Every time an episode of Star Wars: Andor lands, Fantha Tracks will be giving their responses, and here are our initial gut feelings, deep dives and thoughts on episode twelve of season one, ‘Rix Road’. Beware of spoilerific elements in here.
Brad Boutilier
So the final episode is in the bag, and pretty much the only question left unanswered is whether Syril and Dedra are finally going to hook up and get it over with? Jokes aside, it was a decent episode. The main story thread of beginning a rebellion and things going down on Ferrix were brought to conclusion. I didn’t expect the show to wrap up all open plots, as that’s not the style of a drama series such as this, they like to leave you cliff hangers and guessing at what’s next.
Right up until the bomb went off in the middle of the riot I thought the person had been building a lightsaber and was expecting them to pull it out and start chopping people down. I’m glad it was a bomb rather then a saber, the show has been forging it’s own path and I’m pleased they didn’t fall back on bringing a Jedi into where they don’t really belong just for the sake of having a Jedi and lightsaber in the season.
Cinta is a stone cold killer. I think she’s also very strong willed and single minded, and I think in season 2 we’ll see Val and other higher ups in the Rebellion having a hard time controlling her. If she doesn’t agree with a directive, I can see her going rogue and doing what she thinks is the correct thing. It was nice to see Nemik’s manifesto make a reappearnce. I was thinking it might not. Something like that is a ‘Chekhov’s Gun’, and if you bring it out in an early act it has to reappear in the final act. I’m glad the writers didn’t let that slide until season 2, or even entirely.
Mon Mothma has been the star of the series for me and Genevieve O’Reilly has portrayed her beautifully, she’s an extraordinary actress. Mon’s scene in the car with Perrin, knowing the driver would be listening in, was great. She knows the conversation will make it’s way back to the empire, and her misdirection should add an extra dimension to their investigation of her accounts. She’s showing she’s a pretty smooth operator, and with the decision to allow Davo to introduce his son to her daughter, she shows that ultimately she’s a pragmatist. On the whole, I’m very much pleased with this series and can’t wait to see what season 2 brings.
Becca Benjamin
On Wednesday, November 23rd, Disney Plus aired the season finale of Andor: ‘Rix Road.’ And what a finale it was! The final episode for the first season of Andor did not fall short. If anything, it was the direct opposite. As the community on Ferrix prepare for Maarva Andor’s funeral procession, Cassian and Dedra Meero’s Imperial entourage have plans of their own.
Everything has been building up to this point, to this very moment, and everything is about to change. There’s no going back for anyone. Essentially all fates are sealed.
While Maarva delivers her funeral monologue with some help from Bee (B2EMO), she casts a diversion for Cassian and Syril, all while stirring the courage and instilling hope in the townsfolk of Ferrix. Maarva’s message is to Cassian what Leia’s holo-message for Luke was; a call to action.
I think it’s fair to say that Maarva Andor’s final words are the most prominent and weighty message in the entire first season of this series. Like Leia in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, even though she is (physically) gone, what she stood for and believed in remains.
Some MVPs worth mentioning are Brasso (we all need a Brasso in our life), Nemik and his influential manifesto, B2EMO, Mon Mothma, Cinta, and last but not least, Bix. All of the above deserve to go down in the Rebel Alliance archives for showing bravery and heroism in the fight against Imperial oppression.
Looking forward to the next season and the introduction to K-2SO!
Daniel Lo
I never got into superhero comics as a kid. Many of my childhood friends did, but for whatever reason the characters never resonated with me. However, MCU films have proven to be entertaining and reasonably well made and I have since watched them all. Along the way, I have also come to expect and anticipate post-credits easter egg scenes from Marvel movies.
This is of course not the case with Star Wars, and I admit that I didn’t realize there was an easter egg after the credits of the season finale of Andor until the second viewing. The show has been a slow and steady crescendo since the beginning, and what could be better than an epic post-credits shot of the Death Star to put an exclamation point on this incredible debut season. They saved the most ‘Star Wars-looking’ scene for last, and I nearly missed it. The sinister realization that opponents of the Empire are forced to contribute to their own destruction is a nice touch.
