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Announcements Mar 25, 2026 at 9:03 AM

Dedra Meero from Andor is such a terrifying villain.

Posted by Ukirin-Streams

So I recently finished Andor for the first time and I want to talk in particular about the character of Dedra, because she really stands out to me and is an amazing villain. The actress is great, and the character is absolutely terrifying to me. Especially when her true colors are revealed in Season 1 Episode 9 when she was questioning Bix ("The worst thing you can do is bore me"). It almost felt like a "twist" since we didn't really see that side of her before that episode. What's funny is I find her way scarier than someone like Palpatine, even though that guy is the devil himself and his mere presence would make Dedra shit her pants, lol. For me, its probably because Palpatine is a theatrical evil space wizard, while Dedra's type of evil feels way more relatable. She's someone trying to climb the corporate ladder and treats the evil things she does as a clock in and clock out job.
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ArthurianX Mar 25, 2026 +433
Corporate Evil is more relatable
433
stumpyspaceprincess Mar 25, 2026 +159
I’ve always called them “administrative evil”. Like Umbridge. They make us upset and angry more than psychotically or angry  or jealous evil types becuase we’ve all met at least minor “administrative evil” types who have frustrated our lives and sense of justice. Administrative evil lacks even the passion of angry or disturbed evil which can sometimes trigger a drop of empathy or understanding.
159
sewious Mar 25, 2026 +45
It's more disturbing because someone who is just doing their "job" but it's otherwise not cruel or malicious is far more numerous than someone engaging in some form of sadism. Every person alive could do terrible things in the former, not everyone is applicable to the latter.
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Astrium6 Mar 25, 2026 +1
“I was just following orders.”
1
HazelCheese Mar 25, 2026 +2
I feel like Umbridge isn't really administrative evil because she enjoys evil whereas Meero just treats it like doing a spreadsheet. Meero doesn't get personal enjoyment out of killing 14 people to save 10% fuel efficiency whereas Umbridge would find the best fuel efficiency to kill the most people and smile about how "it has to be done". Umbridge is a sadist while Meero is just doing her job.
2
stumpyspaceprincess Mar 25, 2026 +9
I feel like Umbridge and Meero both share a desire for control and importance. They want to be acknowledged by those they deem powerful, and flex the ability to demonstrate that they are above others in some way. 
9
HazelCheese Mar 25, 2026 +3
Maybe but Meero always struck me as someone who was very uncomfortable getting her hands dirty, she found it icky, whereas Umbridge got off on torturing children.
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Dolores__Umbridge Mar 26, 2026 +1
*Hem Hem* Detention. I have a very *special* quill I'd like to introduce you to.
1
tristeecfome Mar 25, 2026 +73
The scary part of fascism in Andor is the banality of evil. People in a conference room giving a PowerPoint presentation on how to carry on a genocide.
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YakResident_3069 Mar 25, 2026 +184
I assume she was modeled on an ambitious Nazi bureaucrat or officer. They werent ideological, fanatic or true believers. They just saw this as chance to get ahead no matter the cost.
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roiki11 Mar 25, 2026 +113
But Dedra is ideological. She believes in the Empire and the mission the ISB is on. And bringing stability to the galaxy. Sure, she's ambitious too.
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YakResident_3069 Mar 25, 2026 +11
I didn't get that. I thought she was playing the role to get higher.
11
polymorphic_hippo Mar 25, 2026 +85
That's what the whole thing with her growing up in the kinderblock was about. She sees the empire as having given her a better life, so she's now a true believer.
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Yukie_Cool Mar 25, 2026 +12
It’s also why Partagaz takes such a shine to her, imo. He wanted to craft the ISB into as efficient a machine as possible to serve the emperor’s mission, and saw Deedra as a kindred spirit of sorts. The problem eventually ran into the reality of imperial thought: they thought the axis network was the only thing holding the Rebel Alliance together, but by the time she closed in, the situation had evolved beyond her calculations and Luthen was more than willing to kill himself to protect everything else.
12
Wolf6120 Mar 25, 2026 +2
The kinderblock thing is a little weird, to be fair, because she says she was put in an Imperial kinderblock at age 3, but the Empire was only established 14 years before Andor Season 1. So are we meant to assume she’s 17, even though she clearly isn’t? Like I agree that this scene is meant to show her as a born and bred, lifelong product of the system but that doesn’t completely work because the actual system isn’t *that* old. I guess maybe it could have been a Republic orphanage when she started and then become an Imperial kinderblock a few years later. And of course, the Republic didn’t become a fascist hellhole overnight either, so the indoctrination could have started even earlier.
