of a word dropping final sounds or syllables or eliding internal sounds or syllables.” Raphael is one of the seven archangels mentioned in the apocryphal Book of Enoch, and his name means “God has restored to health or healed.” Given this, I feel Luthen Rael-whose first name connotes the name of the Fallen Archangel, Lucifer (Light-bearer)-I think the series suggests that Luthen Rael is the figure who does all the dirty work, takes upon himself all the morally and ethically dark actions, that are *necessary* for the Rebel Alliance to come into Being, and for the Republic to be “cured” of the “rust” that, according to Maarva, “has taken hold at the heart of the galaxy.” His full name includes *both* the disease or “Fall” (Lucifer, the fallen archangel of Light) *and* that disease’s cure [Ra(pha)el]; he is *both* “sin” and redemption--this is why Luthen is such an endlessly intriguing, morally ambiguous character.,
Luthen's past has me asking and making as many theories as who Snoke was ...... Well until...... Him and his shop keeper probably have the most story prior and following this series to tell. Though honestly every character has me interested in their story. Hell even the Tower bell drummer has me wanting to see/know more.
I've said it before, Luthen worked for the Emperor. And the Emperor knows who he is. How else could he be allowed to sell most of what's in his shop? The only way would be if the Emperor allowed it. Hell, he still could be working for the Emperor, and we've just not seen that yet. I'm not saying that he's secretly a bad guy. But he still be collecting things for the Emperor. And that's how he's allowed to travel around, without suspicion.
Regardless of the writers views and preferences, it is interesting to look into a character like 'Luthen Rael' whose STAR WARS nomen alludes loosely to imagery of light - from the 'enlightenment' of Protestant Luther to the 'champion of God' Jacob or Israel, down to Lucifer wo brings light to creation for the cost of his own demise. Like 'the radical' Saw Gererra ('Che Guevara'), 'the spy' Luthen won't survive the Galactic *Civil War* that permeates all STAR WARS stories like Hobbian meditations. Luthen already realized this while _his natural instinct for survival still nags him_ , making him question his every decision - down to the folly idealism of a restored Republic. It is because of this ultimate realization that Luthen apears to have stopped pretending or to maintain formal precautions like impersonal, disposable agents that could never win the heart of indespensable operators like Gerrera - unlike contemporary Western polticical rhetoric - assuring that 'we are in this, together' - _a war_ - _to the bitter end_ . In doing so, Luthen Rael benefits from *the **_designed_** flaw of Imperial rule* that he is not opposed by _cunning_ , e.g. an Imperial Security Bureau that is swiftly identifying Cassian Andor as a crucial contact and _turning him_ by torture during his random imprisonment, and thus _infiltrating_ the Rebel cells of a New Republic - e.g. when Luthen _does not follow through_ with his formal rationale of disposing of Andor on Ferix (which would have created a _retroactive continuity_ through 'ROGUE ONE' in _a long game of social engineering of events_ - down to the decissive arrival of a hopeful Luke Skywalker in the throne room above Endor, coopting the last heroic saviour into _a cult of galactic rule_ )... ('Starkiller') ua-cam.com/video/kc0rUnEJeUo/v-deo.html ua-cam.com/video/ftPnq4FMc0Q/v-deo.html In real life, this sociology is reflected in the Machiavellian iconography of 'Lions and Foxes' whose behaviour is bound to the social roles of either holding institutional office or being in opposition, instead of being solely rooted in personal character. ('Social Hierarchy and the perpetual dynamic of hard and soft power') ua-cam.com/video/WPzsHitEOb0/v-deo.html Within _expanded_ lore, however this apparent topos is reflected in _the plot_ that *the Empire is just **_a means to an end_* - with *a Sith emperor, already sabotaging the 'New Order', clandestinely*_ - toward 'a cosmic' outcome, only a Sith apprentice could imagine (in our time, it'd be the equivalent of the arrival of an Anti-Christ - _a secular messiah_ to the triumphant tune of 'The March of Humanity', reuniting a fragmented Roman Empire into 'global governance' - just that it would be of 'Caesarian', instead of _oligarchic_ grace). ua-cam.com/video/O2F91Up9fT8/v-deo.html
I love your content. However, one correction. Although his character wasn't as fleshed out, Luthen was in Rogue One. He was the one that ordered Cassian to assassinate Galen Erso.
There is one line in Luthen's monologue that I don't think I've heard discussed: "I share my dreams with ghosts." I mean, really, who else besides Jedi, do we know, does that? He also talks about giving in to his emotion, anger and ego. What do y'all think?
What information is there on the writers and creators of Andor? Are they going to do other projects? Hopefully we the fans can see thus level of production for every Star Wars production. I hope the powers that be figured this out!
I doubt the Gilroy brothers are going to do more in the Star Wars universe after Andor but it’s been hard to tell with Tony’s interviews with how much he has been enjoying this and how much work it has been.
I would love to know eventually who he is and where he is coming from, but I do hope they won't make him a secret jedi or sith. Imo it would be nice, if he was some kind of military commander during clone wars. Maybe he was a good friend with some jedi, and when order 66 happend this person was killed, and it traumatized him to becoming renegate anf inspire idea of rebelion. That cyber cristal maybe memorabilia of his friend, and not part of his own lightsaber, as many suspect.