The centerpiece of the latest episode is of course Maarva’s funeral. It isn’t the first we’ve seen in Star Wars, but certainly the most detailed by far. Having Maarva speak at her own memorial service as a gigantic pre-recorded hologram is interesting, both conceptually speaking within the context of Ferrix culture and as a plot device to spur the residents into action. What begins as a trap set by the local Imperials quickly turns into their own downfall. It’s also satisfying to see Maarva get one last lick in with an assist from Brasso.
In past reviews, I have often mentioned how interesting Syril is and the season finale is no exception. He has been a Deputy Inspector with the Pre-Mor Authority, unemployed and living with his mom, an Imperial office drone, and most recently an independent spy on Ferrix with the personal intention of hunting down Cassian. This may have changed by the end of the episode, though. The impact of Maarva’s speech on him, if any, seems unclear but his original focus definitely seems derailed by the time of his unlikely rescue of Dedra. To what degree and for how long, we don’t know yet.
Over the course of the season, scenes with Mon Mothma range between moving the plot forward and seemingly passive behind the scenes glimpses into her life. Her appearances in the finale serve as both a solution to the issues she’s faced over the course of the season as well as a launchpad into the unknown. In her first appearance she drops a decoy conversation for her driver and known ISB spy Kloris to eavesdrop on, and at the expense of her husband. Her tactic appears to be successful in leaving misleading breadcrumbs for Blevin, potentially accounting for her recent financial activity. In her final scene this season, we see her do what she had initially sworn off: agree to Davo Sculdun’s request for family introductions in exchange for his help, presumably for the sake of continuing her aid to the Rebellion.
As is the case over the course of the season, the latest episode finishes strong with its solid writing and attention to detail. Offscreen events are gracefully conveyed, with the latest examples including a still hologram of Salman Paak to show he was killed by Imperials and a quick organic exchange amongst Lagret, Jung, and Blevin to confirm the expected obliteration of Kreegyr’s forces. The slightly out of tune musicians at Maarva’s funeral perhaps reflect the vaguely unrefined nature of Ferrix, itself foreshadowed by the episode’s uncharacteristically off-key introductory fanfare. Double crossing occurs until the very end, courtesy of Nurchi’s attempt to betray Cassian in exchange for a reward and a ride off Ferrix. One final example of the show’s realism, and perhaps an ironic one, is the fact that the stormtroopers did not miss 100% of their targets. Xan is the highest profile victim of their precision with a blaster, a skill that Obi-Wan Kenobi would describe to Luke Skywalker many years later.
With Maarva now gone, it seems unlikely that we will revisit Ferrix again. Bix is rescued and we see her get flown off Ferrix along with Brasso, Jezz, Wilmon, and B2EMO. Vel helps Cinta pack up her post, presumably also in preparation of leaving the planet. Syril and Dedra probably have no reason to stick around either, as is the case for the remaining Imperial forces. Luthen’s genuine-looking smile at the end suggests that not only will he be flying Cassian off Ferrix again, but will also formally recruit him. To quote K-2SO from Rogue One, “you’re a Rebel now!”
Some overall thoughts on the first season: While no show is ever perfect of course, Andor feels like a masterpiece in every way that matters. This is a brand of Star Wars we have never seen before, with its slower pace and unprecedented levels of detail. Every character, regardless of how big or small, is brilliantly portrayed without exception. To plagiarize a social media comment I ran across, “every scene looks lovingly crafted“. On a personal level, Andor is also the first “serious” TV show I’ve ever watched which makes the experience doubly new to me.
