‘Andor’ Season 2 Finally Reveals the Wild Truth Behind Saw Gerrera’s Mask
In Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, fans saw Saw Gerrera using a strange breathing mask. Played by Forest Whitaker, Saw would often put on the mask and breathe in something mysterious. People have wondered about it for years. What was it? Why did he do it?
Even Tony Gilroy, the creator of Andor, didn’t know at first: “The Saw Gerrera thing in Rogue, he has the mask and he’s huffing that thing all the time. And people always ask, ‘What is that?’” Gilroy said. “I’m like, ‘I don’t really f—ing know what it is! What is it?’”
Now, thanks to season 2 of Andor, we finally have the answer. Gilroy shared that one of the show’s writers, Beau Willimon, called him one night with an idea: “Beau Willimon called me one night and goes, ‘Hey man, what if it’s this?’”
The answer: rhydonium. This is a dangerous starship fuel that has already appeared in the Star Wars universe. Rhydonium can explode if it’s not handled the right way.
In Andor, Luthen (played by Stellan Skarsgård) sends Wilmon (Bix’s brother, played by Muhannad Bhaier) to show Saw how to steal rhydonium from ships. Wilmon is an expert, and Saw needs him. But things go wrong.
Saw captures Wilmon and says: “You’re here until I get what I need.”
Wilmon tries to teach someone else, but that person turns out to be a spy. Saw kills the spy and forces Wilmon to do the job himself.
Then we learn something shocking: Saw has been breathing the dangerous rhydonium fumes without any protection. He even tells Wilmon to take off his mask and breathe it in too: “Let it in!” Saw says. “That’s freedom calling!”
Saw becomes hooked on the gas. That’s why, in Rogue One, he’s always using the mask; he needs the rhydonium. It’s not just protection. It’s part of who he has become.
Gilroy explained why this was such an important story: “What’s the most valuable thing that Luthen could give to Saw? What if Luthen gave him a chance to steal fuel, wherever it was? What a gift to really seal that bond.”
He added that Beau Willimon wrote the first version of Saw’s powerful rhydonium speech: “It was a really cool idea.”
Gilroy also praised Forest Whitaker: “What a thrill to work with someone like Forest. He’s an amazing human.”
The story also shows how Luthen is losing control. Cassian is pulling away from him.
“Luthen’s human resource skills are very poor,” Gilroy said. “He’s really not good at managing people and is losing control.”
Wilmon becomes the new “surrogate son” and stays connected to Luthen, while Cassian distances himself.
And with that, Saw Gerrera’s strange breathing mask finally has an origin. It’s not just a prop, it’s a symbol of his pain, his choices, and his fight for freedom.
“Freedom is calling, baby!”
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