Heartbreaking Star Wars theory about Andor makes Rogue One even more tragic

Andor
(Image credit: Lucasfilm)

Warning: The following contains major spoilers for Andor episode 8! Turn back now if you haven't seen the latest episode on Disney Plus

Star Wars fans have a heartbreaking theory about Andor episode 8, and it makes Rogue One even more tragic. In the episode, Cassian is taken to prison following his wrongful arrest back in episode 7. In jail, he meets Ruescott Melshi, an important Rogue One character who will later help rescue Jyn Erso and attack Scarif in pursuit of the all important Death Star plans. 

While imprisoned, Cassian and Melshi are made to assemble Imperial parts of some kind. It's not revealed just what they're making these parts for, but Star Wars fans have a poignant theory: they're building pieces of the Death Star. 

"If those are Death Star parts Melshi and Cassian are building, the very thing that will lead to their death," predicts one fan. "The possibility of those parts being the Death Star's parts. The possibility of Star Wars making them build the machine that took their lives five years later," says someone else

"They have seven floors of men building gadgets. Why would they need so many? For something as massive as the Death Star, lots of parts need to be made," agrees another viewer

In Rogue One, Cassian is killed by the Death Star's blast on Scarif, while Melshi is shot dead trying to get to the master switch to help out Bodhi Rook. It would be a truly ironic twist if both characters are currently helping to build the Death Star, then. 

Andor drops a new episode on Disney Plus weekly, and you can check out our Andor release schedule to find out exactly when the next episode arrives in your time zone. In the meantime, see our guide to all the upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows for everything coming soon from the galaxy far, far away. 

Molly Edwards
Entertainment Writer

I'm an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things film and TV for the site's Total Film and SFX sections. I previously worked on the Disney magazines team at Immediate Media, and also wrote on the CBeebies, MEGA!, and Star Wars Galaxy titles after graduating with a BA in English.