Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Andor season 2, episode 8!the Star Wars timeline.
In Legends, the Ghorman Massacre took place not all that long after Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith, but it was evident that the event being referenced in Rebels occurred much later on in the Dark Times, around 2 BBY. Andor season 2 surprisingly made that Legends version of the Ghorman Massacre canon after all, although it was referred to as the Tarkin Massacre. Now, Andor season 2 has finally depicted the canon Ghorman Massacre, and it is just as brutal and devastating as we expected.
Why The Empire Wanted Ghorman
Dedra Revealed The Empire's Real Intentions On Ghorman
Image via Disney+
Throughout Andor season 2's first seven episodes, tensions were growing more and more serious on Ghorman, all but guaranteeing the Ghorman Massacre was impending. This came to a head when violence broke out against the peaceful protesters in Andor season 2, episode 8. Concurrent with this escalation was the final confrontation between Syril Karn and Dedra Meero. Although the two had previously been in a romantic relationship, that was far from how things ended.
Rather, furious over being kept in the dark, Syril began choking Dedra, demanding she tell him what the Empire was really doing on Ghorman. It was at that point that Dedra confessed:
"There's a stone. Something in the dirt here. They need it. It's the energy program. It's directly from the Emperor."
The "stone" that Dedra is referring to is kalkite, and the "energy project" is, of course, not really an energy project at all; although that was the lie the Empire was selling even within its own ranks, this entire attack on Ghorman was really about the ability to utilize the Death Star.
The issue with this plan—in addition to the fact that it was all being done to create a genocidal superweapon—was that extracting kalkite from Ghorman would potentially destabilize the entire planet. Evidently, this factored into the Empire's willingness to cut down the people of Ghorman without a second thought, as they had gone into the project knowing they might be decimating the entire planet. What they apparently didn't count on was the massive pushback not only from the people of Ghorman but also, much more publicly, Senator Mon Mothma.
Star Wars Retcons The Rebel Alliance's Origin In The Best Way: Andor Episode 9 Ending Explained
The ending of Andor season 2, episode 9 adds some wrinkles to the story of Star Wars’ Rebel Alliance, providing an extremely smart retcon.
The Empire's Anti-Ghorman Propaganda Prepared The Way For An Atrocity
The Imperial News Had Already Laid The Foundation For This Genocide To Go Unchecked
Andor season 2's peek into how the Empire weaponized the news to win over public opinion has been absolutely fascinating, and a key aspect of those efforts was the Ministry of Enlightenment. The Ministry of Enlightenment was a branch of the Empire that specifically focused on controlling public opinion via news stories, propaganda, and myriad other strategies. Because of what they knew they were about to do on Ghorman, the Ministry paid particular attention to ways they could turn the public against the Ghor to avoid fallout in the wake of (presumably) destroying the planet.
The Ministry of Enlightenment was a branch of the Empire that specifically focused on controlling public opinion.
Director Orson Krennic himself said they would need to have a firm enough grip on Ghorman "to silence any resistance." The Ministry therefore targeted Ghorman specifically in its propaganda, painting the Ghorman people as arrogant and making them easier for the public to dislike (and thus not sympathize with). Dee Shambo, another member of the Ministry of Enlightenment, articulated, "With the right ideas planted in the right markets in the right sequence, we can now weaponize this galactic opinion." This, combined with Dedra's idea to show Ghormans acting in bad faith, comprised their plan to wipe out Ghorman without pushback.
The Ghorman Massacre Explained
Andor Season 2, Episode 8, Was An Absolute Bloodbath
Andor season 2, episode 8, which finally depicted the Ghorman Massacre, is one of the darkest moments in all of Star Wars. Tensions continued to escalate throughout the episode, with the people of Ghorman chanting, "We are the Ghor! The galaxy is watching!" as the Imperials looked on. Eventually, this shifted into a Ghorman song, which was hauntingly beautiful (and, it's worth noting, undeniably more peaceful even than the chanting). Sadly, it is during this song that the Empire strikes, shooting at the protesters. At that point, full-fledged fighting breaks out.
Deaths are taking place on both sides, but there's no question that the Empire is better armed, better trained, and considerably more bloodthirsty than the Ghor in this fight. Throughout the scenes depicting the massacre, Imperial droids are shown picking protesters up and throwing them against walls, onto the ground, and across the courtyard, killing them instantly. People of all ages are also shown screaming and running for their lives, only to be gunned down. The exact death toll isn't given, although it's later said that hundreds of Ghormans died during this attack—and that seems like a low estimate.
It was also during this event that Syril Karn and Cassian Andor finally came face-to-face after years of Syril hunting down Cassian following him killing two Imperials in Andor season 1, episode 1. While this is a major moment for Syril, though, Cassian doesn't even recognize him, which gives episode 8, "Who Are You?", its title. In addition to the staggering and devastating loss of life, this event changed the galaxy forever.
In addition to the staggering and devastating loss of life, this event changed the galaxy forever.
How The Ghorman Massacre Changed The Galaxy
This Event Did Exactly What The Ministry Of Enlightenment Was Hoping To Avoid
Image via Disney+
The Ministry of Enlightenment clearly tried to turn the galaxy against Ghorman with its propaganda, and while that inevitably worked on some, the Ghorman Massacre ended up being a catalyzing event that mobilized the Rebellion. This attack was a tipping point, and that was clear not only in it getting more rebels ready to engage in a full-on war with the Empire, but also by nature of Mon Mothma's speech. It is because of the Ghorman Massacre that Mon finally makes a public statement denouncing the Empire and calling out Palpatine, and that has massive implications for the Rebel Alliance.
Yes, this event was a key step in the Death Star project, but it also inadvertently caused public outcry and outrage, and it meant the rebel cells uniting all the more. Ultimately, this spells the beginning of the end for the Empire, and while that doesn't make the loss of life any more tolerable, it does provide much deeper insight into the history of the Rebel Alliance. It was brutal to watch, but Andor season 2 has finally shown Star Wars audiences what the Ghorman Massacre in canon entailed—and it was as horrible as we'd assumed.
New episodes of Andor season 2 release weekly on Tuesdays at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST on Disney+.
Release Date |
Episode Drop |
|---|---|
April 22, 2025 |
Andor season 2, episodes 1-3 |
April 29, 2025 |
Andor season 2, episodes 4-6 |
May 6, 2025 |
Andor season 2, episodes 7-9 |
May 13, 2025 |
Andor season 2, episodes 10-12 |
Your comment has not been saved