For the sake of not only gushing over how great the show is, I have a few minor nitpicks to share as well. My favorite aspects of Star Wars are Force users and lightsabers, so the complete absence of both is arguably the biggest downer for me. To be fair, the premise of the show offered no reason to expect either so their omission was by no means a surprise. I’m still not sure if dedicating three entire episodes to Narkina 5 was necessary. Aside from offering a glimpse of Imperial corruption and Death Star parts, the prison arc appears to primarily serve as an introduction to Melshi, who promptly parts ways after their escape. I also nearly forgot about Nemik’s manifesto, which has barely been referenced since the Aldhani arc, save for Cassian listening to a portion of it in the final episode. It feels a bit odd for what’s meant to be a major source of inspiration to stem from such a minor character who was killed off half a season ago. The show’s level of detail was also a double-edged sword at times. I found certain stretches of dialogue a bit tricky to follow from just one viewing. Subtitles, use of the pause and rewind buttons, and repeat viewings were occasionally required to fully grasp what was going on. My last gripe isn’t directly related to the show itself – it’s a shame that there was no opportunity to experience Andor theatrically.
In a franchise full of iconic characters, I initially found Cassian Andor to be a somewhat random choice to build a show around and I even admit that I was not particularly excited by the initial announcement. Needless to say, my vague indifference was completely misplaced and I now consider Andor to be top shelf Star Wars without reserve. The show is a stunning example of what Lucasfilm is capable of, and drastically raises the bar for what fans can expect from future live action Star Wars.
Ross Hollebon
Cassian Andor was raised by his adoptive parents, Clem and Maarva, as a member of the Ferrix community. Scavengers and scrappers of disabled ships by trade—the Andors understood the warning signs, and hidden advantages, of rust, the corrosion of refined iron and metals. Cassian learned much from both of his parents. As he returns to Ferrix, starting at Clem’s commemorative brick, we are finally introduced to some nuance and wisdom passed from father to son. While cleaning rust from valuable pieces Clem explains to Cassian, “They don’t look down, they don’t look past the rust…eyes open, possibilities everywhere.” He impresses on the boy that there is value in paying attention to every little detail, especially when others are quick to overlook. We’ve watched Cassian put this to use throughout the entire season—especially as he fights for his freedom to return home to his mother.
Maarva has now passed and her own brick has been molded, ready to be honored at the Rix Road funeral that includes local amateur musicians marching and playing percussion and woodwinds like a somber New Orleans jazz second-line procession. As Cassian stealthily navigates Ferrix he crosses the path of numerous old friends who, rather than cursing the occupation of the Empire, take their brief moments to offer condolences to their old friend on the loss of his beloved mother. Their heartfelt feelings show how tight the Ferrix community is. This is a blessing and a curse according to Maarva’s pre-recorded holo-message that plays at the tipping point of the parade and episode.
“We’ve been sleeping,” the giant, flickering blue visage of Maarva recites to the crowd. “We’ve had each other, and Ferrix, our work, our days. We had each other, and they left us alone. We kept the trade lanes open and they left us alone. We took their money and ignored them, we kept their engines churning, and the moment they pulled away, we forgot them. Because we had each other. We had Ferrix. But we were sleeping.”
And it was that same corrosion, the rust, that inched its way around and over the sanctity of a community that thought it was independent while distracted by good friends, family, and a primarily positive existence—but Maarva recognized it too late:
“There is a darkness reaching like rust into everything around us,” she continued. “We let it grow, and now it’s here. It’s here and it’s not visiting anymore. It wants to stay. The Empire is a disease that thrives in darkness, it is never more alive than when we sleep.”
The Daughter of Ferrix, like many who passed before her, is using her final words to lift her Ferrix family with her own truth—and it ignites a riot as an Imperial officer attempts to end her message while also kicking over B2EMO. Maarva symbolically joins the start of the deadly mayhem as Brasso uses her brick to knock out an Imperial soldier—and they start to figuratively knock the rust off.
