Every time an episode of Andor: A Star Wars Story lands, Fantha Tracks will be giving their responses, and here are our initial gut feelings, deep dives and thoughts on episodes four, five and six of season two, ‘Ever Been to Ghorman?’, ‘I Have Friends Everywhere’ & ‘What a Festive Evening’. Beware of spoilerific elements in here.
Johanna Lindén Nybelius
If the first three episodes showen us why it’s worth fighting against the Empire, episodes 4-6 is showing us that rebellions are dirty business as well. It makes idealists into killers and sometimes the heroes need to dirty work as well. It is still the right thing to do though.
Since the start of the show, Andor has been described as a slow burn. While this was definitely a new type of pacing in Star Wars, it never struck me as a negative because it’s been so well done. In my first review from its inaugural season, I described Andor as slow motion and high resolution Star Wars.
Now in its second season, week two’s trio of episodes perhaps takes this to another level. While the first set of installments opened with an action set piece, the second week has been almost all set up. Or more accurately, the second year. Cassian Andor and Bix Caleen are now in a safe house on Coruscant. Syril Karn is working on Ghorman as a spy to some capacity. Lonni Jung is still working undercover, and now Dedra Meero is too in a different way. Wilmon Paak somehow ends up with Saw Gerrera on D’Qar, and later joins him. Luthen Rael and Kleya Marki are in and out of a pickle. Vel Sratha is back in the field and reunited with Cinta Kaz, but not for very long. The space French-speaking Ghorman rebels are playing into the hands of the Empire.
We were also reminded of the existence of Cassian’s sister, but her whereabouts continued to remain a mystery at this point. I admit I had completely forgotten all about her until now. At this point, she almost feels like a J.J Abrams-style mystery box.
I admit the level of detail was taxing on my brain at times, but I don’t know how much of that had to do with the fact that I’m severely jet-lagged. It also struck me that it’s never really portrayed in Star Wars. Having just recently gotten off a 15 hour flight, I couldn’t help but marvel at Cassian’s mental sharpness and impeccable hair upon his arrival on Ghorman. Sorry, did I say Cassian? I meant Varian Skye.
Ultimately, the wheels have been set in motion by the end of year two. The Ghorman rebels have sprung a trap, and have unwittingly killed Cinta in the process. It wasn’t all completely doom and gloom for our heroes, of course. Bix enjoyed a bit of poetic justice in the closing scenes, while Doctor Gorst finally got a taste of his own medicine.
Paul Naylor
Well, firstly, I really enjoyed the first three episodes, and whilst this was still truly great, for me it was the weaker of the two arcs. That said, there were some stand out moments. Any time Krennic is on screen is a joy, as is the weird and wacky madness of Saw Gererra.
I loved Cassian’s Bono sunglasses (a first for Star Wars?) and the ongoing build up of tension. With every hint of Vader, Tarkin and the Emperor tantalisingly nearby but off-screen, we are reminded that in the next two sets of shows we could see so many returning characters.
The wait is palpable. Or should that be Palpatine?
Brian Cameron
Four interesting threads play out through episodes 4-6. Bix and her psychological issues stemming from her procedure in season one at the hands of Dr Gorst, Syril and his slightly disturbing relationship with Dedra and how that plays into the Ghorman experiment, Wilmon and his absorption into Gerrera’s Partisan rebels, and Mon Mothma’s increasingly boiling pot of an underground rebellion with Luthen.
Which one was going to explode first? Surprisingly, Bix and Gorst. Literally. I expected Bix’s descent to go further and further and end in a tragic way, but by eliminating Gorst in the explosive finale of episode six – it may just see a surprising turn for her character.
Luthen, and Kleya’s relationship is getting ever more heated and strained, and by extension the pressure comes upon Mon Mothma as she tries to navigate the senate’s new inductees. Luthen appears to fail to handle the pressure well, and a mistake is going to happen and expose the terrorists living under the shadow of the Emperor very soon I suspect. And how much fun is Ben Mendelsohn having back as Krennic? A true joy to watch in the role.
Wilmon has emerged surprisingly as an important character linking our core Rebellion back to Gerrera and the core narrative of Rogue One. I expect something spectacular to emerge from this story, but I don’t quite know how or where it will happen yet. It was also a nice little touch to the sequels to have Saw and Tubes have their base on D’Qar.
How much fun are Syril and Dedra to watch on screen, brilliantly played, perfect mix of subtle comedy and commanding roles on screen. Syril’s little underground exercise to infiltrate the Ghorman rebels was handled beautifully, and bringing Vel and Cinta into the mix was a master stroke (abeit way too short). Just when you thought it was safe to turn out the lights with Gorst gone, all I can say is beware of Dedra
Greg McLaughlin
As Saw Gerrera was excitedly taking in the effects of the Rhydo fumes it got me to thinking: Were we seeing ourselves gleefully taking in this style of Star Wars with the same abandon. I still stand that this is some of the best written, best visually set, and produced content built by Disney+ for a galaxy, far, far away, period, but I began to wonder if it still was a Star War at all. As one of many who yearned for a story geared more towards adults, with deeper stories and themes, in my glee to wolf down these large hour-long portions in a short order, was I hitting the buffet one too many times? Much like we see the ISB and Luthen exclaim, we are drowning in information. Can I possibly catch everything?
