Star Wars is always a hot topic amongst fans and typically the fanbase doesn’t agree on much. However, for Andor on Disney+ it seemed that we all came together on one thing. That Perrin Fertha is the absolute worst.
So, why is Perrin the worst? And what does he have in common with our beloved hero Cassian Andor? In this article I’ll discuss the reasons this character represents how privilege and ignorance can be such a dangerous combination within the Star Wars universe.
At first glance Perrin is surprisingly similar to Cassian. For over half of this first season Cassian doggedly tries to ignore the obvious injustices of the Empire. It brings to mind what Jyn Erso said in Rogue One, that the Empire isn’t a problem if “you don’t look up.” Cassian doesn’t look up, even when faced by the plight of the rebels on Aldhani, and he won’t simply convert to their way of thinking. Once the job is done, he takes his credits and goes to drown away his worries on the sunny beaches of Florida. Sorry, Niamos.
So, why do we hate Perrin and not Cassian? Well, Cassian has the ability to change. He gets to experience the Imperial machine after he’s arrested on no grounds except for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. At the prison on Narkina 5 he works day after day trying to complete a sentence that is well beyond any reason for doing absolutely nothing wrong. He suddenly looks up and realises that the Empire is everywhere, that there is no escape, and the only way out is to fight back.
Compare this to Perrin. He’s a staunchly apolitical character, at complete odds to his wife, Mon Mothma. It’s not that he even supports the Empire – there’s nothing that Perrin says or does that makes him an Imperialist – and instead he stands firmly as apolitical and ignorant to the events throughout the galaxy. Notice in Episode 6 when Mon has to survive yet another party, while everyone else is talking about the insurgent attack on Aldhani, Perrin is avoiding any mentions of it altogether. He’s focussed only on basic, everyday events that concern himself or close friends.
This is one of the things that makes us, the viewers, so angry at Perrin. He’s in a position of power, married to a senator who holds a lot of support in the Galactic Senate, and who clearly has access to more than enough credits. If he wanted to, Perrin could use his influence as a force for good, and for change, standing next to Mon. Instead, he squanders those credits on expensive clothes and extravagant, useless parties.
Perrin has no concept of injustice because he’s never experienced it. He is consumed by himself. One of the likeliest reasons he’s apolitical is that he’s not concerned if something doesn’t affect him and doesn’t want differing viewpoints to challenge the comfortable picture of the world he’s created. It really points to the life of privilege he’s led on Chandrila, emphasised further by Mon’s successful career within the Galactic Senate on Coruscant. Perrin hasn’t endured hardship or gone a day not having something he wants, so can’t imagine anyone else having it differently.
No wonder Mon confronts him about his party following the shipping lane closure at Ghorman. She can see how this will affect so many lives, while Perrin is safe within his walls and isn’t bothered by something happening parsecs away. When he accuses Mon of having such a boring friendship circle, he’s actively choosing to surround himself with people who share his point of view, continuously living in a circle of denial or avoidance.
And this brings us to another reason for disliking Perrin – he’s not only at odds with Mon, he’s disrespectful. When she mentions that she would feel uncomfortable around certain Imperial senators, including Sly Moore, he brushes it under the rug. When Mon is trying to have quiet conversations with her guests, Perrin loves to intrude and talk loudly about himself. We see Mon Mothma having to continuously work behind the notice of not only the ISB, but also her own husband. Perrin’s ignorance of galactic events would make him terrified of Mon doing anything that would put his comfortable, routine life at risk, so she has to jump through more hoops to ensure that Perrin doesn’t suspect a thing. So, while we love Mon for the sacrifices she’s making for her loyalty to the Rebellion, we hate Perrin for not supporting or understanding what his wife is trying to achieve.
Cassian learned to change his way of thinking, yet this is something that Perrin could never do. What would Perrin do if he was faced with social injustice? Would he work himself to the bone in an Imperial prison like Cassian? Of course not. Perrin would throw money or influence at the problem to buy himself out rather than fixing the initial injustice. He could never realise that his way of thinking is the actual problem. Perrin can’t conceptualise the problems in the galaxy because he wants to remain blind to them, ignorant to the struggles of others. He’s dangerous because he doesn’t want to change and that makes him complicit to the tyranny of the Empire – which is why as fans we just can’t forgive Perrin. He truly is the worst.