Didn't the guy Andor escaped with appear in Rogue One? I'm pants at names, but i'm pretty sure he was one of the Rebel strike force. I'm kinda hoping that Luthen gets killed by Vadar in the end, because it will show who or what he really is, and no doubt be as badass as the scene at the end of Rogue one, still one of the coolest in all of Starwars. Still leaning towards jedi who has become on the dark side of the centre, in order to remove the limits of morality and dogma, which were used against the jedi order and led to their collapse. Thanks for the cool chats on this. Look forward to the next series.
He's sacrificed needlessly. He's going for revenge. He's learned nothing as well because instead of seeing the rebellion happening on Ferrix and realizing his tactics aren't necessary, he's so wrapped up in his desire for revenge that it blinds blinds him. The showrunners show it as well. Look at the final episode when he gets on his speeder. It's exactly like when Maul gets on his speeder in TPM. He's lost in revenge. Maul was only every consumed with revenge. From wanting to have revenge against the Jedi in TPM, to wanting revenge against Kenobi for the rest of his life. Luthen is exactly the same.
@@StarWarsFanatic The revenge is from 15 years prior. Him being hyper-focused on killing Cassian is a symptom of that. His whole frame of reference is shaped by the formula he devised that he wakes up thinking about every day. The revenge isn't revenge on Cassian, but the long game he's playing. I explained that poorly.
This is just an idea not a prediction. If Luthern is a Jedi, wouldn't it be cool if the inquisitors go after him, he beats them all, and the only one that can defeat him and kill him is Darth Vader himself?
He is no mystery . He is a neccessary mastermind required to set up an intelligence and logistic network . Just like Cummings did with MI 5 . He spent 15 years setting it up .
He is a Sith Lord. He's the opposite of Palpitine, controlling the rebellion to fight the Empire. Everything is ego, hate, manipulating negative feelings. He has red lightsabers on his Fondor Haulcraft!!
here's the thing that's bothering me... we see the sacrifice of everyone around luthen... but we don't see it from the man himself, he tells us about his great sacrifices.
I agree that Luthen's speech is vague. Furthermore, I am disappointed in viewers who simply assume he is being entirely truthful, considering he is gaslighting and bullying Lonni with big lies left and right. It's not just a matter of whether or not specific statements are technically true, but it's entirely possible to be purposefully deceitful using selective true statements. Furthermore, we can infer from later context that this is a game for Luthen. The way he attempted to lie to Mon Mothma and Saw about Aldani sure feels like a game - one which Mon Mothma obviously does not appreciate. But we see Luthen's real attitude when Cassian confronts him. He doesn't immediately understand what Cassian's doing, so he assumes it's some sort of game. So here's a true pattern - people see in others what they are guilty of themselves. Luthen assumes Cassian's up to some sort of game, because that's what he himself does. That's how we gain true insight into this man of mirrors. Not through what he says about himself, but through what he sees in others.
It appears Luthan isn't, without the girl in the shop. Saying, "Behind every good man is a woman". But she isn't his girlfriend or wife. She is wise and somewhat equill. Luthan is the man in charge by the way Mon & Val inquiar. The girl has skills! The way she talked to him at the end of one episode when they were in the back shop and Luthan was listening on the com. She was taking charge some what! He was a little bit on her leash. Maybe they be a little freaky? Things can get stressful.... With a shop like that, role play!
The ex-stormtrooper, big black guy playing Taramyn Barcona. In the robbery, Val Sartha said, "I'm pinned down"! Taramyn runs from cover to help and is immediately shot and killed. I assume by the guy that was shooting his blaster rifle at Val thus the pin down. WTF? This guy was the trained military man to get the crew ready? This is exactly what not to do. Val would present a little bit of target for the shooter to get her in his sights. Then Taramyn would attempt to shoot the shooter. The shooter then targets Taramyn, then Val would attempt, then Taramyn and so on until the threat is over or pinning down the shooter so Val can get out of danger. So, any of you kids out there get in a pindown, don't take Hollywood as training! Taramyn ran out there and BAM! Instant sack of potato's!
