Phil Roberts 
Tony Gilroy has served up a perfect aperitif for the main course to come in Star Wars: Andor Season 2. Although this mini-trilogy is the slowest in the season, the story is engaging, the character development is brutally crushing, and the tension continues to build.
ONE YEAR LATER. After last week’s sensational start to the new season, Star Wars: Andor returns this week and blasts us one year into the future. With the events of Rogue One still a few years away, the story pivots to explore the flourishing seeds of rebellion brewing in the now-Imperial-controlled planet of Ghorman. With Krennic’s plan to control the mineral beneath the planet’s surface now implemented, the planet’s population finds itself plotting against its oppressors. All the while, Cassian and Bix struggle to adapt to their new surroundings on Coruscant. The city life on Coruscant is proving to be isolating, leaving Bix struggling to come to terms with her situation. However, something deeper is brewing beneath her eyes, and her torture at the hands of Dr. Gorst is taking its toll.
On Coruscant, Mon Mothma fights for freedom in the Senate while grappling with the impact of Luthen’s decision to dispatch her childhood friend, Tay Kolma. Meanwhile, Luthen continues to sow the seeds of Rebellion. After hearing about the unrest on Ghorman, he sends Cassian to assess the situation. However, Cassian’s defiant resistance leads to Vel’s infiltration, where she reunites with an old flame. The question arises: Is this exploration of espionage and Rebellion enough to keep the series engaging, or does this storyline slow the pace to a crawl?
REVIEWÂ
Fear not, Star Wars fans, as episodes 3-6 continue to enrich the story and plant essential seeds of Rebellion that will bear fruit later on. Although the plot maintains the pace of season one and emphasizes the espionage angle, it remains highly engaging. Instead of losing momentum, the series expands its intrigue and delves into the evolution of a fledgling resistance into a fully-fledged rebellion. This progression leads to captivating moments between Cassian and Luthen, exploring how far both characters are willing to go to incite war against the Empire. The narrative raises an interesting question regarding the difference between a soldier fulfilling his role in war and a leader who will do whatever it takes to transform tension and discourse into aggressive resistance.
But the central focus of this arc is Bix’s mental health. After experiencing the loss of Brasso in the previous arc, Bix’s condition deteriorates to the point where she begins to rely on opioids to cope. The nightmares and visions explored earlier take a disturbing turn, leading to some shocking moments. This storyline sheds light on the true cost of the Empire’s practices and highlights the use of torture throughout history. Ultimately, we are presented with three slow-paced yet gripping episodes that lay the groundwork necessary for episodes 6-9, setting the stage for the escalation of conflict.
SEEDS OF REBELLION
From the opening moments of this arc, we find Syril, now working on Ghorman and scrutinizing the shipping and exports from the planet. From here, he can monitor the Ghorman people while still upholding his mantra of making a difference in the galaxy. However, he is an outsider, and the leaders of the Ghorman hierarchy are watching his every move closely. But can he be persuaded by its elders to join the growing ranks of the resistance on Ghorman? Of course not. Little do they know that he is a plant for Dedra Meero and the ISB. Syril is stationed on Ghorman to infiltrate the planet’s resistance and help bring his spouse’s insurrection plan to fruition. However, Syril is unaware of Meero’s true intentions. He is there under the false pretense of rooting out external influencers for the ISB.
His relationship with Dedra has grown, and they meet for passionate encounters whenever their schedules allow. This isn’t often, but it is wonderful to see these cogs in the Imperial machine find some human connection and solace in each other’s arms. At the same time, Meero’s involvement with Krennic and the ISB continues to expand, with her now overseeing everything that transpires on Ghorman.
PARALLELS WITH THE FRENCH RESISTANCE
The Ghorman people are fascinating. Once a peaceful race of fabric makers, they have grown increasingly disgruntled by the Empire’s presence and are beginning to form their own version of a “French Resistance.” The planet’s leaders are starting to speak out against the Empire in underground meetings, and discussions about taking more aggressive action are beginning to take shape. The Ghor have a distinctive French-like accent, further emphasizing their parallels with historical resistance movements.
