Effectively, we’ve reached the top of the highway. Andor’s second and ultimate season introduced us 12 episodes of (principally) distinctive Star Wars drama launched in three-episode chunks, a format which served the construction of the present brilliantly, with every chunk representing one 12 months within the 4 years main as much as Rogue One, but additionally meant that we didn’t get to savor the present for almost as lengthy.
Every week, we’ve gathered to debate our reactions to the present’s newest episodes (you will discover final week’s dialog right here), and now, we accomplish that for the final time. Be a part of us as we are saying goodbye to this extraordinary sequence.
Ethan Gach: I’m in camp Kleya, who known as her arrival on Yavin within the ultimate stretch of Andor “a bitter ending,” however maybe considerably extra consoled than she was by Cassian reassurance that “nothing’s ending.”
The ultimate three episodes of season 2 have been at all times going to be considerably disappointing and bittersweet since we knew the present was ending and in some circumstances we knew the place it might have to funnel individuals to arrange Rogue One, however the ultimate chapter nonetheless managed a shocking quantity of high-stakes stress and sudden backstory.
How would you each charge the ultimate episodes and what are you feeling now that the journey’s over?
Carolyn Petit: I assumed episode 10, with its have a look at how Luthen and Kleya shaped their bond and her endeavor the horrible job of doing what wanted to be achieved, was excellent. (It additionally gave us an alien who immediately turned considered one of my favourite Star Wars creatures ever!)
Episodes 11 and 12 weren’t peak Andor, however I’ve to confess that the ultimate slow-motion montage sequence actually labored for me, and so they had a political dimension I discovered considerably shocking that I’ll talk about a bit extra later.
Zack Zwiezen: I used to be fearful that the ultimate episode would run out of steam as Tony Gilroy and co actually ran out of area for storytelling and needed to slam the brakes to arrange Rogue One. And whereas I loved the montage slow-walk, I’m wondering if that works in the event you haven’t seen Rogue One.
However general, the ultimate three episodes are actually good. And I believe the Kleya-Luthen targeted episode is considered one of my favourite Andor episodes ever. I’m so pleased she received an enormous highlight earlier than the top.
CP: Me, too. That episode additionally helped cement, I believe, that the present acknowledges how essential all of Luthen’s efforts have been, even when these fussy ineffectual bureaucrats on Yavin don’t.
This is a matter I’ve lengthy had with how Star Wars has at occasions sanded away its personal political dimensions for my part, one thing that Andor not solely seeks to undo however takes farther than ever earlier than. In reality, the act of blowing up the Demise Star within the first movie, that act which individuals cheered for in theaters in 1977 and that Star Wars followers for many years since have cherished and admired, would, in universe, be thought of an act of terrorism. That’s what the Empire would name it. That’s what governments do: they current their very own violence as “reliable” or “essential” and the violence of these rebelling towards them as “terrorism.”
However there have been occasions in Star Wars historical past the place I felt just like the individuals on the reins of the franchise wished to ship a message that you simply shouldn’t be “too excessive” in your resistance, don’t be a Noticed Gerrera, do it by means of “correct channels.” And so I cherished that Andor gave us that scene with Bail and another politicians all sort of hemming and hawing over Luthen whereas the present, I believe, was emphatically telling all of us, “Luthen was proper. Possibly not each single little choice he made was proper, however his ethos was essentially proper and with out somebody like him, none of this may have been right here.” And I cherished it for that.
ZZ: I believe, and so they discuss this within the behind the scenes, it’s crucial that Luthen’s struggle towards the empire was often because Kleya wished revenge.
CP: Proper. She’s the humanity that he’s combating for. She’s what radicalizes him.
ZZ: If he hadn’t discovered her and saved her, Luthen doubtless doesn’t develop into the insurgent we all know in Andor. And it additionally provides a brand new layer of complexity to their relationship. He was a part of the military that brutalized her individuals. So she nonetheless has some lingering hatred for him. And but she does care about him. And in that second when she sneaks into the hospital to complete the job, you’ll be able to really feel that.
