The remaining episode of Andor Season 1 is lastly upon us, and Tony Gilroy delivers one of many best season finales in tv historical past. Across the 12 episodes main as much as this jaw-dropping conclusion, followers of the sequence (yours actually, included) have hailed Andor as the perfect mission that Star Wars has delivered for the reason that Nineteen Eighties and the perfect sequence on tv this yr, and Episode 12 proves that this sequence has lived as much as each little bit of the hype. With the demise of his mom (Fiona Shaw) weighing on his spirit and the fires of rise up burning in his spirit, Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) makes his return to Ferrix for her funeral, and when he arrives he discovers that he’s not the one resident that has been caught within the flames of slow-burning dissidence.
Episode 12 opens quietly on the Repaak Salyard on Ferrix, the place Wilmon Paak (Muhannad Bhaier) is studiously constructing one thing. It solely takes a number of moments to appreciate that he isn’t repairing a busted flux converter or a defective comm—he’s constructing an explosive. With a hologram of his late father Salman (Abhin Galeya) watching him work, there’s no query that he’s planning to show Maarva’s funeral into direct motion towards the Empire who made an instance of his father. With Wilmon, Gilroy builds an attention-grabbing parallel to Cassian’s personal childhood. Earlier within the season, we discovered that Clem Andor (Gary Beadle) was additionally hung by the Empire in a show of energy over the group. But Cassian didn’t construct a bomb and attempt to blow something up; as an alternative, he got here unmoored and distanced himself from true, rebellious exercise. Not solely does this present an alternate path that Cassian might have taken himself, but it surely reveals that there isn’t a longer any room for complacency from anybody whom the Empire is trying to oppress. This turns into the underlying thesis of the finale, as Ferrix turns into the crossroads for rise up.
Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) returns to Ferrix, in anticipation of Cassian Andor’s arrival, and she or he’s so assured that that is going to be a defining second in her profession. Shortly after her arrival, she and Corv (Nouf Ousellam) go undercover to get a really feel for what’s taking place on the streets of Ferrix, and they’re completely unaware of the truth that Cinta (Vel Sartha) is trailing them — or not less than it seems that they’re unaware for the second. The rise up isn’t the one social gathering that has eyes and ears lurking within the streets, searching for information or rumors about Cassian Andor. Elsewhere, Xan (Zubin Varla) relays to Brasso (Joplin Sibtain) that he’s made contact with Cassian, and from the shadows, Nurchi (Raymond Anum) plots how he’s going to get extra data out of Xan. Seizing on the chance to relay data again to the Empire, and maybe enhance his personal state of affairs, Nurchi lures Xan right into a false sense of safety throughout post-work drinks and pries details about Cassian’s impending arrival out of him. It’s not a lot, but it surely’s sufficient to win the favor of the Imperial officers lurking within the streets.
On Coruscant, Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) waits exterior a social gathering for Perrin (Alastair Mackenzie) to complete shmoozing with the opposite company, and from the second the digicam settles on her, it’s evident that there’s extra to this night out than essentially meets the attention. They commerce snipes at one another when he lastly deigns to extract himself from the festivities, and Mon is fast to ask their driver to offer them a bit privateness. It’s already been established that her driver is a spy of the Empire, and it’s not shocking when he doesn’t yield to her request. Instead, the driving force listens—with nice curiosity—as Mon accuses Perrin of playing once more. He’s fast to defend himself, accusing the declare to be planted by one in all her detractors within the Senate, however Mon stays agency in her perception that he’s been squandering their cash and mendacity about it. After final week’s dire dialog between Mon and Vel (Faye Marsay), it’s straightforward to piece collectively the truth that Mon is laying the groundwork to pin the blame for his or her monetary state of affairs on her husband. Surely the Empire would somewhat consider that the embattled Senator, in a loveless marriage, is coping with a playing husband than suspect she could be silly sufficient to fund the rise up from her personal coffers.