IMA great for for Rael Aveross and his timeline after disappearing after loosing a Padawan and given job of administering a planet and mentoring a Princess to become Queen Fanri of Pinjal. The moon of which has the only Orange Kyber or Fools Kyber crystal with special untapped properties fellow Jedi Qui Gon Ginn and Obi Wan join(Ginn and Aveross were Padawans to the "irregular" or maverick Jedi Count Dooku. Aveross a proto Anakin was seen as problematic as came to the temple old at 5 year's and had family ties especially his sister on his home world of Ringo Vinda. Where after his disastrous "regency" on Pijal he is last heard of being called to the Temple. It is not a stretch to see him return home, Ringo Vinda after order 66 become a ship yard for Kuatti Star Destroyers. The fact Ginn's interest in prophesies is not lost on the "Kyber that is not Kyber", which is used during rebellion on Pijal by the nay Queen to create Jedi or Sabre proof shields which repel Light sabres. Regardless of this and other interesting parallels, Stelland is nearly perfect age of the character and Luthen Rael. The 15 years after the coup and destruction of the Jedi, Rael would eventually be tracked down. Either his family would be made to suffer, through his talents and links as Regent of Pinjal he would be perfect to work for the Ship Yards on Ringo Vinda. Linking to his ships technology, strange Kyber powered and upgraded Fondor "Sleeper" craft, with several upgrades. He is using the strategies and previous contacts to help get revenge upon Palpatine and his lackey "Vader". I would guess his charge Fenri is hunted down and killed to get to Rael. He saves her daughter who is his "assistan" who just looks like a street smart older Leia. Who would with Rael are out to emulated Palpatines strategy, play the ruthless long game. I have heard the Aveross character mentioned possibly living up to Episode 6. Could be after being behind the theft of the Death Star Plans. He goes to ground but as Palpatine tries to lure Luke, Vader is tasked to find this disturbance in the force which may threaten the Death Star 2 and final destruction of the rebellion and turning of young Skywalker. Be it by name or not, the parallels and early prophesy mentioned at the time of Anakins creation may have Rael Aveross as Luthen or follow a similar character vector. These two characters linked to Vader and Dooku, who are totally under the radar literally by use of the Fools Kyber properties in the force or weapons become central in sparking and aiming the organised rebellion and the side effects of the destruction of the Death Star, however unintentional bringing son of Skywalker within the fold to ultimately cause a chain reaction in the force and the balance of power to finally rid the galaxy of the sith and get revenge upon all those Rael respected and loved and lost.
What music do you have playing in the background? It's really faint, but it totally reminds me of 'The Citadel' and especially 'The Presidium' from Mass Effect: ua-cam.com/video/KMBAPgjFEZc/v-deo.html
@@StarWarsFanatic I caught that too. But your Jedi mind tricks don't work on me. Just kidding. It took me a minute to realize you were only trying to say there are so many new and mysterious characters in Andor, your observation about the show's interesting originality and creativity. Right? I wonder what you might think about Kleya's roots. My speculation is that she is Cassian's sister, and possibly Luthen was involved with Maarva to keep her identity a secret for her protection, something like Luke and Leia were kept secret from each other. Cassian and Kleya even look similar to me in their facial expressions and sad tones of speaking. I think this idea could set up a plausibly satisfying meeting between the two eventually next season. Can we count that out or possibly in at all?
Internal Conflict of Both Sides in Andor & Luthen Star Wars Empire traditionally had 2 kinds of people operating as one: Power hungry jerks climbing leadership ladders, and the lazy "it's just a job" types working for them who end up getting them choked to death by Vader eventually. Andor is showing us a new type of imperial contrasted to them for internal conflict, Dedra and Syril the true believers of their own types. In the same way it's showing us 2 visions for or paths for the Alliance, by analyzing Vel and her vague purpose and conclusion toward end and realizing her entire season 1 arc is about becoming DISILLUSIONED in the Rebellion or at least it's leaders Luthen/Kleya, not even seeing Luthen after half a year mission, no fan fare for her fallen team, also contrasted to Sinta... ugh... Mon Mothma / Vel contrasted to Sinta, Kleya, Luthen, cold murderous type people who fight what they hate instead of saving what they love and so no time to even get face out of binoculars for Sinta etc.! In season 2 there will definitely be some climax though maybe not much screen time except one arc, before Mon MOthma flees Coruscant, Vel might try to quit and Kleya murders her for example! Luthen probably will see he should have made the "loving family" type Alliance we know by the time Mothmas in charge but before can change much has to sacrifice himself to save Andor or Mon Mothma, and Saw gets beat up evenually etc, and the type of Rebellion that acts or operates more like the Empire fades with them to Mothma and Vels vision! I forget what this had to do with your video being on some right tracks about Luthen or for you to have fun thinking about, maybe write more later if you like it!
It looked like Marva's speech really touched him. Showed him what a rebellion looks like.
Or vindicated him, made him realise his life wasn't entirely wasted.
He sacrificed his sanity He’s holding on but super strained psychologically and psychically We cannot see his wounds and scars they are there thank you This is about his way🙏✌️
You’re absolutely right. And thank you
Kind of like"this is the way" but for a non-Mando.
@@TammyGordin He could be a Mandalorian. He has the armor in his shop and it could be his or he is just selling it.
I think most things in his shop is there for a reason. Might be his escape plan
@@StarWarsFanatic we didn't see mon mothma in new hope or empre, so this they not in ot thing, i think is silly, the rebels was everywhere
I"m thinking he had some connection to the Jedi Order and has an axe to grind against the Empire. (Hence the kyber crystal technology).
I feel like Luthens gonna be my favorite, interested to see what happens with his character development!
Same here. I’m torn between Luthen and Syril.
Luthen is my new favourite character... He is memorable and compelling. Truly fascinating with a lot of depth and complexity. He stole the show...and stood out from the rest of the characters and kept me watching the show.
@@StarWarsFanatic Syril hahahahaha
He has been fighting in the shadow so long you start to forget who you are! Bravo Stellan Skarsgård !
