People, I’m going to place my playing cards on the desk right here: I’m confounded by the artistic decisions made on this newest chapter, probably even infuriated. Andor Season 2 already had the Herculean job of residing as much as its first season, which was an absolute triumph. Don’t get me flawed, this season has stunning moments that make this present such a masterpiece. Andor continues to be essentially the most well-made piece of Star Wars of the Disney period, however holy sh*t, did it slam right into a wall and slam into it exhausting. The flight path was already wobbly due to the rushed launch schedule, and but, that may’t be blamed for what occurred on this newest arc. I can’t consider we’re doing this.
Is Cassian a Jedi?
Going all the way in which again to Season 1, for those who learn any remark thread on any web site about Andor, you’d undoubtedly come throughout Star Wars followers praising the present for eschewing the Force and Jedi to depict precise folks on the bottom combating the Empire. It was virtually a promoting level. Not anymore!
In a completely gobsmacking resolution, Episode 7 opens with Bix tricking a wounded Cassian into seeing a Force healer on the Insurgent base on Yavin the place they now reside. Cassian is reluctant as a result of his mom tried certainly one of these healers earlier than, and the expertise was extra snake oil salesman than useful. Is that this a fantastic alternative for Andor to depict how many of the galaxy has excessive reservations, if not flat-out disbelief of the Force? Completely, and it appears to go that method till, oh god, the healer senses one thing particular about Cassian. This can’t be taking place. It’s important to be sh*tting me.
Once more, one of many nice issues about Andor is that it exhibits how on a regular basis residents pushed again after feeling the Empire’s boot instantly on their necks. Cassian was a type of folks. He was just a few man who acquired bored with sitting round being floor up by the Imperial machine. Now? Now, he’s a particular hero who might have magic powers as a result of this entire mess in some way acquired worse. Not solely did the Force healer sense one thing about Cassian, however we acquired two extra very deliberate moments that closely suggest he’s Force delicate.
1. Cassian tells each Kleya and Luthen that he desires to make his personal decisions. Nonetheless, Luthen notes that Cassian retains exhibiting up every time he wants him as if he’s being directed by one thing else. Luthen all however says that Cassian’s actions are predestined. Does this closely counsel that Luthen can be a Jedi? Yup. Sure, it does. This arc acquired tremendous sloppy with the Force, people. Why?!
2. Cassian tells Bix that the one ability he brings to the desk is luck, which is traditionally an indicator for Force sensitivity in addition to being a wonderful pilot. A job title that Cassian could be very notably saddled with on this arc. However on the luck entrance, simply this season, we’ve watched Brasso and Cinta get taken out in shockingly mundane trend, hammering house that dying occurs with out warning. Cassian, then again, continues to make it out alive. (For now.) And, but, this present apparently determined to improve his plot armor to mainly magic. What within the goddamn hell?
The Time Leap Momentum Suck
Earlier than we get into the story parts, I additionally wish to observe one different downside with this batch. Once we ended issues within the final arc, Wilmon was being radicalized by Noticed Gerrara, and Cassian and Bix appeared poise to go HAM on the Empire. Completely all of that was gone, prefer it by no means occurred. Wil continues to be doing missions for Luthen and really a lot within the fold of the right Insurrection. He isn’t elevating hell with Noticed. As for Cassian and Bix, they’re residing such a domesticated life on Yavin that Bix has actually been diminished to the girlfriend ready at house. What occurred to all that fireplace and fury from final week? Did everybody simply mellow out over the previous yr? Once more, a confounding arc that I actually can’t consider went this manner.
The Ghorman Bloodbath
If you realize your Star Wars historical past, and what 2 BBY means, you knew the pivotal occasion that was coming: The Ghorman Massacre. Because of an unwitting Syril, the Empire has simply baited the Ghorman Entrance into making a state of affairs the place martial legislation could be declared with out elevating eyebrows. (Did the Empire additionally bomb a few of its personal services? Perhaps!) Nonetheless, the Emperor has grown impatient and he desires that candy Kalkite out of the bottom.
Regardless of overseeing the operation on Ghorman, Dedra not solely will get pushed apart, however she will get repeatedly chastised by Main Partagaz for being “animated” and “not controlling her feelings” when the timetable is moved up. For all her efforts, her mentor has no qualms giving her the “bitches be loopy” remedy, and that’s solely the start of issues going south for Dedra.
As soon as once more, and for the ultimate time, the Empire baits the Ghorman Entrance into storming the city sq., and Syril is beginning to understand some severe sh*t is going on. That’s solely additional underlined by Dedra telling him to go house and pack his baggage. It quickly turns into very clear to Syril that he was not serving to the Empire lure “exterior agitators” to Ghorman. His girlfriend used his ass to stuff a powder keg that’s about to go off. He doesn’t take that realization effectively in any respect. In actual fact, Syril storms proper into Dedra’s workplace and begins choking her. Seems the true powder keg was the mommy points from the previous 20 episodes.