Cassian makes his reckless return to Ferrix and it isn’t clear what his plan is, not less than not at first. Aboard the ship that he scored on Narkina 5, he listens to Nemik’s (Alex Lawther) manifesto and displays on his childhood. It’s a brief, dreamlike recollection of a second he shared with Clem whereby his adoptive father is speaking about rust and making repairs to tools, somewhat than changing them with one thing new. Despite the circumstances of how Clem and Maarva got here into Cassian’s life, it’s clear that he was liked and well-cared for by them. Every second and reminiscence that Andor has proven between the three has showcased a uncommon dynamic throughout the Star Wars universe, the place households are sometimes proven as messy, damaged, and complicated. If Cassian arrived on his homeworld with a plan in thoughts, all of it modifications the second he runs into Pegla (Kieran O’Brien) at his mom’s dwelling and learns about what the Empire has carried out to Bix (Adria Arjona) throughout his absence. Maarva may be useless, however Bix remains to be alive, and he shortly devises a plan to rescue her earlier than he loses one other particular person he cares about.
Cassian isn’t the one particular person to return to Ferrix; Vel and Luthen (Stellan Skarsgård) have additionally arrived in hopes of taking out the ultimate free thread from the Aldhani mission. Vel’s arrival is a bit more fraught with emotion than Luthen’s, contemplating Cinta didn’t decide her up on the shipyard as a result of she was too busy trailing Dedra and Corv. Of course, Vel acknowledges that getting data for the rise up is extra vital, however that doesn’t change the truth that she’s clearly upset about being left to seek out her personal technique to their hideout.
As anticipated, Mon Mothma’s driver takes the data he discovered about her monetary state of affairs on to the ISB, and Blevin (Ben Bailey Smith) is well satisfied that Perrin is liable for her questionable banking selections. While Dedra is listening to the plans that the Daughter of Ferrix have requested for Maarva’s funeral, Blevin and the remainder of the ISB are buzzing with pleasure that they get to execute Anto Kreegyr. Dedra is furious that her superiors dispatched Kreegyr for present somewhat than utilizing him to get extra details about the rise up, and she or he shortly reminds her officers on Ferrix that she needs Cassian Andor taken into custody alive. And whereas the Empire is retaining their eyes out for any signal of the galaxy’s most needed man, Pegla has efficiently hidden him away someplace protected so he can devise a plan to get Bix out of the resort that the Imperial officers have become their headquarters.
When Brasso and Cassian lastly reunite, Cassian unleashes all of his regrets about how his final interplay with Maarva went. He regrets combating along with her, and he regrets not making her include him to Niamos, however like the nice pal that he’s, Brasso steadies Cassian and tries to assist him see previous the grief. He even shares, that in her remaining hours, Maarva spoke about Cassian and her love for him, and her perception that “he’s just the first spark of the fire.” While Maarva had no concept that Cassian was liable for the heist on Aldhani, which reignited her need to push again towards the Empire, she knew what Cassian was fabricated from. Even in her demise, she believed that he was able to engaging in nice issues, and that serves as the ultimate push for him.
Cassian has lots stacked towards him on Ferrix. Not solely does he should keep away from being caught by Dedra and her lackeys, found by friends-turned-narks, or taken out by Luthen and Vel’s lethal plans, however he additionally has Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) arriving to seek out him. As final week’s episode indicated, Syril took his mom’s credit and stole into the evening together with his Pre-Mor buddy Sergeant Linus Mosk (Alex Ferns) to redeem their names after the blunder that transpired the final time they had been on Ferrix. It’s laughable, actually, that Syril is so hellbent on monitoring down a person that doubtless doesn’t even bear in mind what he appears to be like like. But Luthen undoubtedly remembers that Syril Karn is the person that Cassian foolishly spared after they had been making an attempt to struggle their means off of Ferrix.
As the marching band begins tuning their devices and the Time Grappler (Neil Bell) takes his place atop the bell tower on Rix Road, tensions start to mount all through the town. Rather than staying amidst the rising crowds on the road, Cassian Andor takes to the higher ranges of Ferrix. Rescuing Bix isn’t one thing that Dedra has factored into her plans for the funeral—she appears to be anticipating that he’ll be within the crowds, or that he’ll make a dramatic look to put his mom’s brick within the wall. It appears she’s underestimated that she’s made Cassian out to be somebody that he isn’t—not less than not but. He isn’t a harmful revolutionary or a selfless martyr; there are nonetheless individuals he cares about.