2
sharrrper Mar 25, 2026 +25
I think she does buy into the Empire at least a bit. She had that speech when she finally confronts Luthen where she scolds him for hiding out in the "safety" provided by the Empire on Coruscant while sowing chaos in the galaxy. They were alone. She wouldn't have bothered if she didn't believe that at leaat a little. She's not fanatical though. Definitely less committed than Cyril who operates on blind faith in the system. She was definitely at least a bit disturbed by the Ghorman genocide, though not enough to stop helping. (Ironically the more committed Cyril seemed to be more negatively affected there, possibly because he had his more hard-core illusions shattered so harshly) I'd say she's a bit of both at the end of the day
25
T-Baaller Mar 25, 2026 +16
Cyril was an idealist who worked for the idea of bringing justice to the galaxy, and was raised to believe the empire was how that can be achieved and sustained. I wouldn't call it ironic he was more committed, because the empire was designed to prey on such ideals and twist them to serve its goals. I do call it a tragedy he died just as he started to realize how abused he was.
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sharrrper Mar 25, 2026 +1
>I wouldn't call it ironic he was more committed It's not ironic he was committed, what's ironic is that he was more disillusioned by the Ghorman genocide. He seemed to be, as I said, a true believer. Those types are usually pretty unshakable. They'll jump through all sorts of mental gymnastics to convince themselves the thing they believe in is always doing the right thing. He wasn't going to switch sides (see: viciously attacking Cassian when he sees him) but his idea of the Empire as the absolute good guys was clearly rattled. Dedra, was traumatized by the wanton cruelty and slaughter, but stayed the course despite being more of a check casher than a true believer even if not entirely disconnected ideologically. She seemed to hold onto het position more firmly than cyril though.
1
T-Baaller Mar 25, 2026 +1
>(see: viciously attacking Cassian when he sees him) And then when he had Andor dead to rights, he was lowering his gun and coming to that key realization when he was shot.
1
Arhys Mar 25, 2026 +10
Her ambitions were in service of her doing a better job rather than being the goal itself.
10
Moontoya Mar 25, 2026 +82
Shes modelled on the sort of nazi that handled the paperwork shuttling jews off to extermination camps, taking pride in filling in every field accurately and without error, then filing the paperwork neatly in the right places. the sort described as the banality of evil
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restrictednumber Mar 25, 2026 +19
A reminder to any friends working for tyrannical governments that "sabotage" can also mean filing paperwork wrongly, running projects poorly, and using your position to do tiny acts of goodness or disruption to make the machine of tyranny run slower and rougher.
19
Moontoya Mar 25, 2026 +15
"this is all we can do for you now" Paper scrap found in dud shells that struck RAF planes Occupied territory labor camps , forced to build munitions for the Nazis  A small thing in the wide scope of the conflict, but that act of supreme bravery saved allied lives  Refuse, resist 
15
malln1nja Mar 25, 2026 +4
And now that song will be stuck in my head for the whole day. 
4
Moontoya Mar 25, 2026 +2
well, it is a war for territory ;)
2
malln1nja Mar 25, 2026 +4
Ah, the good old CIA field sabotage manual.
4
Moontoya Mar 25, 2026 +4
You mean this ? [https://www.cia.gov/static/5c875f3ec660e092cf893f60b4a288df/SimpleSabotage.pdf](https://www.cia.gov/static/5c875f3ec660e092cf893f60b4a288df/SimpleSabotage.pdf) Freeware / non copyright (for everything else, theres also the ancient Anachists Cookbook)
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malln1nja Mar 25, 2026 +5
Yeah, that's the one.
5
saintash Mar 25, 2026 +2
Thats what made things work in andor. The equipment is saying x. It doesn't matter that y is happening.
2
Lawdoc1 Mar 25, 2026 +2
Reminds me of more than a few members of the current administration.
2
Taskebab Mar 25, 2026 +193
I love how she’s more terrifying because she is not as theatrical, when the actress playing her has 2 Olivier awards for being so good in the theatre
193
ToysandStuff Mar 25, 2026 +120
Amazing how Andor has pretty much no over the top energy characters. Quiet scenes, not much shouting, screaming etc like the movies do and yet has some of the best lines and performances. A good example is Luthen Raels escape from the patrol cruiser. He barely says anything and it's one of the best aerial combat scenes in Star Wars. Shows we don't need the characters to say WOOHOOOOOOO every time they take out a TIE fighter
120
lambdapaul Mar 25, 2026 +155
This is blatant Krennic erasure. That man was over the top in every single scene and they were better for it.
