Andor: Why Luthen Rael could be a secret Jedi
By Oliver Woolley
‘Andor’ has seen its first season come to a close and the show has been met with positive reception from critics and fans alike. Part of what makes ‘Andor’ so great is how unique it feels in the Star Wars universe. The story makes the most of focusing on everyday people without featuring the Force, Sith or Jedi. Or does it?
While we haven’t explicitly seen any Force users in the show, a theory from the YouTube channel ScreenCrush suggests that there may be a Jedi hidden in plain sight. The Rebel leader Luthen Rael, played by Stellan Skarsgard, has proven to be a favourite among fans but this theory suggests Luthen could be a former Jedi who survived Order 66 named Uvell
Master Uvell participated in the Clone Wars and survived the first phase of the Great Jedi Purge. Fearing the knowledge and artefacts of the Jedi would fall into the wrong hands, he enlisted the help of antiques dealer Antron Bach to hide a starship full of Jedi artefacts.
Bach settled on a former Geonosian colony, hiding with the artefacts until he was enlisted to help a member of the Corellian resistance. It is likely Bach died aiding the resistance member in escaping the Empire but he hoped that the artefacts would remain hidden.
If Uvell had found the artefacts he had previously given to Bach, they could provide the perfect cover for him as an antiques dealer; much like Luthen Rael uses his role as an antiques dealer as cover for his rebellious activities.
Then there are the objects we see in Luthen’s shop, many of which have connections to the Jedi or the Force. These include Jedi and Sith holocrons and the mask of a Jedi Temple Guard. While many thought that these were fake, if Luthen is a Jedi it makes sense that he would have these artefacts in his possession.
The final piece of evidence for Luthen potentially being a force-user is the payment he gives to Cassian Andor for the heist on Aldhani. When Cassian is taken to Aldhani to join the heist, Luthen uses a kyber crystal as a down payment until the heist is completed. Whilst non-Force users can own kyber crystals, they are most known as the power source for lightsabers. It also appears the crystal is sentimental to Luthen who says “it will always be worth more to me” when asked about its value.
While there is evidence to suggest that Luthen Rael could be a secret Jedi, fans will have to wait for Season 2 of ‘Andor’ in 2024 to find out if that is the case!