REVIEW: Love Fights Through Rebellion as ‘Andor’ Continues a Sensational Season 2

SPOILERS BELOW FOR ANDOR: SEASON 2, EPISODES 1-6

Jumping Ahead

Before the start of Andor’s second season, audiences were told that the format for the final twelve episodes would be something entirely unique. Between every three-episode arc, an entire year would pass in the galactic timeline, with the final episodes leading directly into Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

This week, we got to see that mechanic in play for the first time…and the results were stunning.

After writing the emotionally devastating and adrenalizing Narkina 5 arc in Season 1, writer Beau Willimon returns to craft a series of episodes detailing the lead-in to the infamous Ghorman Massacre. Andor’s penchant for political intrigue and subterfuge has never been more evident, and Willimon plays to his magnificent strengths throughout all three episodes.

Cassian once more takes center stage of his titular series, but the entire cast somehow raises the incredibly high bar set by the season premiere to deliver almost three hours of the most tense, engaging, and brilliant Star Wars television we’ve ever seen.

Eyes on Ghorman

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Last night’s arc takes place on a number of different planets, but the narrative focus surrounds the planet Ghorman. Previously, the planet was presented by Director Krennic as a matter of importance for the Empire’s plan for sustainable energy, and we saw Dedra Meero receive an assignment to begin stirring Rebellion amongst the locals in order to provide an excuse for the Empire to dig in further.

A year later, we see that Dedra’s mission has been carried out brilliantly. The Ghorman population has formed a small resistance band against the Empire due to their continual expansion on the planet and apparent disregard for the horrors inflicted upon them in the past.

And it doesn’t hurt that she has her boyfriend pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Syril has been stationed on the planet in a seemingly boring position, but we learn that he has been instrumental in stoking the fires of Rebellion to provoke just enough outrage to give the trigger-happy Empire an excuse. Kyle Soller plays Syril’s duplicitous nature brilliantly throughout these episodes, and the calculated nature of Dedra’s plan makes her more fearsome than ever before.

These scenes also introduce us to the Ghorman people for the first time. Played entirely by French actors all speaking Ghor, a made up language influenced by French phonetics, there is an undeniable connection between these people and historical French revolutionaries. While not quite as inexperienced as the Yavin-based rebels Cassian encountered in the first arc, they are still absolutely in over their heads when it comes to fighting off an Empire.

A fact that is highlighted most brilliantly in their trust of Syril’s intentions…and their passionate mistakes that cause a heartbreaking death in the final moments of Episode 6.

The way that Willimon and director Ariel Kleiman allow us to see directly into the daily lives of the Ghorman people is as genius as it is heartbreaking. These are people who have no idea why they’ve been singled out by the Empire, and while they just want to get on with their lives, they also refuse to turn a blind eye to the encroaching darkness taking over their square once again.

Yet, we all know that there is a massacre in their future…and we’re powerless to stop it.

Naturally, this level of interest has caught the eye of Luthen Rael who sends Cassian over in (a beautifully stunning) disguise to gauge the potential of the fledgling Ghorman rebellion. Unfortunately, they fail Cassian’s test. He’s been in this fight for two years now, and while some may call him paranoid, he refuses to put the cause at risk for those that simply aren’t ready.

Although these episodes also showed us there are some things that mean even more to Cassian than the idea of Rebellion, and he may have a choice to make sooner rather than later.

Love Conquers All?

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One year further into the conflict also means one year further into every relationship, and nowhere is that more evident than in the evolution of Bix and Cassian. Following the horrors of Episode 3, we see that the last year has allowed the couple to become even closer - even sharing a bed in a safe house on Coruscant.

However, their love story is a bit complicated, to say the least. Bix is plagued by nightmares of her torture at the hands of Doctor Gorst, and in order to keep her safe, we learn that Cassian has resorted to more violent antics in the field.

They’re trying their best to hold each other together…but the cracks are growing faster than they realize.

These revolutionaries clearly love each other, but as Cassian takes his solo mission to Ghorman and Bix turns to slightly more illicit methods to help silence her ghosts, we can see the weight that the Rebellion is placing on them. Sure, they can make their apartment a little nicer with flowers and a home cooked meal, but at no point are they able to fully ignore the gravity of the galactic hellscape that surrounds them.

This becomes apparent even to Luthen as he visits Bix alone in an attempt to suss out her mental state. In this meeting, we’re able to view slivers of compassion seeping through his hardened exterior as he briefly softens and gives Bix a bit of advice.

But Luthen only has one goal at the end of the day, and he’s willing to sacrifice everything. Is everyone else willing to do the same?

While Cassian is unwilling to directly help the Ghormans due to their supposed lack of preparation, he is willing to do anything necessary to help protect Bix - culminating in their explosive assassination of Doctor Gorst that finishes the final episode. Love is clearly holding Bix and Cassian together, but will that connection be able to carry the weight of Rebellion? Only time will tell.

Holding the Pieces Together

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Even though Cassian received quite a bit more screen time than the previous arc, Andor still remains an extraordinary ensemble piece.

• Mon Mothma’s own cracks are beginning to show as the horrors about to be inflicted on Ghorman cause her to speak out a bit more blatantly than Luthen would like.

• Vel and Cinta from Season 1 finally have their much needed reunion in the shadows of the city before panic and chaos rip them apart forever.

• Kleya steps out from behind the desk and into the field as Luthen’s entire operation is nearly exposed in front of Director Krennic.

• Wilmon meets Saw Gerrera and discovers the depths of insanity that may be needed in order to save a revolution.

Every single one of these characters experience such unbelievable tension and heartbreak throughout this arc that it seems as though Beau Willimon is trying to tell us one very simple thing:

Rebellion is worth it, but it will shatter you.

With each passing year, our characters are becoming more distraught, and their breaking points are rapidly approaching. Luthen even admits to Cassian that they are no longer the men that they were when they agreed to enter the conflict, and they have much further to fall by season’s end.

The history of revolution is written in blood and sacrifice, and with the stage set for Ghorman’s destruction and the heroes of our story holding on by a fraction of thread…nothing but absolute catastrophe can be expected in seven days' time.

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Andor Season 2 is streaming now on Disney+ with new episodes releasing every Tuesday.