155
Thendel Mar 25, 2026 +45
Maybe it's the exception that proves the rule? Krennic being a diva works because it contrasts against how everyone else are forced to work and act in more subtle ways. Krennic feels secure in his position up until the point in Rogue One where he has to contend with the likes of Tarkin and Vader.
45
riegspsych325 Mar 25, 2026 +30
same with Saw Gerrera
30
thebishopgame Mar 25, 2026 +39
War on Drugs 🚫 War, on Drugs 👍
39
riegspsych325 Mar 25, 2026 +7
f****** perfect
7
Yukie_Cool Mar 25, 2026 +7
He’s even self-aware about it in the series “You probably think I’m crazy. Yes, I am. Revolution is not for the sane.”
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Wolf6120 Mar 25, 2026 +7
He’s the rhydo, kid! You and me!
7
Yukie_Cool Mar 25, 2026 +4
We’re that thing that explodes when there’s too much friction in the air! Goddamn, the writing is too good in this show
4
2ndNicestOfTheDamned Mar 25, 2026 +23
Calibrate your enthusiasm.
23
MSochist Mar 25, 2026 +8
"Kalkite! Synthetic kalkite! Kalkite alternatives! Kalkite substitutes!"
8
TelltaleHead Mar 25, 2026 +2
He was a delight. Just devoured the scenery 
2
CarterDavison Mar 25, 2026 +33
Not only that, but when they decide to then it has been given an intense weight. For example, luthen shouting only the last part of his speech when he says "EVERYTHING"
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ToysandStuff Mar 25, 2026 +10
Yesss 100%. It's not everywhere, just used the perfect amount at the perfect time. Absolutely agree
10
Arkhaine_kupo Mar 25, 2026 +26
> A good example is Luthen Raels escape from the patrol cruiser. He barely says anything and it's one of the best aerial combat scenes in Star Wars The thing about that scene is it literally shows his political philosophy, while he is fighting. Its easily one of the most clever scenes in the entire show and it's underappreciated. 1) Pretend to be part of the system 2) let the empire press harder 3) let the empire pull so hard they try and choke you out 4) release a bunch of small bullshit that breaks the attempt to choke 5) show off that actually there is military preparation In real life he lets them destroy Ferrix, Genocide ghorman, let the empire push civilians so hard while he pretends to be a rich antique seller in corrusant. When the pressure becomes too hard he tells Deedra, there is an entire galaxy ready to disgust you. And when the empire tries to reassert itself with violence in the death star he shows they had military prep by winning the battle of Yavin. Few times you can see a political reovlutionary philosphy explained not with words but in an actual fight, a fight that is akin to a traffic stop. Its beyond brilliant
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happyft Mar 25, 2026 +8
Or how about when Luthen has to rescue Mons from the Senate, and he looks at her with this terrifying gaze that’s ostensibly supposed to reassure her, “I have friends everywhere. Remember that. I have friends … everywhere.” Jfc
8
Powermac8500 Mar 25, 2026 +5
That scene was so wizard.
5
BigGuy_1986 Mar 25, 2026 +31
She also voices Yennefer in The Witcher 3. She’s pretty good at playing ~~dommy mommy’s~~ powerful women
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NotScrollsApparently Mar 25, 2026 +4
Holy c*** i never realized that!
4
greennurse61 Mar 26, 2026 +1
That voice is so good unlike the garbage voice they cast for the TV show. 
1
Pyrox_Sodascake Mar 26, 2026 +1
I still hear Yennifer when she’s on screen. It took me a while to adjust and stop going off the Witcher.
1
DrewDan96 Mar 25, 2026 +136
they built her up so great in the first season too, like you were kinda rooting for her on some level because of how she was getting treated in the ISB when she clearly was in the right... until you got to the Bix interrogation, then it was like "oh right, she IS a bad guy" LOL even in the second season, her dynamic with Cyril, while he clearly cares for her, her affection is more ambiguous, but i think she did care for him on some level, she just used his ambition to get him to unwittingly foment the genocide great actress, great role, zero nominations. hell, Genevieve O'Reilly didn't get a nom for her work either. watching the Emmys and seeing THREE (!!!) White Lotus actresses get nominated in the same category (for work in a season that apparently the general consensus is that it was the worst of the 3 seasons to date) was annoying. Somehow those performances trumped ANY actress from one of the greatest shows of the decade so far - i haven't even mentioned Kleya or Bix too, those were 4 great-to-awesome performances that didn't even get a single nomination
136
samthewisetarly Mar 25, 2026 +49
It doesn't help to dwell on award nominations. Andor was better than White Lotus, but it's star wars so it won't get that type of attention. We know it was great, and the studio knows it was great, so hopefully they'll try to deliver more of this type of show.
