“Rebellions Are Built on Hope” – 30 Andor Season 2 Episodes 7-9 Easter Eggs And References To Rogue One, Rebels, And More

Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Andor season 2 episodes 7-9

Andor season 2 episodes 7-9 feature an exciting multitude of Easter eggs and references to Rogue One, Rebels, and the greater Star Wars galaxy. Taking place two years before the events of Rogue One and A New Hope, tensions and tragedies continue to escalate as resistance grows in response to the Empire tightening its grip. As such, it’s pretty exciting to see how these new episodes weave themselves into the existing canon (and in some cases rewrite known Star Wars events for the better).

While the Rebels have begun establishing themselves on Yavin in Andor season 2 episodes 7-9, the Empire has reached its endgame with Ghorman, having found no other substitute for the planet’s rare kalkite deposits they desperately need for the highly classified Death Star. Finally depicting the Ghorman Massacre and its aftermath, Andor season 2 impressively navigates its key events into the overarching narrative of the Star Wars timeline. As such, there are multiple Easter eggs and connections to be found in Andor season 2 episodes 7-9, including one of the most iconic Rogue One lines.

30Shadow-Six

Bringing A Rebel Squadron Back To Canon?

At the beginning of Andor season 2, episode 7, the call sign “Shadow-Six” is heard. While Shadow Squadron was a clone fighter group during the Clone Wars, there was a Shadow Squadron that was part of the Rebellion in Legends, originally referenced in an old roleplaying guide.

29Yavin Base

Led by General Jan Dodonna

Now in 2 BBY, a large portion of the Rebel Alliance is already based on Yavin 4, known as the Massassi Group, which is run by A New Hope’s General Dodonna (who is referenced in these new episodes).

28“The Lab at Eadu”

Galen Erso and Project Stardust

The ISB’s Major Partagaz mentions that while Krennic has the lab at Eadu working overtime, they have not found any alternatives beyond kalkite. Eadu is where Galen Erso was taken by Krennic, forced to work on the Death Star project as seen in Rogue One.

27ISB Seeking Palpatine’s Favor

Imperial Rivalries

Image via Disney+

Partagaz also confirms his desire for the ISB to gain the Emperor’s favor over the navy and military, speaking to the canonical rivalries between the various arms of the Empire (something Palpatine stoked and encouraged).

26Force Healers

Connecting to Rise of Skywalker

Image via Disney+

A Force healer is revealed to be present at the Rebels’ Yavin base, connecting to the sequels where Force healing was revealed for the first time in Rise of Skywalker with Rey and Ben Solo.

25“He’s A Messenger”

Cassian Andor’s Rogue One Destiny

It’s confirmed by the Force healer that Cassian has a heavy future ahead of him. Calling him “a messenger”, this is a clear piece of foreshadowing given his confirmed fate where Cassian ends up giving his life to deliver the Death Star plans to the Alliance in Rogue One.

24General Draven

First Debuted in Rogue One

Image via Disney+

Leaving for Ghorman, Cassian has a brief disagreement with General Draven, who first appeared in Rogue One as a key leader of the Alliance based on Yavin.

23U-Wing

Also Had Its First Appearance in Rogue One

Image via Disney+

Cassian now has his signature U-Wing in Andor season 2, episodes 7-9, the classic Rebellion ship that also made its debut in Rogue One.

22TIEs Overhead

Keeping Tensions High…

While there are TIE Fighters that are physically shown on screen in these new Andor episodes, most of the time they’re simply heard screaming overhead, providing a constant sense of terrifying foreboding, keeping tensions high as Andor episode 8 nears the brutal tragedy that was the Ghorman Massacre. While not nearly as scary, it’s not unlike Disney’s Galaxy’s Edge, where ships can be heard passing overhead as you walk the streets of Batuu.

21“No Longer Running Around Aldhani”

A Key Reference to Andor Season 1

Vel speaks with Bix on Yavin and recalls the Aldhani heist, Cassian’s first major mission in service to the cause in the series’ first season.

20We Are The Ghor

A Song Of Pride and Resilience

Image via Disney+

The Ghor national anthem is heard multiple times during Andor season 2 episode 8. Not only is it heard during the episode during the massive protest that turns fatal in Palmo Square, but more haunting versions are heard both in the episode’s opening and closing credits. Given the clear French inspirations for the Ghorman people and language, it’s hard not to think of Les Misérables’ “Do You Hear The People Sing?”.

19Media Darkly Echoing The ISB

“Resistance to Imperial Norms”

Image via Disney+

Immediately after Partagaz tells Dedra Meero that the only story that matters is “Ghorman aggression, threats, and inexplicable resistance to Imperial norms“, Imperial-sanctioned members of the galactic press are shown repeating the same verbiage to their viewers across the galaxy, highlighting the Empire’s vast influence over the media.

18“It’s a Trap!”

You Can’t Not Think Of Ackbar

Understanding all too late that the Empire wanted protests and riots to justify the destruction of the Ghorman people, Carro Rylanz declares that his people are walking into a trap. While true and innocuous enough, this is Star Wars, so Admiral Ackbar and his most iconic line in Return of the Jedi of course comes to mind.

