Andor - Episode 9 - Review
The previous episode of Andor finally started to connect people and left our titular character languishing in prison. Does this new episode keep the galaxy moving forward? Or has it opted to slowdown once more?
The episode kicked off by showing just how ruthless the Empire can be, or more specifically the ISB. We know that they are willing to do anything in order to get information, it is something we have been told time and time again, this however was something else. Not only did we get information on the little operation on Ferrix, but we also learnt how Bix came into the equation. Where things took a much darker turn however was with the method of information extraction, the cries of children of a race that were slaughtered, so the Empire could build a fuel plant. We have seen medical droids, the interrogation droid (the giant black floating thing) and chambers were people have been placed for questioning, but this was something else. It really provided a sense of malice, that the Empire as grand as they are, has plenty of people on the ground willing to do whatever they must to achieve the goals, it was certainly one way to open the show up.
At this point, the show bounced around a few of its plots, which is perhaps something I am starting to dislike. If we stick with Mon Mothma and her crusade for the people of the galaxy, we got to see her attempt to deliver an impassioned speech, only for no one to care. We then learnt that Val, the leader of the Aldhani raid, is actually family to Mon. That was not a connection that I saw coming, if only because it really didn’t make any sense, but on thinking on it, now it explains how Mon got connected with Luthen or vice versa. Another whisper conversation about the money that Mon needs with both Val and her old friend and her part was wrapped up. We know that Mon plays a much larger role in the original movies, but right now her part is so murky that attempting to stay interested is a challenge and one they need to do something about.
Moving away from Mon, but staying on Coruscant, we got more time with Mr Rules, Syril Karn. The conversations with his mother are not interesting, they never have been interesting and the only interesting aspect is when he most likely ends up like Norman Bates. Evidence of his lack of understanding on how the world works is that he has been loitering around the ISB headquarters, in order to meet up with Dedra Meero. That scene was creepy on so many levels, not only because he was essentially stalking an ISB supervisor, but rather that she was visibly disturbed by him. Having the episode open up with Meero, calmly holding a conversation about the rebels, before leaving Bix to be tortured, shows that she is brutal. Showing that she still has moments where she feels vulnerable, gives us a point of view on her human side, mostly that she has one. The scene and the one that followed, didn’t last long, but it showed that no matter who has the power, there are still things that scare everyone.
While Meero was having fun torturing in person and via remote, the ISB scoring a break in picking up a rebel pilot felt a bit easy. Anto Kreegyr is a name that only first showed up in the last episode, so hearing that the pilot was one of his may not have meant much, but the large implications are staggering. The plan to cause a mechanical fault and leave the ship drifting in space is smart, because while Saw Gerrera might not think much of Kreegyr, the ISB think otherwise. There is a lot of ifs in the plan they came up with, but if it works, there is the potential for the rebels to be set back and it raises the stakes quite a bit. The problem though is that there is nothing about the stakes that matter right now. If we had a connection to Kreegyr or more rebels, the ISB baiting a trap would be impactful, right now it feels like the next step in a 12-step plan. The opening scene was impactful as we had a connection to Bix, we got to see her and the relationship she had with Cassian, for good and bad. So having her in that position and then later on that state, it hits differently, as does the threat for Mumma Andor.
Swapping to the title character, things were interesting, if only because we saw that even now he is working an angle. Andor being in prison was never going to make for good tv, him breaking out however, that would be and watching him work a few methods, that was interesting. Seeing Ulaf struggling to work could have been played up as just an old man getting old, or something related to the conditions, but a medical cause was interesting. I say interesting, because of what it allowed to happen at the end, we got to see Andor having conversations about making a break for things, attempting to learn the number of guards and getting nowhere. The final moments showing that Kino Loy was now on board with escaping, felt like the right path to take, as resourceful as he is, Andor could not escape on his own.
After last weeks episode started to connect people together, this week spent more time reenforcing those connections, amongst establishing new ones. Andor busting out of prison was always going to happen and now seeing he has plans and people on board, it seems like it could come soon. Showing off the ISB in two different, yet equally underhanded ways, put stock in the Empire is bad argument. Having one of the lead players from that group still shown to be vulnerable though, helps connect the audience to them, even if one of their plans seems a bit contrived. It would have been nice to see the show push further forward across the board, but by now the stage is as set as it can be, so with luck going forward, there should be lots of action.
The Score
8.0
The Pros
+The show opening with torture, delivered by a calm person, shows how ruthless the ISB can be
+Seeing Andor has plans in place and is learning how to escape is a welcome confirmation
The Cons
-The ISB getting luck with their rebel pilot, feels a bit to required for plot development
-More Mon Mothma whisper conversations that hardly drive things forward
