5 Easter Eggs from the epic three episode Andor premiere

As the buzz for Andor reached a fever pitch in the weeks leading up to its release, one talking point that filtered its way to the top was the idea that the Rogue One prequel series wouldn’t contain any easter eggs.

These conversations were lit ablaze after Tony Gilroy stated that appearances from characters wouldn’t be delivered as “fan service.” After the easter egg fest of recent Disney+ Star Wars projects, fans were left unsure of what to expect from Andor in terms of the interconnectedness that is so crucial to the Star Wars galaxy.

Well, now that the first three episodes of Andor have been released on Disney+, we can confidently say that the galaxy far, far away is in good hands. In my opinion, Andor portrays a living, breathing galaxy in ways that no other on-screen Star Wars project has. Here are five pieces of connective tissue (or, “easter eggs” if you prefer) from the three-episode premiere that demonstrates Gilroy and crew’s ability to keep the Star Wars tradition.

Light spoilers to follow. (I’ll do my best to leave out plot details for those who have yet to watch.)

1. The Bestoon Legacy?

Starting off with perhaps the most unexpected connection—a connection to the sequel trilogy.

In Andor episode one, Cassian gets up to no good in a shipyard full of various spacecraft. At approximately 32:58, the camera shows a wide overhead angle of the yard. Sharp-eyed fans will immediately recognize a T-47 airspeeder and the yellow cockpit of a Y-Wing bomber. However, to the top left is a ship that nearly made me fly out of my seat. The spacecraft appears to be the same model as the Bestoon Legacy—the ship seen in Rey’s traumatic flashback in The Force Awakens. We later learned in The Rise of Skywalker that the vessel belonged to Sith assassin and all-around terrible dude, Ochi of Bestoon.

Sure, there may be some variations in the ship’s appearance, but from the bulky twin engines on the sides to the divided, trapezoidal viewport, it’s undeniable that the ships are at least of the same series or manufacturer. This type of spacecraft has yet to receive an official name in canon but has only ever appeared on-screen in the sequel trilogy. Its appearance in Andor shows that the team behind the production isn’t afraid to reach into every corner of Star Wars to flesh out the world.

2. “Caf”

In episode two of Andor, Bix Caleen (played by the phenomenal Adria Arjona) requests some “caf” to help her perk up after a night of drinking and other adult shenanigans. You may have easily guessed it, and yep: caf is the in-universe equivalent of coffee.

This may not seem significant, but this is actually the first on-screen usage of the term. The word “caf” was first used in Star Wars in 1996 in Peter M. Schweighofer’s short story “Hasty Exit,” and the first usage of the term in canon was in John Jackson Miller’s 2014 novel A New Dawn. Despite the in-universe term’s lengthy history in published material in both canon and legends, it had never before been spoken by an on-screen character until now.

3. Andor’s Bryar Pistol

In Andor episode three, Cassian brandishes a bulky-looking sidearm against Luthen Rael during their first meeting. This looks to be a Bryar pistol—which marks yet another on-screen first.

The Bryar pistol was introduced in the 1995 video Star Wars: Dark Forces as Kyle Katarn’s blaster of choice. It was later remodeled for inclusion in DLC for Star Wars Battlefront  (2016). The pistol was designated as the “K-16 Bryar pistol” upon its introduction to canon.

It’s hard to tell if the Bryar pistol used by Cassian is a close enough match to be called a K-16, but it’s certainly in that family of weapons.

4. Wobani

In the first episode of Andor, a character named Timm (James McArdle) asks Cassian and Bix, “Are we bidding on the Wobani run tomorrow?” Without much context, it’s hard to know exactly what they’re bidding on, or why—but here’s why “Wobani” might have rung a bell.

Wobani is a planet used by the Empire as a detention center and labor camp. This is the very planet on which we meet adult Jyn Erso towards the beginning of Rogue One. It’s only fitting that Tony Gilroy references his own Star Wars stand-alone film at least once!

5. “BBY 5”

At the very beginning of the first episode of Andor, the on-screen text informs the audience that the year is BBY 5. In Star Wars, “BBY” is an acronym for “Before the Battle of Yavin.” The Battle of Yavin was a pretty significant galactic event—y’know, that one time Luke Skywalker blew up the Death Star?

Fans began using the Battle of Yavin as a chronological reference point before it was ever officially utilized in reference books. Now, the dating system has made its way onto the screen for the first time in Andor. This usage of BBY will become especially useful in Andor season 2, as it will be covering a much broader span of time.

We can’t wait for future episodes of Andor. Keep up with Dork Side of the Force for more Andor analysis. May the Force be with you!