'Andor' Episode 9 Ending Sets Up a Tragic 'Star Wars' Destiny

As Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) escapes the Ghorman Massacre at the end of Andor Season 2, Episode 8, he brings a little last-minute souvenir with him. After nearly getting killed by an Imperial KX droid, Andor ends up throwing the remains of the droid into his speeder and taking it all the way back to the Rebel base on Yavin 4. And at the end of Episode 9, this same KX droid is rewired to work for the good guys.

But why is the resurrection of this specific droid so important? Well, like Andor himself, the birth of K-2SO in Andor Season 2, Episode 8 and Episode 9 is actually bittersweet. And that's because both man and droid are headed for a tragic destiny, very, very soon. Spoilers ahead.

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The next-to-last block of Andor Season 2 episodes all take place in 2 BBY, meaning the events we see here are just two years before the original 1977 Star Wars film, A New Hope. That also means that these episodes take place just two years before Rogue One, the 2016 film which introduced us to both Cassian (Diego Luna) and his quick-witted droid K-2SO (Alan Tudyk). 

And so, at the end of Episode 9, "Welcome to the Rebellion," when Cassian and the Rebels are activating the "reprogrammed" K-2SO, what's really happening is that we're one step closer to the end of their respective journeys. K-2SO sacrifices himself to save the squad in Rogue One, and, of course, Cassian dies on the surface of Scarif, along with Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones). The end of Episode 9 of Andor is the beginning of the end of both of these characters' journeys.

In another twist of dramatic irony, although this is the first time Cassian and Mon Mothma have ever met, we know that she will outlive him well beyond the fall of the Empire. In fact, Mon Mothma is running the New Republic in the post-Return of the Jedi era of The Mandalorian and Ahsoka, meaning there's every reason to believe that Genevieve O'Reilly could appear in the upcoming movie, The Mandalorian & Grogu, and perhaps, beyond.

So, we've got two first meetings in Andor Season 2, Episodes 8 and 9; Cassian and K-2SO, and Cassian and Mon Mothma. Of these four people, only one of them will live beyond A New Hope, meaning, as Andor marches on, it becomes clear that this show is truly the most tragic Star Wars tale of them all.

Andor Season 2 streams on Disney+.

Related: 'Andor' Season 2 Review: Here's The One Thing You Need to Know