In case it wasn’t clear that these psychos had been made for one another, Dedra nonetheless tries to work issues out with Syril, however he dumps her on the spot. Is he mad about the entire massacring or being performed as a idiot? Gonna say principally that final half, however the massacring isn’t serving to. Nonetheless, he does get one little deal with. Cassian additionally occurs to be on planet. He arrived the evening earlier than hoping to shoot Dedra within the head, however as a substitute, discovered himself in the midst of a massacre. The two lastly crosses paths, which comes as an entire shock to Cassian as a result of he actually has no thought who Syril is. Some random dude simply begins beating the crap out of him, and he’ll by no means know why as a result of their temporary brawl is ended by the chief of the Ghorman Entrance taking pictures Syril within the again. Seems that man doesn’t like being performed for a idiot both. RIP mommy’s creepy little cereal boy.
As for Dedra, it’s utterly up within the air how she’ll react in any case of this goes down. She’s clearly rattled, however attempting her damndest to maintain her composure. She might simply go proper again to being an obedient ISB agent or run into the arms of Insurrection. Figuring out this present, they’ll in all probability make her a Jedi. Why cease now?
Pay attention Up, Y’all, It’s Genocide
With The Ghorman Bloodbath checked off the listing, the ultimate episode of the arc hits the subsequent pivotal second in Star Wars historical past: Mon Mothma publicly rebukes the Emperor and overtly joins the Insurrection. Set a day after the slaughter, the ISB is conserving a detailed eye on the senate to ensure nobody counters the official narrative that the Empire had no selection however to take management of Ghorman. Mon is on the listing of senators probably to trigger an issue, so she’s underneath tight watch and for good cause.
Mon and Bail Organa have been getting ready for a second like this, and so they’re able to go. The plan: Mon will ship a scathing speech to the senate exposing the Empire’s actions on Ghorman and calling out Palpatine. Instantly after, Bail’s folks will rapidly fly her from Coruscant to Yavin. There’s only one small downside: Bail’s workforce has been infiltrated. Luckily, Luthen is effectively conscious and tries to warn Mon. Nonetheless, she’s apprehensive of the person who murdered her childhood greatest buddy proper as she’s changing into a legal responsibility. However Luthen’s intentions are pure, and he has a extra trusted operative to get Mon off-planet: Cassian.
What follows subsequent is a deliciously tight cat-and-mouse recreation as Mon manages to ship her speech, which is broadcasted to the galaxy regardless of the ISB’s efforts to chop the feed coming from the senate. And he or she goes for it: She spells out that what occurred on Ghorman is genocide and warns everybody that Emperor Palpatine is monster who will do something and all the things to take care of energy. (Sound acquainted?) Because of his unbelievable “luck” that helps him survive two fast attracts, Cassian safely escorts Mon out of the senate constructing. Nonetheless, he gained’t be taking her to Yavin. The Insurrection has chosen to go along with a extra splashy exit, and likewise — deep sigh — the occasions of this present smack into an episode of the Star Wars Rebels cartoon. Yeah.
(*2*)
It’s Not You, It’s Me (and the Insurrection)
It wouldn’t be Andor if issues didn’t finish with a intestine punch, and we get that with the weirdest f*cking resolution this facet of Cassian and Luthen may need the Force. After the Mon Mothma mission, Cassian is able to pack it in. He’s put in his time and all he desires to do is trip off into the sundown with Bix. Nonetheless, you see, Bix loves the Insurrection a lot that she will’t let Cassian stop due to her, so she straight up leaves at midnight. Drops the poor dude a Expensive John letter that claims they’ll get again collectively when that is over. Should you’ve seen Rogue One, you understand how that ends. It additionally comes out of nowhere as a result of for this entire arc, Bix has been a fairly dormant and complacent determine. She’s a stark 180 from the fiery girl who threw a bomb into Dr. Gorst’s face final week. Do area anti-depressants hit otherwise?
Clearly, Cassian is crushed, however earlier than we even get an opportunity to reside in that, we’re already barreling into K-2S0 time. I’m speaking Cassian will get dumped, one second beat, who’s prepared for his or her new robotic pal! I perceive the grip on that factor needs to be insane, however dude, Bix barely left an hour in the past.
Mike Drops
— I do know I used to be actually exhausting on this arc, however to its credit score, it was a breezy watch in contrast to final week. Episode 9 was notably nice, and I didn’t really feel chained to my sofa. That stated…
— This season is actually creaking underneath the burden of getting to arrange Rogue One and the Authentic Trilogy. We all know Cassian and Mon are going to be superb, nevertheless it’s additionally making her frustratingly inert as a personality. The dramatic pressure from Season 1 and the primary arc of this season is totally gone, and there’s simply an excessive amount of floaty senate chairs and, effectively, Star Wars. Genevieve O’Reilly was once electrical to look at, and now, she (and the entire present) is simply speeding via a franchise guidelines.
— Anybody else really feel like Luthen was weirdly absent? It gave Elizabeth Dulau an opportunity to crush it as Kleya, which is at all times nice, however Luthen felt extra indifferent than ever throughout this arc. In all probability simply chilling with Yoda.