In a show that harkens again to Cassian’s assertion that energy doesn’t worry, the Imperial troops are frightened of the dimensions of the group that has turned out for Maarva’s funeral. They’re virtually shaking of their boots on the mere sight of a mediocre marching band, and able to don riot gear because the Daughters of Ferrix start flooding the streets. But it’s Maarva’s self-eulogy that provides flight to actual worry. Maarva knew that she was dying, and she or he knew that, whereas she wasn’t capable of lend bodily power to the rise up, she might lend her spirit and sense of obligation in demise. As Brasso and B2EMO make their technique to the top of the funeral procession, Cassian mounts his rescue try whereas the Empire is in any other case occupied with their fears.
When the Empire took over the resort as their headquarters in Ferrix, they didn’t take away everybody who was working for the institution, which inadvertently helps Cassian’s rescue mission. Once he makes his means inside, he runs right into a cook dinner within the kitchen who he is aware of, and who’s greater than prepared to inform him the place Bix is being held. Ferrix has a robust sense of group, one thing that Gilroy has showcased all through Andor, but it surely’s small moments like this that basically underscore simply how a lot these individuals look after each other. The cook dinner had the chance to be a turncoat like Nurchi, however as an alternative, he offers Cassian the data he wants to save lots of one in all their very own. No matter how small-world Star Wars has been up to now, we’ve by no means actually seen a way of group as robust because the one on show in Ferrix.
When Cassian lastly makes his means into the room the place they’ve been holding Bix, he isn’t in any respect ready for what he’s greeted with. Weary and damaged, Bix is clinging to the bars on the window, making an attempt her finest to be a part of Maarva’s funeral. She’s not completely shocked to see Cassian standing there as a result of she claims he’s visited her in her desires. Cassian is horrified—he’s seen the horrors of life in jail on Narkina 5, however Bix’s transformation is a heart-wrenching instance of what the Empire is prepared to do to individuals who resist them. In the primary handful of episodes, Bix was proven as a vibrant, assured, and resilient girl, however now she’s been damaged and Cassian should acknowledge that it’s his fault. His actions led to repercussions that damage others, not simply himself.
From its first introduction, Ferrix has felt like a really lived-in, sensible nook of the galaxy. These are working individuals, who we’ve watched clock out and in of their jobs, congregate for drinks after work, and slowly maneuver beneath the watchful eye of the Empire. With the finale, all the pieces coalesces in the best way that real-world revolutions have traditionally began: at a funeral. In the group of mourners who’ve gathered to listen to Maarva’s remaining phrases, there are two teams of individuals trying to benefit from the state of affairs: the rebels who wish to kill Cassian and the Imperial officers that wish to take him into custody. Gilroy has positioned an enchanting dialog, that reveals the “good guys” are prepared to kill their very own to guard themselves, whereas the “bad guys” are prepared to maintain individuals alive if it furthers their very own causes. But it’s neither of those two events that spark the following violence—it’s Maarva.
As Bee performs Maarva’s eulogy, the larger-than-life hologram looms over the group and delivers an ominous name to motion. She tells her former neighbors and associates that they’ve been sleeping and turning away from a fact that they don’t wish to face. There is a wound on the middle of the universe that gained’t heal as a result of the Empire is a illness that thrives within the darkness. Her phrases echo real-world warnings, like The Washington Post’s dire warning years in the past—when Rogue One was nonetheless recent in our minds—that “democracy dies in darkness.” It’s this somber and stirring message that units the residents of Ferrix towards the riot-shield-wielding officers closing in on them.
The battle breeds chaos compounded by Wilmon’s bomb exploding into the group of officers. Brasso is fast to comb in and rescue Wilmon from the fray, although Xan is just not as fortunate because the Imperials begin attacking anybody and everybody who was within the crowd of mourners. Dedra will get swept up into the group, overpowered by the townspeople who’re posed to tear her aside, limb-by-limb, however her sudden hero (who has had his eyes on her for the reason that second she stepped into the group) is fast to tug her free from the mob. The scene that follows is wholly uncomfortable on various ranges.
Syril has been a wild card since his introduction and the primary feedback about his altering his Preox-Morlana uniform set the stage for a way eaten up he’s about being seen as essential and helpful. Once Dedra made the error of seeing him as helpful—even when she shot down his makes an attempt at leveraging his data for an actual job—it set him on a path of an unhealthy obsession along with her. This obsession manifested in him stalking her at work, studying her commute to the ISB, and accosting her. It was a startling second and the throughline between her horror from that episode to her less-than-disgusted expression when he saves her life introduces a probably much more disturbing dynamic between them when the present returns for Season 2.
