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Spoilers follow for Andor season 2, episode 3: 'Harvest.' Do not read on if you do not want to be spoiled.

It was a moment that was intended to be shocking — but, for some, the attempted rape in the third episode of Andor’s second season might have been more shocking than expected, given that the franchise has traditionally been particularly chaste. (Ironically so, given the Skywalker Saga’s reliance on family connections.) Series creator and showrunner Tony Gilroy, however, says that he feels that the topic was unavoidable, given the intent of Andor as a whole.

“I get one shot to tell everything I know — or can discover, or that I’ve learned — about revolution, about battles, with as many incidents and as many colors as I can get in there, without having [the story] tip over,” Gilroy told The Hollywood Reporter. He added, “I mean, let’s be honest, man: The history of civilization, there’s a huge arterial component of it that’s rape. All of us who are here — we are all the product of rape. I mean armies and power throughout history [have committed rape]. So to not touch on it, in some way … It just was organic and it felt right, coming about as a power trip for this guy. I was really trying to make a path for Bix that would ultimately lead to clarity — but a difficult path to get back to clarity.”

Adria Arjona, who plays Bix, has also been talking about the scene, telling Variety, “I remember reading that, and within the truth of that moment of the abuse of power, being really scared to go into that scene. But there was also something — I’m going to curse — really fucking powerful about the fact that I get to showcase this in a galaxy far, far away. The fact that Tony gave it to Bix was a big honor — and it was right. She’s in the most vulnerable state she can possibly be in, and someone tries to take advantage of her. We’ve heard that story many times.”

Arjona added that she “felt so much power” in being able to actually name what happens in the scene, and use the word ‘rape’ in Star Wars: “The fact that I get to speak it out [loud] — I felt so much power in that. I felt it throughout the day. I felt it when I finished filming, and I went home,” she said.

About the scene, and the use of the word ‘rape,’ Gilroy told THR that “No one [at Disney or Lucasfilm] ever ever said anything about it, ever… But I mean, we have limits on what we can do. We are very aware of what we can do sexually and violence wise. Those limits are made very clear.”

Both companies, it seems, were dedicated to supporting Gilroy’s vision for the show — a decision helped, no doubt, by the critical acclaim surrounding the series. After all, as THR notes, Andor is currently the most highly rated Star Wars movie or show to date.

Andor season 2 continues Tuesdays on Disney+.

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