Andor Recap: Couple Goals

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In a sense, the mid-season heist of “Andor” carries a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of classic Star Wars’ Halloween or Christmas episodes. However, unlike the previous season’s Aldhani mission that served as a stepping stone for Cassian’s alliance with Luthen, this time around in BBY 3, Cassian seems hesitant about joining forces with the Ghorman Front to instigate rebellion. After his swift visit to Ghorman, Cass voices his concern to Luthen: “Stay away from this.” He explains that the Ghorman Front began too late and is now rushing, which only fuels Luthen’s doubts. It’s possible that Cassian is merely testing Luthen’s nonchalance towards their wellbeing; if the Ghorman Front’s plan to hijack an Imperial transport fails spectacularly, as Luthen predicts, “it will burn fiercely.

It seems that Cassian’s intentions are clear – he wishes to spend some time with Bix at home. However, Luthen’s interference disrupts their temporary semblance of a peaceful home life in their hideout apartment, which offers a lovely view as Luthen had noted earlier. It appears that Luthen had been secretly checking on Bix without informing him, an action that Cass recognizes could create an awkward situation when he eventually learns about it. Even if Bix tries to minimize the intrusiveness, possibly due to her desire to protect her own vulnerability, Cass is visibly upset and storms into Luthen’s antiquities store to address this matter directly. This confrontation leaves both characters agitated.

It turns out that Luthen has chosen a new pair to skillfully manipulate for his empire-robbing schemes: Vel and Cinta. They share a meal at Ghorman prior to embarking on their mission, which they take up with determination. Despite Luthen’s interference in their relationship, they appear to be accepting of it, acknowledging that “we are more valuable to him individually than as a couple” before exchanging a tender kiss, illuminated by the soft glow of the background light.

When they enlist with the Ghorman Front, it seems their primary role is to deliver an urgent lesson in the very skillset that Cassian’s former allies indicate the Ghor are deficient in. However, there’s a sense that they’re being brought in not just for tactical reasons, but also to introduce characters with whom we might form stronger emotional connections than the Ghor, who are coded as French. Although we sympathize with those oppressed by the Empire, these specific rebels haven’t left a significant impact yet. Given the numerous key figures this series is focusing on, this is quite a challenging task.

The hijacking progresses fairly without incident until an altercation with an unassuming bystander, neither an ISB agent nor a stormtrooper, accidentally discharges a blaster round into the night, which ultimately results in Cinta’s death. Isn’t there a trope named for this plot device? While it’s expected that characters aligned with the rebellion will perish on their way to Rogue One, Cinta seems underrepresented in this episode and throughout the season, despite Vel’s motivational speeches. The storyline serves as a recurring contrast to Cassian’s bond with Bix, although it sometimes feels as if the narrative is pushing for her sacrificial role. Cass, firmly committed to the cause, dislikes being put in positions where he must give speeches like Vel. However, he struggles to compartmentalize his emotions as Dedra does: “Syril must never know the true purpose of this mission,” she is warned before taking up her position as an eye on the ground. In other words, Syril should believe he’s merely spying on the rebels, rather than aiding them in inciting an uprising that could be used against them. This portrayal offers an intriguing exploration of complicity: Syril appears to wholeheartedly support the Empire’s broader objectives, provided they adhere to predetermined rules. (Or, in 2025, is this notion outdated, the idea that he might object to the Empire’s manipulations?) Dedra, conversely, is indifferent to the ever-changing rules as long as she can twist them to earn favor and advancement within the fascist regime.

Currently, the hijacking that concerns Cinta isn’t the only instance of a heist in this episode. Simultaneously, on Ghorman’s constant opposing side in Coruscant, there’s a less grandiose operation taking place: Luthen and Kleya need to sneak in at the Senate’s opening gala to retrieve a bug from one of his artifacts before a revaluation exposes it. With quick and hesitant assistance from Lonni Jung (Robert Emms), who is Luthen’s reluctant ISB informant, Kleya manages to complete the task. Mon Mothma adds an entertaining touch: she skillfully provokes and irritates Krennic, whose arrogance in this scene seems more sinister than his villainous demeanor in Rogue One.

In this new mission, Luthen (presumably) signals, bypassing his couples counseling subtly, Luthen may be preparing for their final act as Coruscant residents. This mission involves destroying an ISB wing and killing Bix’s Imperial torturer. This season, the Bix storyline has felt a bit disjointed, seeming to lean more towards a modernized post-damsel tragedy than the intended complexity. However, in this instance, Andor subverts a common trope in such stories. Instead of backing off from violence and maintaining her humanity by not stooping to her abuser’s level, Bix tortures and kills her tormenter, looking empowered as she walks away with Cassian. There is no hesitation, no guilt. The weakest of Andor‘s four season-two arcs comes to a very satisfying conclusion.

Rebel Yells

In simpler terms, it seems confusing to me that characters like Luthen frequently engage in what appears to be a secret conversation by first discussing something trivial, then transitioning into a more serious topic, and finally returning to the initial trivial chat. If they genuinely believe they’re being watched or overheard, wouldn’t this method of communication provide minimal protection for sensitive information? This practice reminds me of Tom Sawyer’s elaborate plan to escape in “Huckleberry Finn,” where he intentionally takes a roundabout route, which seems unnecessary if the danger is imminent. I just can’t help but wonder why these characters don’t opt for more straightforward and direct communication when discussing important matters, especially if they suspect they are being monitored.

In a surprising twist, Benjamin Bratt steps into the role once played by Jimmy Smits, taking on the character of Bail Organa. Despite Smits’ impressive portrayal of Organa across various Star Wars productions like Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Rogue One, scheduling and financial issues prevented him from appearing in Andor. Instead, Bratt has been cast for this role, making his debut in a season set approximately 20 years after Revenge of the Sith, which coincidentally marks its 20th anniversary next month. (The anniversary re-release is now playing in theaters.) While it’s regrettable that we won’t see Smits continue to embody Organa throughout the years, this change could pave the way for Star Wars to become more comfortable with recasting characters without resorting to digital reanimation technology.

At Mon Mothma’s arrival at the gala, there’s a momentary resemblance to the opening theme of HBO Features from the 1980s and 90s in the music played.

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2025-04-30 07:55