By Ben Wright (@iamzavagno | www.xgeeks.co.uk)
This review is spoiler-free.
After last week’s incredible three-episode introduction, Andor returns and the excitement and drama only intensify!
The tone and themes established in the previous episodes remain in place, so it is clear that is the blueprint going forwards for the rest of the show’s run – and I am all here for it! I love the writing and how they are building the world and the characters within the show, especially as it feels fresh and unique to the Star Wars that have come before it. It is the maturity and bravery of the creative choices that genuinely sets Andor apart from its peers.
The first arc was set within an unfamiliar location, however this week we return to a place very familiar – Coruscant. Usually, the design is all bells and whistles, but the camera choices to showcase entry into the galactic capital still made it feel very ‘dirty’ – so it still fits within the overall aesthetic of the show. We are FINALLY introduced to Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) and her entire introduction scene was fantastic – as exploring the inner working of the ISB (Imperial Security Bureau) is something we rarely get to see! It was a great episode for her overall, especially in terms of introducing a new character to the audience. I look forward to seeing her progress as the series continues. On a quick side note, I spotted another familiar face placing an ISB officer – comedian Ben Bailey Smith aka Doc Brown played Lieutenant Blevin. It was a small role, but having seen him on tour a few years ago, this was a nice little addition, albeit an unexpected one.
While this was another very strong episode for Cassian (Diego Luna), I thought Luthen (Stellan Skarsgard) was incredible – especially as we get to see both sides of his coin! I loved the duality of his performance. This other side of his character would take us into the prequel realm and reunite us with Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly). It was great to have Genevieve return and she was exceptional in all her scenes! The tension and drama in these scenes really built that sense of being under siege from the Empire and all the cloak and dagger espionage aspects made for a compelling taster for what is yet to come.
Splitting the stories between the vastly populated Coruscant and the openness of Aldhani was a very nice contrast for the episode. I really enjoyed the time spent on Aldhani, both in terms of a stunning location and from a story perspective. We were also introduced to Vel Sartha (Faye Marsay) who I really liked.
Overall, this was the best episode of Andor so far! The characters, stories, and performances are all combined perfectly making Andor a suspenseful and exciting watch! There were plenty of Easter Eggs thrown into this episode, especially surrounding the Galactic Senate – but obviously, I cannot go into detail as this would defeat the object of a spoiler-free review. But keep your eyes peeled and ears opened!
What did you make of the latest episode of Star Wars: Andor? Let us know in the comments or find us on social media.
X-Geeks 
More on Aldhani, please 🤩
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