The Empire’s trap to capture Cassian, led by Deedra from the ISB, is lost to the chaos. Luthen, Vel, and Cinta were ready to swoop in and kill Cassian in order to tie up a loose end—but they too encountered new hurdles and distractions. Members of the Ferrix community die. Soldiers of the Empire die. Heroes are made, and some even survive, including Brasso and Bix, who is rescued from the hotel by Cassian. Ferrix, like Lothal and Jedha, will never be the same but becomes another ripple of Rebellion, as predicted by Nemik’s manifesto. Villains escape—as Syril rescues Dedra from the rioters, keeping the ISB supervisor at play, while her peers continue their lack of sleep to hunt Rebel sympathizers back at their headquarters.
A completely different tension exists on Coruscant with Mon Mothma scolding Perrin about gambling—while giving a call out to Canto Bight. It is the next step in her plan to throw the ISB’s scent off her finances that have been used to bankroll Luthen’s activities. Kloris eavesdrops on the married couple’s conversation—as Mon expected—and reports, word-for-word, the exchange to ISB supervisor Blevin, who is pleased and doesn’t realize he has taken the bait. The ISB supervisor who lost Ferrix to Deedra is now, once again shortsighted, excited to have something on Perrin to use against Mon. Blevin is missing the bigger picture of her transactions as he and the ISB celebrate its swift and decisive annihilation of Anto Kreegyr’s small force in an attempt to pacify the Emperor after the failings at Aldhani.
Cassian didn’t have failings at Aldhani—but the situation still has him in the crosshairs of Luthen. During the events leading up to the riot on Ferrix, Cassian spotted Luthen and put the pieces together: there is a price on his head. Rather than run and hide, he confronts Luthen aboard the Fondor with the message: kill me or take me on. Likely re-energized by the words of Maarva’s posthumous address, Luthen smiles—he got another spark in his chaotic call for Rebellion against the Empire, as well as a powerful, cunning tool to help combat the rust and darkness that continues to spread out of Coruscant.
Jen Sopchokchai Bankard
Going into this finale, I had assumed that the hunt for Cassian Andor would be the focal point of the finale, with Maarva’s funeral as the backdrop. And while all our players — including Cassian — did converge on Ferrix, Andor disrupts the TV ending I have been conditioned to expect by making Maarva’s funeral the main event. From the opening credits, Tony Gilroy tells us very clearly that the ways in which all of Ferrix honor their fallen daughter is center stage here, as we hear a new Andor theme, restyled and re-recorded to sound like the brass band funeral dirge that permeates so much of the episode. The second I heard that slow, haunting version of the melody I had come to know and love over the course of the season, I knew we were about to get a different story than I had anticipated.
Even though the show is called Andor and every storyline has a connection to him somehow, this finale reminds us that it has never actually been about who gets Cassian or what happens to him. I like that it basically says “shut up we’re not doing what you want; don’t forget this is all about rebellion.” The show rebels in its own way to illustrate how much rebellion itself — as a concept not tied to any one character — matters. Cassian is exceptional in his skills, intelligence, and leadership, but the series has never venerated him as a hero above all others for it. At no point did this finale show off how cool Cassian is or focus on him as a hero that will single-handedly save everyone. As Maarva says, they have each other.
Everyone has to play a part in the rebellion for it to work. Maarva’s funeral, with nearly the whole town complicit, was in of itself an act of rebellion, long before we hear Maarva’s rousing holographic recording and long before Wilmon Paak (the son of Salman Paak, the man the ISB tortured right before Bix) detonates his bomb. When Prefect Vanis Tigo debriefs Dedra, he says that the Daughters of Ferrix asked for a midday start time, but the Empire made them push it back two hours. When the Time Grappler hammers on the town gong, everyone seems surprised. That’s because the Daughters of Ferrix ignore the Empire’s orders and start when they want to start. This may seem trivial, but it’s the DoF making a statement, and it’s what ultimately throws the Imperial presence on Ferrix off their game.
