Andor Recap: The West X-Wing

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As a die-hard Star Wars fan, I can’t help but reminisce about the Galactic Senate in “Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith,” which just concluded a triumphant week-long rerelease, marking its 20th anniversary. In this film, Padme Amidala poignantly laments, “Liberty perishes… with cheers and acclaim.” Later, during a fierce clash between Yoda and the newly proclaimed Emperor Palpatine, the Senate’s grand structure (a colossal dome adorned with an endless array of hovering pods) remains largely intact. However, it never truly recovers from the damage, eventually metamorphosing into the Imperial Senate in the following years and fading into the background of Star Wars lore.

In recent times, glimpses of the Senate can be found in shows like “Andor,” but its role has been secondary compared to other time periods like the sequel trilogy or various series. Yet, this terrific episode of “Andor” brings the Senate back into focus, immersing us right from the start with a captivating opening shot – a shimmering reflection of the building at night, distorted and unrecognizable by a torrential downpour of rain. While it may not be subtle, it certainly drives home its significance in this episode.

The scene shifts to the Senate atrium, where Bail Organa crosses paths with Mon Mothma, as an Imperial agent takes away a senator from Ghorman. Their discussion revolves around the main conflict of this episode: Mon Mothma is considering speaking out against the Ghorman Massacre, but Bail Organa is hesitant to openly support the rebels because “Yavin isn’t ready.” Once they take a clear stance against the Empire, they must abandon the Senate and seek refuge at their rebel base. The risk of revealing their plans is so high that even discussing a speech could be as dangerous as brandishing a blaster in the Senate. Moreover, Luthen suggests that Bail Organa’s team, who will escort Mon to Yavin following her speech, may have been compromised and are no longer trustworthy. The episode mainly explores whether Mon Mothma can deliver her planned speech and escape the Senate safely afterwards. In a way, it resembles a high-stakes, galactic adaptation of The West Wing, except that these colleagues don’t have friendly banter.

For this mission, Luthen recruits Cassian to pose as a journalist named Ronnie Gujah from the “Mid Rim Network” and guide Mon safely from her speech to Yavin. Kleya helps prepare him, while Luthen takes on the task of fiercely criticizing anyone who might weaken their commitment to the rebellion. These scenes aren’t particularly thrilling, as they echo past episodes and because Cassian appears hesitant about leaving the Rebellion entirely. He often expresses a wish to “take charge of his own decisions,” but it remains unclear what that would mean (whether he’d break ties with Luthen or all rebels) for anyone seeking more clarity from him.

In the midst of much debate about who would gain control over Mon Mothma, around halfway through the episode, she delivers her powerful speech. By this point, we could all sense its impact reaching beyond the fictional Galactic Empire during BBY 2. Hearing it, with its eloquence and force, was still moving. It served as a powerful follow-up to the loss of freedom in the Senate, now amplified by everyone within hearing range: “The gap between spoken words and known truth has grown into a chasm.” This statement not only challenges Trump-era falsehoods, which by then were rooted in 2016 or earlier, but also carries significance within the show and beyond, as Mon uses her voice to denounce the “unprovoked genocide” on Ghorman. This comes at a time when expressing an opinion through a student op-ed could lead to visa revocation in reality.

Subsequently, it can be inferred that Mon’s discourse is eventually silenced by the Empire. However, she manages to convey her message effectively, and Cassian manages to intercept her before the compromised Organa team. This triggers a nerve-wracking, labyrinthine chase through the Senate building halls. The sterile silence of certain corridors highlights how these spaces have transformed from symbols of active governance to mere spectacle. After a brief barrage of gunfire from Cassian, which startles Mon Mothma, who is accustomed to decorum despite her rebellious stance, they successfully reach a speeder and flee to the old hideout. There, Wilmon is also present, injured from the Ghorman Massacre, in need of a “real doctor” – perhaps implying a skilled or human medical professional, rather than an amateur or droid one. Cassian then returns to Yavin with this wounded individual.

Mon Mothma will link up with them at a later time following the delivery of another speech to extend her influence, much like Kleya puts it, “rewriting the story.” This appears to be positioning Mon Mothma with the rebellion based at Yavin, rather than Luthen’s clandestine group of pre-rebels who are more likely to be labeled as terrorists by state media. It’s a clever approach to delay Mon Mothma’s official, onscreen joining of the Rebel Alliance, creating an atmosphere where her actions and associations are felt but not directly seen. The show Andor gains a sense of personal touch with this portrayal of a different Mon working alongside Luthen, despite any disagreements about his leadership, making her absence of such interactions in her “future” (past) appearances even more purposeful and calculated, all while the show skillfully fills in the gaps.

On Yavin, Cassian confides in Bix that he doesn’t attribute his victories, including this one, to skills but rather to luck. He expresses a desire to quit, seeking a peaceful life with Bix before his luck eventually fails. However, it seems somewhat peculiar that he presents simpler reasoning to Bix compared to Luthen or Kleya.

The following day, Cassian realizes that Bix intends for him to continue the fight: She has departed without him, as she trusts him to aid the rebels and believes his concern for her safety should not hold him back.

The staging of Bix’s farewell to Cassian in the show features some beautiful design choices. For instance, the sound design subtly highlights the soft chirps of nature as Bix awakens, adding an eerie tension. Before Cassian discovers her message, Bix begins narrating, giving us a glimpse into their emotional exchange ahead. The camera angle, with Bix positioned as if speaking directly to the viewer, creates a sense of intimacy – this is particularly significant since she’s making a video message for Cass.

A notable moment is when the scene cuts from Bix’s pause after “I’ll find you to” to a centered shot of Cassian’s face, which brings us closer to the emotional climax. This could almost be considered a near-perfect episode ending. Despite the intense drama that follows, there are no cheers or applause in this scene. Instead, it’s a quiet, powerful moment between two characters, ultimately deciding Cassian’s destiny. Even though this episode is exceptional, no applause is needed because its impact is felt deeply and silently.

Rebel Yells

Origins.” It’s enjoyable but doesn’t quite align with the rest of the episode’s mood or main themes. Furthermore, it doesn’t seem essential to learn more about why K-2SO’s reprogramming isn’t truly reprogramming or to see more displays of his immense strength after the previous episode’s intense demonstration. Is there a group of Andor fans who absolutely must watch this scene to be compelled to watch the next three episodes?

Initially, let’s rewind and discuss how remarkable this episode is. The captivating opening scene with the puddle reminds me a little of the underwater city of the Gungans from Naboo in Star Wars. However, I must clarify that I’m merely presenting facts here, not making comparisons.

On a network reminiscent of the Mid Rim, one could strive to share factual information, much like how some aspire to do so. Alas, I can’t help but feel that more effort is needed to captivate us with intriguing tales about galactic journalism, even if it’s not entirely authentic.

It would have been evident sooner that the Organa aides weren’t entirely trustworthy. After all, the individual presenting himself as Bail Organa appears nothing like his previous photographs!

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2025-05-07 08:15