SPOILER Andor Ep. 8 Discussion

I don’t think he knows he has to leave and fight, I think he’s still hoping for freedom and a quiet life away from all the trouble (assuming he has given up on finding his sister). Something will happen to change that at some point.

 

Things are really ramping up now. I thought there had been tension before- my god!! It was wall to wall in this one. The action and dialogue in every scene was tense and confrontational enough and then multiplied by the frantic pace cutting from story to story, back and forth...
The Prison/factory- from the transport to intake to the nerve-racking assembly room and the deceivingly open cell block, it's hard to decide which was more frightening. That floor is insane! I'm intrigued with the guys doing the sign language. Wondering if that's the start of the pending breakout.
How uptight and nervous was Syril being hauled in by the ISB and put in that little room? Gets dressed down and brow beaten by Dedra, only to flip it around and get aggressive back to her!
Mon Mothma hosting yet another lavish cocktail party, serving traditional Chandrillan fare and plenty of aggression for everyone! The exchange between Perrin and Tay Kolma was a verbal slap-fight, and Tay even caught shade from the snarky teenage daughter.
Ferrix is a tinderbox about to blow at any minute. Stormtrooper hassling folks, the ISB snatching people up and interrogating them, Vel and Cinta staking out Casa de Andor!!
Luthen didn't get enough tension debating his state of mind with Kleya, so he heads out to try and strong arm Saw Gurerra into a collaboration with some other faction?
This was definitely a busy episode where a lot happened, and doubtful any of the characters would say any of it was positive.

 

THIS! ^^^^^

and THIS! ^^^^^ Anyone who has ever worked an assembly line can appreciate the show's attention to detail. They really sold the nightmare Cassian is living through at the prison.

Regarding the story, one of the interesting plot twists is that Andor's unexpected imprisonment has likely saved his life. Both the Empire and his former rebel friends are waiting for him to return to check in on his ailing adopted Mother (which he no doubt would have if he were free.)

 

Another great episode, though ep. 7 has been my favorite thus far. I figure the imprisonment is what steels Andor's resolve and turns him from a leave-me-out-of-it/gun-for-hire to a true Rebel -- mirroring Jen's story arc in R1. And I can't say this enough: I LOVE the political intrigue and machinations of Mon's storyline. I'm a sucker for political thrillers and would gladly watch an entire series based solely around her maneuvering on the down-low on Coruscant.

 

Another great episode. My favourite moment- Watching Cassian having a mental break down because he now has to live in this bleak and monotonous prison for six years. Great acting by Diego Luna.

 

Ep. 8 - Narkina 5

I thought this episode was really well-made and very powerful, possibly the best one yet.

And I loved to see Melshi in there! I mean, we knew (from casting reports a long time ago) that duncan Pow had been cast, but for some reason I didn't consider he might meet Andor in the prison. Cool stuff

Oh, and what was with Mon Mothma's daughter in this one? She behaved strangely in this one, seeming suspicious or down-right in the (some kind of) know. There is definitely something up with the girl

 

I was happy to see Melshi too. Alive Melshi is a good Melshi.

Like you guys, I am wondering if someone has gotten Leida to spy on her mother. She seemed angry and hurt and rebellious (only in the teenage sense, not the political) in the earlier episodes, and maybe that was enough to get her to agree to something that would hurt her mom back--maybe not necessarily taking in the full repercussions of her actions.

--- Double Post Merged, Oct 26, 2022, Original Post Date: Oct 26, 2022 ---

One thing I am confused about--how did Dedra find out about Jax ? (the shop owner guy with the Bat Luthenphone) And Bix--or did Jax give up Bix's name? Was it in something she got from Syril and/or the original incident report, or did it have something to do with Bix's failed phone call? Or something else?

 

As far as Leida's attitude, it's all due to her father. Perrin is turning their daughter against Mon. He is also jealous and suspicious of Tay Kolma.

I assumed ISB has some tech that picked up and traced the radio signal to Paak's yard. He was tortured and gave up Bix.

 

The equipment Dedra asked for involved something about tech and signals, I think, so that must be it. It seems weird though that a mere signal (without an answer) would be enough make them suspicious, but hey, it is the ISB, and they're actively looking at this point.

 

Is Andy Serkis the first actor to portray more than one character in the SW universe?

 

I think you're forgetting about Temuera Morrison.

 

I guess technically he played thousands of characters!
I also forgot Warrick Davis! Hasn't he been in every film since ROTJ?

 

Loved the episode. We finally see Two Tubes, Melshi and Saw ("They're all LOST! All of them!")

There was a lot to unpack so I had to watch it twice before posting. As soon as I saw the floor for the prison, the "take of your shoes" - scene made sense - then, when the guards came out with the funny-looking books, I knew we were in for a dystopian ride. From the intake to the work on the factory floor it was a soul-crushing experience. The shower scene before their shift was so impersonal.

As the arc continues I'm sure we will learn more about how the other rooms and shots communicate with each other. I was impressed that they went with low-tech sign language.

We discovered that Luthen is very much aware of the order to kill Cassian given to Vel. They also have no idea where Cassian is.

--- Double Post Merged, Oct 26, 2022, Original Post Date: Oct 26, 2022 ---

One thing I am confused about--how did Dedra find out about Jax ? (the shop owner guy with the Bat Luthenphone) And Bix--or did Jax give up Bix's name? Was it in something she got from Syril and/or the original incident report, or did it have something to do with Bix's failed phone call? Or something else?[/QUOTE]

Deedra's wish-list included tech to intercept and decode communications. She tried to contact Luthen, and it was intercepted. They traced it to Paak, and he named Bix.

--- Double Post Merged, Oct 27, 2022 ---

Part of me wondered if we would see a (younger) Jyn Erso in Andor.

 

I agree this is going to push him that direction, and obviously he takes a few disgruntled fellas with him, like Melshi. But I also think something horrible and soul crushing is gonna happen on Ferrix that pushes him over the edge. I keep going back to the scene in R1 where he tells Jyn that he's been in this fight since he was 6 years old. He also says "I've lost everything!" That's a grim hint at what's coming.

 

Great episode, glad to finally see Saw Gerrera. Andor using the alias Greef Karga, leader of the bounty hunter's guild in the Mandalorian, was a nice touch connecting the dots to other series.