Tony Gilroy: Directs an entire series showing that the creeping reactionary-authoritarian rot in the late Republic and Empire more or less rendered democratic institutions increasingly impotent beyond ceremony, before said institutions were entirely done away with come ANH. Shows that the Empire does not give a shit about public opinion beyond managing discontent to stable levels short of open revolt, much like the modern political entity which partially inspired it.

Also Tony Gilroy: “Uh, we need to protect our democracy and go out and non-violently protest and call Trump a meanie head because that got things done the last time it was tried”

I’m not advocating for everyone to LARP as a revolutionary, just that surely people can do better than every other Dem. Like I dunno maybe suggest doing something disruptive or, god forbid, a strike? Granted, if he said something even slightly spicy, it could land him in hot water and complicate his other projects but by this point, why bother saying anything at all beyond something vague like “Get out there and do something”? Why include that yammering about “democracy”?

I guess it’s perfectly consistent when the whole point of Andor (and the OT) was the struggle to re-establish a dysfunctional liberal democracy, and the New Republic failed to do even the bare minimum to combat imperial restoration before the First Order came up with a “Fuck You” superweapon to destroy it in one strike, but hey.

I say this with all love for Andor and recommend watching it to those who haven’t already.

Also, the right wingers in the comments acting all betrayed and claiming “Empire=The Left” will always be funny.