Great character. Weather he’s force sensitive or not he’d still be great. I’m open and excited about either.
We speculate on Luthen's sacrifice because we're taking the word too literally. Everything we've seen him do involves endangering or flat out destroying everyone he uses to get to his goal, and it's clear that he knows what those lives were worth and the pain he's caused.
Luthen's real problem is that he still knows right from wrong and the weight of all those painful but necessary losses drags him down, but being sworn to win the struggle by any means necessary leaves him constantly trying to prove to himself that the sacrifices are worth it. He tries to wall off his emotions or offload the guilt to people like Saw Guererra, but he can't fool himself; he knows he's doing wrong, and the fact that he's doing wrong the right reasons still leaves him holding the bag one more time for one more slaughter.
This makes a lot more sense than sorrow for lost relationships. It's a much deeper loss, the loss of compassion for one's self because we've lost the connection to the world that we maintain through empathy with the rest of humanity.
Luthen is the embodiment of the age old question: do the ends justify the means?
Luthen is an ex-jedi who stopped being a jedi when he started turning to dark because of his anger.
He said how completely tormented he is because of it.
Nooooo, God no! I will seek out Gilroy if it turns out we get lazy writing like in the other Star Wars shows, which were abysmal in my eyes
Loved this show. Watched each episode 3 to 4 times already. Cannot wait for season 2. This was so well done storytelling, set design, it makes you really see the difference between shows being shot on location in actual places. Makes you really see the limits of the volume. I hope they continue with this bigger wider storytelling. The galaxy is infinite so we don’t need to see the same characters over and over.
I couldn't agree more. It's my favorite series so far.
Excellent video and analysis. I think Ferrix had a profound effect on Luthen. He's a chess player, a puppet master...in a similar fashion to Palpatine...he has to use "the weapons of his enemy" (Right?). He enters the field only when he has to, and he's in Ferrix only because he believes that he was careless which potentially made Cassian a dangerous loose end that needed to be removed from the chessboard. I distinctly got the impression that Ferrix was the first time that he experienced an uprising firsthand. He seemed bewildered and perplexed by the event, if not outright shaken...a few feet closer to that explosion and we may have been talking about Luthen posthumously! I like to think that when Luthen turned around and saw Cassian standing before him on his ship that he had to be thinking two thoughts: 1. How the hell did this guy best me..."Check" to Luthen; and 2. I could really use someone with his talents.
I hope Luthen remains a mystery in season 2....not all questions need answers. The mystery of Luthen Rael is a big part of his intrigue...and it's a big part of our ability to have these discussions.
Thank you! I agree…it doesn’t need answered and Ferrix did have an impact on Luthen.
UA-cam has no shortage of Star Wars channels but your content along with your honesty and sound logic is absolutely refreshing. I'm fairly new to your channel but I am loving your videos. Thank you for all your work. Well done!
Thank you so much for that! I really wanted to be different. I’m a naturally positive person and wanted that to reflect in the greatest franchise ever.
That is EXACTLY the kind of treatment this franchise deserves! You have done an outstanding job my friend!
@@MBSill I really do appreciate it. Thank you so much!
Not gonna lie man, you dropped the ball on the title. "Let's get real with Rael."
Awe why didn’t I think of that?! Lol
Totally agree with all ur points. The show was absolutely flawless for me apart from one thing. How Cassian ended up getting arrested before he ended up in the prison. I felt like that was done a bit too quick and didn’t make sense. Like surely with his experience he would’ve seen those Beach Troopers and the commotion and avoided it, especially if he was meant to be laying low after the heist.
In all the other Starwars movies, when someone is hit by blaster fire they just fell down dead. In Andor, the plasma blast sends them flying as if the blast was a 50 pounder!
That heavy mounted blaster in the end, it was shooting 100 pounders!
If blasters were real, it would probably just burn a hole right through you and you wouldn't move. If vital organs were hit you would just fall straight down.
A blaster bolt would be a charge of plasma that doesn't dissipate its heat, staying in a desired form. That would be the hard part to invent. Then another stage of the weapon is to send it with accuracy at a speed that is at least fast enough that a target doesn't just move out of the way. The gun would have to be able to resist the heat and not melt down. The gun would have to have a magazine with stored energy. At the command of the trigger pull, makes all that happen from a 7 1/2 pound weapon.
3 1/2 pound if holstered.
Out of all the Starwars, future tech possibilities. The blaster, because of it's small size is the most difficult to make a reality! And yes, the force is somewhat more realistic because of quantum physics.
The blaster has a lot of energy is a small package!
I couldnt help but notice how many callbacks to Darth Maul that Luthen made over the course of the series.
1, He exists in the shadows, plotting and killing in secret until it is time to reveal himself in the open.
2, In the last episode he does the same thing that Maul does when he is hunting the Jedi on Tatooine, he leaves his ship, raises his dark hood and zooms away on a personal speeder, exactly as Maul did.
3, The ship even has a double-sided lightsaber, for crying out loud.
This in no way can be all coincidence. I'm not saying that he IS Maul or even a Sith, just that there's a bunch of visual callouts connecting Luthen to Maul in tPM either in style or motivation.
