There's A Logical Reason As To Why We Haven't Seen Lightsabers In Andor
At this point, it's no secret that "Andor" is without a doubt the most well-reviewed live-action "Star Wars" series since "The Mandalorian" — and perhaps one of the most critically-acclaimed projects in the entire "Star Wars" franchise. The series (which currently holds an impressive 93% on Rotten Tomatoes) has stunned critics with its mature themes and powerful writing, with many critics praising the series' ability to reflect real-world political and cultural issues through its deeply unsettling portrayal of the Galactic Empire.
The series itself is driven primarily by the story of Cassian Andor, a petty thief who would eventually go on to become one of the most prolific spies in the entire Rebellion and play a major role in the events of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story." The world that Cassian inhabits is unlike anything we've seen in "Star Wars" before — a gritty, grounded reality where the oppressive regime of the Galactic Empire is an ever-present source of suffering for its citizens.
Although this extremely mature portrayal of the "Star Wars" universe has thus far received rave reviews from critics, the series is still missing something that has been included in nearly every single "Star Wars" project to date — as so far, there have been no lightsabers seen or mentioned throughout the first season of "Andor."
Tony Gilroy says that most people in the galaxy aren't even aware that lightsabers exist
According to "Andor" director Tony Gilroy, there's actually a pretty significant reason why the series has not yet made any references to lightsabers — because the "Star Wars" universe is so enormous, most of the people we meet throughout the series are simply unaware that these weapons exist. In an interview with Collider, Gilroy referenced how Cassian Andor's adoptive homeworld of Ferrix is particularly isolated from the rest of the galaxy and that because of this isolation, they have no idea about the existence of lightsabers.
"That's one of the first things I asked," said Tony Gilroy when questioned about whether or not Cassian and his people are aware of lightsabers and Jedi. "And you know what? Most people don't know. I don't think anybody on Ferrix knows anything about it. I don't think so." Gilroy went on to clarify that, when he means "most people don't know," he's talking about the galaxy at large, saying that the massive scale of the galaxy makes it likely that knowledge of the Jedi and lightsabers is extremely limited, especially on worlds as isolated as Ferrix.
Indeed, the residents of Ferrix weren't even aware of the existence of the Galactic Empire until the inaugural episode of "Andor," in which Cassian inadvertently draws the attention of the Empire to the planet when he seeks refuge there. Although we may not have seen or heard about any lightsabers just yet in "Andor," it's more than likely that Cassian will learn about them very soon — whether that be in Season 2 of "Andor" or the upcoming season finale.
We may have already seen a lightsaber in Andor, though it's hard to say
Indeed, some fans online have theorized that a lightsaber could be making an appearance during the finale of "Andor" Season 1, as many have speculated that the character of Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) is actually in possession of one and could even be a Jedi in hiding (via Polygon). This particular theory stems from a strange object in Luthen's possession, which is seen briefly in Episode 11 of "Andor" when he is shaken down while entering the compound of Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker).
The object in question certainly looks enough like a lightsaber, with the same sleek hilt we've seen on the weapon in the past — though this particular device is also accented by what looks like wood paneling. In any case, this object is only out in the open for a brief moment before Luthen tells the guard to "put it down, or give it back" — though its appearance could have a significant impact on the forthcoming season finale.
Although it's doubtful that Luthen is, in fact, a secret Jedi, his status as a reputable arms dealer and antique collector makes it entirely possible that he acquired a lightsaber through some other means. In any case, it will be interesting to see if any lightsabers or Jedi make an appearance in the Season 1 finale of "Andor" and what the titular hero will think when he sees one of these weapons for the first time.