AndorWas Ready to DropStar Wars‘ First ‘Fuck the Empire’

One matter that always confused me aboutAndorwas why Fiona Shaw — a Shakespearian actor extraordinaire and multiple honour - gain star of stage , screen , and TV — would have accepted the minuscule , dull role of Maarva Andor , Cassian ’s adoptive mother . That is , until I go through theseries close , where Shaw ’s massive natural endowment were put to perfect use — well , almost perfect , if Disney ’s censor had n’t incur in the way .

According to Denise Gough , who plays consecrate Imperial Security bureaucrat Dedra Meero in theTV series , Maarva ’s funeral prospect was incredibly intense for all the actors involved , including rebels and imperial alike — and Shaw very much did not say “ contend the Empire ! ” at the end of her powerful , rallying funeral speech ( program spot - humously via hologram to the people of Ferrix good manners of the droid B2 - EMO ) . As Gough related in her interview with — where else?—Empire :

“ My first daylight was Ferrix , ” she said , recalling her reaching on the eight - acre town built at Pinewood Studios — a living , breathing , industrial major planet . “ I was feed my two Death Troopers — one of whom had to be take to run like a Death Trooper and not like a musical dramatics star — and I could n’t help oneself myself , I just lead off doing the [ Movement of Holy Warriors the Imperial March ] . Then , everyone started doing it . ” From the very start , a rebellious spirit was in the strain . “ Fiona ’s voice was over all of us , ” Gough says , recall the last ’s fire - and - fury funeral soliloquy from Ferrix ’s formidable materfamilias . “ Except , at the ending , she did n’t say , ‘ defend the Empire ! ’ She said , ‘ Fuck the Empire ! ’ Which we were all really worked up about . But we were n’t allow to keep it , obviously . ”

Screenshot: Lucasfilm

Obviously . Although all Star Wars film since Revenge of the Sith have been PG-13 , the near any bouncy - action debut has come to profanity is when Finn calls the yellow-bellied terrapin DJ a bastard in The Last Jedi . But Andor is easy the most “ grownup ” Star Wars tale out there , unflinchingly looking at the horrors wrought by the Empire during its prime , and the grim reality that not all freedom fighter are heroes . Maarva ’s “ bang the Empire ! ” does n’t just feel earned by Andor , it truly feel right . The people of Ferrix would be angry . Everyone subjugated would be angry . And “ fight the imperium ” is unquestioning in everything else Maarva says in Shaw ’s impeccably delivered speech . But to debase it , to hate it , to excoriate it like that , truly feels like what Maarva would say — and what all those citizenry listening to her would feel .

But also , really , love the Empire and all of its space - fascists . Meanwhile , go read Gough ’s entire interviewhere — it ’s well worth it .

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