Who is Maarva Andor from Star Wars: Andor? The Star Wars series has introduced us to some fantastic new Star Wars characters, and there’s many talented actors among the Andor cast. Few have quite the gravitas as Maarva (Fiona Shaw) though, so we wanted to get to know her a bit better.
While the focus may be on Cassian Andor and his journey with the Rebellion, the fight against the Galactic Empire cannot be waged by just one man, and we’ve met lots of other heroes such as Mon Mothma and Kino Loy along the way.
It’s always good to know more about the people involved in the sci-fi series, so we’ve got a little breakdown on everything you need to know about Maarva. Warning, spoilers ahead.
Who is Maarva Andor?
Maarva is the adoptive mother of Cassian Andor. Years ago, when exploring the galaxy, Maarva found a young Cassian (then called Kassa) on the planet in Andor known as Kenari and saved him, taking him back to Ferrix and raising him as her own son.
She is a former president of the social club known as the Daughter’s of Ferrix, which makes her a highly respected member of the community on the planet. She lives there with Cassian, and her loveable Star Wars droid B2EMO.
What happened to Maarva Andor?
In Andor episode 11, it is revealed that Maarva passed away. She was fairly old and not in the best of health, so it’s safe to assume she died of natural causes. That said, the stress of the ISB occupying Ferrix and Cassian being a fugitive will probably have exacerbated her situation.
As is the custom for such a revered member of the Ferrix society, Maarva will now be turned into a funerary brick. The bricking process will see Maarva’s ashes mixed with mortar to create a special commemorative brick that will be placed in one of the buildings in Ferrix.
Maarva gets a big ceremony in the final episode of Andor, where the people of Ferrix say goodbye. With Dedra Meero, Syril Karn, Luthen Rael, and Cassian himself all in attendance, the funeral will be a little more chaotic than normal, though.
Maarva’s funeral explained
The ceremony for Maarva’s funeral in Andor episode 12 was certainly explosive, quite literally. With all the main players converging on Ferrix, chaos ensues as the citizens of the little planet finally fight back against the ISB.
The Ferrix community lead a procession down Rix Road, with beautiful marching band music and Maarva’s brick being escorted to its final resting place. It’s all looking like a lovely, fitting tribute to the great woman, but she has one more trick up her sleeve.
A huge hologram of Maarva is projected, and she delivers an incredibly stirring speech in one of the best Star Wars scenes of all time. She encourages the people of Ferrix to wake up and fight their oppressors, and they do not disappoint. It’s a brilliant battle, with plenty of deaths in the Andor finale, and a satisfying conclusion to the ISB’s occupation of Ferrix.
Check out our guide to the Andor season 2 release date for more from the show. Or, if you want to learn more about Star Wars, check out our guide to the Sith and the Jedi. Or, dive into our list of the best Star Wars villains and the best Star Wars droids.