Several The original Star Wars Expanded Universe, aka "Legends," had the Empire survive long after Return of the Jedi, and the new canon has taken a similar approach.
Some stories have laid out the Empire's strategy in greater detail, and Emperor Palpatine is often credited as the architect operating from the shadows. However, I recently noticed a few key details while rewatching episodes of the most recent Star Wars TV shows, and now I'm convinced that the Empire's return truly began with someone else. If my theory is correct, this would give new context to modern Star Wars and foreshadow a character's fate in an premiere.
Palpatine Was Secretly The Mastermind Of The First Order... But What About Before That?
The Imperial Remnant, a Shadow Council, Thrawn, and more!
Credit where credit is due, Palpatine was the true mastermind behind the First Order in the Star Wars sequel trilogy. In the event of his own death, Palpatine had a contingency to recreate the Empire from the ashes of destruction. Following the Empire's final defeat at the Battle of Jakku, Grand iral Rae Sloane took her remaining forces to the Unknown Regions, the beginning of what would evolve into the First Order.
While Palpatine would eventually take over the First Order through Supreme Leader Snoke, it seems they operated independently for several years. They were also one of many Imperial factions who formed a secret Imperial Shadow Council, not wanting the New Republic to know they were a unified force. Commandant Brendol Hux, father of future General Armitage Hux, seems to have represented Sloane's faction on the council.
The Imperial Shadow Council Explained: Essential Canon Team That Shapes The Galaxy
Star Wars has just revealed the Imperial Shadow Council, a major coalition essential in shaping the galaxy's future after the original trilogy.
Hux was also confirmed to be working on "Grand iral Thrawn in Star Wars projects, now that he has returned from Exile. However, the Imperial Remnant's initial strategy reminds me of a character from another Star Wars show.
Andor's Dedra Meero Proposed The Imperial Remnant's Strategy A Decade Earlier
A cunning ISB agent who could think like a rebel
While rewatching Andor season 1 to prep for its season 2 premiere, I realized that Dedra Meero laid out exactly what the Imperial Remnant would end up doing after Return of the Jedi. An outstanding character in season 1, Dedra was the only ISB agent to realize that supposedly unrelated rebel activities were actually part of an organized rebellion. Her persistence earned respect from her superiors and gave her greater authority in the Empire.
In Andor season 1, episode 5 "The Axe Forgets," Dedra even its that she would use the same strategy if she were in the rebels' position:
I know this. If I was them, this is how I'd do it. I'd spread it out. Never climb the same fence twice.
The Imperial Remnant would indeed use this strategy once the New Republic was in power, letting them think they were warlords with no unified agenda. Because of Dedra's words, I can't help but wonder if she did more than simply predict what strategy the Imperial Remnant would someday employ.
I Think Dedra Meero Is The Mastermind Of The Empire's Return
She could be the Imperial version of Luthen Rael
Because Dedra so accurately laid out the rebellion's strategy, and because she itted she would have done the same thing, I think she is the true mastermind of the Empire's return. I now think there's a good chance Dedra will survive Andor season 2, that way she can still be around when the Empire collapses and splits into factions. She could be an unseen member of the Shadow Council, or at least continue her previous role in their service.
I believe this would be a fitting role for Dedra and highly poetic given her actions in season 1. She would go from hunting Luthen Rael and trying to guess his next move to becoming his Imperial equivalent, operating from the shadows and keeping the Remnant's activities scattered. As Luthen did for the rebels, Dedra may have been the one to unify the various Imperial leaders into a Shadow Council.
Alternatively, Dedra may have created this plan as a contingency if the Empire should fall, explaining why she wasn't seen in a prominent role among the Shadow Council. I've always found it fascinating how Luthen and Mon Mothma learned from Palpatine, so it would be fitting if the Imperial Remnant's strategy came from Dedra learning from the rebels. Like George Lucas is fond of saying, "It's like poetry, it's so that it rhymes."
Writer and showrunner Tony Gilroy has also talked about his hopes for Andor season 2 as a launchpad for new Star Wars. While he was mainly talking about experimental TV shows, he specifically said that "we're going to open up some canonical things and concepts in Andor that maybe will get people excited to do other things." Well, I am very excited to see if my Star Wars theory will be possible after Dedra Meero's return in Andor.
Andor season 2 is set to premiere its first three episodes April 22nd on Disney+.
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