ANDOR SEASON 2 EPISODE 7-9 REVIEW: The Best Star Wars Ever

We all knew what this season of Andor had been building up to and that the cost of rebellions are often paid in blood. However, nothing could have prepared us for what Tony Gilroy and company had in store for this weeks releases of Andor.

The Imperial rule on Ghorman had been building up as though it were a pressure cooker. The ISB had been carefully plotting their false flag operation to gain sympathy toward their cause and uncontrolled access to the rock the Emperor so desperately wanted to mine on the planet. We jumped a year to 2 BBY as the Rebellion has made itself at home on Yavin 4. Bringing us to this beautiful planet with its rich green forests and inside the rebel base continues to build upon the growing cause and resistance that we see in the original trilogy. Cassian is nursing a blaster wound on his right shoulder as Wil returns from a mission on behalf of Luthen to which Wil keeps quiet except to tell Cassian that Luthen wishes to know if he is ready to work again. Bix and Cassian who have made themselves at home on Yavin clearly have some tension as Cass is ready to leave it all behind while Bix believes whole heartedly in the rebellion and its cause.

Ultimately Wil reveals his part on the ongoing attacks against the Imperials on Ghorman to which the journalists and the news have deemed terrorist attacks to garner further sympathy for the Empire. Cass learns that Luthen wishes for him to kill Dedra who is overseeing the operation as she has been hunting them all since Aldhani. After Bix forces Cass to meet with a force healer and learn that he is a “messenger” Cass is faced with little choice but to return to Ghorman for one final mission in his eyes. Meanwhile, Syril and Dedra share an uncomfortable yet heartwarming kiss as Dedra instructs Syril to return home and have his bag ready for when she gives the word.

The Ghorman Massacre

Episode 8 brings the tensions to a head-on Ghorman as the wonderfully crafted music plays into each and every scene. Cass returns to Ghorman with one goal in mind but, is met with just how dire the situation has become. The Empire has made it out as though the citizens have had outside help and are staging a violent protest at the plaza. The slow build within the episode shows the grip on propaganda the Empire has on the galaxy in what feels almost too similar to real-world current events. While everything has been slowly building to this moment nothing could have prepared us for the events that take place in this episode.

Cassian realizes too little too late that it is all a trap as the citizens of Ghorman march upon the plaza that has reopened into a killing field for the Empire. Syril realizes that this entire time he has been a pawn as Kyle Soller blows the audience away with his sudden shift in demeanor. There is an intense sequence between him and Dedra as he forces his way into her office confronting her about the entire situation and how she played him and kept the real reason behind them being there a secret. It is a highly intense and uncomfortable scene executed in a haunting way from Denise Gough who has played stoic and strong but the fear in her eyes as Syril chokes her in anger brings out the full range of acting ability from these two stars.

As Syril makes his way into the crowd the massacre begins after inexperienced troops are sent into the crowd to control and the Imperials kill them setting off the powder keg in one of the most intense and heavy sequences of events that this franchise has ever given us. It is shooting fish in a barrel for Imperial troops as every blaster fire sounds heavy and feels heavy. The slow-building sense of dread explodes into a chaotic scenario with innocent civilians being gunned down and members of the Ghorman resistance attempt to fight back to no avail. The camera work and the deaths as the event unfolds leaves the audience breathless and helpless.

Kyle Soler deserves an award recognition as Syril sees Cassian amongst the chaos and the two fight it out in a bloody and intense hand-to-hand sequence which leaves Syril dead as he attempts to shoot Cass and instead is shot in the head. It culminates in a heartbreaking scene as Cassian asks him “Who are you?” it goes to show the disparity between the two characters and how everything Syril has worked towards and held onto is ultimately meaningless. The episode ends with Cass taking back who we now know as K-2SO and Wil staying behind on Ghorman.

The Rebellion Has Found its Face

In episode 9 word of the massacre has made its way to the Senate as Bail and Mon Mothma share final words with Bail telling her he must stay behind and she must make a speech and immediately escape. Meanwhile, Luthen has discovered that Bail’s team has an ISB Agent within them and must now rely on Cassian to get Mon Mothma to safety after her speech. The shadow operations come to light as Luthen explains everything to Mon Mothma revealing to her a plan bigger than even she could have imagined. Genevieve and Stellan put on an acting masterclass as the Luthen explains he has always done what must be done and kept her safe without her even knowing.

Genevieve O’Reilly delivers one of the most powerful speeches in Star Wars history to the Senate and propels herself into the seat as the face of the Rebellion. Every word feels as though it weighs a thousand pounds and the scene is beautifully executed. The Empire fails to shut down her speech until its final words as Cassian rushes to get her out of harm’s way. Despite knowing that these two characters survive Gilroy does an incredible job of making us forget this as we fear for their safety and lives as Cassian shoots their way to safety leaving Mothma stunned and suddenly realizing how real all of her work is.

Knowing what happens to Cassian is even more heartbreaking because without him the Rebellion would have been crushed before it ever started. He delivers Mon Mothma and is informed that Gold Squadron will be delivering her and taking the glory not him which Rebels fans can rejoice in as it means they get their moment. The episode ends as Bix leaves a message for Cassian who returns to Yavin to tell her he wishes to leave the cause and only cares for her. She explains how as long as she is there the Rebellion has no chance due to how important he is to their cause. When the war is over they can live their life and shoutout to Adria Arjona who delivers another powerful and heartbreaking speech. Again, knowing how Cassians story ends leaves the audience in stunned tearful silence showing the cost of war and freedom. The episode ends with K2 coming to life showing his origin story and the start of his and Cass’s friendship.

War Has No Winners

These 3 episodes were an absolute masterclass of storytelling. This may be the heaviest and most intense Star Wars we have ever been given in its nearly 50-year history. The true atrocities the Empire has done are being shown and the cost of this war and how it is not all parties on a forest moon on Endor. We even see Dedra break down in tears, shattering her glass of stoicism. The war is shown for what it truly is, a painful and costly cause for everyone that is involved. Season 2 has been nothing short of intense and tragic and with 3 episodes to go it is hard to let these characters go knowing certain fates.

Andor deserves all of its recognition, every actor and every member involved in this show has brought forth their best, and despite how bleak it has become there are glimpses of hope within. Without question, this is the best story arc ever told in this franchise.

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