Ryan Shoots First: Andor (S1 Ep5) “The Axe Forgets”
The fuse is lit as this ragtag rebel cell makes its last preparations for the big mission. It definitely feels like the cadence for the show will be in almost 3 episode blocks. With next week being the final in this arch of the assault on the Imperial Base.
I mentioned last week many have said the show has a slow burn but I think that is refreshing, the show this week has some great personal moments between characters that gets us to invest in them. Particularly within the cell as Andor interacts with the various members throughout the preparations. The tension of the coming mission means everyone is on edge which gives fertile ground for meaningful conversations. Discussions of what got them to join the cause, their mistrust of Cassian and their ideologies of how they can even fathom they have a chance. This is the work you need to put in so we care what happens to them next week. It’s been nice this fall to see so many shows take this approach, House of the Dragon is another that is now hitting its blow up moment and this past week’s Rings of Power episode was similar. Sure this trend may not lead to the most amazing YouTube clips from the week but when the shit inevitably hits the fan it will have a much deeper emotional impact with the audience. We’re seeing that in the previous two shows I mentioned and I expect Andor to follow a very similar path in the coming weeks.
The pressure isn’t just weighing on the team though, both Mon Mothma and Luthen are feeling the tension as they both have a lot on the line with even less control than the team has. They are 100% at the mercy of this merry band of rebels and if it goes wrong they could lose everything. The way the show establishes just how desperate and dire the situation is and how tight the Empire’s grip is is a joy to see. Things we’ve always heard and read but are finally getting to see. That is something I appreciate about an episodic series format. For instance there is a short scene where a nameless Imperial officer is tasked with running Andor’s former home planet. In response to him and Luthen’s escape the Empire is now in full control. Well this guy asks if he can accept a new title as he is tasked with running the security base on the planet. He says he knows the title doesn’t come with a raise. It is a small conversation but it and others like it show just how much in fighting and opportunism is in the Empire. How most are only looking to advance their own station and failures as long as they are on someone else are chances to climb another rung. It’s the type of scene that can’t make it in a movie but a show can show just how susceptible this house of cards is.
Next week promises to bring the action and I look forward to seeing how the team fairs… I imagine it won’t all go according to plan. You could say I have a bad feeling about this.
Observations
- Dude is down at his mom’s getting some cereal
- I can’t think of a character to garner more hate in such little screen time than Mon’s hubby
- I like the scene with the navigation tool, last week it kinda seemed like the young kid was just an idealist. To see some genuine thought behind his beliefs this week was nice.
- Add “Ass” to the Star Wars curse library!
- I love it, “hey bob how do we make these sheep look like space sheep” “Uhh just add some more horns”
- I love how all the Imps are opportunists, constantly worried about titles and status. They’ve done a great job showing how they made themselves so open to rebellion.
- That Tie flyover was awesome. What the show was able to do with just one Tie flying over is impressive. The tension you could feel.
- There is nothing more Imperial than cheekbones.
- It’s nice to see imperials working hard, really putting in the man hours, staying late. True initiative.
- Love the campfire stories of personal insight into why everyone is in the rebellion. Putting motivations behind everyone helps ground the rebellion, the line about everyone going through their own personal rebellion is telling.