When we hear the audio recording of Nemik’s manifesto as Cassian reads it, Nemik’s words do everything they need to do for Cassian. They’re heartfelt, clear, insightful, and inspirational. They end with “try” and a close up of Cassian’s face, as if Nemik’s telling Cassian to just try in this moment. Don’t run. Try to save your friends. Try to make a difference. Nemik says, “Freedom is a pure idea. It occurs spontaneously and without instruction. Random acts of insurrection are occurring constantly throughout the galaxy. There are whole armies, battalions that have no idea that they’ve already enlisted in the cause. Remember that the frontier of the Rebellion is everywhere. And even the smallest act of insurrection pushes our lines forward.” The uprising on Ferrix may not have been very organized from the start, but the perfect storm of the Daughters of Ferrix refusing to adhere to the Empire’s timetable, Maarva’s emotional farewell speech, and Wilmon’s bomb to avenge his father’s death kicked off a “random act of insurrection” and made even onlookers on the Rix Road “enlist in the cause.”
Nemik’s most instructive words about “the frontier of the Rebellion” being “everywhere” are describing what Luthen is about to learn firsthand about revolution. That it can’t all be underhanded deals in backchannels made by only a few like him; “normal” people becoming fed up with tyranny will be the tipping point of success. One could argue that Luthen wanted this to happen when he said Aldhani was intended to prompt the Empire to tighten its grip so the Galaxy would wake up. But I would say that he still gains a lot by going to Ferrix, even without recruiting Cassian at the end. We keep seeing him observing the people of Ferrix during Maarva’s funeral. At the very least witnessing this “smallest act of insurrection” might remind him of what he’s doing all this for, why he dangles his soul at the precipice of darkness.
Maarva first builds up her ethos by not only mentioning that she’s a Daughter of Ferrix but by establishing how long she’s been a member of the community. She tells the story of the first time she “touched a funerary stone” and how much the traditions and cultures have meant to her. Immediately after she expresses a love for Ferrix and its people, however, she says, “But I fear for you. We have been sleeping.” Maarva’s words precipitate more action than Luthen’s monologue from Episode 10 (maybe even Kino’s speech from that episode? though that comparison is closer) and Nemik’s manifesto (so far, at least). (To be fair, she had a bigger audience than everyone except Kino.) While it may stretch the formal definition, I would call Maarva’s auto-eulogy a speech act because it incites a riot. Yes, Vanis Tigo lit the fuse that set off the powder keg when he flipped over B2EMO, but this reaction was inevitable. If it hadn’t been Vanis Tigo trying to silence B, it would have been something else that spontaneously ignited a fight for freedom. You could see it on all the faces as we get angry or sorrowful reaction shot after angry reaction shot during the speech. The situation is ready to burst.
Maarva’s holographic message urging others to stand up to the Empire is very, VERY reminiscent of an episode of Rebels. In “Call to Action” (Season 1, Episode 13), Ezra Bridger sends an illicit broadcast to the entire galaxy in the hopes of encouraging the people on his home planet, Lothal, to resist the Empire. If you look at his words, it sounds a lot like Nemik’s manifesto and Maarva’s message smashed together:
“See what the Empire has done to your lives, your families and your freedom? It’s only gonna get worse, unless we stand up and fight back. It won’t be easy. There will be loss and sacrifice. But we can’t back down just because we’re afraid. That’s when we need to stand the tallest. That’s what my parents taught me. That’s what my new family helped me remember. Stand up together, because that’s when we’re strongest—as one.”
I have continually saved Mon Mothma for last and ultimately neglected her because I kept waiting for her to have the big speech or moment. But I now see that she just doesn’t have that kind of story. Her acts of rebellion must hide in plain sight and, as she says in Episode 7, look like a mere “irritation.” To me, her scene in the car with Perrin, in which she questions him about his gambling habits, was her moment. It just wasn’t as loud and flashy as any of the scenes with big speeches because she’s playing a high level, high stakes game of deception. And that’s been the case since she explained her stone in hand, knife in throat game to Tay in Episode 7.
