Luthen Rael is the Biggest Threat to Palpatine's Empire

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Luthen's speech is literally the writer giving us the thesis of the entire show. It is beautifully written, seeped in real historical examples, and ultimately HEARTBREAKING . Luthen's speech is a tragic tale, a man with the self awareness to know his soul is doomed & his sacrifice will be thankless because nobody knows the true depths he will reach for the benefit of millions.

If Saw Gerrera is Rebel Vader, then Luthen Rael is Rebel Palpatine. Think about it.

“I burn my life to make a sunrise I know I’ll never see.” That gave me chills when I heard that.

Luthen’s speech is straight up my favorite dialogue in any Star Wars movie/show.

“The arrogance is remarkable.” To me, the delivery of that line by Skarsgård is so brilliant: On one hand, it fits your analysis- how arrogant of The Empire to assume everyone else is stupid. On the other, it feels like he was also describing Cassian- how arrogant of you to think you are that good. Luthen’s curse is his self-awareness; he is the playwright and hero of his own tragedy. I enjoy the interactions between Luthen Rael and Mon Mothma because it showcases two people that, had it not been for a shared belief, would never seek out each other’s company for pleasure. And it’s this ability to put their differences aside for the cause that lies the core strength of this rebellion.

Here's the thing, Machavelli is surprisingly on point when it comes to politics and populations. What people forget is the whole answer Machavelli stated for if it is best to be feared or loved. Machavelli outright stated that both is preferable, but fear is easier to control and far more universal, and if you put too much in fear you get hated which is something to avoid at all costs.

Jesus this show has been so god damn amazing. I 100% believed that we would never get anything even close to this good in the Star Wars universe. I had almost completely lost faith in the brand after the embarrassment that was the Book of Boba Fett. But in my opinion this show is some of the best stuff that the Stars Wars franchise and Disney itself has ever created. The complexity of the characters in the show is incredible and I never realized how badly I wanted that in Star Wars until this show happened.

Luthen Rael is a man of focus, commitment and sheer will in the Rebellion while under the nose of the Empire in a nutshell.

Sacrificing 50 men for one mole in the ISB. “The hardest choices require the strongest wills”

“Not the individuals who quit after the first 2 episodes bored them” say it my guy.

I really love Andor. But I don’t think I’d be loving and appreciating the show (or the broader SW universe) nearly as much without all these video essays. Thanks for your work!

I love this monologue. "What did you Sacrifice? Calm, Kindness, Kinship. Love. I've given up all chance at inner peace. I've made my mind a sunless space. I share my dreams with ghosts. I wake up everyday to an equation I wrote 15 years ago, from which there's only one conclusion, I'm damned for what I do. My anger, my ego, my unwillingness to yield, my eagerness to fight, they've set me on a path from which there is no escape. I yearned to be a savior against injustice without contemplating the cost and by the time I looked down there was no longer any ground beneath my feet. What is my Sacrifice? I'm condemned to use the tools of my enemy to defeat them. I Burn my decency for someone else's future. I burn my life to make a sunrise that I know I'll never see. And the ego that started this fight will never have a mirror or an audience or the light of gratitude. So what do I sacrifice? EVERYTHING!" btw as a reminder: There is no emotion, there is peace. There is no ignorance, there is knowledge. There is no passion, there is serenity. There is no chaos, there is harmony. There is no death, there is the Force.

In that way, as he said "I burned my life for a sunrise I'll never see," I think Luthen shares a lot with other true idealists who believe in a cause to the very end, damn the costs. Captain Pike, as we see in Discovery and Strange New Worlds, for example. Leia, for another. They can't be broken because they accept their fate. Sure, they will keep fighting right to the bitter end, and if they are granted a reprieve they'll take it. But they know what they signed up for.

The "I think about you constantly" delivery is something only Stellan can pull off. It reminded me of when he said "I've never had a man in here before" in the girl with the dragon tattoo

Luthen Rael is one of the most fascinating characters in Star Wars in my opinion. To be honest, his ideology (like in his speech) when it comes to making a rebellion happens to make him one of my favorite Star Wars characters of all time. He truly is the anti-Palpatine and his words and actions say that. Seriously, it was after his speech in the end of episode 10 did it solidify my genuine love for Luthen as a Star Wars character.

Gosh the whole speech Luthen gave just gave me chills, it really echoed that powerful final goodbye from Epsilon/Church in RvB 13 (at least to me); "There are so many stories where some brave hero gives their life to save the day, and because of their sacrifice, the good guys win, the survivors all cheer, and everybody lives happily ever after. But the hero never gets to see that ending. They'll never know if their sacrifice actually made a difference. They'll never know if the day was really saved. In the end, they just have to have faith. Ain't that a bitch."

What a show!! Well written, slow paced, gives everyone a chance to shine and Serkis and Stellan grabbed the opportunity with both hands... Some of the best acting ever on Star Wars "I share my dreams with ghosts"... It's a vision that will haunt me until Luthen faces his unavoidable bad ending 👏🏾👌🏾

Powerful, Alan. This why I think Andor is probably THE best SW “story” it’s also one of finest example of tv dramatics that’s has been broadcast in quite a while. I am…concerned that many do not like the show. I understand younger fans would get bored (I wouldn’t have it enjoyed it too 40 years ago), but adult SW fans who feel the franchise isn’t “big enough” for the serious examination of the sacrifices to conflict or what lies at the heart of a dictatorship or a rebellion is troubling. Gilroy has imo departed a gift to us fans allow to us who follow the way the real world operates when it comes to questioning our engagement in the way our societies do, and should operate. Excellent video essay, keep up the great work, Alan.

Luther is a man that has reached his limit. He knows how to fight, and is unencumbered in his pursuit. He understands the cycles of tyranny. A man who is knowledgeable, has resources, and is totally determined to fight. Much like Kino Loy, the determination in the characters is apparent. This is Star Wars on a whole new level.