This list contains spoilers for Andor season 1!Andor is being rightfully celebrated for its excellent writing, performances, and narrative, which, while still deeply connected to the expanded lore, didn’t follow the classic Star Wars formula – but some fans think they might’ve snuck Jedi into the mix secretly. A popular theory has gained steam across the season that Luthen Rael, the ambitious rebel expertly played by Stellan Skarsgård, is actually a former Jedi working to take down the Empire in revenge for Order 66. This would also suggest that his assistant Kleya was, in fact, his padawan.
Detractors claim this isn’t the case as Andor “isn’t that kind of show,” meaning the Force, the Jedi Order, or anything related to that isn’t important to the story. It’s about the tension building up and the characters’ intersecting journeys towards full-scale rebellion and the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Unexpectedly, however, this theory does have some legs to stand on. Drawing evidence from the items he surrounds himself with, the language he uses, and some potential lore connections, some points do support Luthen’s past as a Jedi, or at least his attuned affinity to the Force.
How’d He Get A Kyber Crystal?
The theory first popped up following the fourth episode, “Aldhani,” in which Luthen gives Cassian a special gift, a blue kyber crystal. Naturally, that points to Jedi connections as kyber crystals are used in the creation of lightsabers – along with their use in the Death Star, but that’s presumably not related to Luthen. This crystal is more than just a historic trinket – it is deeply important to Luthen, stating to Cassian, “just know it will always be worth more to me.”
A thing to note about this moment between him and Cassian is that it does parallel Jyn receiving a kyber crystal from her mother in Rogue One. Even if this theory is true that he’ll reignite his lightsaber with this kyber crystal in season two, its inclusion seems far more important than a simple narrative callback. They are notoriously rare and powerful, so it begs the question as to how he ever got his hands on one – pointing to a variation on this theory that Luthen wasn’t a Jedi, but his loved one did, and this was theirs from before Order 66.
“Celebrates The Uprising Against The Rakatan Invaders.”
The Krystal has another important meaning connecting it to expanded Star Wars lore – seemingly canonizing popular aspects from Legends. When giving the crystal over he states, “It’s a Kuati Signet. Blue Kyber. Sky Stone. The ancient world. Celebrates the uprising against the Rakatan invaders.” That last line was quite groundbreaking as it referenced the Rakata, a race of beings from the video game Knights of the Old Republic. The Rakata of the Infinite Empire were instrumental in developing lightspeed travel, but over time, they were also corrupted by the dark side, using their powers to conquer planets across their galaxy.
Not only did this moment give some hope for Star Wars video game characters to feature in live-action, but it gives more depth and importance to Luthen’s interest in the crystal. While the Rakata date back millenniums before the start of the Skywalker Saga in Episode I: The Phantom Menace, their dark empire would be ingrained in the memory of the Jedi, especially for someone deeply interested in history like Luthen.
Luthen’s Emporium Of Jedi Relics
Other easter eggs from Andor can be found in Luthen’s shop, several of which have important connections to the Jedi. He has in his possession a Jedi Temple Guard Mask and Stone Tablets, referencing the World Between Worlds as shown at the Jedi Temple on Lothal in Rebels. Interestingly, he is also hiding two holocrons, one Jedi and one Sith, away in the back of his shop and away from prying eyes.
Anything related to the Jedi Order was outlawed by the Emperor swiftly following Order 66, so that would put Luthen in danger. Additionally, many are logically noting how it might be illogical for a Jedi to remain on Coruscant. However, hiding in plain sight is a common motif in Star Wars – Palpatine did it during the prequel trilogy. Furthermore, if Luthen was a Jedi, he might’ve cut himself off from the force to hide, as Obi-Wan and Luke had.
What’s In His Cane?
In Andor‘s eleventh episode, “Daughter of Ferrix,” Luthen visits Saw Gerrera once again, and during that trip, his special cane was given a brief moment of special focus. In the short shot, it does resemble the hilt of a lightsaber, perhaps retooled as a cane to disguise it. Lightsabers are known to come in all shapes and forms, and a cane isn’t unheard of. Master Tera Sinube was shown in The Clone Wars employing a lightsaber-cane combo.
Luthen might strike fans as a character who’d find a way to keep his lightsaber and hide it in plain sight as a cane, and whether it still works or not is an entirely different question. However, all that being said, there is a better chance that it is just a cane with a clever design and nothing more.
“An Equation I Wrote 15 Years Ago…”
Andor‘s season 1 finale left fans with burning questions, including about Luthen’s backstory, regardless of whether he was a Jedi or not. “One Way Out” gave the best glimpse at who he really is during his incredible speech to double-agent Lonni. Among the incredible language, he says, “I wake up every day to an equation I wrote fifteen years ago from which there’s only one conclusion, I’m damned for what I do. My anger, my ego, my unwillingness to yield, my eagerness to fight, they’ve set me on a path from which there is no escape.”
That might not sound like something a traditional, noble Jedi Knight might say. This sounds like it’s coming from someone who’s fallen away from the light and teachings of the Jedi Order, a survivor of Order 66 – a major event nearly fifteen years in the past that would instantly elicit anger and stoke vengeance for a Jedi, especially those with a naturally rebellious nature. His speech emulates the tone and energy of a gray Jedi, someone who uses the tools of their enemy to defeat them.
His Demeanor
Overall, Luthen Rael is easily able to read people. That might just come with experience in this fight and life in general, but it would support the notion that he uses the Force to read the people he works with, sussing out who he can trust or not. While he comes to view Cassian as a loose end and thus orders his death, Luthen initially trusts him based on instinct alone. He might’ve cut himself off from the force, but he would’ve still learned how to understand who someone is in their heart.
Additionally, he is quite adept and unfazed in the line of duty. In support of the theory, this might come from his experiences during the Clone Wars, serving with his fellow Jedi on the front lines. That time did see some Jedi fall from grace due to the horrors of wars, and Luthen could then be one of them.
Rael Averross?
Some fans have expanded on the theory to suggest that Luthen is actually an established character in Star Wars by the name of Rael Averross. He first appeared in Master & Apprentice (a novel focusing on Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi before The Phantom Menace) as a padawan of Master Dooku, long before his turn into one of the strongest dark side users in Star Wars. Given the timeline, Luthen could fit for the age of Averross if he survived past Order 66.
Of course, the bulk of this theory simply comes from the name similarities alone. However, Rael Averross does somewhat relate to Luthen Rael in more ways. He used a blue lightsaber, so that would explain the kyber crystal, and he’s noted to be controversial when it comes to adhering to the customs of the Jedi Order. That could explain Luthen’s unique perspective on his role in the rebellion. Revealing this in season two would be a deep, deep cut, but it could get some more fans to read the many novels in the canon.
Master Uvell?
An alternative character that Luthen Rael could relate to is Master Uvell, another Jedi active before the fall of the Jedi Order. He survived Order 66 but wished to preserve the history of the Order. He worked with an antique dealer named Antron Bach to smuggle away all sorts of Jedi Order artifacts and knowledge before it ever got destroyed by the empire.
The theory is therefore expanded to Luthen really being the former Master Uvell, having returned to Coruscant and using said artifacts to fund a growing rebellion – although that wouldn’t necessarily fall in line with Uvell’s suggested characterization. As such, it would probably make more sense that he’s Antron Bach, but that would still give him some relation to the Jedi Order. That does seem to be extremely likely, regardless of whether he was one or not, and hopefully, season two will give a definitive answer to this.