Rogue One fans are living their best lives right now thanks to Andor and the High Republic.
Andor is allowing fans to explore the journey of Cassian over the course of 2 seasons and 24 episodes, which is far more screentime and story than most characters receive in the franchise, let alone a character who was introduced as recently as 2016. Andor is also giving more screentime and depth to characters who were in Rogue One (but who were introduced earlier in the franchise) such as Mon Mothma, along with Saw Gerrera and his Partisans.
Beyond expanding on familiar characters, Andor is thematically and tonally aligned with Rogue One. It explores moral ambiguity and does not lean into a clear-cut good guys vs. bad guys dichotomy. Just like in Rogue One, the series explores the far-reaching effects of systemic oppression and confronts the characters and the audience with challenging questions about trying to win at any cost and the impact this has on a person’s identity. Andor feels like getting a weekly dose of Rogue One.
Phase II of the High Republic is also proving to be a treat for Rogue One fans due to its exploration of the planet Jedha that was introduced in Rogue One. The planet’s history is deeply intertwined with the Jedi and the Force, but those days are long gone by Rogue One, with the planet under Imperial occupation and being deprived of its rich store of kyber crystals. It is also the first planet to be partially destroyed by the first Death Star through the superlaser’s single reactor ignition.
With Phase II of the High Republic taking place hundreds of years before Rogue One and when the Jedi are at the height of their power, fans are getting to see Jedha in its prime and explore the history that is only alluded to in Rogue One.
In Path of Deceit by Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton, Jedi Padawan Kevmo Zink tells Marda Ro about the Convocation on Jedha. The Convocation is a council representing various Force religions and groups such as the Jedi Order, the Guardians of the Whills, and the Church of the Force.
Learning more about the Guardians of the Whills is rewarding for Rogue One fans as Chirrut Îmwe and Baze Malbus were Guardians of the Whills. Path of Deceit also reveals that the founder of the Path of the Open Hand was a former member of the Guardians of the Whills.
Kevmo suggests that Marda go to Jedha to serve on the Convocation as a representative for the Path of the Open Hand. In the Phase II High Republic #1 comic by Cavan Scott, audiences get to see the Convocation in action and how the various Force religions and groups interact with each other. It appears that Jedha will continue to be a focus of this comic series as it continues.
In addition to these stories, Phase II will include an audio drama called The Battle of Jedha. Written by George Mann, the story will show how the Convocation and Jedha as a whole are impacted by the “Forever War” between the planet Eiram and E’ronoh.
Between Andor and the High Republic, Rogue One fans are going to continue being well-fed over the next couple of years. The impact of Rogue One is undeniable given its ongoing influence on live-action television and publishing nearly 6 years after the movie was released.