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Tethered To Two - WritersGlock1 - Star Wars - All Media Types [Archive of Our Own]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/66591253

Finally came got round to starting the second series of my hygoon pass story😭🙏

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"RebelCaptain is cannon!" I say into the mic.

The crows boos. I begin to walk off in shame, when a voice speaks and commands silence from the room.

"They're right," they say. I look for the owner of the voice. There in the 2nd row stands: Gareth Edwards (Director of Rogue one.)

tony gilroy stop talking about rebelcaptain fanfic challenge: level impossible

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Rex: Right, whatever you do, don't say the P word.

Tech: Please?

Fox: Palpatine?

Cody: Pong Krell

Echo: Poggle?

Rex *looking around*: No, the P word is: ...Plo

Wolffe wailing in the distance: Master Plo! Oh, stars, Master Plo! I'm sorry!

Rex: ...Great.

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The founding member of the Rebellion: Mon Mothma, or Luthen Rael?

The reason I've chosen a rhetorical question as my title, is that I recently considered this question. If you were to take a newcomer to Star Wars and you told them to watch season 1 of Andor, then asked them which of these two people is a founding member of the Rebellion:

Do you think they would say Mon or Luthen. The reason I ask this is that throughout season 1 and season 2, we're consistently shown moments between these two that infer that Luthen is the one leading the battle against the Empire. And yes I understand there's the aspect of his double identity and freedom to travel to far off corners of the galaxy, but fundamentally, the show gives us this impression that Mon is a doner to the cause, not the progenitor of its creation (Including Bail and Saw) this characterization gives off an almost clinical separation between Mon and the cause. I understand not having her do the dirty work (she is a senator) But the fact that Luthen is essentially leading the fight as Axis, makes it look like Mon just throws in a few credits and waits for the news.

Once again, I'll also be discussing points from (The mask of fear) by Alexander Freed. In the last chapter of the novel, Mon, Bail and Saw go to a planet where they hold a secret meeting, in which they begin forming the first building blocks of the Rebellion. I mention this because as much as I adore Luthen (and Kleya) they're not the founders of the Rebellion. They've also been in the fight for a long time, yes. But Mon, Bail and Saw have been in it the longest and I really dislike seeing Mon (a female character) having her importance to the Rebellion, overshadowed by Luthen and his network.

From the rebel cell on Onderon to the delegation of 2000 - these characters are what formed the Rebellion, and it irks me that Mon's the only one that faces this character assassination for an original character of the series.

Another small note of frustration is when Luthen mentions to Mon that she's needs to be protected and Mon replies:

I'm sorry but I just really dislike this response, this woman is a seasoned senator who's gone against the administration co-joined the delegation of 2000 and experienced literal torture, but this makes her seem ignorant to what Luthen means. One other thing to add, it also (in my opinion) infantilises her, she's treated like a child in need of protecting, not a capable, seasoned senator.

I think this is something that could have been adjusted with scenes of Mon and Bail discussing rebel plans, ideas, and meetings. Anything to show that they are the rebellion.

as always, please feel free to reply with your own opinions in the reblogs or comments!

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Cassian, during the senate escape: Welcome to the rebellion!

Mon, a founding member of the rebellion:

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Just a collection of some of my favourite comments on Andor YouTube clips

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That has been my dilemma as well. On the one hand, live action will always be considered as 'more' than printed materials, people will not know or brush aside character stuffs in non-on-screen-media. It'd be like preaching to the thin air.

On the other hand, the most deliberate, in-depth, lengthy examination of the character of Mon Mothma exists in The Mask of Fear. This book offers the deepest look in to her to date. Not in Andor, not in anywhere else but in this book. This book builds up so much of Mon, who she is, what she does and why and IS assuredly canon too- shouldn't that matter?

I'm a bit hurt, I'm actually hurt a lot, due to all the things that you mentioned and I realized that ep. 9 is actually my least favorite episode because of this even though Mon is my favorite character. The escape is now overshadowing the speech. Is this an intended thing? ugh... sigh.

It's not like MoF Mon is perfectly trained operative or something, she hates violence there, she's suitably terrified of Soujen- but she wouldn't have been borderline-overexaggeratedly dumbfounded by a gunshot either, even considering all the other variables(her knowing Kloris for years etc)...

