Star Wars' Best TV Show Just Set Up A Jedi Spinoff I'm Desperate To See -

Star Wars‘ new TV show, Andor season 2, just set up a fascinating spin-off story connected to the Jedi that would bring something truly new to Star Wars movies and TV shows. Thus far, only three episodes of Andor season 2 have been released, but already, this show has revealed so much more about this era of the Star Wars timeline and the efforts of the rebels. These elements were fairly expected, given Andor season 2’s place in the Star Wars timeline and the fact that it will lead right into Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

One avenue that was less expected was the deep-dive into Chandrila and Chandrilan culture via Mon Mothma’s story. Andor season 1 had already explored this a bit, with Mon struggling in her relationships with her husband and daughter, but season 2 has already provided so much more insight into this culture in just the first three episodes—especially in light of her daughter Leida’s wedding. One of the most surprising aspects of this newfound look at Chandrilan culture has been a shocking connection to the Jedi.

There Are Clear Ties Between Chandrilan Custom & The Jedi

The Andor Season 2 Premiere Made That Clear

As mentioned, the wedding of Mon Mothma’s daughter, Leida, provided a much deeper dive into Chandrilan than has ever been shown in Star Wars before, particularly on screen. In fact, prior to Andor season 1, we hadn’t really seen Chandrila in Star Wars movies and shows. The first three episodes of Andor season 2 have built upon the look at Chandrila season 1 offered, revealing so much more about the traditions and customs of the planet.

Leida’s wedding especially showed just how ancient some of these traditions are—in fact, many seem downright archaic. The most obvious example is the fact that Leida is getting married as a teenager, which, in Chandrilan culture, is evidently the standard. Even outside that unsettling storyline, though, the wedding itself depicts several aspects of Chandrilan tradition, from Leida needing to walk into the wedding behind Mon (which Mon informs her of rather curtly) to the elaborate steps involved in the wedding ceremony.

Mon Mothma in Andor and Leia Organa in The Empire Strikes Back

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It caught me completely off guard to see such a direct connection to the Jedi in this scene, though. Specifically, at a turning point in the ceremony, when Leida goes from betrothed to wife, a long braid is cut from one side of her head. This braid cutting in the Chandrilan wedding ceremony is strikingly similar to the Jedi Padawan braid being cut off in the Knighting ceremony, which I believe sets up a fascinating connection between Chandrila and the Jedi.

This braid cutting in the Chandrilan wedding ceremony is strikingly similar to the Jedi Padawan braid being cut off in the Knighting ceremony.

I’m Desperate To Know More About How The Jedi Influenced Chandrila

There Certainly Seems To Be Some Relationship There

Anakin looking at Padme as they stand together on Naboo

There’s more to this connection between the Jedi and Chandrila as well. For one, both the Jedi Order and Chandrila seem to struggle with breaking away from traditions, rules, and customs they may have outgrown. This is evident in the fact that Leida is a child bride, but it’s arguably clear in the Jedi’s resistance to attachment as well and the rigidity with which they define the Force (and “balance” in the Force, as seen in the Chosen One prophecy).

Both Chandrila and the Jedi Order are also thousands of years old in Star Wars. In fact, one of the Easter eggs in the Andor season 2 premiere confirms that the Rakatan invasion of Chandrila took place 25,000 years before Andor season 2, meaning that timeline aligns with the dawn of the Jedi Order. Given this, I’m convinced the Jedi and Chandrila both influenced one another, and I am desperate to find out more about what those influences entailed.

Andor Season 2 Is A Surprising Launchpad For A Jedi History Spinoff

This Feels Like A Natural Progression For The Show

Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) with Leida (Bronte Carmichael) behind her on the wedding day in Andor Season 2 Episode 3 — Image via Disney+

While it’s unlikely we will get more of that history in Andor season 2, as this show is explicitly focused on the Rebellion and is separate from the Jedi, I’m hopeful it will at least lay the foundation for a Jedi history spin-off, which could include connections to Chandrila. After all, showrunner Tony Gilroy spoke about wanting Andor season 2 to open up a new kind of Star Wars. This history could potentially be explored in James Mangold’s Star Wars movie, rumored to be titled Star Wars: Dawn of the Jedi, but that remains to be seen.

Luke Skywalker stood in front of the Prime Jedi insignia

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In either case, I’m intrigued by this very obvious connection between the Chandrilan wedding ceremony and the Jedi Knighting ceremony, especially because both are such coming-of-age events for each of these cultures. What makes this all the more interesting is that we got to see a Chandrilan wedding before a Knighting ceremony was shown on-screen in Star Wars canon (something I’m particularly frustrated about regarding Anakin Skywalker). It will be interesting to see what else Andor season 2 reveals about Chandrilan culture, but I do hope Star Wars follows up with a Jedi spin-off in the future.