The following contains spoilers for Andor Episodes 1-3, now streaming on Disney+.
Within only three episodes of Andor, the show has managed to separate itself from all other Star Wars media. While it bares a familiar look, the overall tone and pacing has differentiated itself from the typical swashbuckling adventures Star Wars is known for. Yet it still does a great job of honoring what came before, with the core themes resembling those of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
Despite being viewed as a prequel to Rogue One, so far Cassian Andor is the only link to the movie. Andor's showrunner has even explained how fan service was avoided as much as possible, making sure that the story comes before all else. Yet even within the few episodes currently available, there are already clear ties to Rogue One's themes, with the line of, "Make 10 men feel like 100," being one of them.
This line, spoken at the end of Rogue One, was used all throughout the promotional material as it perfectly sums up the rebellion. As Cassian, Jyn Erso and the squad attempt to steal the Death Star plans, they fully understand how outnumbered they are. Yet through strategic placement of bombs, and misleading information sent through the Imperial radio, the rebels are able to make their presence feel far larger than it actually is.
And within Episode 3 of Andor, this idea is reflected perfectly. Everything leading up to Cassian's escape had been a slow burn, with the weight of the Empire's rule gradually pushing people to their limit. Then with the Imperial police officer's arrival, a select few citizens reach their breaking point. The acts of just a couple of people make it appear as though the entire city is fighting back, creating chaos and panic among the security force.
It all begins with the constant chiming, as pieces of metal clang throughout the city to announce the police's arrival. The unstopping sounds create paranoia for the officers, until finally, one construction worker ties some cable to a police transport and causes it to come crashing down. Up until this point, barely anyone has actually been fighting against the officers, yet it results in them saying, "Shit, we're under siege, they're everywhere."
While fans have noted that this is the first "shit," said in Star Wars, the line perfectly mimic's Cassian's goal in Rogue One. The Empire is so comfortable with their power and capabilities that the idea that only a few people could cause such destruction never even enters their minds. It's this panic and confusion that causes the Empire to make its frequent mistakes, and often results in its own self-made downfall.
The moment also reflects how quickly a simple arrest can turn into an all-out war. As despite only a few locals attacking the officers, they assume the entire city is against them. And when they assume something as drastic as that, a conflict arises as one side attempts to tighten their control, and the other becomes fed-up with the oppression. It's this slow burn of Andor that makes the rising rebellion feel all the more real. And all the way through to Rogue One, the situation remains the same, with just a few groups fighting against a giant Empire. But by outsmarting their enemy and using every resource to their advantage, they continue to make "10 men feel like 100," over and over again.
New episodes of Andor stream Wednesdays on Disney+.