EG: I believe that scene with the Insurgent Alliance leaders additionally helps present the Senate mentality creeping again in because the insurgency professionalizes itself.
It’s simple to see why even after defeating the Empire in key battles it’d battle to rebuild or retain energy, points explored in Ahsoka and The Mandalorian. These previous couple of episodes assist situate Cassian between the uncompromising logic of Luthen’s spycraft and the “nobody left behind” mentality of the Insurrection. Luthen’s ultimate sacrifice is to die, and Cassian’s is to return and danger the whole lot simply to avoid wasting somebody.
ZZ: We should always rewind a bit and discuss that second between Luthen and Dedra. And even additional truly, and pour one out for Lonni, who I knew was useless the second he sat down at that bench.
CP: Yeah. When he talked about his spouse and child, for a second I assumed mayyyyyyyybe Luthen can be like “You realize what? I owe this man.” However alas, no.
ZZ: I additionally cherished that line Luthen gave Klaya earlier than the assembly: “I believe we used up all the right.”
CP: So good.
ZZ: After which we get Dedra Meero strolling into Luthen’s store as he’s destroying proof. My spouse actually gasped “OH SHIT!” at seeing Dedra on the door.
EG: Solely two artifacts is probably not what they appear!
CP: In a present that so usually calls for that characters placed on a efficiency to mix into their environment, it was nice seeing these two really feel one another out and Luthen fake for a bit that she was perhaps not there to arrest him.
However then, after all, he tries to kill himself, and also you see that he was pondering a number of steps forward when he picked up the knife, although he made it appear to be it was simply a part of their pleasant dealings.
ZZ: When he picked up the knife I used to be so distracted by him mentioning it being a Nautolan artifact (Package Fisto’s species) that I didn’t understand why he picked a knife.
CP: Hahaha, the perils of getting a database of Star Wars information in your mind!
ZZ: After which after he’s taken to the hospital, we get that fantastic sequence with Klaya sneaking in and taking him off life assist. Anyone else desire a Hitman-like Star Wars recreation now?
CP: If that alien Kleya pushes round as she’s pretending to be hospital personnel is in it, completely! However sure, that was an amazing infiltration sequence, each thrilling and sort of excruciating as a result of we knew what she was going there to do.
EG: It included a number of the finest Coruscant backdrops we’ve ever gotten, I believe.
CP: One different second from that episode that I can’t cease eager about was the flashback scene during which we see Imperial officers drag some civilians by means of city, put them up towards a wall, and kill them.
It was one other gut-wrenching reminder of the Empire’s evil and one other second that felt weirdly resonant as an increasing number of persons are being arrested by brokers who usually received’t even present warrants or identification within the streets of our cities.
ZZ: On the flipside of that horrible second that made me really feel a pit in my abdomen, now we have Dedra getting arrested for being reckless and never following orders by chasing after Luthen lengthy after she was purported to be off the Axis investigation. I’ve to confess I smiled once I realized it was throughout for her.
CP: Man, I don’t know. I imply I completely hate her, don’t get me fallacious, and but that ultimate shot of her, the place we see that she’s in a jail very very similar to the one Cassian was in final season (if not the identical one) was sophisticated for me. Like, I believe that sort of incarceration is simply fallacious in and of itself and so it elicited this bizarre second of one thing like sympathy for her, which on no account means I forgive her for what she’s achieved. It’s simply a kind of reminders that it’s finally a systemic evil that may generally grind up the individuals working within it and supporting it as a lot as these being actively persecuted.
The leopards ate her face, in different phrases.
ZZ: House leopards.
However I agree, sure, that the Empire is evil and the way in which it operates (like many real-world international locations) is to crush individuals as much as gas the fires of progress and battle. And I believe it was very conceited of her to imagine she can be spared. Or perhaps she actually purchased into the lies that the Empire was good and doing the precise factor? Absolutely, she received’t find yourself in some horrible place and left to rot perpetually.
