K-2SO’s Origin in Andor Season 2 Is Even Darker Than We Thought

This article contains spoilers for Andor season 2 episodes 7-9.

When we first meet the droid K-2SO in Rogue One, he’s a somewhat snarky companion to Cassian Andor (Diego Luna). We can tell that he was once an Imperial droid, but has since been reprogrammed by the Rebels. Other than that, though, we don’t know much about his origin or why he was created in the first place. Now that Andor has finally shown us how K-2 and Cassian first meet, it turns out that K-2’s origin story is even darker than we realized.

In this season of Andor, the Empire has been building up for a full-scale takeover of the planet Ghorman. There is a resource there that can’t be replicated, and it’s crucial for the Emperor’s “energy program.” Thus, a secret task force helmed by Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) at the behest of Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) has been secretly fueling rebel efforts on the planet in order to fuel propaganda and get the galaxy to believe that the Ghor are volatile and unhinged.

All of this prep work comes to fruition in episodes 7-9, where we see the Ghor try to assemble and protest peacefully against the Empire’s occupation, only to be met with brutality. The Empire fires on their own people in order to incite violence between the Imperial officers on duty and the Ghor. Violence and chaos ensue as the Empire fires without mercy on the people gathered in the square. But it’s not just blaster fire that the Ghor have to worry about.

In the next wave of their attack, Imperial Captain Kaido orders a group of droids to go out into the fleeing crowd. It seems like the intent of these droids is ‘crowd control’ or rather indiscriminately beating the hell out of anyone who crosses their path. We see these droids pick up and toss people like rag dolls, killing them as their bodies slam against the hard buildings and pavement. It’s a terrifying scene to witness.

As Cassian tries to make his escape from the square, he finds himself being pursued by one of these lanky monstrosities. He tries to fire his blaster, but finds that this hulk of metal can take quite a few hits. Thankfully, a member of the Ghor resistance slams a car into the droid, finally taking it out of commission.

Seeing what this droid can do first hand, Cassian decides to take the remains back with him to Yavin. After some tinkering and reprogramming, the droid that we come to know as K-2SO is reactivated at the end of episode 9. He may have some snark, but at least his murderous impulses have been taken care of, for now.

Even though Cassian came close to dying at this droid’s hands, as so many Ghor did, that also means he knows how powerful this droid can be. K-2SO is not just a useful tool now that he’s been reprogrammed. He also now serves as a reminder of that tragic day on Ghorman, and of what Cassian and the rebels are fighting for.

Andor season 2 episodes 1-9 are available to stream on Disney+ now. The final three episodes premiere Tuesday, May 13 at 9 p.m. ET on Disney+.

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