Andor season 2 episode 2 finds the show’s eponymous hero, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna), marooned on an alien world.

Having recovered a prototype TIE Fighter from an Imperial research facility, he finds himself caught in the crossfire between a pair of squabbling Rebel factions – and to make matters worse, the forest around him is packed with creatures keen to put human on the menu.

But as it turns out, this strange new world is more important to the Andor season 2 story – and Star Wars as a whole – than initially meets the eye. Read on to find out why and – if you’re yet to experience this critically acclaimed prequel series to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story – here are 7 reasons why you should watch Andor, even if you don’t like Star Wars.

Spoiler warning: Proceed with caution if you’re yet to watch Andor season 2 episode 2, now available on Disney+.

Why does Cassian Andor have an extended stay on a jungle world in Andor season 2 episode 2?

The first action of the new season sees Rebel operative Cassian Andor (played by Diego Luna in the Andor season 2 cast) stealing a prototype TIE Fighter from the Empire’s Sienar Test Facility 73. Once he gets to grips with the unorthodox controls – though not before he’s caused impressive amounts of damage to the Imperial base – he blasts off into outer space for a pre-arranged rendezvous with his Rebel contact, a pilot who’ll take the hijacked ship where it needs to go.

Unfortunately, when Cassian reaches the required coordinates on a remote, forested world, his contact, Porko, is nowhere to be seen. To make matters worse, he’s soon taken prisoner by a Rebel cell whose members are just as prone to fighting among themselves as battling the Empire. There are also plenty of hungry animals lurking in the forest – the most likely source of the random body parts (quite possibly belonging to Porko…) scattered across the clearing.

Cassian eventually takes advantage of the squabbling factions’ disorganisation to fly off into the night. Once he’s properly airborne we’re treated to Andor season 2 episode 2’s big reveal.

What’s the big deal about this particular planet?

It turns out that this is no random stopover, though if you want to be pedantic it’s not technically a planet. This world is actually the fourth moon orbiting the planet Yavin, a name that’s long had legendary status among Star Wars fans thanks to its pivotal role in the original 1977 movie, A New Hope.

There must be loads of jungle worlds in that galaxy far, far away. How do we know that the planet in Andor season 2 episode 2 is Yavin IV?

The orange gas giant, Yavin Prime, is a pretty distinctive sight in the night sky, but it’s the vast ruined temples rising from the canopy of trees that are the real giveaway. In canon these ancient structures were built by the Massassi, a now-extinct race once enslaved by the Sith, arch-enemies of the Jedi order.

The original location in real-life was the Mayan ruins of Tikal, located in the rainforests of Guatemala in Central America.

Why is Yavin IV so important to Star Wars?

This is the location of the secret base from which the Rebel Alliance launches its much-talked-about assault on the Death Star – the one where Luke Skywalker’s exquisitely timed proton torpedoes turn the Empire’s planet-killing new toy into a massive firework. Soon after, with their cover blown, the Rebels are forced to relocate, eventually ending up on the ice world of Hoth in The Empire Strikes Back.

Thanks to animated TV show Star Wars Rebels, set alongside Andor in the Star Wars timeline, we already know that the Rebels will set up shop on Yavin IV within a couple of years of the events of Andor season 2 episode 2. It now looks like Cassian himself – or the contact he never met – are responsible for identifying the moon as a location for the secret base that Mon Mothma, Princess Leia and the other Rebels will call home before the show’s second and final season is done.

New Andor season 2 episodes debut on Disney+ on Wednesdays.