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amidon1130 Mar 25, 2026 +23
She did and interview about the first season where she basically says that the idea was that “at first you root for her because she’s a woman in a man’s world, and then you realize she’s a fascist in a fascist’s world”
23
Shaymuswrites Mar 25, 2026 +2
>they built her up so great in the first season too, like you were kinda rooting for her on some level because of how she was getting treated in the ISB when she clearly was in the right... until you got to the Bix interrogation, then it was like "oh right, she IS a bad guy" LOL And when she hatches the plan to put the dead rebel pilot back in a ship and let it float away for the rebels to find. Another sign of her ruthlessness and dedication to the cause coming out.
2
EnQuest Mar 25, 2026 +1
[It was four white lotus actresses lol. 7/14 of all of the supporting acting nominees were from White Lotus, it was f****** absurd](https://i.imgur.com/5PisRMd.png)
1
007meow Mar 25, 2026 +29
I absolutely love the fate of her character and kept thinking about what she’d do.
29
Aeshaetter Mar 25, 2026 +16
She sits there in her cell. Suddenly, a voice familiar to viewers shouts out... "ONE WAY OUT!"
16
Mattyzooks Mar 25, 2026 +2
Does the New Republic inadvertently free her when the Empire falls (if she's alive by then)?
2
007meow Mar 25, 2026 +7
I’m guessing she commits sudoku and fries herself on the floor
7
Naugrin27 Mar 25, 2026 +16
I thought she was fine...and then I listened to the actress out of character. Her transformation is kind of amazing. Her ability to summon gravitas as a character when it's hard to imagine it from the actress herself, speaks incredibly well of her performance(s).
16
SpiffShientz Mar 25, 2026 +18
I loved that interview I saw where she talks about how her family always teased her "sour frowny" face, and she cracks up saying "Joke's on you, Mom, the frown was my ticket to the big time!"
18
the_wessi Mar 25, 2026 +32
As a Finnish guy I totally agree with you. We have her doppelgänger as our Minister of Finance, she’s the chairperson of a right wing nationalist party.
32
monsooncloudburst Mar 25, 2026 +9
Purra?
9
Tolkfan Mar 25, 2026 +15
I really liked the idea (floated around a few months ago) of a post-Empire Andor spin-off about Kleia and Vel hunting down Imperial Remnants, with Dedra as a Hannibal Lecter character that they would have to visit for help in the hunt.
15
MSochist Mar 25, 2026 +3
Holy shit, I would do anything for this show to become a reality!
3
Ok-Sea9612 Mar 25, 2026 +2
Kleia absolutely just kills her instantly if she ever actually was in a room with her.
2
Tolkfan Mar 26, 2026 +1
Sounds like a great conflict for Kleia: kill her to get instant gratification, or use her to get the remnants.
1
therocketandstones Mar 25, 2026 +11
Denise Gough is great on the West End, great in People, Places, Things and Angels in America
11
MrMonkeyman79 Mar 25, 2026 +29
The Bix scene showed she was scary, the scene where she shuts up the personification passive aggression, Eedy Karn over dinner showed she was terrifying.
29
zeolus123 Mar 25, 2026 +14
I couldn't believe Yennifer was that evil!
14
rokr1292 Mar 25, 2026 +5
Yennefer may not be that level of evil, but she is that level of terrifying, at least
5
Gaandmeinloda Mar 25, 2026 +19
I will die for her!
19
ToysandStuff Mar 25, 2026 +43
Ok Syril 🤣
43
PayneTrain181999 Mar 25, 2026 +16
“Turn off the lights.”
16
Atharaphelun Mar 25, 2026 +2
Meanwhile, mommy Eedy is just in a dark corner of the bedroom sitting on a chair, ready to hand a glass of blue milk to her precious Syril in case he gets thirsty while Dedra uses him as a toy.
2
Gaandmeinloda Mar 25, 2026 +1
I wish!
1
Eusocial_sloth3 Mar 25, 2026 +7
Fun fact, she is the voice of Yennefer in The Witcher 3.
