Earlier today, Danielle and I had our midweek check-in while I was preparing to host a Ted/Visit Philly Panel on the dire state of our democracy. It was fitting that we talked about the Disney+ show ANDOR Season 1, which follows a group of ordinary folks without superpowers who band together to resist the fascist Empire. I’m glad I finally convinced Danielle, who is NOT a Star Wars fan, to watch the series. As predicted, she loved it.
Even if you haven’t seen the show, fiction often provides the best blueprint for us to imagine both hopeful and dystopian scenarios. This show, in particular, was conceived by the showrunner to discuss how fascism ultimately contaminates and corrupts everything and everyone. It also reveals how every person has a role to play in fighting back and defeating it.
Here’s Danielle’s writeup from her Substack.
*SPOILER ALERTS*
America has been living under Trumpism for nearly 10 years. For a decade now many of us have been asking what will it take to move the masses from complacency to resistance?! The answer may lie within the brilliant writers and creator of ANDOR. I will begin by saying I am not a fan of Star Wars. To be honest I find the future created in these films to be depressing in themes that they showcase—regardless of the century or the planet tyranny and fascism will always exist and that the fight for a better future never actually ends. The unfortunate reality is that this is indeed the truth. Those with money and power will never want harmony or peace because they build their empires through oppression and fear.
In the series ANDOR we watch how a self-serving thief grows from complacent “I’m just getting mine” mentality to hero of the rebellion. While we wish people didn’t need to be personally impacted or traumatized to take action on behalf of the collective; that is often the case in life as it is in the series. As Andor’s life is turned upside down from a series of events involving the tyranny of the Empire, we watch him begin to reconcile with the fact that no amount of money or perceived comfort is going to keep him safe; that eventually the Empire will come for everyone. So, he has to make a choice a choice that many of us are being met with now. The America we knew will not return in our lifetimes or possibly our children’s lifetimes; but the actions that we take each and everyday to fight Trumpism and slow this fascist regime will indeed change the course of history.
What ANDOR show us is that oppression is “unnatural” and that it thrives in darkness and preys on those that wish to remain asleep. When we choose to awaken and assert our power the “leaks” begin. The point of resistance is not always that the “win” will come immediately; but that the very act of TRYING slows the machine. ANDOR teaches us that we must make a choice—either we wait with our heads down until the Empire comes for us or we fight for the life we all deserve. We will not be able to sit beneath the shade of the tree we plant; but we must plant the seeds knowing that some day it will indeed provide shade and respite. This is our duty and our highest calling at this moment. As Nemik says in his manifesto, we must “try”!
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