Andor Recap: We Used Up All the Perfect

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Amazing conclusion to the critically-acclaimed Disney+ series “Luthen”, where a rebel leader, known for his frequent lectures, defied an empire and other rebels.

In a playful manner, I’m not joking, except for the “wonderful” part. As we near the end, with Andor entering BBY 1 and advancing towards the conclusion of Rogue One, the series delivers its most intimate examination yet – surprisingly not focusing on Cassian Andor himself, who is absent from this episode. Instead, it’s Luthen Rael, brilliantly portrayed by Stellan Skarsgård, who takes center stage in his final confrontation. As usual, Luthen remains calm and composed as he receives vital information about the Empire’s secret Death Star plans from Lonni Jung, a revelation extracted directly from Dedra Meero’s files. It appears that Lonni might be unwittingly asking Luthen to take action on this critical intelligence when he claims, “I wasn’t followed. If they knew what I found, they wouldn’t have let me leave the building.” In hindsight, it seems that Lonni may have been inadvertently urging Luthen to eliminate him and tie up loose ends.

Still, it’s quite chilly to witness Jung’s secret execution, mirroring an early scene from Rogue One, where Cass carried out the task on screen. The desolation of Coruscant during the era of Andor is seldom as evocative as in the deep-focus conversation between Lonni and Luthen, or the melancholic scene afterward, with Lonni’s body slumped on a bench by an antiseptic fountain.

I’ve often sensed a hint of harshness beneath Luthen’s practicality; he appears to be burdened by the choices he must make, yet there’s an uncanny certainty in his swift decision-making that seems almost self-fulfilling. Whether this is deliberate or not is uncertain, but it seems more plausible that it’s a sign of unwavering devotion to a life he understands will probably be harsh and potentially short.

However, there’s something unsettling about using an old allegiance as a pretext for executing a man, particularly when the entire mission is compromised anyway. It seems odd that Luthen would propose escape to Yavin if it’s truly an option for this individual; perhaps I’m missing something?

Luthen is seldom criticized for not adhering to his own teachings, but Dedra Meero often makes such accusations. Following a meeting with Kleya, Luthen decides to destroy evidence from his antiquities shop by pouring liquid metal over their communications center. This comes at an opportune moment as Dedra arrives at the shop, pretending innocence for only a brief while before exposing herself to Luthen and scolding him, referring to him as “Axis.” She criticizes his ostentatious wig (female character) and accuses him of hiding behind Imperial peace and quiet. This is a shrewd observation by the writers: Similar to many fascists and their collaborators, Dedra interprets dissension with the ruling class as an insult. Dedra does not openly espouse Empire ideals, which allows the show to keep them vague, as they have been throughout Star Wars history, while also indicating that she resents being demonized by revolutionaries for following the rules. There’s a hint of class animosity in her words; she believes Luthen is reaping benefits from her hard work while pushing others into turmoil.

In another intriguing exploration of Dedra’s mental state, Luthen abruptly halts the discussion by self-inflicting a wound with an ancient blade. Always the practical one, he has numerous motives for this act, and the fact that it serves as a swift check to Dedra’s aspirations might not even make it to the top 5 reasons. However, it certainly does so; her endeavor is later portrayed as premature, reckless, and unsuccessful. In this episode, we last see her being taken away by the authorities, trying to exude false bravado that she will be exonerated.

In this narrative, Luthen is left in a hospital, under Imperial command to keep him alive for interrogation. Meanwhile, Kleya takes charge, with the latter half of the episode alternating between flashbacks of Kleya’s early days with Luthen and her present-day mission to clear the safe house and infiltrate the hospital. While some viewers might think she is disguising herself as a nurse to rescue Luthen, this isn’t portrayed as a surprising twist. Instead, given that the Empire wants Luthen imprisoned (at least temporarily), it makes sense for Kleya to see it as her mission to find another means of freeing him.

In the unfolding narrative, we delve deeper into Kleya’s past where she first encounters Luthen during her tumultuous childhood amidst war. He was a soldier who reluctantly served, often escaping the chaos to find solace in drink, lamenting “let it end” among the clamor of conflict. This encounter seems to have occurred following the fall of the Republic in BBY 19, although specifics about the military operation or Luthen’s role remain unclear. The episode emphasizes Luthen’s perspective through a prolonged, somewhat blurry camera angle, reflecting the show’s close attention to his character.

It’s somewhat unexpected that the series Andor focuses so intently on Kleya towards the end of its storyline, but it certainly isn’t disappointing. The minimal dialogue in her hospital mission creates a remarkable sense of tension through perspective; walking corridors disguised as a nurse might not be inherently thrilling, but it’s enhanced by a few more flashbacks showing Kleya as Luthen’s occasional daughter. These scenes underscore their bond while also depicting the harsh realities they must endure. This solo performance is so finely tuned and succinct that it feels like we’re learning Kleya’s entire life story in approximately 15 minutes, with seamless connections between her past (Luthen and young Kleya planting a bomb on an apparently peaceful planet) and present (Kleya using a bomb to divert hospital security so she can find Luthen).

Andor is often commended for its discipline and gravity, though perhaps less frequently mentioned is how skillfully it adapts the grandeur of Star Wars for television. This episode, though only a piece of a larger narrative, leaves a lasting impression when Kleya eventually reaches Luthen, turns off his life support, and sheds a tear before he dies. The scene is conclusive, even if temporary. For a brief moment before the story continues, the show seems to pause for breath.

Rebel Yells

• It’s clear that ‘Andor’ is mature, refined, and thought-provoking content. I’d love to have one action figure based on the elderly-looking alien character who Kleya pushes around while dressed as a nurse, affectionately referred to as “Granny.” She seems to share some resemblance with E.T., given her unique head shape. Perhaps ‘Star Wars’ hospitals could replace ‘Star Wars’ cantinas in the future.

The planet where Luthen and Kleya, a young girl, share a pleasant meal while simultaneously planting a bomb – could this be Naboo? Although Star Wars often introduces a new planet with architectural and scenic similarities to a well-known one, it rarely turns out to be the same, for some unexplained reason.

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2025-05-14 06:04