I did change up this week and tried to stagger out the three episodes of the second arc, instead of treating it as one long movie, and I’m glad I did. There have been a number of amazing monologues over the half-season now released, and I took more time in-between. The aforementioned one from the end of episode 5 comes to mind when Saw talks about his introduction to the high octane, highly toxic fuel Rhydonium that Wil helps him secure. Forest Whitaker gives a standout performance every time he dons the suit, and we can see how the Rhydo maybe plays role his physical and mental decline.
Val’s complete dressing down of the young Ghroman Front operative who didn’t have the discipline to follow their instruction on weapons, which led to Cinta’s death was brutal, yet such a great scene. Each character we have lost, and are destined to lose will hurt more and more, so it’s good some at least get their flowers, whether with an embrace like when Cassian held Brasso, or with Vel’s denying permission to cry.
With that said, did anyone else have more Dr. Ghorst on their Andor bingo card? I sure didn’t. And just as I was wondering if Hasbro might be firing up the molds for his Black Series figure, he was out the picture. But what a way to go. To watch Bix continue to struggle with the fallout of his previous interrogation, I was beginning to think she would have a diminishing role in this season. Her success in taking him out before his program could be more widely deployed not only was a huge victory for the budding rebellion, but probably helped her road to a fuller recovery. I don’t think she would be completely healed, but as I fear for her and others close to Cassian, as the season concludes, she certainly had a brilliant moment. The fade back of the camera and silence after turning the machine on him was so well done.
Syria and Dedra’s relationship has maybe gone underground as far as Eedy Karn and others might think, but although he’s as eager as the Ghorman Front he’s now infiltrated, his ambition is likely a problem for Dedra. Love never means saying you had your partner followed, or having him get too comfy with your boss.
And lastly, speaking of the big boss in all this I was taken by the comment of the Ghorman Front leader Carro Rylanz: ‘Many of us believe the Emperor has no idea what’s being done on his behalf.’ It’s chilling to think that he believes others are behind the oppression and don’t see him as the root. I guess if many more systems in the galaxy think this way, then the second greatest trick the Sith ever pulled, after Order 66, was convincing the galaxy they didn’t exist.
Richard Hutchinson
As someone who has really tried hard to like both Andor Season 1 and the first block of episodes, but not quite being able to without putting my finger on it, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest arc. Obviously the cinematography, sound and lighting are amongst the best in TV across any genre. The previous chapter for me was an excellent episode stretched over three episodes, but these three have a real Star Wars story behind them that justify their length and need.
We are starting to see Cassian develop into the rebel who shot his contact at the start of Rogue One, we are seeing a leaderless and inept rebellion crying out for strength and direction and we are seeing conflict in the Empire. While many of these Imperial conscripts know exactly what they have signed up for, I don’t believe all of them do. I see Imperials beginning to have doubts as they try to introduce law and order across the galaxy. I see internal struggles beginning to emerge and although I’m becoming a little tired of the cliched turncoat in the ranks, I think we’re going to see more than a little help given to the rebels when they need it. The character of Luthen is becoming more and more intriguing. What does he have to gain in all of this? He doesn’t seem to have Mon’s sense of right and wrong, and he appears to be more than wealthy and content for the rest of his life so what is his endgame? I can see many more twists and turns as we race towards the next block of episodes.
Ross Hollebon
“We’re arresting too many people. We can’t take it all in.” – Lonni Jung; Rebel plant in the ISB
“We’re drowning. And you keep pretending it’s all under control.” – Luthen Rael to Kleya Marki
From the Empire’s ISB, with its vast resources, to Luthen’s obsessive fixation on the rebellion, seemingly every faction in Andor is being swallowed by aspirations and impatience. Lack of patience is a flaw that can be weaponized by those with a semblance of self-control. There are multiple examples of this across episodes 4-6 of Andor Season 2.
Saw Gerrera is often referred to as rash and unpredictable, but he knows when to sit back like a coiled snake, ready to strike. And he benefits from this approach while frustrating some of those around him. He uncovers that his trusted follower Pluti is an informant by waiting out a training process taught by Wilmon, who has left Cassian’s side to fulfill a different mission. Saw waits. Pluti dies. Wilmon elevates.
Mon Mothma has no time for patience in an attempt to gain votes against Emperor Palpatine on Coruscant. She is desperate but it doesn’t matter as she continues to get painted into a corner as her circle gets smaller.
But it is the Ghorman Front, standing up to an Imperial occupation, that provides the greatest example of naivete and ignorance with deadly consequences. Cassian recognizes it quickly and cuts bait, leaving the system. But this is where the double whammy hits Vel Sartha, desperate to have a reason to spend more time with her lover, Cinta Kaz. They help plan a heist with ill-prepared members of the front and the outcome is devastating in multiple ways. Vel loses Cinta, but of greater impact, the Ghorman Front, impatiently with a narrow view, opens the door for “justified” aggression from the Empire.
Themes of addiction, manipulation, and desperation force many hands and tough moments during this trio of episodes—primarily because of little to no self-control.
Sander de Lange looks at all the reveals and easter eggs in Andor: The Guide: Episode 4 ‘Ever Been To Ghorman?’
Sander de Lange looks at all the reveals and easter eggs in Andor: The Guide: Episode 5 ‘I Have Friends Everywhere’
Sander de Lange looks at all the reveals and easter eggs in Andor: The Guide: Episode 6 ‘What A Festive Evening’
Hear Mark Newbold and Mark Mulcaster discuss Chapter Two of season two on Making Tracks Reaction Chat: Andor: A Star Wars Story Episodes 16, 17 & 18.