The later scene at the ISB with Blevin and the driver, Kloris, confirmed that Mon Mothma was purposefully leaking misinformation to Kloris to try to distract the Empire from her irregular banking of late, but I knew that’s what she was doing the moment the camera shifted to Kloris listening in even though the privacy screen was up. I’m glad this season left me with more confidence in her because I want nothing more than to see her as a strong female character. I did, however, get totally faked out by this episode because I assumed that the stunt with Perrin in the car was going to take the place of setting up a blind date between her daughter and Davo’s son. Obviously, the upholding of this outdated custom is gross, but Leida does seem happy about it, so even though it repulses me and Mon, I’d say this is doubly good for Mon’s game because it will also make Leida happier with her and throw her off any scent she may have had in previous episodes. She’s got this.
I need to admit that I had Syril’s storyline ALL wrong. I still prefer my predicted version, though; I wanted him to blunder big time and unwittingly hand the Rebels a W. I don’t like that instead he is now Dedra’s savior. He was a creepy stalker in Episode 9. So what are we doing here? Why are we white knighting him? Their scene together here confirms all the fears I had about his role as romantic interest for Dedra. That said, I kind of liked him more for saving Dedra and yet I hate that I like him more. I’ve never had such a self-loathing relationship with a character before. Ultimately, I’m disappointed that Dedra couldn’t be tough in the face of danger. Her shaking panic is understandable, of course; I just didn’t want that for her. Also, I like Syril’s inclusion in Andor because he’s a fascinatingly loathsome and pathetic character, and I think his heroic act of love here makes him less so.
Cassian’s Season 1 arc, on the other hand, was completely satisfying. I wasn’t sure if we would get to see him actually join the Rebellion by this point, but I like that we did. It frees the writers up to do a lot more with him and set him loose more in Season 2. I especially liked the choice to have Cassian waiting for Luthen on the Fondor. Again, this debunks our assumptions about how this was supposed to go. Cassian in a way catches Luthen (out) rather than Luthen or anyone else catching Cassian. And since the series has done so much to build up an understanding of Cassian’s evolving perspective and motivations, he and Luthen don’t need to say much at all in the end. No grandstanding, no big speeches here. Cassian simply offers himself up, and Luthen just smiles (or, as the captions say, “scoffs.”).
I am still astounded by how excellent it was and cannot wait to cheer it on at the Emmys next year. I will accept nothing less than a sweep, because that’s what this series deserves.
(This is condensed and edited – with permission – from Jen’s The Long Take review, which you can subscribe to here)
Eric Onkenhout
It’s been a long and emotionally draining road for Star Wars: Andor, and now it’s the end of the road for its first season. The first few episodes seem like a lifetime ago, likely even more so for the characters. Andor was touted as different than the Star Wars we’re used to, and it lived up to that claim in more than a few ways. From its music by Nicholas Britell and the closing credits, which lacked the blue letters on a starfield background.
Andor had to be different. This wasn’t a story about a farmboy growing up and taking on a galaxy to save a princess a defeat the bad guys. This wasn’t about a fallen Jedi or a scavenger’s resurrection of the Jedi Order. It’s not even just about a thief turned rebel. It’s about a galaxy deciding they’ve had enough oppression disguised as order and peace. It’s about the sacrifices people made to fight oppression. Andor is not a happy, feel-good story. George Lucas loved happy endings, so he couldn’t have made a series like Andor. It’s not in his nature.
Rix Road began on Repaak Salyard with Wilmon Paak welding something together. Immediate thoughts lead to he is building a bomb. A rebellion is happening, Ferrix is about to blow, and the rebels and the Empire are about to collide. What else could it be?
The description on Disney Plus for Rix Road describes the episode as Cassian returns home to Ferrix, a tinderbox experiencing a spark of rebellion. Spark of Rebellion is also the title of the first two episodes of Star Wars Rebels. That is not a coincidence. The term spark has been used a lot lately in Star Wars, including in The Last Jedi when Holdo insists the Resistance “light the spark.” The bomb is the spark in literal terms. A spark will ignite the bomb.,
In a very Star Wars-y scene, an Imperial Shuttle arrives on Ferrix at night and lands next to a cargo craft, also seen in Rogue One. Dedro Meero exits, flanked by two Death Troopers, as she walks towards the town. A storm is brewing in the distance, foreshadowing the events to come. Bix Caleen is shown in isolation, cameras keeping watch. Bix is a shell of herself after her torture and interrogation. Her skin is sallow, her eyes are sunken, and she is covered in dirt and sweat. She can barely speak. All she can do is look out of her cell’s tiny window and watch the people walk by and the stormtroopers order people about. But she listens for the funeral parade for Maarva.
