Andor Episode 6 Review: High Intensity Episode That Once Again Proves Andor’s Worth
Stars: Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, Elizabeth Dulau
Director: Susanna White
Streaming Platform: Disney+
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4/5 (four stars) [yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]
The time has finally come for the Rebellion in Andor and, as we have been repeating for several weeks now, even now the new Star Wars series does not disappoint expectations, quite the contrary. From a certain point of view, it could be a product a little too framed in its structuring since it is quite evident that it develops over arches of 3 episodes each and perhaps, unless particular storytelling is used or the story requires something else, becomes predictable. You already know that when the time comes for that third episode all hell will break loose and the rest is pure preparation, a nice appetizer before the main course. Yet the strength of Andor is paradoxically this, manages to combine an incredible number of elements, characterizations, the charisma of the characters and details, that in the end, the structure fails so much it is easy to fall into the microcosms brought to the screen.
We have emphasized this since our first look at Andor, the Tony Gilroy series recovers certain aspects that Star Wars hasn’t put in place for too long. And if, as in the sixth chapter, you add a spectacular visual component, that’s it, right? And in fact, last week there was practically no violent conflict, but several dialogues and confrontations. We got to know better about Aldhani’s “rebels”, whom writer Dan Gilroy outlined through small details and personal stories and discovered Mon Mothma’s family difficulties, as the Empire begins to notice dissidents. In our analysis of Star Wars: Andor Episode 6 we will explain whether we liked this ending of the second story arc or not.
Andor Episode 6 Review: The Story
We had left Cassian (Diego Luna) in the process of starting the mission on Aldhani, having set the record straight with some members of the rebel group who distrusted him, most notably the nervous Skeen (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) who just couldn’t. to believe the tale of the newcomer – here you can find our review of Andor Episode 5. And in essence, the episode is only the execution of the plan of which we have heard the details in recent weeks, rendered in the now usual style that Gilroy has perfected in Andor: there is therefore infiltration, espionage, the classic hiccup that it doesn’t make everything go as expected, but in addition almost maniacal attention to the setting and the uses and customs of the local population.
We did not really feel the pressing need to admire how Aldhani celebrated the extraordinary anniversary of the Eye, but once staged and wisely positioned within the episode we could not help it. In practice it has a dual function because on the one hand it represents the right and deserved emotional outlet after hearing about the Eye in a very heartfelt way and on the other it acts as an interlude, to break the rhythm and breathe the pathos that an operation of the genre arouses – a trick that Gilroy is experimenting a lot in various forms.
Virtually the entire episode 1×06, “The Eye”, takes place on Aldhani: in fact, the moment has come for the coup that the rebels have been planning in detail for two episodes. The idea is to rob the imperial salary deposit, launching a powerful economic attack on the imperial machine to finance the future rebellion. If on the one hand, it is difficult to feel sorry for the poor Imps without pocket money, on the other hand the Gilroy script is careful to show us also the human side of the Empire: from the officer’s wife, worried about the frail son referred to in husband does not care at all, to the simple soldiers who would just like to enjoy this phantom spectacle of the Eye, a peculiar weather condition revered by the inhabitants of Aldhani that the rebels of Vel Sartha intend to use as cover during the mission.
The second narrative arc of Andor belongs to the caper or heist genre, practically those stories of thefts, scams, or robberies in the style of Ocean’s Eleven or Money Heist, to remain in the context of the TV series. The whole episode, which lasts about an hour, is focused on the shot, leaving a very small space, they are in the final scenes, to what happens in the rest of the galaxy: if you were waiting to see the infamous reception that Mon Mothma was talking about with her husband, because maybe you were hoping for a Bail Organa cameo, well, you weren’t the only ones and you will be disappointed. Chandrila’s senator just makes a brief appearance in the Senate, just as we only see Luther’s expression satisfied just before the episode ends.
Andor Episode 6 Review and Analysis
These are moments of transition that taken individually at the bottom are worth little or nothing, but they are details on details that add up and make an abysmal difference during the execution of the plan. And not for their narrative importance, at best negligible or curious, but for the construction of a credible setting and the consequent emotional involvement of the spectator, always pushed to the maximum we have spent time with these people, with their doubts, fears and hopes and we are tempted to take an interest in their fate, even if in all probability we will never see them again. A little magic that Andor carries with him from the beginning and that we hope will be kept until the end, as he very trivially distinguishes the series from a generic spy-thriller with touches of science fiction.
Too bad for the absolute lack or almost of the other subplots, especially the political ones, already put on standby during the last episode and which we sincerely hope they can claim much more space in the coming weeks – even if the small glimpse on how the rebel enterprise has been received by the imperial Senate and by the ISB. Small notes of disappointment that partly disappear due to both the visual wonder that is the Eye and for an ending that once again demonstrates Andor’s ability not to fall into traps or simplifications.
Accompanied by a perfectly fitting soundtrack, which alternates with the songs and invocations of the Aldhani during the festival of the Eye, the direction takes us firmly to the imperial base which, just as Cassian had remarked last week, is so convinced that it is unassailable to prove completely unprepared in the face of the siege of a handful of armed dissidents. So, the episode continues with a choice of essential shots and dialogue, and when it seems like everything is going the right way, all hell breaks loose and shootings and chases come to close the circle.
The Escape in the Eye scene is truly spectacular, and simply confirms the quality of Star Wars: Andor also from the point of view of special effects and pure and simple art direction. Andor, in some ways, is the closest TV show to what a brand like Star Wars represents – or should represent – on a television or film level. Very short analysis, ours, this week, but in reality the episode is so focused on the rebel strike that it doesn’t leave much room for references to explain, and going into the details of the ending would be real spoilers, so maybe we’ll talk about it in a second. The moment provided that the Gilroys decide to somehow continue the story of this rebel cell, even if it seemed quite close to us.
There are, however, a couple of goodies that deserve a brief reflection. Andor showed us a more human side of the Empire, but also the black soul of ordinary people like our protagonist and the rebels he joined for money, but still sticking to a moral code. If you’ve seen Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, then you know that Cassian is a character made of lights and shadows that begin to leak into the TV series as well. Additionally, the series first shows us the Galactic Senate on screen shortly before it is disbanded by Palpatine. We see Mon Mothma speaking to a practically empty Senate, very different from the too lively and populated one of the prequel trilogies: practically a facade Senate, given that at this point in history the emperor has already centralized all decision-making power. It would be interesting to see how and when he gets it out of the way, and Mon’s reaction to the ultimate defeat of democracy.
Andor Episode 6 Review: The Last Words
Maybe we will be a bit repetitive, but Andor continues to give us enormous satisfaction. The satisfaction that comes once again, for example, from the extraordinary ability to build credible environments that make a difference once the action takes hold. Or from the wonderful characterization rich in details of the characters, which tempts the viewer to take an interest in their fate, pushing the emotional involvement to the maximum even towards those who, most likely, we will never see again. Or from the sensational visual sector, from an infiltration and espionage company managed at best or perhaps from an ending that demonstrates for the umpteenth time how much Andor wants to do things right and avoid simplifications or trivializations of any kind. There is a downside to all of this, though: the lack of secondary storylines, especially the political ones, still put on standby. An understandable choice, mind you, but now we want a decisive push in that direction too. Andor has earned a little trust, let’s put it this way.
