Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Andor season 2, episodes 1-3Andorseason 2 has revealed the origins of Yavin 4 as a key Rebellion base, though the story is actually pretty twisted. Taking place in the years beforeRogue OneandA New Hope,the first three episodes ofAndorseason 2are still four years out, meaning the Rebel Alliance has yet to be fully formed. Imperial resistance is still largely divided among various cells at this time. As such, Cassian Andor’s first meeting on Yavin proves just how hard it was to fully bring the full Alliance together, as it’s depicted in the originalStar Warstrilogy.
InA New Hope, Yavin 4 is where the Rebel Alliance is based during their attack on the first Death Star, and during the prior Battle of Scarif inRogue Oneto secure the Death Star plans. Located within one of the jungle moon’s ancient Massassi temples, this is where the Rebellion against the Empire truly became a unified Alliance.However,Andorseason 2 confirms Yavin’s earliest days with the Rebellion weren’t nearly as hopeful as the jungle moon eventually becomes inA New Hope.
Yavin 4 Was Originally A Rebel Rendezvous Location
A Remote Location Away From Imperial Eyes
As confirmed inAndorseason 2 episodes 1-3,Yavin 4 initially began as a remote rendezvous point where members of various Rebel cells could meet, specifically cells that were part of Luthen Rael’s covert communications network. ConsideringYavin 4’s Massassi temples and their canonical history with the ancient Sith, it makes sense that someone like Luthen would know of the moon and see its strategic value.
Located deep in the Outer Rim, Yavin 4 was the perfect site for meet-ups and the exchanging of intel, weapons, and resources, hidden away from the eyes of the Empire. However,Andorseason 2’s first episodes set in 4 BBY establish that the moon is not yet the home of the much larger and unified Alliance seen inA New Hope. Instead, the events taking place inAndorseason 2’s premiere are far more chaotic.
Cassian Andor’s First Meeting At Yavin 4 Went Shockingly Wrong
Highlighting The Miracle That Is The Future Rebel Alliance
Meant to delivera prototype TIE Avengerto a contact set up by Luthen, Andor instead finds the stranded and desperate soldiers belonging to Maya Pei, a Neo-Republican whose brigade is also part of Rael’s network.With Maya gone and having limited food and supplies, the soldiers assume Cassian is the Imperial pilot he appears to be and quickly become divided over what to do next with the TIE, as well as who should be in charge.
Following multiple exchanges of blasterfire, deaths, and attacks from vicious hippo-like creatures known as doodars,Cassian manages to escape in the TIE and head for his own Rebel cell located on Mina Rau. Likewise, the end ofAndorseason 2, episode 2 confirms Cassian was indeed on Yavin 4 as he heads into orbit.As such, the contrast between the chaos of Yavin seen inAndorseason 2 and the unity that comes with the future Rebel Alliance making the moon their base is quite striking, highlighting just how hard bringing together a meaningful resistance must have been to begin with in theStar Warstimeline.
New episodes ofAndorseason 2 release weekly on Tuesdays at 9 PM EST/6 PM PST on Disney+.
Andorseason 2, episodes 1-3
Andorseason 2, episodes 4-6
Andorseason 2, episodes 7-9
Andorseason 2, episodes 10-12
