Andor used Wilmon’s arc to expand Saw’s backstory
Lucasfilm
After making the decision to send Wilmon to Saw, Gilroy and writer Beau Willimon spotted the opportunity to explore how the latter turned into the “Rogue One” version of Saw, who needs a breathing device and doesn’t have all of his limbs. As Gilroy put it, he and Willimon soon understood that a rhynodium addiction could explain a lot of his deterioration, to the point that his “Rogue One” mask might actually contain rhydo:
“Then I was like, ‘Man, should he be hucking that thing that he has in ‘Rogue?’ When did he lose his leg, and when did he start that s**, and what is that s**? Because we never really knew. Is it oxygen, or what is it?’ Then we said, ‘He should be sending him there to steal this jet fuel,’ because Saw’s crew is all flying all over the place, so jet fuel is a really big deal for him. ‘My God, this gives him an opportunity to get jet fuel anywhere he wants. He can steal it for the whole — he’s got this magic tool.’ I remember Beau calling me up and he goes, ‘What if it’s the rhydonium that he’s hucking?’ I’m like, ‘Oh my God.’ He goes, ‘What if that’s the thing that’s…?’ I go, ‘Holy s***, let’s go with that.’ I was like, ‘Yeah, f***ing really cool.'”
“Andor” has no shortage of great speeches, from Maarva Andor’s (Fiona Shaw) recorded final Rebel yell to Luthen’s season 1, episode 10 “sacrifice” monologue. While Saw’s grand speech also concerns rebellion, it’s ultimately about a person’s own desires and flaws and how they can be used to serve the greater good — an unnerving, yet perfect summary of a recurring theme on “Andor.”
“Andor” is now streaming on Disney+.
