After several years off, Disney’s Andor finally returns for S02 with a new season that bridges the gap with Rogue One.
Picking up one year after the rebellion on Ferrix, the first three episodes of season two feature plenty of table setting. Showrunner Tony Gilroy has teleplay credits on this batch of episodes (Ariel Kleiman, in turn, directs all three) which finds the cast scattered across the galaxy.
- Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) steals a TIE-fighter before rendezvousing with Bix (Adria Arjona) on the agrarian planet of Mina-Ru. Naturally things don’t go quite according to plan, and Cassian is temporarily stranded between two feuding rebel groups who prove on a micro-level how dysfunctional the rebellion can be when communication is compromised.
- Bix and several other rebels hide from an Imperial search by posing as farmers, but she’s suffering from debilitating PTSD after being tortured and sexually assaulted by ISB Attendant Corv (Noof Ousellam) back in S01.
- Meanwhile on Chandrila, Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) is preparing for the wedding of her young daugher Leida. When her childhood friend, banker Tay Kolma (Ben Miles) threatens to blackmail her, her Rebel Alliance contact Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) not-so-subtly suggests they kill him.
- On Coruscant, ISB Supervisor Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) has been removed from the Axis file, but she and Major Partagaz (Anton Lesser) are recruited by Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn, reprising his role from Rogue One) to work on a secret plan to take over the planet Ghorman to mine its lucrative supply of a mineral called Kalkite.
- Finally, Dedra and disgraced civil servant Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) are playing house, though it’s unclear whether this is a front or a genuine relationship.
What Works:
- The slow build: Gilroy is extremely patient when it comes to laying this season’s foundation. This deliberate pace works better for certain storylines than others: Cassian getting stranding between the rebel factions is pedantic and repetitive, especially if we don’t see these characters return later in the season. On the flip side, the political intrigue mixed into Mon Mothma’s wedding festivities is exciting, even if it feels like the early stages of something much larger. Patience is key in these first three episodes.
- Mon Mothma: O’Reilly’s performance as the Senator struggles to appear controlled while becoming increasingly frazzled is wonderful. The best (and most meme-worthy) moment of these first three episodes occurs right at the end of the third hour: Mothma loses herself in the dance after trying – and failing – to impart marriage advice to her daughter. It’s beautiful and powerful.
- Similarly, the ceremonial aspects of the wedding feel like they come from a real culture. Between the hike to Perrin (Alastair Mackenzie)’s speech to the ceremony itself, Andor distinguishes itself from so many other sci-fi/fantasy stories by embedding itself in the little cultural details that feel lived-in and authentic.
- Eedy Karn (Kathryn Hunter) vs Dedra: The nature of Dedra and Syril’s relationship is somewhat inscrutable, but watching Dedra cut her “boyfriend”s overly-protective mother down to size is utterly delightful. Syril may still be a slightly pathetic figure, but matching him up with the ambitious corporate ladder climber is a bold choice that’s already paying off.
What’s Somewhere in the Middle:
- Bix’s storyline: While Arjona is doing good work, Bix’s three episode arc plays like a traditional female rape-revenge narrative. She’s triggered by Kole’s advances on the planet and lashes out (rightfully) with violence. It’s a scrappy, dangerous-feeling fight, but Bix feels like she exists to embody a particularly well-trodden trauma storyline.
What Doesn’t Work:
- Cassian’s rebels: This storyline is hard to care about. It takes so long for Cassian to get off this planet and away from these idiots that it dilutes his rescue of Bix and Wil on Mina-Ru. It’s clear what Gilroy is attempting to do with Cass in this arc, but his part in these three episodes feels interminable.
Other Observations:
- There’s an incredibly powerful moment in the premiere when Cassian reassures his Imperial contact Niya that if she dies for helping him, it will be worth it. It’s a fleeting, quiet moment, but it encapsulates the idea that everyone has a role to play in the resistance, no matter how big or small. Luna doesn’t always get the big sweeping moments (Andor isn’t exactly that kind of show; it frequently underplays its hand because Gilroy and co. trust the audience), but Luna and the series deliver it with such urgency.
- The discussion about using propaganda to seize control of Ghorman feels particularly timely. Apparently the scripts were barely finished in advance of the Writer’s strike, but in the wake of last year’s US election, the plot feels more topical than ever. I suspect that feeling will persist throughout the season.
- Good to see the sexual chemistry between Mothma’s cousin, Vel Sartha (Faye Marsay), and Aldani rebel Cinta Kaz (Varada Sethu) remains alive, even if they barely do more than catch each other’s eye.
- I want to care about Wilmon (Muhannad Bhaier), but his fling with farm girl Beela distracts him to the point that Bix is nearly raped and murdered, so…he better get his head in the game moving forward.
- Finally: B2EMO (voiced by Dave Chapman) worrying that Cassian won’t be able to find them if they need to flee the farm is incredibly sweet. I forgot how much Star Wars can make you feel for droids.
Andor airs in three episode batches every Tuesday on Disney+
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