Yeah, it all seems pretty obvious. I just didn’t want to do another speculation video about him.
@@StarWarsFanatic that's the funny thing, i thought they were obvious, but no one is really picking up on them, even with the glaring lightsaber modifications on his ship. I couldnt tell if they were just visual call-backs used by the show's director to show that Luthen was in the same business as Maul was, a knife in the dark taking down the establishment from the shadows or if it meant anything more significant to the plot as a whole.
I agree with your comments early in the video. I never understood this strange tendency among the SW fandom to assume that a character MUST secretly be a Jedi simply because they are highly intelligent/skilled in certain areas. Force-sensitives don’t have a monopoly on excellence, which is deliberately conveyed in the grounded context of Andor.
Would love to see you do character analyses of everyone’s favorite female Mandalorians: Bo-Katan Kryze and Sabine Wren. Especially as we have Sabine coming into live action in Ahsoka and Mando S3, and the complexities of Bo-Katan’s character from Rebels and now in Mando.
Oh they are on my radar, for sure. Thank you for the suggestion. I’ve been dying to get back to the Mandalorians.
@@StarWarsFanatic DEW IT!
Absolutely.... Great idea. I can't describe how much I adore these characters, especially Sabine who means hell of a lot to me. I am now getting excited about star Wars again, coming out of hibernation as Mando and Ahsoka are back on the scene.
Excellent. My thoughts are he might fall under the category of Gray Jedi”, but again, like you said, it’s just a thought. Thanks again for all you do Gerald!
Luthen is a great character, and Skarsgard does a wonderful job. We may never know his true motivation or even his ultimate role. I only wish there was one small scene to confirm he did recover his crystal, showing Cassian to be a man of his word.
Perhaps Luthen just made his monologue on the spot, in order to effectively respond to Lonnie and saying whatever he needs to keep his mole on-mission.
From a narrative perspective, Luthen's speech is likely (or mostly) authentic but, still, he is shown to be untrustworthy.
Personally, I'm hoping for a kind of redemptive arc for Luthen. It'd be nice to see him literally sacrifice "everything" for the cause.
Yes, he's working to undermine the Empire and he supports the various Rebel sects, but he does so with a relatively ruthless detachment. Granted, he's not as zealous, single-minded, or 'blind' as Saw, but he clearly doesn't have any issues sacrificing 'assets' for his ultimate goal.
It'd be pretty powerful to see him give the ultimate sacrifice to protect his informants, contacts, and 'agents.' Especially if it turns out he's neither a Jedi or a Sith. He's clearly aware of both and likely familiar with just how dangerous the Sith are. I'd love to see him (as a non-force user) maintain his convictions even when confronted with the pain and torment of the Empire and its darkest sides.
I love this! Such a good plot
Great video! I'm a star wars fanatic too. I think Andor is the best thing they have produced. Period.
I have to agree with that statement. My child like mind likes the other stuff but my adult brain thrives with shows like Andor.
Hi Gerald awesome video I think Luthern was an amazing part in Andor I really think that he and Andor will work well together in series 2 he plays an arrogance in both areas that he is in I really enjoyed his dhip and how he controlled everyone thank you Star Wars Fanatic
Luthan might not even be his name lol. Truly enjoyed this series,
The popular theory is Luthen was a Jedi. I thought that too. But, in his sacrifice speech, he mentions something that happened 15 years back. We all know that is when order 66 was inacted. What if the kyber crystal wasn't his, but that of his child's. What if his child was a young-ling or a Padawan who was killed. That would devastate any parent. The crystal could be his last link to his child and the life he had before the Empire. That would make his story so much more tragic than if he was a fallen Jedi.
The sadness in his expression also supports that theory. Yes, there was anger…but who wouldn’t be angry at the loss of a child at the hands of an evil tyrant?
An excellent analysis of Lutheran. I think the key is whatever happened 15 years before. Do correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that how long the Emperor has been ruling? Fascinating character!
Thank you! And yeah, he’s probably the most interesting character in the show, alongside Syril Karen’s creepiness.
Luthen is dedicated to the Rebellion without having Gerrera’s fanaticism or hysteria. Great!
This is the way. I have spoken….
The name “Rael” is a variant of the Hebrew, archangelic name “Raphael;” more specifically, it is an *apocope* of the name “Raphael”-a shortened version of a word dropping final sounds or syllables or eliding internal sounds or syllables.” Raphael is one of the seven archangels mentioned in the apocryphal Book of Enoch, and his name means “God has restored to health or healed.”
Given this, I feel Luthen Rael-whose first name connotes the name of the Fallen Archangel, Lucifer (Light-bearer)-I think the series suggests that Luthen Rael is the figure who does all the dirty work, takes upon himself all the morally and ethically dark actions, that are *necessary* for the Rebel Alliance to come into Being, and for the Republic to be “cured” of the “rust” that, according to Maarva, “has taken hold at the heart of the galaxy.” His full name includes *both* the disease or “Fall” (Lucifer, the fallen archangel of Light) *and* that disease’s cure [Ra(pha)el]; he is *both* “sin” and redemption--this is why Luthen is such an endlessly intriguing, morally ambiguous character.,
Luthen's past has me asking and making as many theories as who Snoke was ...... Well until...... Him and his shop keeper probably have the most story prior and following this series to tell. Though honestly every character has me interested in their story. Hell even the Tower bell drummer has me wanting to see/know more.