Meero arrives early so she and Corv can walk around town. Strangely, Meero and Corv are disguised while around. It’s possible they wanted to get a feel for what’s happening in the streets. As Imperials, they should feel their uniforms would strike fear. But they want to blend in to catch the rebels sleeping. Unbeknownst to them, Cinta is hot on their trails.
There is a lot of mingling going on in the early parts of this episode. Whispering and watching. The tension is about to boil over. No one trusts no one. This is what the Empire breeds. Tension and mistrusts. People are afraid to say anything for fear of getting turned. Xan tells Brasso that he’s spoken to Cassian. Nurchi also plots to lead the Empire to Cassian by luring information from Xan during after-work drinks. Nurchi is hoping to gain favor with the Empire.
On Coruscant, Mon picks Perrin up from a social gathering. When he gets in the speeder, she accuses Perrin of gambling. Perrin is adamant that he was not gambling. With Mon’s missing money, the thought of more money getting gambled away compounds her stress. However, something in Perrin’s voice indicates he is telling the truth. Even when Mon asks Kloris for privacy, he can still hear every word they say, as it’s already been established that he is a spy for the ISB. Mon is apparently preparing to blame Perrin’s gambling habits for losing the 400,000 credits. It’s easier for the Empire to believe her problems stem from a strained marriage than funding a rebellion.
Vel locates Cinta on Ferrix but is hurt that she had to find her way through town instead of getting picked up by Cinta. Cinta is all in on this rebellion and won’t even let personal relationships detract her. The way Vel told Cinta to come away from the window and the look they gave each other felt strange as if Vel was about to tell Cinta she’s been an imperial spy the whole time. Gladly that feeling was unfounded.
Cassian finally arrives on Ferrix, the belly of the whale. Meanwhile, he listened to Nemik’s manifesto, which at one point says, “oppression is the mask of fear.” This is evident when the Empire eliminated an entire floor on Narkina 5 and the Tarkin Doctrine of Rule Through Fear. The manifesto also says, and I’m paraphrasing, maintaining order is unnatural because nature is not orderly. Nature is random but has its way of keeping order. The Empire is not natural. It’s cold and machine-driven. One of Lucas’ guides when making Star Wars was the constant struggle of man vs. machine, and does man serve machine, or is it vice versa?
Stormtroopers patrol Rix Road much as they will on Jedha with tanks and small artillery. Luthen lands his ship on the outskirts and takes a speeder to town. Now everyone is here. Luthen, Cassian, Meero, Vel and Cinta, and Syril Karn. Brasso reunites with Cassian. Brasso is such a good guy and a great friend to Cassian. Without Maarva, Brasso is Cassian’s link to home and his anchor. Brasso deserves to have a continued story. He’s not flashy, but he is steady and reliable. Not everyone in the Alliance needs to be Han Solo or Luke Skywalker. Guys like Brasso are invaluable for morale.
Not a single alien is seen walking the streets. Maybe one, but it’s very noticeable. Having all humans in the Narkina 5 prison makes sense, but how there aren’t any walking around is just strange in a galaxy full of aliens.
The anvil clangs, signaling the start of the funeral march for Maarva. The marching band begins to warm up. As they start marching, they play a plodding and mournful song, marching slowly toward the town center. The Imperials are caught off guard because the parade started earlier than the time they gave permission. The parade is a front for what the rebels have in store.
