Andor broadens out the Rebel Alliance in ways fans likely never expected. Though the show primarily focuses on Cassian Andor and his journey toward becoming a Rebel icon, the show also explores how divided, unorganized, and vulnerable the early Rebellion was. The many Rebel factions in the show help create a better understanding of the Star Wars galaxy.
The Rebel Alliance in the original trilogy presents a united front, but the new streaming series show the path to that point was fractious. Numerous factions vied for dominance in the early days, including Saw Gerrera's Partisans, whose militancy ultimately lost out to Mon Mothma's more tempered approach.
10 The Separatists
The Separatists count among the biggest Star Wars villains in the franchise, setting off the Clone Wars in the prequel trilogy. But Andor makes clear this rebellious faction survives into the Empire in some form. While its actions remain dubious, the Separatist ideals gain more validation under Imperial rule.
The Separatists initially included the Geonosians, Neimodians, the Banking Clan, and other systems opposed to the Republic's paralyzing bureaucracy. They ultimately proved pawns in Palpatine's complex scheme.
9 Neo-Republicans
Andor offers very little about the Neo-Republicans, except seeming derision from Saw Gerrera. A conversation between the Partisan leader and Luthen Rael reveals that Maya Pei, a prominent Rebel, is a Neo-Republican and that by extension, Gerrera thinks she's 'lost' along with other factions.
The 'neo' suffix means new, and it's possible this particular faction ultimately plays a role in the New Republic that emerges from the Empire's ashes. Perhaps season two explores this faction in more detail.
8 The Ghorman Front
Saw Gerrera references other Rebel factions in his discussion with Luthen, including The Ghorman Front. The show provides no other information about the group, except that they are clearly active in this period about five years before A New Hope, and don't meet Saw's high standards for warfare.
The group presumably hails from the planet Ghorman, a crucial location in Mon Mothma's journey in the franchise. She advocates for the planet and its suffering due to its shipping lanes being cut off. Later, in the best Star Wars: Rebels episodes, The Ghorman Massacre motivates her to step out from the shadows.
7 The Sectorists
The Sectorists also merit Saw Gerrera's ire in Andor. He dismisses them along with other Rebel factions when Luthen attempts to get Saw to help Anton Kreegyr, another Rebel, in a raid. The show offers no more about this group, but their standing was high enough to get on Saw's radar.
Their name potentially implies a focus on sectors over systems. The Star Wars galaxy contains several sectors, which cover broad areas including numerous star systems overseen by a Moff.
6 The Partisans
Saw Gerrera leads The Partisans, a critical Rebel faction. His methods often made his fellow Rebels allergic to him and his stubborn, often myopic viewpoint arguably isolated him as the Alliance consolidated. Nevertheless, he commanded a substantial fighting force equipped with extensive weapons, including X-Wings.
The Partisans formed from the resistance cell Gerrera led in the Clone Wars on his native planet Onderon. His zealousness and paranoia developed from losing his sister during a tragic event in the best Clone Wars episodes. His anger also stems from the Jedi Order dragging their feet helping Onderon against the Separatist droid armies that invaded the planet.
5 Fulcrum
Fans know Ahsoka Tano stands with the most powerful Jedi in Star Wars. She also represents a Rebel faction in some ways in Fulcrum. This intelligence network linked together various cells throughout the Empire, conveying information and logistics that proved vital to the Alliance's success.
It remains unclear how extensive this network is, or what goes into its hierarchy. Both Ahsoka and Cassian Andor served as Fulcrum agents and could have met. They may in Andor season two, presuming the show follows his journey further into the Rebellion.
4 Atrivis Resistance Group
Live-action so far leaves the Atrivis Resistance Group, but the book Star Wars: The Rebel Files shows they played a vital role in the Rebellion's history. This faction formed early in the Empire under Travia Chan. This group brought military training, organization, and skill to the splintered Rebellion.
That military discipline played an essential role in the Rebel Alliance's victories in the original trilogy, as well as the costly battle at Scarif, where the Rebel fleet gave Andor and others time to steal the Death Star plans.
3 The Cloud Riders
Solo: A Star Wars Story may have been a movie Redditors walked out on in theaters, but if they did, they missed an important Rebel faction. The Cloud Riders initially seemed villains in the movie, but later revealed their true purpose, stealing coaxium to fuel the early Rebellion.
Enfys Nest led the group, and much remains to be explored about their activities. Gerrera left them unmentioned in his dismissal of other factions, hinting they satisfy his standards when it comes to Rebels.
2 The Loyalists
Mon Mothma represents The Loyalists, a Rebel faction that in the end consolidates the varying groups into one cohesive whole. This group emerged from the Empire's earliest moments, and in some ways, even before. The core group formed from senators in the Galactic Republic Chancellor Palpatine tasked with promoting loyalty to the Republic.
This group includes the most loyal Rebel heroes in the franchise, including Mothma, Bail Organa, Princess Leia, and others. They worked subversively within the senate for years before finally coming out into the open during the Galactic Civil War.
1 Phoenix Cell
Star Wars: Rebels introduced the Ghost and its crew, who would go on to help found the Phoenix Cell on Lothal. This cell arguably ranks the highest among Rebel factions for their success against the Empire, inspiration to others, and critical role in linking disparate elements together.
The Phoenix Cell grew to become among the largest Rebel factions that joined the greater Alliance. They fought in several key battles, including Lothal, Scarif, and others yet to be revealed.
Source:gamerant.com