The Time Grappler is my favorite non speaking character of any Star Wars show now.
I've said it before, Luthen worked for the Emperor. And the Emperor knows who he is. How else could he be allowed to sell most of what's in his shop? The only way would be if the Emperor allowed it. Hell, he still could be working for the Emperor, and we've just not seen that yet. I'm not saying that he's secretly a bad guy. But he still be collecting things for the Emperor. And that's how he's allowed to travel around, without suspicion.
Regardless of the writers views and preferences, it is interesting to look into a character like 'Luthen Rael' whose STAR WARS nomen alludes loosely to imagery of light - from the 'enlightenment' of Protestant Luther to the 'champion of God' Jacob or Israel, down to Lucifer wo brings light to creation for the cost of his own demise.
Like 'the radical' Saw Gererra ('Che Guevara'), 'the spy' Luthen won't survive the Galactic *Civil War* that permeates all STAR WARS stories like Hobbian meditations.
Luthen already realized this while _his natural instinct for survival still nags him_ , making him question his every decision - down to the folly idealism of a restored Republic.
It is because of this ultimate realization that Luthen apears to have stopped pretending or to maintain formal precautions like impersonal, disposable agents that could never win the heart of indespensable operators like Gerrera - unlike contemporary Western polticical rhetoric - assuring that 'we are in this, together' - _a war_ - _to the bitter end_ .
In doing so, Luthen Rael benefits from *the **_designed_** flaw of Imperial rule* that he is not opposed by _cunning_ , e.g. an Imperial Security Bureau that is swiftly identifying Cassian Andor as a crucial contact and _turning him_ by torture during his random imprisonment, and thus _infiltrating_ the Rebel cells of a New Republic - e.g. when Luthen _does not follow through_ with his formal rationale of disposing of Andor on Ferix (which would have created a _retroactive continuity_ through 'ROGUE ONE' in _a long game of social engineering of events_ - down to the decissive arrival of a hopeful Luke Skywalker in the throne room above Endor, coopting the last heroic saviour into _a cult of galactic rule_ )...
('Starkiller')
ua-cam.com/video/kc0rUnEJeUo/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/ftPnq4FMc0Q/v-deo.html
In real life, this sociology is reflected in the Machiavellian iconography of 'Lions and Foxes' whose behaviour is bound to the social roles of either holding institutional office or being in opposition, instead of being solely rooted in personal character.
('Social Hierarchy and the perpetual dynamic of hard and soft power')
ua-cam.com/video/WPzsHitEOb0/v-deo.html
Within _expanded_ lore, however this apparent topos is reflected in _the plot_ that *the Empire is just **_a means to an end_* - with *a Sith emperor, already sabotaging the 'New Order', clandestinely*_ - toward 'a cosmic' outcome, only a Sith apprentice could imagine (in our time, it'd be the equivalent of the arrival of an Anti-Christ - _a secular messiah_ to the triumphant tune of 'The March of Humanity', reuniting a fragmented Roman Empire into 'global governance' - just that it would be of 'Caesarian', instead of _oligarchic_ grace).
ua-cam.com/video/O2F91Up9fT8/v-deo.html
"None of the new characters appear in any other Star Wars project." - That is deep, man. That's deep.
Nah…it was more of a joke.
I’m thinking Shandrillen exile after divorcing Valls mother and recognizing his other daughter.
I love your content. However, one correction. Although his character wasn't as fleshed out, Luthen was in Rogue One. He was the one that ordered Cassian to assassinate Galen Erso.
Luthen is on a journey of "redemption" that must end in "selfless sacrifice" so even if it is with his last breath Luthen does not die a "coward".
I can't wait for the action figure.
There is one line in Luthen's monologue that I don't think I've heard discussed: "I share my dreams with ghosts." I mean, really, who else besides Jedi, do we know, does that? He also talks about giving in to his emotion, anger and ego. What do y'all think?
I did a video on his monologue. I can't remember if I included the "ghost" bit though.
What information is there on the writers and creators of Andor? Are they going to do other projects? Hopefully we the fans can see thus level of production for every Star Wars production. I hope the powers that be figured this out!
I doubt the Gilroy brothers are going to do more in the Star Wars universe after Andor but it’s been hard to tell with Tony’s interviews with how much he has been enjoying this and how much work it has been.
Yeah, I haven’t heard of any future plans, beyond season 2.
I would love to know eventually who he is and where he is coming from, but I do hope they won't make him a secret jedi or sith. Imo it would be nice, if he was some kind of military commander during clone wars. Maybe he was a good friend with some jedi, and when order 66 happend this person was killed, and it traumatized him to becoming renegate anf inspire idea of rebelion. That cyber cristal maybe memorabilia of his friend, and not part of his own lightsaber, as many suspect.
Didn't the guy Andor escaped with appear in Rogue One? I'm pants at names, but i'm pretty sure he was one of the Rebel strike force.