CP: Yep.
ZZ: In the meantime, her boss, in spite of everything of those failures and letting the information on the Demise Star slip out, realizes what’s coming for him and is aware of he doesn’t need to be ripped aside by the machine he helped create. And takes a better approach out.
CP: That was the primary and solely indication we ever received that Nemik’s manifesto is definitely spreading round, proper, that persons are listening to it? That was a cool second, I assumed, the place at first we expect it’s non-diegetic, simply the writers and filmmakers reminding us one final time of Nemik’s stirring phrases, however then we see, oh, no, Partagaz was truly listening to it, the hearth is spreading. It’s on the market.
EG: I cherished the scene proper exterior when the gun shot goes off.
CP: Yeah, so clear that the man knew Partagaz wasn’t simply taking a second to “acquire his ideas,” he knew precisely what was coming.
ZZ: The slight “stand down” gesture to the troopers.
EG: I recognize the minor moments of humanity Andor evokes even between the worst individuals.
CP: Yeah, they’re important IMO.
ZZ: It makes them extra evil. They’re human beings. Folks with emotions and ideas. And but they nonetheless do that shit.
EG: One thing additionally given to Krennic when he and Partagaz want one another luck at going through Palpatine’s wrath. Not like the extra buffoonish dangerous man vitality he offers off in Rogue One.
ZZ: Additionally, very enjoyable to see a personality name out the Demise Star identify. Partagaz thinks its dumb.
It’s simply a kind of reminders that [the Empire is] finally a systemic evil that may generally grind up the individuals working within it and supporting it as a lot as these being actively persecuted.
ZZ: I’m so pleased to see Ok-2SO again!
CP: Sure. Not in contrast to C-3P0 he will be so exasperating at occasions (in an endearing and humorous approach), however when he goes full Terminator on Empire goons, man it feels good.
For me, the entire tone of the scene with Andor and Melshi within the safehouse with Kleya and the communications jammed modified from “Oh shit, oh shit, get outta there!” to “LMAO y’all are about to get owned” as quickly as Ok-2SO left the ship to go in for them, and it was superb.
ZZ: Yeah. The second Ok-2SO exhibits up, it’s principally over for these imperial assholes and I cherished it a lot. I additionally like that the present makes use of its restricted time with Ok-2SO to actually develop a relationship between him and Cassian. They appear like buds!
The half the place they’re taking part in area poker or no matter was nice. Gilroy talked about that after Bix leaves the place turns into a frat home, with Melshi transferring in and all of them consuming and partying between missions.
CP: Ah, that completely is smart!
ZZ: I’m wondering if Andor is making an attempt to drink away some ache and fill his life with associates to take care of shedding Bix? That’s my learn. He wants some buds and suds.
CP: Positively.
There’s part of me that also seems like Andor, the title character, may have perhaps used a little bit bit extra character growth on this present, that with all of its transferring items his personal journey, each ideologically and as an individual, perhaps received a smidge sidelined. However I do like that we see him dreaming about his sister, since discovering her was the large obsession driving him within the early episodes of season one.
Now, I really feel like he’s accepted that she’s gone however nonetheless the thought of her, his depth of feeling for her and the ache of shedding her is a part of what drives him to create a greater world, not solely in contrast to Luthen being pushed by his love for Kleya. And talking of affection and the issues that drive us, how did y’all really feel about that final-final picture of the present?
ZZ: I cherished it! To me it labored completely with a theme in Andor: hope.
EG: “There’s one other.” lmao.
CP: Proper, to me it did partially really feel like a nod to Star Wars’ obsession with dynasties and legacies, like now we have to imagine that, although Andor himself dies, what he stands for will reside on not simply as an concept however as a result of he actually has a baby. And but, I nonetheless kinda preferred it. We didn’t get a lightsaber however we did get a continued bloodline!
