I probably could write a thesis about this.
The Force, its sides and the Dark Times.
The Mon/Luthen dichotomy is because the main character of Andor is really the Rebellion, personified through those two and manifested through Cassian and Kleya. Mon and Luthen are literally Light Side/Dark Side coded in their robes and attitudes (and names: Moth-ma seeks the light, but may get burned by it, while Luthen conjures a similarity to Lucifer aka lightbringer, but ends up trapped in darkness and fire (though I will admit this might be a stretch, but itnwas my first impression of his name, though the code name: Axis does have a sinister-leaning bent in the real world--i.e. Axis of Evil (ugh, GWB) or the Axis Powers of WWII). Luthen isn't evil. His motives are good, but he wants everyone to (and does himself) choose the quicker and easier path of assassination and terror. This does not negate his importance in building the Rebellion, but Mon recognizes that his path is not the organization she wants to be in. She tries to negotiate to the very end, hoping that reason and compassion are enough to turn enough hearts and minds. Cassian walks between these two necessarily. His mother tells him (and everyone) to fight!
Luthen brings everyone together, but then feels like he is losing control, while Mon Mothma stands out through strength of character as the de facto factor leader of the alliance.
In the end, Luthen (and Kleya) prevent the end of the alliance by sacrificing himself (and Kleya risking all to make sure his sacrifice is not in vain--again, coded into their costumes as Kleya throws off her dark hood and literally dons the clothes of a healer/nurse). Cassian also risks all to save Luthen and then her (in direct contrast to the Imperials that throw each other under the bridge to try to save their own skins from being strangled or Force drained or flat-out executed).
The alliance, exactly like Luke, casts the Dark Side away (in a grayish Andor fashion), and a Dark Side minion (K2), who switches sides and makes the choice to save everyone at the last minute.
This isn't a new theme to Star Wars. "We will win not by destroying the things we hate, but by saving the things we love." "Hatred leads to suffering." "Once you start down the Dark Path, forever will it dominate your destiny."
It's not perfect, and Andor is still a grayish show, but it peaks when Cassian doesn't carry through with the assassination of Galen Erso, choosing protecting Jyn over assassination. Jyn certainly wouldn't have helped him (and the alliance) after that, and would not only have not garnered as much support, but the Alliance would not have known the code name of the Death Star, never finding the plans, and eventually would have been wiped out at Scarif or after, crushing organized resistance and the galaxy under the Emperor's bootheel.
No path is pure in a remotely realistic world (which Star Wars still is), but if violence is not tempered by compassion, then the results risk all the temptations of power and politics, avoiding corruption and more tyranny only through great luck.,
And, in my experience (and in Star Wars) there's no such thing as luck.
I've heard replies to this interpretation that "I'm not fond of the black and white morality of Star Wars." But it's not black and white. The Force resides in everyone, and it always has two sides. Everyone has the Light and the Dark in them. What matters each and every time, is what they choose. Obi-Wan gives in to hate and pain and rage and strikes down Maul on Naboo, but then proves a flawed teacher to Anakin. Yoda chooses to 'accept' the 'gift' of the Clone Army, taking an easy path to stopping Dooku, but opening the Jedi for their corruption and fall. Anakin chooses to believe Palpatine and fight the Jedi rather than to save Padme like he really wants. Han chooses to come back and save Luke rather than take his money and run. Luke chooses to try and save Vader. Vader chooses to save Luke and the Rebellion by destroying the Emperor. And, from a certain point of view, the end of the sequel trilogy is the galaxy choosing the path away from hate, fear and tyranny rather than taking the easy way and simply submitting to keep themselves alive.
In the end of Rogue One, in a last brilliant moment, the hero at the heart of the nascent Rebellion and the hero that brings him all the way back to the light and purpose are consumed not in fire or stone as before, but in brilliant WHITE LIGHT.
#Andor Spoilers #Cassian Andor #not the chosen one but #the Choosing One #Star Wars: And/Or #the Rebellion is the main character #The Galaxy Far, Far Away is a Taoist parable #just like #The Hidden Fortress, the movie that the original Star Wars: A New Hope was strongly influenced by, where bad comes from good and good comes from bad. #May the Yin Yang be with You. #May the Force Be With You, Always. #whew #typing this on a tablet sucked, and I hope it's coherent--I have no one to discuss this with at length in real life.
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