Corv isn’t as fortunate as Dedra, as no obsessed guardian angel is searching for him. In his haste to flee the fray and maintain a watch out for Cassian Andor, he catches Cinta trailing him and makes an attempt to carry an finish to that. But Cinta hasn’t stayed alive for so long as she has by coming to a possible struggle with out a weapon. She shortly dispatches him with a blade and with out a single glimpse of remorse—which begs the query of what occurred to the lady and youngster she was “watching” on Aldhani. Later, as Cinta and Vel collect their belongings to go away Ferrix with out a hint, Cinta assures Vel that the blood on her fingers isn’t her personal and Vel doesn’t even bat a watch.
Cinta and Vel aren’t the one individuals making ready to go away Ferrix. In the shipyard, Jezzi (Pamela Nomvete), Brasso, Wilmon, and B2EMO have boarded Cassian’s ship, and Pegla is swiftly working to organize it for a fast getaway as soon as Cassian arrives with Bix. Once Cassian ensures that they’re all safely tucked away on the ship, he informs them that he isn’t going to be leaving with them. Bix, nonetheless very misplaced inside her personal thoughts, speaks of Cassian as if he isn’t even there—mumbling about how he all the time manages to seek out his means again to them. Before he leaves, he guarantees that he’ll discover them. But will he? Is Gilroy setting us up for heartbreak with Season 2?
Before the episode attracts to its remaining moments, distant from the violence on Ferrix, Mon Mothma is going through a private disaster. Even with setting Perrin as much as take the autumn for her suspicious monetary actions, she isn’t capable of keep away from the deal she made with Davo Sculdun (Richard Dillane). Mon and Perrin stand at both aspect of their daughter Leida (Bronte Carmichael) as they current her to Davo’s son. Even with out a single phrase of dialogue between the 2 households, Mon’s expression reveals the load of her actuality. These are the sacrifices that Luthen has alluded to all alongside. The value of rise up comes at a excessive, unfathomable value.
Andor’s season finale doesn’t go away us hanging about the place Cassian is headed, as an alternative of safely escaping together with his associates. As Luthen retreats to his haulcraft, there’s an instantaneous sense that he isn’t alone—and he’s not. Cassian emerges from the shadows together with his blaster and a determined request to both kill him or take him in. Across the span of twelve episodes, we have now watched Cassian struggle for a life that wasn’t price something. He was borrowing cash from associates he by no means deliberate to pay again, aimlessly floating by life, carelessly hurting individuals he cared about, and overstaying his welcome at each door he arrived at. Even when he obtained his first style of combating for the rise up, he was extra within the payout, than he was impressed by what the trigger meant. But as he stands earlier than Luthen, it’s clear that he’s lastly realized that his life isn’t price something except he’s prepared to pay the price of freedom. Narkina 5 radicalized him and compelled him to appreciate that even when he saved his head down and aimed for complacency, the Empire would nonetheless come for his life—so why not pay the last word value? Whether he lives or dies, the end result remains to be the identical: he’s already a useless man due to what he’s endured. These final moments lastly set Cassian absolutely onto the trail he’s destined to steer; one that can devastate and encourage all the identical.
Andor is an ideal instance of what Star Wars is ready to do with the fitting workforce of creatives, and it stands as a testomony to the sorts of tales that tv as an entire is able to doing. The world is just not as black-and-white as individuals would possibly want to see it, and it’s not shades of grey that I’m alluding to. There’s the glimmering gold of war-mongered credit, the violent splashes of harmless blood, and the blue skies that masks the grim realities beneath them. Tony Gilroy and his incomparable workforce of writers, administrators, and solid had been capable of minimize deep right into a galaxy far, distant and discover deep, significant themes that decision again to the foundations on which George Lucas first constructed this franchise. Sure, Star Wars is for youngsters, but it surely’s by no means too early to remind them that even in a fantastical world set among the many stars, there are tyrannical powers at play that decision for on a regular basis individuals to stand up. Star Wars has all the time been political, and it’s all the time known as for anthropological exploration, and it has all the time been at its finest when it makes use of the actual world to inform its tales of rise up.
Rating: A+
The first season of Andor is streaming now on Disney+.