ZZ: I believe the present wanted some hope on the finish.
EG: I believe it was very thematically applicable, even when I’m torn on the deserves of blending insurgency and household. It’s a division that feels a bit too tidy.
ZZ: I believe it did present extra purpose for Bix leaving like she did. She was pregnant. She wished to offer her baby a peaceable life and knew Andor would observe her if he knew. And in her thoughts, she’s pondering that they’ll get again collectively at some point after the Empire has fallen. It’s each a really tragic ultimate scene and likewise this reminder that there’s extra. This isn’t an ending.
CP: Vel even tells him to not wait too lengthy to reconnect, and we already know he by no means will get the prospect! Actually cherished that these two, Cassian and Vel, received a second right here, too, and received to acknowledge all these they’ve misplaced alongside the way in which.
However sure, you’re proper, it was a beautiful mixture of deeply unhappy and hopeful, that ultimate picture. Luthen, Cassian, Noticed, and so many others know they’re combating for a world they themselves will doubtless not reside to see. However that child would possibly.
ZZ: And earlier than we depart, I did like that we received yet one more tiny second with Mon’s husbasnd
He appears to be with the mom of the boy his daughter married? It was very quick. Couldn’t inform. However him simply getting drunk in a limo on Coruscant, presumably throwing his spouse underneath the bus and pledging loyalty to the Empire, appeared like all we would have liked to find out about what occurred to him.
CP: Precisely. He’s who we knew he was and his unhappy empty privileged life is his reward for it.
I’d be curious to know the way that ultimate montage performs for people who haven’t seen Rogue One. It actually labored for me, seeing Cassian all dressed up for his fateful mission, the cuts to Dedra and different characters, and throughout him, the Insurgent base on Yavin, lively and buzzing, about to vary the galaxy, and now we all know it’s all due to the efforts of so many individuals however amongst them, one Luthen Rael, an unsung hero of Star Wars. Are both of you planning on rewatching Rogue One any time quickly?
ZZ: I wished to carry off till after this VG chat so I got here into this with out the load of Rogue One on my thoughts. I plan on watching it this weekend!
EG: I’ll say, as a parting thought, I don’t know that I wanted the present to try to line up so neatly with Rogue One, maybe the worst a part of which is that foolish blueprint handoff that instantly leads into A New Hope. I do suppose a number of the broader thrust of Andor and the unease and disquiet inside its characters ended up being subsumed a little bit to neatly by the top of episode 12.
CP: Oh, I agree. At a sure level within the ultimate episode you actually really feel the present shift into “Okay, let’s get all of the items in place for Rogue One” mode.
ZZ: Yeah. It jogs my memory of the ending of Star Wars Episode III, the place George Lucas units up all of the items for A New Hope and it feels much less like an precise ending and extra like a checkpoint.
CP: And I believe heading proper from Andor into Rogue One will likely be fairly jarring as a result of—sorry Rogue One!—your dialogue is simply not on the identical stage!
ZZ: Nope! And what occurred to Bail Organa! Did he get a haircut?
CP: Hahaha.
ZZ: However actually, if that’s my greatest criticism about Andor—that its ending isn’t as robust because it may have been due to Rogue One—I’m nonetheless actually pleased.
I’m unsure we’ll ever get a present like this once more, or no less than not for a very long time. Actual units. Plenty of actors. Unimaginable writing. Massive budgets. Set in a big franchise. All this freedom. Even Gilroy has acknowledged he’s unsure if this type of factor will ever occur once more.
CP: It was superb, and whereas I actually hope we see extra prefer it, I’ll attempt to simply be glad about the miracle that we ever received it in any respect. Now I simply want Disney to place it on Blu-ray so I’ve it on bodily media and it’s not trapped on a streaming service perpetually!
ZZ: Rebellions and bodily libraries of flicks we love are constructed on hope.
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