I'm kinda hoping that Luthen gets killed by Vadar in the end, because it will show who or what he really is, and no doubt be as badass as the scene at the end of Rogue one, still one of the coolest in all of Starwars.
Still leaning towards jedi who has become on the dark side of the centre, in order to remove the limits of morality and dogma, which were used against the jedi order and led to their collapse.
Thanks for the cool chats on this. Look forward to the next series.
Yes! That was Melshi. And in the Rogue One novelization, he had a much bigger part.
Fanatic there’s a black series figure of Lutheran and apparently his cane is a secret knife?
I saw that!
He's sacrificed needlessly. He's going for revenge. He's learned nothing as well because instead of seeing the rebellion happening on Ferrix and realizing his tactics aren't necessary, he's so wrapped up in his desire for revenge that it blinds blinds him.
The showrunners show it as well. Look at the final episode when he gets on his speeder. It's exactly like when Maul gets on his speeder in TPM. He's lost in revenge. Maul was only every consumed with revenge. From wanting to have revenge against the Jedi in TPM, to wanting revenge against Kenobi for the rest of his life. Luthen is exactly the same.
Comment of the day. I picked up on this from him from the start. I thought the same thing... A parallel to Darth Maul
When Luthen got on his speeder, pulled his hood over his head and accelerated off, I was like "yeah, like that's gonna stay on!"
Wait…what’s his revenge? From what I understand he was being preemptive because he didn’t trust Cassian being a loose end.
@@StarWarsFanatic The revenge is from 15 years prior. Him being hyper-focused on killing Cassian is a symptom of that. His whole frame of reference is shaped by the formula he devised that he wakes up thinking about every day. The revenge isn't revenge on Cassian, but the long game he's playing. I explained that poorly.
@@DaringDan thank you for clarifying.
This is just an idea not a prediction. If Luthern is a Jedi, wouldn't it be cool if the inquisitors go after him, he beats them all, and the only one that can defeat him and kill him is Darth Vader himself?
That would be really cool!
Luthen’s backstory will most likely will be covered elsewhere in canon.
He sacrificed the Jedi code
He is no mystery . He is a neccessary mastermind required to set up an intelligence and logistic network . Just like Cummings did with MI 5 . He spent 15 years setting it up .
He is a Sith Lord. He's the opposite of Palpitine, controlling the rebellion to fight the Empire. Everything is ego, hate, manipulating negative feelings. He has red lightsabers on his Fondor Haulcraft!!
I’ve actually made videos on that
Good analysis.,
Thank you
here's the thing that's bothering me... we see the sacrifice of everyone around luthen... but we don't see it from the man himself, he tells us about his great sacrifices.
I agree that Luthen's speech is vague. Furthermore, I am disappointed in viewers who simply assume he is being entirely truthful, considering he is gaslighting and bullying Lonni with big lies left and right. It's not just a matter of whether or not specific statements are technically true, but it's entirely possible to be purposefully deceitful using selective true statements.
Furthermore, we can infer from later context that this is a game for Luthen. The way he attempted to lie to Mon Mothma and Saw about Aldani sure feels like a game - one which Mon Mothma obviously does not appreciate. But we see Luthen's real attitude when Cassian confronts him. He doesn't immediately understand what Cassian's doing, so he assumes it's some sort of game.
So here's a true pattern - people see in others what they are guilty of themselves. Luthen assumes Cassian's up to some sort of game, because that's what he himself does.
That's how we gain true insight into this man of mirrors. Not through what he says about himself, but through what he sees in others.
It appears Luthan isn't, without the girl in the shop. Saying, "Behind every good man is a woman". But she isn't his girlfriend or wife. She is wise and somewhat equill. Luthan is the man in charge by the way Mon & Val inquiar. The girl has skills! The way she talked to him at the end of one episode when they were in the back shop and Luthan was listening on the com. She was taking charge some what! He was a little bit on her leash. Maybe they be a little freaky? Things can get stressful....
With a shop like that, role play!
All I know is I can't wait until season 2...
Right? It’s going to be a long two years.
Is the name of Luthen's shop Universal Exports?
The ex-stormtrooper, big black guy playing Taramyn Barcona. In the robbery, Val Sartha said, "I'm pinned down"! Taramyn runs from cover to help and is immediately shot and killed. I assume by the guy that was shooting his blaster rifle at Val thus the pin down.
WTF?
This guy was the trained military man to get the crew ready? This is exactly what not to do.
Val would present a little bit of target for the shooter to get her in his sights. Then Taramyn would attempt to shoot the shooter. The shooter then targets Taramyn, then Val would attempt, then Taramyn and so on until the threat is over or pinning down the shooter so Val can get out of danger.
So, any of you kids out there get in a pindown, don't take Hollywood as training!
Taramyn ran out there and BAM! Instant sack of potato's!
But at least it was an accurate shot lol.
@@StarWarsFanatic It was spot on potato's!
I like to say that he is related to the empor
I love this content
Thank you
IMA great for for Rael Aveross and his timeline after disappearing after loosing a Padawan and given job of administering a planet and mentoring a Princess to become Queen Fanri of Pinjal.
