Since its epic conclusion, a lot has been said about how Andor elevates Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and even Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, but with <em>The Mandalorian and Grogu</em> bringing Star Wars back to theaters this week, it’s also the perfect time to revisit how the Disney+ series has improved another beloved chapter in the franchise. That’s largely thanks to Karis Nemik’s (Alex Lawther) manifesto, which goes viral across the galaxy in the series finale and urges listeners to “Remember this: try.” The line creates a surprising dialogue with Yoda’s (Frank Oz) iconic quote from Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back: “Do or do not, there is no try.” At first, the two ideas seem opposed, but Nemik’s manifesto actually recontextualizes Yoda’s lesson, revealing them as complementary rather than contradictory.
Nemik’s Manifesto Is About “Trying” as an Act of Rebellion
It may seem confusing when first thinking about what Nemik and Yoda mean. One is telling you to try, while the other says “there is no try,” so who is correct? As it turns out, both of them are; we just have to look at the context. Nemik and Yoda are living in completely different moments of history when they each say their lines, and that matters. Nemik’s manifesto is one of the most brilliant pieces of writing in all of Star Wars, and we first hear it in the Season 1 finale of Andor, set five years before the Original Trilogy, when Cassian (Diego Luna) decides to save his friends during Maarva’s (Fiona Shaw) funeral on Ferrix. The odds are overwhelmingly against him, and he knows he can’t save everyone, but it’s Nemik’s words that push him to try and eventually succeed.
It’s important to note that, at that time, the galaxy thought that the Empire was invincible and unstoppable, and that’s the purpose of Nemik’s manifesto — to show people that the Empire can be defeated, despite the overwhelming odds. At that moment in Star Wars history, the Empire is so strong, it doesn’t even conceive that anyone could try to challenge its authority, so even the smallest attempt is already an act of rebellion. “Even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward,” as Nemik says, because it shows everyone that the Empire isn’t invincible, and that’s all it takes for revolution to spread; once other people see that, they too will feel emboldened and try. That’s what the Aldhani heist was for (besides the money, of course), and that’s what the rebellion on Ferrix becomes, too.
When we next hear Nemik’s manifesto in the Andor series finale, it’s in a completely different context. It has gone viral, beyond the Empire’s ability to contain its spread, and people now see that there is a way to fight for freedom. It’s now an open call to rebellion beyond the Rebel Alliance, too, a promise that, if everyone takes action, they will succeed in taking down the oppressor, because “then there will be one too many,” he says. There’s no telling who has heard the manifesto, but a few weeks after it goes viral, a farm boy from a backwater planet decides to join the Rebellion after losing everything to the Empire and manages to blow up their ultimate weapon. One single thing, an X-wing broke the siege like Nemik promised because before that farm boy many other people tried.
Yoda’s Lesson in ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ Is the Culmination of Nemik’s Manifesto in ‘Andor’
There’s no way of knowing whether Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Yoda have ever listened to Nemik’s manifesto, but the former’s actions and the latter’s lessons sure feel like the continuation of the ideas it preaches. There are only a few days between the manifesto going viral and the destruction of the Death Star, and then three years until Luke joins Yoda on Dagobah in The Empire Strikes Back, so the galaxy is already a completely different place. Thanks to all the trying, the Rebellion has grown into more than just a military movement but into an idea — a promise of freedom. It’s now at a point at which it can actually do what it set out to do from the start.
When Yoda tells Luke to “try not; do or do not; there is no try,” Luke is trying and failing to pull his X-wing from the Dagobah swamp. He doesn’t believe that he has the power to do it; most Force powers are about one’s ability to envision what they have to do and make it a reality. From a teaching and personal standpoint, Yoda is telling Luke to believe in his own abilities because he can do it. But at that historical moment, there’s also a lot more hanging in balance than just Luke’s X-wing. The Rebellion has just suffered a major defeat by the Empire on Hoth and must now find strength to reassemble and continue fighting because if they falter again they will be destroyed. The Empire has literally struck back and exposed how fragile everything is for rebels; if they don’t carry out their mission all attempts and sacrifices that came before will have been for nothing. Both Luke and rebels are at a crossroads: now either you do what you have to or fail.
Star Wars’ Greatest 8-Part Sci-Fi Borrowed ‘Andor’s Best Trick and Nobody Noticed
Minus the radicalization part of course.
Of course Yoda’s lesson to Luke doesn’t go viral like Nemik’s manifesto but it does represent a change in overall attitude of rebels. Luke completely changes his attitude after losing to Darth Vader (James Earl Jones) on Bespin; he sets out with friends to save Han Solo (Harrison Ford) from Jabba the Hutt and rejoin Rebellion; he even has confidence to call himself Jedi Knight. The same thing is happening with Rebellion. After their defeat at battle of Hoth only one year passes until discovery of second Death Star and decision to go all-or-nothing against Empire — “do or do not.” So Yoda’s lesson isn’t about denying Nemik’s idea of trying but rather about taking it one step further, because once something is proven possible it’s not about trying anymore but about doing it.
Nemik’s Manifesto and Yoda’s Lesson Are Actually Two Parts of Same Advice
It’s easy to dismiss or forget how important role passing time plays in Star Wars. Season two takes place over four years starting one year after season one ends mere weeks before events of A New Hope. Then there are three more years until The Empire Strikes Back finally one year until Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of Jedi when Rebel Alliance finally topples Empire. There are nine years between Nemik writing his manifesto and battle of Endor; that’s more than enough time for people grow political consciousness as Nemik envisioned. That’s also enough time for political theory evolve either gain or lose relevance. In this case,Nemik’s manifesto evolves because it becomes reality.
Agaain there’s no way knowing canon whether Luke or Yoda ever listened manifesto but it’s now brilliantly set up as precursor Yoda’s lesson “do or do not there is no try.” These two ideas aren’t opposed aren’t even two sides coin; they are instead two stages developing consciousness. Rebellion needed people stand up against Empire trying do something showed them it was possible. It’s what effectively set up Rebellion as galaxy-wide movement beyond Alliance so speak. It’s important start trying big part it but comes time we grow beyond attempts becomes about actually doing things we have because we’ve already learned how know why.
That’s where galaxy is when Yoda tells Luke “do or do not.” Things have already grown beyond Nemik’s point trying act rebellion itself.
Andor andThe Empire Strikes Back are available stream on Disney+.
Sarah Parker is a research analyst and content contributor with a strong interest in business strategy, organizational behavior, and social development. With a background in sociology and public policy, she focuses on exploring the intersection between research and real-world application. Sarah regularly contributes articles that bridge academic insights and practical relevance, aiming to foster critical thinking and innovation across sectors.
