Andor Andor Episode 2.09 Discussion Thread (Spoilers Allowed)

So much of this episode was working really well for me, and then the obligatory elements and character choices of the last 10-15 minutes gave me pause.

Starting off with the really good stuff: All the buildup to Mon's speech and evacuation was quite strong. I particularly loved that little moment when she smashes the listening device in her office. It's probably the closest we'll ever see Mon committing a violent act herself. While I still would have preferred Jimmy Smits, I must admit Benjamin Bratt did quite well as Bail in this episode. He clearly was making acting choices with Smits in mind. Luthen's chat with Mon Mothma was once again filled with tension and uncertainty, although I do wonder if Rael tipping her off about Bail's compromised rescue team could have been left as a surprise for us as an audience.

Mon's speech to the Senate did exactly what was needed, and Cassian's infiltration and escape was pretty solid (although we were told he'd never been in the building before, yet he manages to find his way around just fine). Then, the reality of needing to hand this off to the Ghost crew offscreen made Mothma's escape feel incomplete, especially because she's still on Coruscant when we last see her. I understand the obligation of that for the sake of canon, but one wonders how this would have played out if Gilroy and the writers had the opportunity to tell the entire story of Mon's escape to Yavin themselves.

Ultimately, there are two big character things I'm bumping up against here. The first is Cassian's reluctance to continue on with the Rebellion. On the one hand, it's understandable given the atrocities on Ghorman, but clear minded Kleya thankfully puts Andor in his place early on to get him to commit to Mon's rescue mission. And yet, even after this escape and personally welcoming Mothma to the rebellion, Cassian once again seriously considers leaving it all behind. It's just hard to understand where that motivation is coming from, especially when we've seen him so deeply committed earlier in this season (especially his genuinely inspiring pep talk on Seinar in the first episode).

And finally, while I've never been a particularly huge fan of Bix, it's been very odd to me that she's essentially been sidelined for most of the season. She spent most of six episodes dealing with trauma (understandable to an extent) and now stays on Yavin while Cassian goes to Ghorman. She's a character who's arguably been even more devoted to the Rebellion than Cassian ever was (she was Luthen's Ferrix contact). And now this decision to leave Andor in order to get him to commit just doesn't cohere for me. It's as if the writers were looking for a way to take her out of the picture without resorting to the obvious death. Perhaps we'll see her again in the final arc, but given that it's so close to Rogue One, I suspect not.

7/10

 

How do you all feel about the emphasis on video journalism and people watching TV news in this 3 part section of the story?

I’m of a couple different opinions on it, personally. First and foremost, it’s effective for the story unfolding and being told. It also allows us as audience members to draw real world parallels more overtly.

Having said that, and although the idea of video news journalism within Star Wars has been covered slightly in animated works, and Solo showed some pro-Empire propaganda content on screens, the presence of multiple journalists and press passes within live action Star Wars did feel a bit out of place to me within the GFFA. Just being honest about that.

One easy way I sort of talked myself around it for my own internal head canon was that perhaps Gorman society just had a larger media presence than other planets we’d seen before. Also, presumably the Empire cracks down on all forms of the free press ahead (we saw the beginning of that here) and prior to this time period and the films that follow, we didn’t really have many opportunities to assess media presence within the GFFA due to the prequels heavier focus on the Jedi and Sith story lines. Still, there was no real mention of the way journalism or media could be used in the prequels by major characters. Including politicians.

The closest dot I can try to connect to conceptually is maybe the pod race itself with play by play and commentators. That was a media event. Complete with video feeds and microphones.

Cleverly, I even think Gilroy purposely showed the security guard watching a pod race on a screen in the 3 episodes prior to these 3 episodes. I suspect that was intentionally done to remind us in advance of this that George had already established media presence and broadcasts beyond holograms and audio within his GFFA.

 

I think it makes sense that the Empire would actually employ this type of propaganda. Its use is about controlling the message. It also aligns with the idea that the Empire is watching you're every move. And some of those moves might end up Imperial News.

In theory. I can almost see it as something not as prevalent in the Republic too, or even perhaps most of the galaxy even now. And I suspect something like this wouldn't even be seen outside of the capital, or some very important populated worlds. They're trying to keep those on those worlds, happy and satisfied. And fearful.

Places like Tatooine or where ever, probably aren't going be seeing this stuff.

 

I stayed up late and watched all three episodes. I must say, this episode could have been a fitting conclusion to season 2. It has been some of the best TV I have ever watched and I really am excited to see what the last three episodes give us.

 

O.. M.. G..
Bix’s message. Who’s cutting the onions in here ??

I’m not ready for this beautiful show to come to an end.

 

The camera droids where in the prequels I'm sure

 

They were. You see them in the Senate chamber.

 

TV screens showed up even earlier too

ESB

 

Episode 1..........1000/10
Episode 8..........1001/10
Episode 9..........1000/10

I was breathless after I finished watching all three. I went to bed right after and could get to sleep for about 2 hours.

Mind blown.

 

I like the idea that when Cassian has Mon put on his coat, that visually symbolizes her transformation from senator to rebel leader.

 

Not me.... a cop out and a choice that felt completely out of place.

Just so that they don't show her die. I will take my words and eat it if she does indeed die in the next 3 episodes, but for now this felt completely fake and something to take her off Andor's back, without a need to do so. They could both just have stayed together to continue the fight, and it would have felt 100% real and organic.

 

"Welcome to the Rebellion"

 

I liked the first episode of the night but felt it was the set up for episode 8 and 9 and Episode 8 and 9 delivered big time may be the best of the season! The Massacre was so real for how genocide really happens and is still happening in our world it was tense and hard to watch but great television! And the last episode 9 the tension getting Mon Mothma out of The Senate Building and eventually to the Yavin Base. I also loved seeing The Senate Building and Yavin Base and characters we recognize from the movies. And then I cried knowing Bix will never see Cassian again. Do you guys think she eventually finds out what happened to Cassian? I bought the Bail Organa actor so much even from last week I thought they de aged Jimmy Smits Smits might just be getting to old to play the part he is 69 years old,

 

I agree ^^
I wish it was Jimmy Smits for continuity sake, but Benjamin Bratt is doing just fine. He’s a believable Bail, for me

 

Bix is 1000% pregnant btw.

 

So Bix is just pregnant and will have her child just before or as Cassian Andor dies

 

And that's how Poe Dameron was born.

 

As a not-fan of Rebels, I was happy the writers left the Ghost crew out of the story. Dodged a blaster bolt cleanly there.

 

Poe Dameron and Andor Cassian junior be cousins

 

This was just fine.

I don't really get how the Ghorman massacre is a genocide from a scale level. Calling an event where maybe a thousand people dead in both sides a genocide, while the empire has wiped out whole species before. What happened on Ghorman is really minor compared to that.

 

It was more than the original legends massacre but atrocity is not a competition

 

In universe it's been almost 20 years since Revenge of the Sith. They started filming almost 20 years after Revenge of the Sith was filmed. He was not too old except in the context of Rogue One where Saw, Mon, Cassian and Melshi are also too old and have Benjamin Button Syndrome.

 

I have to agree that Bix leaving the story the way she did is a loose end for me if it stays that way, however I'm hoping she will be in the next arc for a more satisfying character resolution.