Andor Episode 8 Review: Andor Still Finds Its Way with The Portrait of Cassian’s Terrible Imprisonment

Cast: Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, Alex Ferns

Director: Toby Haynes

Streaming Platform: Disney+

Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4/5 (four stars) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

How important is the setting, here’s what our first thought was at the end of the new episode of Andor. After all, it is a detail that is sometimes too underestimated, even for the current state of the entertainment film industry, because it is obvious that if we consider more auteur films the situation is quite different. In a nutshell: the importance of the setting is not even comparable between most Marvel films and a Licorice Pizza by Paul Thomas Anderson; and it would perhaps be a bit too utopian to think that a physical place could perform such a function in the new feats of, for example, Ant-Man.

Yet Andor almost miraculously manages to shorten this immense distance thanks to the exquisitely alienating imperial prison of Narkina 5. A setting that dominates the eighth episode, capable of absorbing as many details as possible and aspects taken from a psychological thriller. Too bad for a plot that sometimes unravels with just a touch more slowness than we would have hoped for, despite the final deals of important blows.

Andor Episode 8 Review: The Story

We then find Cassian (Diego Luna) a prisoner of the Empire and sentenced to a 6-year sentence for having taken a walk in a suspicious place (here you can find our review of Andor Episode 7). Under another familiar pseudonym, he is sent to the Narkina 5 prison factory, where he will face an extremely alienating environment, a sumptuous game of freedom or otherwise decent treatment – food and drink are unlimited – and total inhumanity in practices in practice. working and punitive. Meanwhile, Deedra (Denise Gough) is still haunted by the Ferrix incident and turns to a familiar face to shed some light on what happened and find Andor, while Luthen (Stellan Skarsgard) pursues the same and identical purpose, albeit with very different purposes.

And we cannot fail to notice at the beginning the delicious irony that pervades the entire episode, in which everyone is looking for our protagonist, including imperials, who has already been captured by the masters of the far distant galaxy. Just as amazing is the mammoth work done to characterize Narkina 5, almost a concentration camp that does everything to disguise its being: tasteless food but still food at will, absolute hygiene of the place, attention to possible physical – not mental – health problems and the presence of guards reduced to a minimum wage. All “positive” qualities, if we can say so, concealing instead an Orwellian nightmare that throws immense psychological pressure on every prisoner, destined either to collapse or to become a slave without will.

Andor Episode 8 Review and Analysis

And it’s a sensational portrait, a mix of Blade Runner and a white and aseptic aesthetic, filled with a ridiculous amount of detail positively. We say it from the beginning: the strength of Andor is paradoxical, the ability to outline credible settings that dramatically increase the emotional involvement of the viewer and, consequently, any event that occurs within them, even the smallest and most insignificant. on a more general plot level – and here is perhaps the most striking and shocking example.

The other subplots, on the other hand, continue with honestly fluctuating results, because for example, the events of Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) begin to repeat themselves a bit identical to themselves without anything moving. And it is a shame, as we also lose part of the anxiety of her storyline, that being constantly under observation and spied on by invisible or very visible people. On the opposite side of the spectrum there is now a guarantee, the decision and anger of Luthen, still not satisfied with the results achieved and eager to see the Empire bleed to force it to react more furiously; no matter how many planets will be suppressed, no matter how many peoples will be decimated, no matter how many people will suffer. This and more are done for the Rebellion.

Andor Episode 8 Review: The Last Words

Yes, Andor Episode 8 is of simple transition, it is useless to deny it or turn around it. However, if all episodes of this type had this quality as a dowry, we would be great supporters. Because the truth is that the only portrait of Andor’s imprisonment in the alienating factory prison of Narkina 5 is entirely worth the price of the ticket: it is a concentration camp that does everything to disguise itself, it is a continuous game of small concessions – like at will tasteless food – and terrible psychological fuss over inmates destined to collapse or become slaves. And it’s sensational. The other subplots show some cracks, first of all, the one concerning Mon Mothma, is too blocked and repetitive without something moving. Interesting Deedra’s obsessed investigation, as is Luthen’s persistent anger, still eager to unleash the imperial fury even further. If it hadn’t been for the last 10 minutes though, the feeling is that sometimes the storyline in Andor gets stuck in general too much.