We’re approaching the finale of Andor Season 2, and I must say that Tony Gilroy has given us some heart wrenching, tragic, and explosive pay off. This second to last arc of the series is set 2 years before the Battle of Yavin, and pieces are now being moved into place for the beginnings of Rogue One. This arc was paced and formulated so well and so much happens here that I can’t fit it all so I’ll hit the high points as best as I can. There will be some spoilers. Let’s get to it!
The Story So Far
A year has passed since Cassian and Bix left Coruscant, and they are now settled on Yavin IV as the Rebellion slowly gathers strength to form a proper army. Cassian longs to escape his current life and hopes to live peacefully with Bix. Wilmon returns with news that Dedra Meero has been located on Ghorman, presenting an opportunity for revenge after the events on Ferrix. Cassian views this as his final mission for Luthen, even though Bix wants them to stay and fight the Empire.
On Ghorman, the Empire’s plans are reaching a critical point. Anti-Imperial sentiment is escalating into violence, fueled by the ISB’s manipulations. This gives the Empire the justification it needs to tighten its grip and begin a destructive mining operation in earnest. Dedra, now realizing she could be responsible for the destruction of an entire planet, struggles with her conscience but tries to find comfort in her relationship with Syril and the promotion this operation could bring her. Syril, in turn, is questioning his own motives; he once believed he was helping to maintain security, but the Ghorman rebels have discovered his ties to the Empire and have rejected him.
Major Partagaz calls in an Imperial fixer to act as the catalyst for the coming conflict, waiting for Dedra’s signal. Meanwhile, Cassian and Wilmon head to Ghorman, preparing to assassinate Dedra.
News spreads rapidly on Ghorman that an armada of Imperial warships and mining crews has arrived to extract the planet’s valuable kalkite mineral, a key component secretly needed for the Emperor’s so-called energy project-the Death Star. In response, the Tarkin Massacre Memorial plaza is reopened, drawing large crowds of Ghorman civilians and rebel agitators who gather to protest the Empire’s actions.
With the Imperials barricaded inside Syril’s office building, they wait for the right moment to act. Amidst the chaos, Cassian is unable to get a clear shot at Dedra. After learning the true nature of Dedra’s mission, Syril feels betrayed and leaves her, pushing into the crowd and questioning his own purpose.
Major Partagaz gives the order to proceed, and a green unit of Imperials is deployed to ‘patrol’ the plaza, immediately becoming surrounded by the angry mob. An Imperial sniper kills one of the troopers, triggering a violent exchange of blaster fire between rebels and Imperials. Concerned for Syril’s safety, Dedra orders her forces to find and bring him back. Panic erupts as the crowd flees, resulting in heavy casualties, and many senior Ghorman rebels are killed in the firefight. Syril, stunned by the chaos, spots Andor; driven by rage, the two engage in a brutal melee. Syril is on the verge of killing Andor, blaming him for the situation, but hesitates when Andor insists he doesn’t even know Syril. Before Syril can process this, he is killed by the rebel elder he once befriended and ultimately betrayed.
As the rebels and civilians are trapped in a deadly crossfire, the Imperials unleash KX security droids to finish the massacre. Cassian manages to escape after he and Wilmon destroy one of the nearly indestructible droids. Wilmon chooses to stay behind to rescue his lover, but not before loading the damaged droid onto Cassian’s transport.
In the aftermath, the galaxy is tense and in mourning, as Imperial media casts the rebels as villains. With the ISB tightening its surveillance on dissenting senators, Mon Mothma, urged by Bail Organa, plans her escape from the Senate after delivering her speech, intending to lead the Rebellion from Yavin IV. Luthen, distrustful of Organa’s team, offers Mon his own operative to ensure her safe exit, but she remains cautious about whom to trust.
After her powerful speech condemning the Empire for the Ghorman Massacre, Mon prepares to leave the Senate. Cassian meets her first, but they are intercepted by an agent from Organa’s circle-an ISB plant. Cassian kills the agent, and as stormtroopers close in, they narrowly escape capture. Mon Mothma ultimately flees to rendezvous with Gold Squadron, setting up the events seen in Star Wars Rebels, where she becomes the public face of the Rebellion.
Cassian returns to Yavin only to find Bix gone, having left a message explaining her decision to leave if it means keeping him in the fight. Grieving but undeterred, Andor continues his work, now helping to activate K-2SO.
Thoughts
For me, the last three episodes of Andor have been the best the show has offered so far. Syril, Dedra, and Mon Mothma stood out as the strongest characters in this arc. I’ve often compared both seasons of Andor to a pressure cooker: Gilroy’s setup takes time, but when the payoff arrives, it hits hard. Every event-good or bad-that happens to the characters carries significant weight because of the careful, purposeful buildup.
The Empire has dropped its velvet glove and now rules with an iron fist. Characters who once had doubts are trapped by the consequences of their choices, while those with something to fight for are now fully committed to their war. The writing is top-notch, and the acting is so compelling that you even feel sympathy for the villains, recognizing that they are people too, despite their bad decisions. I even felt sorry for Syril’s mother-overbearing as she is, she still lost a son. The Ghormans’ plight was heartbreaking as well; they knew their way of life was doomed, yet they fought to the very end.
Tony Gilroy, who has said he is not a lifelong Star Wars fan, has nonetheless made careful and thoughtful use of Star Wars lore from both Disney canon and the old Expanded Universe. Notable examples include the Rakatan Infinite Empire from the Old Republic era and, most recently, the Tarkin Massacre on Ghorman-both drawn from the Expanded Universe. Ironically he seems more careful with the lore than other Disney shows, even giving deference to the events in Rebels. His blending of lore enriches the story and grounds it deeply within the Star Wars mythos.
I’m here for the end of this. Despite a controversial start, it’s ending on a high note. See you for the final arc!
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English (US) · 