From the first Star Wars movie, “Episode 4 – A New Hope”, and especially with the prequel “Rogue One” and the “Andor” television series, the Star Wars authors and editors have created an excellent portrayal of what happens to freedom and prosperity when it succumbs to a downward spiral into destruction, tyranny, and misery.   

The main Star Wars series, Episodes 1 through 9, present the high-level overview of a Republic’s descent into tyranny, and the natural human reaction of those who refuse to submit to that tyranny: i.e., rebellion.

As anyone who may recall Episode 4, the plot and action focuses on the Rebellion’s efforts to destroy the Empire’s “Death Star”.  But what made it possible for those in rebellion to think that they could succeed in that destruction?

“Rogue One” is a tenth Star Wars movie, set in the time period between Episode 3, “Revenge of the Sith”, and Episode 4.  

Episode 3 shows the Emperor gaining absolute tyrannical control of the government, transforming the old Republic into an Empire.  To put down any counter rebellions, he orders the construction of a “Death Star”.  “Rogue One” chronicles the theft of the Death Star’s engineering plans, which lays the groundwork for the subsequent events of Episode 4, the first Star Wars movie.

The “Andor” TV series, in turn, describes the life (prior to Rogue One) of one of the central characters in Rogue One.  Thanks to “Andor”, we can understand, sympathize, and relate to the personal experiences and issues that drive Andor, that story’s main character.

“Andor”, even more than “Rogue One”, delves into the not-so-pretty nitty gritty that is a very necessary part of any rebellion.  In Andor, we see the little steps and slow transformation which transmutes government officials from being supportive participants working for the freedom-loving Republic into the reluctant but destructive minions of tyranny, faced with the threats to their own lives and families.

These sad stories are excellently written.  They provide an insight into the detailed step-by-step workings of a decline: the inexorable sequence of many little steps, none seemingly bad in themselves, but which when combined cause something good to evolve into something very, very ghastly.

Star Wars is what many would call a “morals story” – a story of good and evil; a story of the personal dangers brought into play by the would-be dictator, and the struggle to fight against that dictator.  The stories emphasize that members of a rebellion work under the shadow of knowing that a personal death may be all that waits any of them; they act knowing they may not live to see an ultimate victory.  

The Star Wars saga makes it clear that, even knowing you will likely suffer injury and unpleasant death, there still exists a goal which is the best and only choice worth fighting for, in order to bring an end to a horribly destructive and oppressive tyranny.  

The ultimate victory of a rebellion, after all, includes no guarantee that the subsequent outcome will be the freedom for which you fought.   The survivors make their all-too-human mistakes.

We all dearly hope that life will never become like the morals story portrayed in fictional rebellion.  But expressing that morals story provides us a standard by which we can measure our day-to-day choices and efforts – and assure we keep the good life we enjoy.

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