7
DoomGoober Mar 25, 2026 +16
Star Wars has always been a juxtaposition of "Incestuous Family of Space Wizards With Destiny" and surprisingly fleshed out "working man" background characters that are occasionally focused on but only in glimpses. The Imperials in particular are absolutely fascinating in their glimpses: bickering, bureaucratic, rivals, numerous, murderous, technocratic, political and hierarchical. There are some great lines from the films that tell this deep story in single lines: "Holding her is dangerous. If word of this gets out, it could generate sympathy for the Rebellion in the Senate" "We shall double our efforts!" Andor turns the camera slightly to the side and focuses half on the inner grind of the Imperials and Rebels and it's terrifying for both. Whats most scary to me is how badly it ends for so many Imperials and Rebels who are ground up and destroyed by the fight. Its a dangerous time to be alive and ambitious.
16
TheeAmateurArtist Mar 25, 2026 +5
I've gotta watch this show again all at once
5
davisdilf Mar 25, 2026 +7
The point of Andor is that it’s an analogy of the real world where the evil is done by bureaucrats and psychopaths. No laser swords and space wizards.
7
syynapt1k Mar 25, 2026 +5
The character development and storytelling in Andor really was a master class in good television.
5
harry_ballsanya Mar 25, 2026 +8
The most terrifying thing about Dedra is I know with absolute certainty that there are people with power who are just like her. These are people who power trip and drink the Kool Aid. They’re most visible in politics but I know who middle managers who are just like her.
8
Moontoya Mar 25, 2026 +15
Shes a perfect example of the banality of evil.
15
Makesfolkslose Mar 25, 2026 +16
Not to be the "well, actually" guy, but... well, actually, the banality of evil is more about people who are "just doing their jobs" and how the enormity of a bureaucracy can lead to atrocities committed as the result of folks who don't really buy into the ideology of the evil being committed. Dedra *very much* buys into that ideology and actively seeks to excel and climb the ladder within the empire, often by proving how committed to that ideology she is. I wouldn't really call that an example of the banality of evil. Imo, Dedra's story is much more about how imperialism/capitalism treats individuals as expendable in the service of the larger goal, even when those individuals are fully committed and, generally, competent. Whatever the case, we can agree that Dedra is an exceptional character portrayed exceptionally.
16
manquistador Mar 26, 2026 +1
I feel like the banality is more exemplified in the Ghorman massacre when everyone from the Empire is just waiting for the orders to do it. Everyone but the rookie meat sent in to get slaughtered sees what is coming, but they need the official orders to actually pull the triggers. Just that one degree of separation to be able to sleep at night.
1
IvnOooze Mar 25, 2026 +3
I can fix her.
3
Constant_Chip_1508 Mar 26, 2026 +2
Don’t really agree but thank you for your opinion.
2
OutsideIndoorTrack Mar 25, 2026 +2
It's perfect. They trick you into rooting for her and then remind you that she is evil
2
Cirenione Mar 25, 2026 +1
>What's funny is I find her way scarier than someone like Palpatine, even though that guy is the devil himself and his mere presence would make Dedra shit her pants, lol. Same concept why people despise Umbridge more than Voldemort. One of them is cartoon level evil where its clearly a fictional person. The other seems like someone you could actually encounter in real life or have encountered in real life.
1
MSochist Mar 25, 2026 +1
Her and Syril are some of my favorite characters in the show. I really feel like watching the show again now lol. I wish more people on YouTube reacted to it.
1
kinisonkhan Mar 25, 2026 +1
She did such a great job, nails the "resting b**** face" better than Kirsten Stewart, just photos of her smiling kinda scares me. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=Denise+Gough+smiling&iar=images&atb=v507-1
1
peacefinder Mar 25, 2026 +1
While I agree, Syril Karn, Sgt Mosk, and Dr Gorst are also chilling as enthusiastic supporters of evil
1
Krinks1 Mar 25, 2026 +1
... And she's highly competent. We're believe she may actually crack the case of the rebellion.
1
Lopsided_Tomatillo27 Mar 26, 2026 +1
If they ever get to finish The Expanse television series with the last three books, I’d love to see her cast as Col. Tanaka.
1
rokr1292 Mar 25, 2026 +1
Denise is phenomenal as Dedra, but I cant help but believe I was primed to both love and fear Dedra by her voice after playing (and falling in love with) The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt, where she voices Yennefer.
1
Kakawfee Mar 25, 2026
Wonderful portrayal of MAGA.
0
Jackbuddy78 Mar 25, 2026 -51
She would be scarier if I didn't have Star Wars names all associated with glup shitto in my head
-51
KonixSpeedking Mar 25, 2026 +21
And it would be easier if people who outwardly hate everything to do with Star Wars would just move on and let other people enjoy things.
21
danny_healy_raygun Mar 25, 2026 +2
Horrific bores.
2
viscosity-breakdown Mar 25, 2026 +1
It's just Debra with one letter different.
1
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