The moon of which has the only Orange Kyber or Fools Kyber crystal with special untapped properties fellow Jedi Qui Gon Ginn and Obi Wan join(Ginn and Aveross were Padawans to the "irregular" or maverick Jedi Count Dooku.
Aveross a proto Anakin was seen as problematic as came to the temple old at 5 year's and had family ties especially his sister on his home world of Ringo Vinda. Where after his disastrous "regency" on Pijal he is last heard of being called to the Temple. It is not a stretch to see him return home, Ringo Vinda after order 66 become a ship yard for Kuatti Star Destroyers.
The fact Ginn's interest in prophesies is not lost on the "Kyber that is not Kyber", which is used during rebellion on Pijal by the nay Queen to create Jedi or Sabre proof shields which repel Light sabres.
Regardless of this and other interesting parallels, Stelland is nearly perfect age of the character and Luthen Rael.
The 15 years after the coup and destruction of the Jedi, Rael would eventually be tracked down. Either his family would be made to suffer, through his talents and links as Regent of Pinjal he would be perfect to work for the Ship Yards on Ringo Vinda. Linking to his ships technology, strange Kyber powered and upgraded Fondor "Sleeper" craft, with several upgrades.
He is using the strategies and previous contacts to help get revenge upon Palpatine and his lackey "Vader". I would guess his charge Fenri is hunted down and killed to get to Rael. He saves her daughter who is his "assistan" who just looks like a street smart older Leia. Who would with Rael are out to emulated Palpatines strategy, play the ruthless long game.
I have heard the Aveross character mentioned possibly living up to Episode 6. Could be after being behind the theft of the Death Star Plans. He goes to ground but as Palpatine tries to lure Luke, Vader is tasked to find this disturbance in the force which may threaten the Death Star 2 and final destruction of the rebellion and turning of young Skywalker. Be it by name or not, the parallels and early prophesy mentioned at the time of Anakins creation may have Rael Aveross as Luthen or follow a similar character vector. These two characters linked to Vader and Dooku, who are totally under the radar literally by use of the Fools Kyber properties in the force or weapons become central in sparking and aiming the organised rebellion and the side effects of the destruction of the Death Star, however unintentional bringing son of Skywalker within the fold to ultimately cause a chain reaction in the force and the balance of power to finally rid the galaxy of the sith and get revenge upon all those Rael respected and loved and lost.
What music do you have playing in the background? It's really faint, but it totally reminds me of 'The Citadel' and especially 'The Presidium' from Mass Effect: ua-cam.com/video/KMBAPgjFEZc/v-deo.html
I honestly can’t remember the name of it. I got it from epidemic sound.
@@StarWarsFanatic Good to know. I thought my familiarity with Star Wars music was waning 🤣
Why he uses the same name is one of the greatest mysteries. I don’t think it makes sense.
I say he is a Jedi
Of course none of the new characters are in anything else, they're new. 😂
Bwahaha good catch!
@@StarWarsFanatic I caught that too. But your Jedi mind tricks don't work on me. Just kidding. It took me a minute to realize you were only trying to say there are so many new and mysterious characters in Andor, your observation about the show's interesting originality and creativity. Right? I wonder what you might think about Kleya's roots. My speculation is that she is Cassian's sister, and possibly Luthen was involved with Maarva to keep her identity a secret for her protection, something like Luke and Leia were kept secret from each other. Cassian and Kleya even look similar to me in their facial expressions and sad tones of speaking. I think this idea could set up a plausibly satisfying meeting between the two eventually next season. Can we count that out or possibly in at all?
@@abeautifuldayful Yeah, I think this idea is possible. That would make it really interesting since Kleya put the hit out on Cassian.
Internal Conflict of Both Sides in Andor & Luthen
Star Wars Empire traditionally had 2 kinds of people operating as one: Power hungry jerks climbing leadership ladders, and the lazy "it's just a job" types working for them who end up getting them choked to death by Vader eventually.
Andor is showing us a new type of imperial contrasted to them for internal conflict, Dedra and Syril the true believers of their own types.
In the same way it's showing us 2 visions for or paths for the Alliance, by analyzing Vel and her vague purpose and conclusion toward end and realizing her entire season 1 arc is about becoming DISILLUSIONED in the Rebellion or at least it's leaders Luthen/Kleya, not even seeing Luthen after half a year mission, no fan fare for her fallen team, also contrasted to Sinta... ugh...
Mon Mothma / Vel contrasted to Sinta, Kleya, Luthen, cold murderous type people who fight what they hate instead of saving what they love and so no time to even get face out of binoculars for Sinta etc.!
In season 2 there will definitely be some climax though maybe not much screen time except one arc, before Mon MOthma flees Coruscant, Vel might try to quit and Kleya murders her for example!
Luthen probably will see he should have made the "loving family" type Alliance we know by the time Mothmas in charge but before can change much has to sacrifice himself to save Andor or Mon Mothma, and Saw gets beat up evenually etc, and the type of Rebellion that acts or operates more like the Empire fades with them to Mothma and Vels vision!
I forget what this had to do with your video being on some right tracks about Luthen or for you to have fun thinking about, maybe write more later if you like it!