Summary:
- Andor Season 1 is set in 5 BBY, five years before Rogue One and A New Hope.
- Season 2 spans 5 BBY to 0 BBY, covering four years until Rogue One.
- Flashbacks in Season 1 occur in 18 BBY, showing Cassian Andor’s childhood.
The Star Wars universe is vast, with stories spanning galaxies and eras. Andor, a gritty prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, follows Cassian Andor’s path to rebellion. Knowing its place in the Star Wars timeline helps fans understand the stakes, from Imperial oppression to rebel sparks.
When Is Andor Season 1 Set in the Star Wars Timeline?
The main storyline of Andor Season 1 takes place in 5 BBY, or five years before the Battle of Yavin, the event marking the destruction of the first Death Star in Star Wars: A New Hope. The Battle of Yavin divides the Star Wars timeline into BBY (Before Battle of Yavin) and ABY (After Battle of Yavin), making 5 BBY a clear anchor. This setting places Andor five years before both Rogue One and A New Hope, which occur in 0 BBY. It’s also 14 years after Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith in 19 BBY, when the Galactic Empire formed.
In 5 BBY, the Empire rules with an iron grip, a period called the Dark Times. The Jedi are nearly extinct, and the Rebel Alliance is not yet formed. Andor Season 1 spans several months, starting with Cassian Andor on Ferrix, a scrappy planet. His journey includes stealing from the Empire, joining the Aldhani heist, and enduring the Narkina 5 prison. These events, driven by Luthen Rael’s covert plans, show early rebel efforts against Imperial control.
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What Do Andor’s Flashbacks Reveal About the Timeline?
Andor Season 1 includes flashbacks to Cassian Andor’s childhood on Kenari, marked as “13 Years Earlier” from 5 BBY, placing them in 18 BBY. In 18 BBY, the Empire is new, fresh from its rise in Revenge of the Sith. The Kenari scenes show a mining operation—likely Imperial—abandoned after a disaster. Young Cassian, then called Kassa, scavenges with other children until Maarva Andor and Clem Andor rescue him.
This 18 BBY timeline fits the Empire’s early expansion, seizing resources across the galaxy. The flashbacks ground Cassian’s distrust of authority, shaping his 5 BBY arc. They also tie to Star Wars canon, as the Empire’s mining ventures were common post-19 BBY.
How Does Andor Season 2 Expand the Star Wars Timeline?
Andor Season 2, set to premiere on April 22, 2025, covers four years from 5 BBY to 0 BBY, ending just before Rogue One. Its 12 episodes are split into four arcs, each tackling about one year: 5 BBY, 4 BBY, 3 BBY, and 2 BBY, with the final arc reaching 0 BBY. The season jumps forward between arcs, showing Cassian Andor’s growth into the spy from Rogue One.
In 5–4 BBY, Cassian likely deepens his work with Luthen Rael, building on Season 1’s heists. By 3–2 BBY, rebel groups start uniting, as seen in Star Wars Rebels, with Mon Mothma pushing for a formal alliance. In 0 BBY, the story links to Rogue One, ending days before Cassian and Jyn Erso steal the Death Star plans. The Death Star, started in 21 BBY during Attack of the Clones, looms large by 0 BBY, setting up Season 2’s stakes.
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Where Does Andor Fit Among Other Star Wars Stories?
Andor slots into a busy Star Wars timeline. In 19 BBY, Revenge of the Sith shows the Empire’s birth. By 18 BBY, Andor’s flashbacks reveal early Imperial cruelty. Solo: A Star Wars Story spans 13–10 BBY, with hints of resistance. Obi-Wan Kenobi in 9 BBY depicts the Empire hunting Jedi, four years before Andor. Star Wars Rebels shares 5 BBY with Andor Season 1, focusing on the Phoenix Cell’s fights.
By 4–2 BBY, Rebels and Andor Season 2 overlap, showing rebellion’s growth. Rogue One and A New Hope hit 0 BBY, followed by The Empire Strikes Back in 3 ABY and Return of the Jedi in 4 ABY. Andor’s 5 BBY setting captures a galaxy without hope, where Cassian’s choices spark change.
| Project | Timeline |
|---|---|
| Revenge of the Sith | 19 BBY |
| Cassian’s Flashbacks | 18 BBY |
| Solo: A Star Wars Story | 13–10 BBY |
| Obi-Wan Kenobi | 9 BBY |
| Andor Season 1 | 5 BBY |
| Star Wars: Rebels | 5–0 BBY |
| Andor Season 2 | 5–0 BBY |
| Rogue One / A New Hope | 0 BBY |
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Who Are the Key Players in Andor’s Timeline?
Andor brings back Mon Mothma, played by Genevieve O’Reilly, from Revenge of the Sith, Rebels, and Rogue One. In 5 BBY, she’s a senator secretly funding rebellion, a role expanding in Season 2. Saw Gerrera, portrayed by Forest Whitaker, returns from The Clone Wars, The Bad Batch, and Rogue One. His extreme tactics in 5 BBY contrast Luthen Rael’s calculated moves.
New faces include Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård), a rebel orchestrator, and Syril Karn (Kyle Soller), an Imperial officer. Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) enforces Imperial law, while Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona) ties Cassian to Ferrix. Season 2 will introduce K-2SO, Cassian’s droid from Rogue One, bridging to 0 BBY.
How Does Andor Connect to Rogue One in the Timeline?
Andor is a direct prequel to Rogue One, set in 0 BBY. Season 1’s 5 BBY events show Cassian as a reluctant rebel, far from the leader who sacrifices himself in Rogue One. His Aldhani heist and Narkina 5 escape build skills used in Rogue One’s Scarif mission. Season 2’s 5–0 BBY arc traces his full transformation, ending with Cassian ready to join Jyn Erso.
Unlike The Mandalorian or Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor avoids Easter eggs, focusing on grounded stakes. Luthen’s network and Mon Mothma’s funds in 5 BBY lay roots for Rogue One’s rebel team. By 0 BBY, Cassian’s loyalty to the cause mirrors Rogue One’s climax.
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When and Where Can You Watch Andor?
Andor Season 1 is streaming now on Disney+ in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other regions. Season 2 premieres on April 22, 2025, exclusively on Disney+, with 12 episodes released weekly. The series is rated TV-14 for mature themes, available in 4K UHD where supported.
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