It's not even exactly the feeling of irreconcilability that troubles me- I can see MoF Mon's strengths and characteristics echoing in Andor and I'm now living for that crumb but... the way she's written, it's truly night and day- the difference between narrative sympathy, care, weight, agency and seriousness given to her is just astounding. I loved her before, I became obsessed with her with the book, I've waited for s2 hungrily but now I almost wish she hadn't been in s2. (I feel even s1 treated her better honestly)

Both versions are canon and I'm angry that I read this amazing novel about this amazing character. She's so great- smart, misguided, vulnerable but ultimately strong, always intentional and driven...she's an unique and gifted politician who one day will represent the galaxy wide rebellion. She's such a well realized character in the book, right? Alexander Freed is well known for his superb character work and to go from his spotlighted Mon to Andor S2...

I'm just mad that lucasfilm storygroup or the publishing didn't calibrate this discrepancies while marketing this explicitly as an Andor pseudo tie in book. If this book is not canon I don't think I'd be this upset but the fact that this is too canon just makes me more...conflicted. And mad like I said. I understand that things can't align 100% cause of release schedules and such but... come on. This feels almost like a fraud. The only thing she's the clear main character in is truly excellent, makes her one of the most interesting characters in star wars, but the other works.... This is honestly just cruel.

I don't know. It's too much for me I think, it really might be the time for me to finally go find another fandom. Anyway I actually thought I'm the only one with this complaint in the world, so it's really nice to see your post, this reassured me I'm not too sensitive, not too ungrateful. Thank you.

Firstly. Thank you for the ask!!!!!! (This is actually the first one I've ever received, and I'm so glad it was such a passionate, well thought one!)

Secondly, I absolutely agree with you on all points! And I'm so glad you agreed with my own points.

(Personally, I feel that maybe Tony Gilroy didn't want to be bound by what Freed had written, but the consequence is how Mon appears in S2.)

Thirdly, please, please stay with the fandom! I think a big aspect of being a fan of anything is that some stuff in the fictional universe may cause us to feel irritation, annoyance, even upset(especially due to a director or writer veering away from important characterization). But I think no matter what, Star Wars is a richly invested universe with a plethora of amazing characters and stories. I would also add that I'm sticking more to the novels and comics at the moment to give myself a break from the TV Star Wars content.

Once again, thank you for the ask, I had such a pleasant time reading it!

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Mon Mothma/The Mask Of Fear vs Mon Mothma/Andor

As some people will know, I adore The Mask Of Fear (by Alexander Freed.) What I adore espially is how he treats Mon in the novel. Throughout the novel, Mon is seen as capable, brave and wiling to go to extremes to pursue her goal (including going against the administration) this is a brilliant way of writing her. Yes, she has pitfalls throughout the story, and eventually she has to concede (at least in Amedda's eyes) to losing against the emperor. But she never stops trying.

Comparing this version of her character with Andors, feels almost like night and day. In my opinion, Andor's Mon feels almost like she's reduced to a damsel in distress. (This section of the comparison will be focused on her escape with Cassian from the senate building)

Now I want to preface that I don't believe that she should've blasted her way out of the senate building herself. But I do believe that having her act aghast to an almost comical level is reductive to her character. And in turn as her role as the leader of the Rebellion.

To jump back to the novel, when Mon seeks out a meeting with the head of the Separatists (Tychon Nulvolio) he holds a pistol to the back of her head, she doesn't back down. She is surrounded on all sides by her enemies, but she doesn't back down.

In the ending chapters of the mask of fear, Mon has to face Soujen Vak-Nhalis (an augmented agent of the CIS) after unsuccessfully talking him down from his suicide mission (To assassinate the emperor and everyone else who gets in his way) she triggers the bomb implanted inside of him. Which she partially witnesses and is a victim of.

Adding one more tangent, in the novel she does take medications for anxiety after the mental trauma she endured during the transition of power, but she's also clearly capable of facing her fears witnessing horrors.

To return to Andor the now memed reactions of Mon during the senate escape just feel out of character I personally just feel that having her gasping in shock and terror is a mischaracterization of her.

Canonically, this woman has an artificial stomach, after suffering severe injuries from the resultant blast of a bomb - she detonated.

She has gone toe to toe with the Grand Vizier, called the emperor a tyrant, named Amedda his sycophant, and threatened to bring the galaxy to a stand still with the supporters she amassed.

But for some reason the Andor writers felt like this was a genuine reaction for a character that's already witnessed carnage and brutality first hand?

I understand there's a case of people not reading the books and therefore not being familiar with her prior development, but to offer new viewers this as her characterization just feels like a disservice to her as a female protagonist.

