If there’s one thing Lucasfilm has achieved with series like Star Wars: Andor and Star Wars Rebels, it’s revealing the countless unsung heroes and worlds that played crucial roles in the fight against the Empire. While iconic locations such as Yavin IV, Hoth, and Endor are familiar from the films, planets like Lothal and Ferrix have only recently come into focus. Now, thanks to the first three episodes of Andor Season 2, another world has entered the Star Wars lexicon: Ghorman.
More: The Andor Cast Reacts to 5 Major Moments From the Season 2 Premiere
What Is Ghorman, and Why Does It Matter?
Ghorman is a planet whose significance in the Galactic Civil War is only now being fully realized. First mentioned in Andor Season 1 during a conversation between Forest Whitaker’s Saw Gerrera and Stellan Skarsgård’s Luthen Rael, Ghorman was home to the anti-Imperial Ghorman Front—a cautionary tale for those debating how best to oppose the Empire.
In Season 2, Ghorman takes center stage. Director Krennic, played by Ben Mendelsohn, addresses a group of ISB agents about the planet’s growing importance. Ghorman is renowned for its silk fabric, woven from a unique species of spider. However, the Empire’s interest lies elsewhere: Ghorman is rich in calcite, a resource coveted by the Emperor for its potential applications in renewable energy—or so Krennic claims. Given Krennic’s track record from Rogue One, it’s more likely that the calcite is destined for the Death Star project, serving as a critical component alongside kyber crystals.
The Dilemma of Ghorman
Extracting the calcite required for the Death Star would devastate Ghorman, rendering it uninhabitable. Yet, Palpatine cannot afford to provoke widespread unrest by destroying a populated world outright. His solution? Manipulate public opinion to justify the Empire’s takeover of Ghorman under the guise of restoring order.
To achieve this, Krennic enlists propaganda experts to portray Ghorman as a hotbed of rebellion. Simultaneously, Dedra Meero, portrayed by Denise Gough, recognizes the necessity of engineering a genuine uprising among the native Ghor population. This manufactured conflict will provide the Empire with the pretext it needs to seize control of Ghorman’s calcite reserves.
This unfolding storyline sets the stage for significant developments in Andor Season 2. Characters like Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor, Genevieve O’Reilly’s Mon Mothma, and others will undoubtedly converge on Ghorman as tensions escalate. The planet’s fate seems destined to culminate in tragedy yet serve as a turning point for the Rebel Alliance.
The Ghorman Massacre
While the Ghorman Massacre has been referenced in previous Star Wars media, its significance is only now coming to light in the Disney era. Historically rooted in the Legends continuity, the event occurred in 18 BBY when Grand Moff Tarkin landed his ship on a peaceful protest, resulting in mass casualties. This act of brutality galvanized opposition to the Empire and laid the groundwork for the formation of the Rebel Alliance.
In the current Disney timeline, Lucasfilm is reimagining this pivotal moment. Although details remain unclear, it’s evident that the Ghorman Massacre will serve as a rallying cry for rebellion. As Andor Season 2 progresses, viewers can expect this incident to deepen divisions within the Empire and inspire a stronger resistance movement.
Warning: The remainder of this article contains possible spoilers for upcoming episodes of Andor Season 2!
