Jyn Erso proves Star Wars fans can’t love one thing without hating another

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I immediately took up the cause for the “Star Wars” series titled Andor, which debuted on Disney+. This was back in the initial stages of season 1 when many fans failed to recognize its charm and found the character Cassian Andor uninteresting, as well as the show’s deliberate pace rather tedious.

In the past, there were several reasons that led me to support the show Andor. Firstly, I developed a strong affection for Cassian in the movie Rogue One, and I was particularly impressed by Diego Luna’s performance of the character. Secondly, I admired Jyn Erso, who seemed remarkably similar to Cassian Andor. I had wished that the series would somehow acknowledge or involve Jyn Erso, perhaps even featuring Felicity Jones reprising her role. However, it turned out differently than I expected, and that’s not what upset me.

As a film enthusiast, I can’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction with the success of “Andor.” However, it’s been quite noticeable how the fervor for our beloved show has sparked a wave of fan backlash towards “Rogue One,” particularly focusing on its lead actress and the character she brought to life. It seems that Felicity Jones’s performance as Jyn Erso has drawn a significant amount of criticism, with almost every aspect of Jyn Erso being scrutinized, simply because “Andor” has won over many hearts.

It’s crucial to recall that the destinies of Cassian and Jyn were intertwined, and they were destined to perish together. Both fought for the same cause, and their selfless acts significantly contributed to the Rebellion’s triumph against the Death Star. Some fans might find it difficult to accept that all credit for ‘Rogue One’ doesn’t solely belong to Tony Gilroy. A few have voiced their disappointment that ‘Rogue One’ primarily focused on Cassian, while others may feel the same about ‘Andor’, as it didn’t delve as deeply into Cassian’s story as some would have preferred.

As a devoted fan, I found myself disappointed with how Andor portrayed Cassian, as he remained a reluctant rebel throughout the series. This contrasted sharply with my understanding of his character from Rogue One and its novelization, where I perceived Cassian as a dedicated and unwavering rebel operative who bent the rules only when it served the greater good. However, the main issue isn’t about Cassian himself, but rather the surge of Jyn Erso criticism that has taken over the Star Wars online community.

It appears that Tony Gilroy has expressed some negative opinions about the character Jyn Erso in various statements over the past few months. He’s called a cameo for Jyn a “lame idea,” referred to Rogue One as a “corpse” before reworking the original cut, and suggested that Vel Sartha would have found Jyn irritating. These comments, along with his dismissive stance towards fans who shipped Cassian and Jyn since 2016 by telling them to “reorient their thinking,” might lead fans to believe that he isn’t particularly fond of the character Jyn Erso. This could potentially stir up more backlash from fans of Jyn Erso.

In this situation, it appears that fondness for ‘Andor’ is often accompanied by disdain towards ‘Rogue One’, particularly its script, main character, and even battle sequences. Many fans have expressed dissatisfaction with Felicity Jones’s performance, the portrayal of Jyn, and even the action scenes. Some critics argue that ‘Rogue One’ falls short as a sequel to ‘Andor’, which is quite contrary to what was anticipated.

I’d like fans to embrace ‘Rogue One’ once more for its unique qualities and acknowledge Jyn’s role in the rebellion separately from any characters penned by Tony Gilroy. However, until viewers can appreciate one Star Wars project on its own merits without constantly comparing it to others, this issue will persist.

Rogue One is streaming on Disney+.

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2025-08-07 21:22