Things begin to escalate when the march pauses for a brief second, and then the pace of the music and the band hasten. Imperials set up a fortified line of armored soldiers to block their path. As the two opposing forces meet, B2EMO projects a holo of Maarva, who begins a speech of anti-Imperial sentiment, encouraging them to fight the Empire. In Star Wars Rebels, similar scenes played out with Mon Mothma and Saw Gerrera giving speeches over a hologram. Andor has had its fair share of memorable monologues. Add this to the list. No other Star Wars content has had as many great speeches as Andor.
It’s surprising how long the Imperials let the hologram play considering Maarva referred to the Empire as rust that wasn’t leaving. Finally, when she said she’d be fighting these bastards if she were still here, an Imperial officer came forward, tried to cover B2EMO with his coat, and kicked over the droid. That’s when the S hit the fan.
The tension that’s been building all season long has now exploded into an all-out battle on Rix Road. Wilmon Paak tossed the bomb into a crowd of troopers, and an enormous explosion blew troopers every which way, igniting other explosives. This might be the first time an explosion like this happened in Andor. Wilmon’s father, Salman, was killed by the Empire, so this was his strike back.
Both sides seemed dazed. Corv confronts Cinta, but she stabs him without hesitating. Rix Road is now a battlefield with dead bodies strewn all over. In the chaos, Syril drags Meero to safety. Anything Syril does is awkward, as is his moment with Dedra. The entire time Luthen is safely watching the rebellion, he helped build from afar, and now it’s fighting back.
Cassian makes it to the shipyard with Bix, where B2EMO, Brasso, Wilmon (who apparently escaped getting beat by two stormtroopers), and others are about to escape in an old craft. Cassian doesn’t join, but he is now a rebel. He is no longer the angry thief looking for his sister. Instead, he is part of something larger. Meanwhile, Leida is betrothed to Sculdun’s son despite Mon’s displeasure. There aren’t any words in this scene, but Mon’s facial expression says it all. This was her sacrifice. Nearing the end, Cassian confronts Luthen aboard his ship and tells him to either kill him or take him in as part of the rebellion. Luthen grins.
Ugh, what an episode! What a story! What a finale! Bravo! Witnessing Cassian’s journey from a thief to a rebel has been absolutely captivating. Each step of the way, Diego Luna’s portrayal of Cassian showed the transition, how they all began to hit when Cassian was a prisoner on Narkina 5, and all that time he spent with Kino Loy. Something tells me we haven’t seen the last of Mr. Loy.
And the fact that while on Narkina 5, Cassian contributed to the construction of the Death Star is heartbreaking for us because we know where the parts he built went and what they were used for. It’s likely those prisoners never knew what they were building. Two years until season two. It’ll be two years before the story continues, but it’s comforting to know a reasonable amount of time is being taken to write a good story and that it won’t be rushed. Who knows if Lucasfilm will bridge the seasons with a comic book series?
For now, let’s bask in the glow, and guess what? No one died!
Mark Newbold and Mark Mulcaster discuss episodes 11 and 12 on Making Tracks Reaction Chats.
Brian Cameron, Mark Newbold and Paul Naylor discuss episode 12 on Good Morning Tatooine.
- IDEAL COLLECTIBLE SIZE - At approximately 3.75 inches (9.5 cm) tall, this vinyl mini figurine complements other collectable merchandise and fits perfectly in your display case or on your desk.
- PREMIUM VINYL MATERIAL - Made from high-quality, durable vinyl, this collectible is built to last and withstand daily wear, ensuring long-lasting enjoyment for fans and collectors alike.
- PERFECT GIFT FOR STAR WARS FANS - Ideal for holidays, birthdays, or special occasions and as a present this exclusive figurine is a must-have addition to any Star Wars merchandise collection
- EXPAND YOUR COLLECTION - Add this unique Ahsoka Tano vinyl display piece to your growing assortment of Funko Pop! figures, and seek out other rare and exclusive collectible items for a complete set
- LEADING POP CULTURE BRAND - Trust in the expertise of Funko, the premier creator of pop culture merchandise that includes vinyl figures, action figures, plush, apparel, board games, and more.
