Andor Andor Episode 2.08 Discussion Thread (Spoilers Allowed)

Tji

This is basically what I imagined when Luke said..'you know about the rebellion against the empire '

 

Okay, I just finished episode 8 (BRAVO), and it was excellent. The best of the season so far. I haven't started nine yet. I just had one question about something I was a little confused about. What did Syril *think* he was doing exactly? He obviously didn't know about the mining, but what did she tell him was going on? And did he have any genuine empathy for Ghorman? Sometimes I find the dialogue difficult to hear so I might've missed something (and Disney subtitles suck last time I used them so I didn't even bother with this show). Anyway. appreciate any explanation on this.

 

He thought he was helping to root out outside agitators that were inciting the locals to insurrection.

 

Absolutely phenomenal

The credits being a reprise of the national anthem was done so well

 

That was absolutely outstanding. Easily one of the best single episodes of any show I’ve ever watched.

The media pushing the controlling empire’s narrative and representing the rebels as dangerous, spinning rumours etc etc is so relevant in today’s society

Imperials firing the first shot at one of their own was so cleverly done and is exactly what you’d expect them to do in a show like this

Syril meeting his end after being a good worker and realising he’s just a tiny cog in a completely evil wheel was really quite sad, but I’m glad we got to see him stand up to a woman in his life and break the power that they had over him (albeit for a very short time before his death)

Just, honestly, wow

 

I had a feeling this episode (rather than 9) would be the one in which the Ghorman massacre occurred.

Ultimately, I think this one did enough to propel the larger Rebellion to coalesce later, although it makes me unsure why Tarkin's massacre years earlier wasn't seen as an equal outrage at the very least. I think the escalation here was well done, and ultimately we understand that the massacre extended beyond the confines of the protest in the square. It appears the Empire allowed itself free reign to kill anyone in Palmo. I must say, however, although the world building of Ghorman was well done in the lead up to this episode, I was less invested in its people than I was with the residents of Ferrix.

Where the massacre really worked for me in its brutality was the arrival of the KX droids. Seeing people being kicked and thrown like rag dolls was pretty shocking, and made the massacre much more visually difficult to stomach. Also, I think Cassian's encounter with K-2 worked fine, although I would have preferred if Andor found a clever way to get the upper hand on the droid rather than getting lucky with help from Samm.

The best aspect of the episode though was the fated reunion of Cassian and Syril. The conclusion of Syril's arc in particular was just really well executed. I ultimately think he's a character to be pitied rather than hated. His final confrontation with Dedra was really something and also a great way to close out their tricky relationship. At first, I thought Syril aimlessly standing in the middle of the square amidst the carnage dragged out too long, but we've seen him zone out like this before in season 1 when he's been emotionally devastated. And his fight with Cassian was one of the best action scenes of the entire series, so emotionally charged and messy. And while I always suspected Syril would be killed in this season, I appreciated that it was at the hands Carro Rylanz rather than Cassian or Dedra.

Finally, I thought Dedra's near emotional breakdown in the aftermath was fantastic. Incredible performance by Denise Gough there.

8/10

 

didn't really expect Syril to have a bit of an awakening right before he died. it came too late, but seemed like he was beginning to realize he's on the wrong side.
Syril really was such a well written character. All that rage and frustration pent up inside him, its almost like he takes it out on Cassian. Again, the tragedy of it is, once again, it's misdirected. He's doing it to protect Dedra, not the Empire at that point, but Cassian really isn't his enemy. The Imperial Machine is.

the "journalist" you hear calling it an "insurrection", when they are just singing and chanting.

that shot of the Imperial officer behind the glass with a little smirk on his face, as the massacre occurs. the little attention to details like that is what makes this show so great.

This show is so timely. Tony Gilroy, you are a great man.

 

The real world allegory was impossible to miss, though it's been building up since Ghorman was introduced. As with the real world when these atrocities happen, the main instigators are far, far away. No Palps or Vader or Tarkin or Krennic or Yularen or Partagaz, they can claim blissful ignorance if the true facts ever came to light.

 

Ludicrously good TV. Forget ratings and clicks and subscribership numbers and ad revenue for a minute. Every person who made, financed, or touched this episode in even the slightest way should be immensely proud.

 

Just. Wow.

No point in a rating poll for this as 10 just will not do this outstanding piece of TV any justice at all.

Perfection. For me....The Empire Strikes Back is the absolute best movie in the franchise. Episodes 7-9 of Andor, the best TV in the franchise. Easily.

 

Yes, I’ve seen a lot of people talk about his personal vendetta against Cassian kicking in, which of course is a big factor, but I haven’t seen anyone mention that Cassian also represents the very outside agitators he thought this whole thing was all about in all the moments preceding this. It gives him a chance to feel like he’s still carrying out the mission even if his superiors betrayed him. I’m not sure if this was intended but in that light his reaction to the “who are you??” line could be even be read as realizing that Cassian couldn’t be the secret instigator pulling the strings on the poor brainwashed Ghormans as he imagined if he’s not even familiar with their number 1 imperial asset.

 

Syril's mom and the old women watching the Newsmax show at the end was perfect. cherry on top of the episode.

 

Yup. He was completely in the dark that it was his own girlfriend and the ISB that were the agitators.

 

I agree with all of that. But to give him credit where it's due, he was still trying to stand up for law and order right up until it killed him.

 

I did the same thing! I couldn't believe there was another episode to go. I have a similar feeling about next week's arc. I feel like they could've ended the series with Ep. 9.

 

We already know the climax..it will be Andor flying through the rings of kafrene on the way to kill Tivik

 

He didn’t go there to kill him. He went there to get information. He only ended up killing him because he knew Tivik wouldn’t have been able to escape with his arm and being caught by the Empire was going to be a much worse death as well as compromise the Rebellion.

 

Was the end result I meant

 

Uoahhhh
In need time to recollect myself
I cried like a baby
This is pure gold

 

What a brilliant episode. Absolutely brilliant. As close to a 10 as there will ever be

 

The Ghorman attendant saying, "Rebellions are built on hope," was completely unnecessary, winking at the audience in a way this show never does.

 

I’ve never opened up this way on this forum, and certainly not in response to an episode of a TV show. But there are things in this episode that hearkened back to traumatic experiences I’ve had in my life, including an unstable setting that devolved into conflict in my professional life, a personal experience witnessing an individual’s death from an accident, and not being listened to when warning of an imminent crisis (which materialized in the worst possible way), and did so in a deeply powerfully manner. This episode was simultaneously brutally real and beautiful (the moment the Ghor break into native song being an example of the latter), and I don’t really have a measurement to assign to it. Can I give it a 20/10? No? Well, I don’t care. It’s a 20/10. The most devastating hour of TV I’ve seen in a very long time. The tears were real.

It wasn’t a wink. It means Cassian picked up that phrase from the kid. He was inspired by him then, and you could tell, even on their first meeting. And it hearkens back to Kino Loy repeating Cassian’s phrase “I’d rather die fighting than giving them what they want.” It shows that people aren’t totally individualistic hero bots that do and say everything independent of everyone else. This is a collective rebellion and people are inspired by others in it. I absolutely loved it. Especially as it came from one of the best minor characters in the show. A great actor.

 

Welp, couldn't tell you the attendant's name. That's how memorable he was to me.

 

I swear every time Cassian and will intoned stone and sky I nearly burst into tears

 

How nice for you.