I adore Tony Gilroy's and the other Andor writers work. But the way some of the (clearly capable) female characters are handled does feel very unjust compared to the male characters.

As always please feel free to offer your own opinions in comments or reblogs!

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I'll take 'names Tarkin calls him behind his back for 500' please, Alex.

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Cassian and Melsh: we're going to imperial controlled Coruscant on a suicide mission to save someone actively being hunted by the ISB

K2SO:

Cassian and Melshi:

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Idk where this came from tbh just felt like sharing my Foxiyo angst with the world 🫡

(I may have sketched this whole thing out before realizing that *that part* with Vader and Fox takes place on a ship, not on the ground… forgive me)

((Also please ignore any weird crops. I blame Tumblr’s image compression habits))

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Galen listening to the voicemail on his lunch break after dissociating for an hour.

so so so sad that we didn't get a post-ghorman moment of krennic (maybe even having just needled a grieving dedra about how unfortunate it was that her "friend" somehow managed to escape her protection and get himself killed) sitting alone in his big evil conference room leaving an answerphone message for galen erso all "hi honey :)" "great news we finally got some kalkite! :) now we can get back to work on our project :)" "please pick up i know you're there i miss you so much" and it's just. dead silence. we don't even need to see galen to know that he's as dead-eyed on the other end of that call as syril was when he walked out

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Without Context, What are we? An Andor Analysis.

So, as many watchers of Andor are aware, the show was originally going to be 4 seasons, instead it was compressed into 2. With the second season being even more compressed into 3 episodes per week that take place respectively 4, 3, 2, and 1 year before the battle of Yavin.

Now, like most other fans, i adored season 2, yes there are flaws but overwhelmingly its a brilliant show and some of the best Star Wars content we've seen in years. But, i do have to stress how badly the lack of context in season 2; effects my overall enjoyment of it.

My main critique of this issue will be aimed at the relationship between Mon Mothma and her husband Perrin Fertha, as some people who've seen my blog are already aware: i really love Perrin.

To start off with, throughout the first half of the second season, we can see that Perrin and Mon's relationship isn't as rocky as it was in season 1 (Yes, barring his jealousy of Tay Kolma.) Perrin is seen as supportive of his wife and protective: which we can see in Episode 6 (What a festive evening.)

firstly, we have Perrin organising their social calendar, conferring with Mon on the issues of timing and investiture dinners that are making it difficult for him to plan accordingly. Next, we have the art collection scene from the same episode:

Throughout this scene, Perrin is trying his hardest to hinder Mon's (admittedly righteous) anger toward Krennic. Putting himself (physically) in between them.

Even in a later scene, he's doing his best to calm Mon down. This man clearly cares about his wife. Yes, their marriage was arranged and when referencing the mask of fear by Alexander Freed, we can see their marriage was very turbulent in the beginning, but he does care about her, about her political career. Which brings me to the scene i admittedly hate.

I will try to be as unbiased as possible with this section.

at the end of episode 12, this small clip of Perrin and Runai Sculdun appears very briefly. And this brings me to my overall complaint with season 2: where is the context? We have literally nothing to go on as context for what is happening in this scene, or what has led to it. Instead, its only after the finale that information pertaining to this scene and Mon's senate speech, came out.

To paraphrase the video here: Mon and Davo Sculdun had some type of unspoken alliance, Davo was supposed to be the owner of the news network incharge of broadcasting the senatorial sessions, and he would've declined the request to turn of the broadcast. This in turn would leave both Mon and Davo being disgraced and fleeing from the empire. But the scene was cut, and the context gone with it.

We then go onto to the next issue. Perrin knew all along about what Mon was doing:

Again this deleted scene would've provided much needed context and also have redeemed Perrin in the eyes of many viewers. He knew the entire time that Mon was funneling money to the rebellion "You could've trusted me." vital character development was left on the cutting room floor and now we're left with a single scene that makes it look like Perrin just decided to shack up with Runai, instead of the actual reasons behind that scene.

I understand the showrunners had limited time and space to add scenes like this, but there are quite a few scenes in the show that hinder the pace.

Not adding important context like this, just robs the viewer of vital reasonings for characters motives.

I love the show, season 2 is brilliant, but the egregious lack of context is baffling at best and frustrating at worst. Most viewers of the show won't go hunting round for clues on what these scenes really meant. As a result you have people being left with a sour taste in their mouths at the lack of context for important scenes.

All we really needed was a few lines of dialogue at any point within the show to clear up the unanswered questions.

(Added the meme for levity.)