17“Rebellions Are Built on Hope”

The Origins of the Iconic Rogue One Quote Revealed

Confirming his willingness to fight and belief that the Empire could still be defied, the Ghorman hotel clerk says Rogue One’s most famous quote to Andor, confirming that he was the one from whom Cassian first heard the phrase, expandng its meaning by showing that those who can meaningfully rebel can be anyone and come from anywhere.

16The Canonical Ghorman Massacre

A Much Bigger and Far More Tragic Event

Image via Disney+

Having turned Legends’ Ghorman Massacre into the preceding Tarkin Massacre, the much bigger and far more brutal Ghorman Massacre is finally shown, having been a part of the Star Wars canon for years and yet never fully detailed (until now).

15Cassian’s Rifle Is Familiar

Also Used in Rogue One

Image via Disney+

The rifle Cassian uses while on Ghorman is a BlasTech A280-CFE convertible heavy blaster pistol, the same one he uses in Rogue One when he nearly killed Galen Erso.

14KX-Series Droids Unleashed For Imperial Atrocities

A Brutally Common Tactic

A squad of brutal KX-series is deployed to continue killing more of the Ghormans trying to flee Palmo Square. This is not unlike when the Empire used KX droids during the equally tragic Purge of Mandalore.

13“One Last Favor”

The Origins of K-2SO

Cassian takes a damaged KX droid back with him to Yavin. This is revealed to be none other than Rogue One’s K-2SO, effectively rewriting the canon that was established in a tie-in comic series as to how Andor and Kaytoo first met.

12“My People Today, Yours Tomorrow”

Foreshadowing The Fate of Alderaan

This line is said by the senator of Ghorman as he’s being arrested, and there’s an immediate cut to Bail Organa, foreshadowing Alderaan’s future destruction at the hands of the Empire.

11“Yavin Isn’t Ready”

Bail Organa Choosing To Stay on Coruscant

Bail Organa confirms the Rebel Alliance is still in its infancy, confirming his reasoning for staying in the Imperial Senate a while longer while Mon leaves, allowing him to buy as much time as possible for the Rebellion to keep growing and tying into what’s been previously established in the existing canon.

10Andor Season 2 Rewrites Mothma’s Speech

A Message of Complete Defiance

Image via Disney+

The words of Mon Mothma’s speech, where she publicly calls out Palpatine’s evil and the atrocities of the Empire following the Ghorman Massacre, were canonically known before Andor season 2. However, Andor season 2 episode 9 has Mothma delivering an altered speech, one that’s arguably better as it features more of a dramatic build to her culminating accusation of Palpatine, calling him a monster right as the ISB cuts the feed from the Imperial Senate. There’s also a key line she gives that’s quite impressive: “The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil.”

9The Truth About Rebels’ Erskin

An Agent of Luthen

Image via Disney+

Erskin is revealed to have always been an agent of Luthen Rael’s, putting his role in a new context, including his brief appearance in Star Wars Rebels following Mon’s extraction from Coruscant (his first Star Wars debut).

8“Next Year. In Yavin”

Teasing The Future in Rogue One

Bail Organa promises he’ll eventually join Mon on Yavin the following year. This does come to pass, as Organa does have a small role in Rogue One alongside Mothma and the rest of the Alliance leadership.

7The Emperor’s Council

Palpatine’s Inner Circle

Custom Image by Kevin Erdmann

During the early session of the Imperial Senate, Bail makes mention of articles of Senate conduct that were approved by the Emperor’s Council. This was Palpatine’s inner circle of advisors, including Grand Vizier Mas Amedda, Yupe Tashu, and Sub Administrator Sly Moore.

6Melshi

Cassian’s Former Cellmate

Andor’s cellmate on Narkina in Andor season 1 and fellow soldier in Rogue One, Andor season 2 finally shows Melshi on Yavin, having joined the Rebellion (though it doesn’t look like he’s reunited with Cassian yet).

5“There’s A Ship Waiting”

The Ghost

Draven reveals the Alliance is attempting to rewrite the narrative by having Mon Mothma escorted to a separate ship so she can give another galaxy-wide speech in the hopes of assembling more Rebel cells for the Alliance’s cause. This is a reference to Mon Mothma’s key appearance in Star Wars Rebels season 3, episode 18, and this other ship in question is none other than The Ghost.

4Gold Squadron

The Rebellion’s Finest

Gold Squadron took over escort duties for Mon Mothma, connecting to Rebels as well as Rogue One, having fought during the Battle of Scarif as well as the Battle of Yavin in A New Hope and Return of the Jedi’s Battle of Endor.

3Endor Sounds on Yavin

Forests vs Jungles

A smaller but fun Easter egg, the general sound and audio of Yavin’s jungles and its creatures are the same as those heard in Return of the Jedi’s Endor.

2Captain Andor

Cassian Receives His Rogue One Rank

Cassian is referred to as “Captain Andor” for the first time at the end of Andor season 2 episode 9, his official Alliance rank in Rogue One.

1K-2SO Joins The Rebellion

Not Exactly Reprogrammed

Rather than Andor quickly reprogramming K-2SO in the field when they first met as established in the previously canonical Cassian & K-2SO Special #1, it’s revealed in Andor season 2, episode 9 that an entire team of slicers was used to suppress the droid’s basic and more murderous programming and impulses instead of a full and extensive reprogram. This better explains the droid’s unique behavior and personality in Rogue One.

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