Andor Episode 5 Review: The Power Of Small Details, The Anxiety of The Rebellion Before The Storm
Stars: Diego Luna, Genevieve O’Reilly, Alex Ferns
Directors: Toby Haynes, Benjamin Caron
Streaming Platform: Disney+
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4/5 (four stars) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
One of the aspects that we have emphasized most often about Andor and that in all probability we will continue to repeat in the coming weeks is its unexpected desire to never take easy paths. Even to an untrained eye, the myriads of situations in which the new Star Wars series could simplify or spectacular the whole, increasing the rhythm and continuity of the action sequences, immediately stand out. And perhaps, after the disappointments of The Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobi, it was also legitimate not to have exactly sky-high expectations and to expect something that would crumple in one way or another.
Andor, on the other hand, continues to withstand the impact wonderfully with his slow and distinctive style, more interested in building his atmospheres, settings and dramas rather than entertaining in the strict sense. On the other hand, the time has not yet come to see the effort of the Rebellion on Aldhani in action, indeed, this fifth episode is almost totally focused on the day before, on the anxiety and fear that can creep into a group of people before taking risks to own life.
Andor Episode 5 Review: The Story
We left Cassian (Diego Luna) on the planet of Aldhani, incognito under the name of Clem and in the process of helping a small group of the Rebellion steal the salaries of an entire imperial sector – here you can find our review of Andor Episode 4. And the approach to the fateful day is not the best: the handful of rebels begins to reveal cracks and gaps, even somewhat cumbersome in the plan, the disagreements about the sudden arrival of this Clem are becoming more and more heated and the anxiety seems to make it as a master because words and ideals are one thing, but when the fateful moment is at hand the music changes.
The episode is essentially wrapped up here, with just a few quick detours to a stressed-out Luthen (Stellan Skarsgard), the suffocating life of Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) surrounded by spies and a disinterested family and the efforts of Deedra (Denise Gough) in proving the existence of an organized anti-imperial effort. Deviations that in reality, at least in this episode, act more as small sections to break the rhythm and let the events on Aldhani breathe, as they add little or nothing to the respective storylines, but in the modus operandi now typical of Andor they still manage to arouse a certain impression. For example, admiring a Luthen so suffering and human, after having observed his brutality and pride, in our opinion is a very nice touch of class; a few seconds that tell a three-dimensional character in a better way than many other series manage to do in their entire life cycle.
Andor Episode 5 Review and analysis
But obviously, the highlight is represented by the dialogues and the clashes of the small group of rebels, almost a pretext to bring to the screen a rich and diversified human cross-section: there is the willing young man driven by strong ideals, the resolute leader who must accept the new entry and make the most of it even if reluctant and a character who just can’t accept Clem’s presence and obsessively sees ghosts and spies everywhere. It looks like a checklist whose only interest is to tick the various boxes and in many ways, it is, useless to go around it. Andor, however, manages to make such a process as natural as possible, sensible, and extremely contextualized, without the shadow of a forcing or a bizarre feeling that, once one character’s turn is over, the next one begins.
Surely it helps the sensational management of a climax that starts from some scowl, a nervous hesitation to accept the suggestions, albeit sensible of a person who has just arrived and who then explodes in thefts and knives aimed at the throat. Anyone who reacts differently when a mission prepared – almost – in the smallest details for months and months approaches, anyone can be seized by fear or the desire to back off and Andor shows it as clearly as possible. The problem with the Star Wars series is more than anything else the same, that is, the slow and staid pace that cannot meet everyone’s tastes. Having overcome this obstacle, however, we are convinced that what Andor offers is worth the price of the ticket.
Andor Episode 5 Review: The Last Words
Those who expected to see Aldhani’s Rebellion in action this week will be disappointed, as Andor continues his path of slow pace and absolute disinterest in offering empty action. This fifth episode is nothing more than the approach of the rebel group to the mission, which does not go in the best way because anxiety and fear are starting to dominate. And, of course, newcomer Cassian/Clem will be your favorite release valve. It is as if it were a wonderful human cross-section in which everyone reacts differently to the imminent prospect of risking their life, without looking like a bizarre and contrived checklist to tick. There are some small detours, of course, on Luthen or Mon Mothma, but they represent more than anything else from moments to break the rhythm and let the events on Aldhani breathe, even if even in those few seconds the attention to detail and the construction of credible and three-dimensional characters is impressive. Andor will also be a slow series that may not meet anyone’s tastes, but for us, it is worth the price of the ticket.
