Andor's Moral Triumph

Andor's ending must have made George Lucas proud

Tony Gilroy just made George Lucas proud. Or at least I like to believe that.

There were no lightsaber duels. No Skywalker cameos. Maybe three mentions of the Force. But in the closing act of Andor Season 2, Gilroy delivered one of the most spiritually grounded, emotionally raw moments in Star Wars since Return of the Jedi.

Of course, I’m talking about the conclusion of Bix’s story. If you don’t want Andor spoilers, turn away now.

At the end of her journey, Bix Caleen does something that modern television rarely has the courage to promote: she chooses selflessness. Bix walks away from the man she loves, not for ambition or some kind of self-advancement, but to stand aside so Cassian Andor can fulfill his destiny.

Bix leaves Cassian a video message. In it she tells him, “I choose the Rebellion”. And for a while, you think she ditched Cassian to go fight in the trenches of the galactic civil war.

I thought that was Bix’s motivation. But it turned out to be complicated.

She believes in Cassian.

She believes he’s meant for more.

A Force Healer earlier in the show told her that Cassian was “a messenger”, a man who would change the course of history. Bix took that seriously. We in the audience know what that means. Cassian will give us life to help steal the Death Star plans in Rogue One, leading to the defeat of the Empire.

Cassian is essentially given a mission from God (the Force).

And then comes the gut punch.

At the end of Andor, we see Bix—not in battle, not in a secret rebel hideout, but on a farm. She’s holding a child. Presumably Cassian’s child.

A baby he doesn’t know exists.

For some, this was controversial. There were groans across fan forums about Bix being reduced to “just a mother,” and reactionary conservatives online thought this was some betrayal of Cassian by a selfish woman….

But that criticism entirely misses the point.

In this story, Bix ending her story as a single mother isn’t a retreat or a betrayal—it’s the highest form of devotion. Not only to Cassian, but the will of the Force.

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The Light Side Is Selflessness

George Lucas has a moral philosophy that isn’t too complicated. The dark side is selfishness…..The light side is compassion, service, and self-denial.

Simple enough!

That’s what Andor captures in Bix’s decision. She loves Cassian and doesn’t want to be alone. She wants the baby to have his father. But she chooses duty. She carries his baby. And then doesn’t tell him about it.

Why? Because there is no way Cassian would have been able to fulfill his calling if he knew. Someone said to me that it was wrong because Bix didn’t give him a choice. Nope. Telling him would have made his decision for him. Cassian is loyal to Bix and family more than anything.

In Star Wars, the Force is a stand-in for God. Pick your God. Whatever religion or faith tradition. It is divine and has a plan for the universe. And Bix knew that the Force had a plan for Cassian and that he had something important to do in stopping the Empire.

Do you see the conundrum here? It’s incredible selflessness.

An empire was born because one man (Anakin) couldn’t let go of the woman he loved. Now the seeds of that Empire’s downfall are planted by two people who choose love of cause over love of self.

Maximum Responsibility = Maximum Adventure

At Geeky Stoics, we often talk about the link between responsibility and adventure. Jordan Peterson says it a bunch in his speeches and podcast appearances. The more responsibility you take on voluntarily, the richer your adventure becomes.

Cassian and Bix were both offered an easier path of safety and escape. They could have had each other. Instead, they both took the more challenging path. They took on responsibility—not because it would reward them, but because it was right.

Cassian will die for the galaxy. Hopefully, Bix lives out her days in peace.

George Lucas’s Star Wars is an ode to sacrifice and a warning against selfishness. Andor accomplished this in a time when these ideas are borderline counter-cultural.

Have a great weekend, friends.