Andor - Episode 10 - Review
For a few weeks now, I have been thinking that Andor is moving a little too slow. Events were moving forward, but it felt like people were being put into place for something big and with how the last episode ended, that something big was bound to happen. Now that it seems Andor has a potential breakout buddy, are things finally moving ahead? The answer is partially yes and partially no.
The episode can be broken down into two parts, the escape and everything else, we shall start on the latter. In the everything else there were two parts, there was the quiet conversations of Mon Mothma and then Luther and his spy. After weeks of whispered conversations at parties from Mon, it was nice to hear one being spoken at a normal volume. When she was told that someone could help her get her money last week and doubts were raised on the persons character, I assumed that we would get someone who was more at home on level 1313. Instead Davo Sculdun was a respectable looking fellow, who was eager to assist, except he didn’t want a favour or money, he wanted to keep the Chandrilan custom going. The custom is that teenagers, like Mon Mothma’s daughter, would be married off at 14 or 15, something that she herself experienced. Sadly for Davo, Mon has no desire to force that tradition onto her own daughter and kicks him out. The entire sequence feels desperate and dangerous, because all those involved know that things are not for charity, but they can’t admit it. The best thing was finally getting to see Mon’s façade crack, if not outright shatter and while the conversation was still quiet, it was a forceful quiet, which I did like.
Luthen on the other hand, well his time on screen was quite the opposite, because out of nowhere he gets a communication from someone. The someone is actually an ISB Officer that was recruited and has been steadily feeding information to the Rebel network that Luthen has established. When the spy decides that they want to withdraw from the Rebel cause, due to them having a child now, Luthen refuses to accept. Not only does he refuses, he lambasts the spy for wanting to quit when he and others are fighting. It is here that we get to here what Luthen thinks of his cause, that the actions he is taking now will be for a world, a galaxy that he knows he won’t get to see, but he does them anyway. It was truly a powerful scene, it not only showcases the devotion to the cause that he has, but that even death won’t stop him. Apart from the first few episodes, Luthen has been left to his own devices for the most part and while being the middle man - as it were, has its place. Seeing how involved he is and how much he is willing to sacrifice changes my perception of the character and in a good way.
Back on Narkina 5, it seems that the hope of escape that blossomed at the very end is not as forthcoming out the gate, with Cassian having to convince Kino to play it cool. Once back in the cell, Cassian informs the members of his group what happened on Level 2 and that no one is getting out, ever. This of course enrages the inmates, as one would expect and with that, they agree to escape. The escape plan that Cassian was working on last episode, sawing of the pipe does come into effect and has some big consequences for the guards, but it is the control room conversation that hits home. Hearing Kino explain who he is and what is going on, over the PA system to a prison full of people that want out and seeing the emotion on his face, at least after Cassian gives him a push, it feels very Braveheart. There are no kilts of course, but there is something to be said about hearing someone cry out for their freedom and having thousands of people rally around that cry.
With the escape comes the realization that some folks won’t make it and some of them don’t get out of the room and my expectation was that Kino would die trying to escape. Discovering that the man can’t swim and no-one offered a hand to the man, it was sad, of course seeing Cassian attempt to speak only to get pushed off the edge was one way out of that story beat. With the fate of Kino currently unknown, there is a chance the character could appear in the future and while the pair clearly didn’t get on at first, there is something between them now. The final shots of Cassian sprinting across the land on the moon is interesting, if only because it highlights that while they have escape the prison, they have not escape the moon. There are also a few more prisons on the surface to worry about, so we might see a moon escape in the next episode.
Going into the episode I knew a prison escape was going to happen, they had been teasing it long enough and it did actually take place, and it was better than I was expecting. Seeing the prisoners basically agree to try within a few moments could be seen as rushed, but given how often they helped each other out, I think it was more of a sign that they trusted each other. Mon Mothma finally getting a chance to be angry was a welcome change and while her story is still moving quite slowly, it is moving. Luthen’s on the other hand is not really going places, yes it was great to learn about his motivations, but that does not drive things home, but as a spy, who knows what he is really thinking. This episode has finally given the show some connective threads that it needed, as well as the kick in the pants, there are of course only two episodes left in this season, so who knows where it will go, but it is going to be exciting to find out.
The Score
9.0
Review access provided by Disney
The Pros
+The escape was as thrilling as I had hoped and felt accurate for Star Wars
+Finally getting some traction on Mon Mothma
The Cons
-Luthen's scene was powerful, but it felt a little out of nowhere
-The escape was perhaps a little rushed, which is ok, but a little extra planning would have been nice
