Ryan Shoots First: Andor (S1 Ep11) “Daughter of Ferrix”
It’s hard to believe we are already at the penultimate episode of Andor and I am seriously bummed out. Andor seems to finally be making some noise and attracting a crowd as it nears the end of this season.
Much has been made online about its statistics for viewership lagging behind other Star Wars shows but I have to imagine Disney somewhat expected that. When the other shows have names like Boba Fett and Obi-Wan in them it isn’t hard to imagine Andor would come in under the radar. But that is what makes it so great. I don’t doubt Lucasfilm is being intentional with the series but it has a little bit of that “They left us alone” vibe in it. Like since there are no huge lynchpin characters like Vader or Luke in it, and since we know the fate of Andor it can kind of do what it wants to do. This has easily been my favorite tv show of the year even more than The House of the Dragon and I can’t wait to see it wrap up next week.
But what about this week? Well, this week sees Andor getting back on his feet after last week’s thrilling prison escape as it sets up his need to return home for the finale. But elsewhere Mon Mothma and Luthen are reacting to the walls ever more closing around them. Luthen has a pretty great space dogfight that was alluded to in the trailers and Mon Mothma is weighing her options as she can sense the ISB will be onto her soon. I imagine based on how we see her in Rogue One that she will be fleeing sometime soon. Regardless the show just does so much with so little. After years of constant CGI mass ship and troop, battles to see the tension created with one or two ships or a small battalion of troopers is so intimate and personal. The way this show has taken the oppression of the Empire we have heard about for over 40 years and put a human face to it while reflecting on some of the very issues we tackle today will be its lasting mark.
MVP this week goes to the droid B2EMO who absolutely broke my heart multiple times. We have been made to care for droids but I would say no droid in Star Wars has been humanized to the degree B2 has in this series and specifically this episode.
I will continue to sing the praises of Andor and even to people who don’t like Star Wars I feel this is one of the most accessible entries into the canon, film or TV.
Observations
- Free Solo: A Star Wars Story
- Did….Did we just witness an owner’s death from the eyes of a droid… I don’t know if I have ever been so devastated.
- Everyone complaining about not enough aliens in the show then we get this nightmare fuel.
- Quad jumpers are like the K-Car of the Star Wars Universe
- Come on down to Luthens House of Easter Eggs!!
- HAHA This guys life is absolute crap
- Matte Black X-Wings ??? yes please!
- Yea that look on Syrils face is totally the look of a stable human being
- Well that’s never good
- That little ship is awesome
- Yessss! Lazer ships!