By nature, they are pacifists, but the Empire’s actions are forcing their hand, playing right into Dedra Meero’s strategies. It is refreshing to see the early stages of Rebellion unfold here. The Star Wars saga often focuses on a fully-fledged Rebellion or Resistance, but this narrative allows us to witness how such movements begin. It explores both sides of the debate on whether to stand up for their rights and oppose Imperial rule, offering an intriguing storyline that leaves us contemplating the complex decisions that lead to acts of war.
CASSIAN AND BIXÂ
In these episodes, we delve deeper into the relationship between Cassian and Bix. Their connection was hinted at during the latter stages of the first season, but in season two, Tony Gilroy fully explores their bond. It’s refreshing to see Cassian fighting for something beyond just his freedom. However, this raises an important question: How far is Cassian willing to go to resist the Empire’s tyranny? Is he prepared to prioritize the mission above Bix’s safety? This dilemma could significantly impact his decision to join Jyn Erso on Scarif in “Rogue One.”
On the other hand, Bix struggles to confront the demons of her past and finds an unexpected ally in Luthen, much to Cassian’s irritation. Yet, it is Luthen’s intervention that ultimately helps her begin her resurgence.
VEL AND CINTA
The most compelling story arc in this trio of episodes is the reunion between Vel and Cinta. After Cassian assesses Ghorman’s chances of staging a full-scale resistance, Luthen sends Vel to take control of the uprising and harness their desire to rebel. He also agrees to send Cinta alongside her, finally allowing the star-crossed lovers to reunite. This reunion leads to genuinely heartwarming moments that bring much-needed hope to the series.
As I mentioned in my review of last week‘s trio of episodes, the central theme of this season is sacrifice. In this final season, every character will be forced to give up something for the cause. While these sacrifices may be painful, they will serve as the backbone of the Rebellion and become significant moments in the canon that lead to major developments. These continued sacrifices are crucial to add meat to the bones of the story and offer the audience a narrative of grit and substance to chew on. This is storytelling at its finest, and I applaud Tony Gilroy for delivering something worthy of exploration. A seasoned veteran’s hallmark is producing an engaging storyline that ages like a slowly fermenting wine, and Gilroy has served up a masterclass here.
KRENNIC
Optimising Gilroy’s mastery of the written word is the role of Director Orson Krennic. Instead of using Krennic as a simple point of nostalgia to appease fans, here, Gilroy has given Krennic a delightfully layered role that eats away at Mon Mothma’s resistance and adds some much-needed menace to proceedings. In my interview with Ben Mendelsohn, he revealed that Peter Cushing was the inspiration behind his performance as Krennic, and I continue to marvel at the actor’s craft. The combination of Gilroy’s screenplay and Mendelsohn’s impeccable delivery has served up a delightfully wicked role for Krennic. During these three episodes, Krennic meets with Mothma and Luthen; their exchanges are wonderful to watch.
Krennic practically teases the rebellious duo at every turn, coaxing them to show their true feelings, and it is a joy to watch. Like a fine chess game, the back-and-forth between Mon and Krennic is wonderfully layered—a dangerous game of cat and mouse, if you will—and this game elevates this trio of episodes beyond their main storyline.
VERDICT
Overall, this trio of episodes is a joy to watch. The slower pace of the narrative adds depth to the birth of a rebellion on Ghorman while providing a fascinating insight into Syril and Meero’s relationship. Bix’s steady decline is painful to witness and offers an arc that resonates with everyone. Cassian’s dilemma continues to explore his commitment to the cause, adding gravity to his decision-making process, ultimately leading to his demise in Rogue One. Meanwhile, Mon Mothma’s principles are continually challenged, highlighting the struggles in forming the Rebellion. Krennic’s role remains impressive, with Mendelsohn delivering a masterclass performance for us to enjoy.
However, this arc tragically belongs to Vel Sartha and Cinta. Although their reconnection occurs later in the story, the emotional impact is still strong. The pain, fear of loss, and anguish in Sartha’s eyes are palpable, and I commend Faye Marsay for her remarkable performance. This portrayal is her finest to date, and I look forward to seeing more of her work.
Once again, Tony Gilroy has served up a perfect aperitif for the main course to come. Although this mini-trilogy is the slowest in the season, the story is engaging, the character development is brutally crushing, and the tension continues to build. Next week’s trio inserts us much closer to the events of Rogue One and dials the story to eleven, so be ready because you ain’t seen nothing yet.
The first six episodes from Star Wars: Andor Season 2 are now streaming on Disney+.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
