Andor: The Eye

What an absolutely fabulous episode, full of tension and real consequences. It played out like a heist gone bad, complete with in fighting, double crosses and the bittersweet satisfaction of success.

The tone set by the music this time was building, slowly adding strings, creating something melodic and somber and slow. We start at the camp which again is cold, wet and miserable, a familiar trait for this arc. We get some mild conversation between our team before quickly jumping into the mission. What struck me the most was the cold stark grayness that made everything feel grounded and real, juxtaposed with laser rifles and Tie-fighters.

I knew going into this episode that it would be a cluster, it had all the makings of one. The group was barely held together with hope and a need for revenge, and that doesn’t usually spell quick, simple or easy. Things started well with the four men intermingling with the other guard groups, which makes me wonder how they intended to pull this off without Cassian, because I didn't see a single woman posted as one of the guards.

Of course it really is a heist, stealing a bunch of imperial payroll gold. They get about three pallets worth, but there were dozens of piles in that vault. Eighty million, which felt like barely a drop in the bucket. But I wonder is this the holding place for the entirety of the imperial navy? If so they just took a major chuck, possibly even an entire plant or two's worth of money. Also, how long is that vault supposed to last? Is that just one month? Or is that the main vault for imperial resources on an on-going basis? If that’s the case they just dealt a major blow to the Empire.

Anyway, things began to unravel pretty early as the actual robbery and the scope of what they were trying to steal was revealed. It looked somewhat impossible when they started, and the mad dash to fill up their transport ship was as hectic as possible. It felt like a bank robbery, and it was a bit strange to be on the criminal side. Yet we had multiple examples in this episode of the casual arrogance, cruelty and lack of humanity the Empire displays on the regular. If this one garrison of soldiers is this bad, on a remote base in the middle of nowhere, what is like on the core worlds?

For example, the sheer contempt on display for the Aldhani pilgrims. It felt like Nazis talking about Jews, and that was probably the point. They are treating these indigenous people like mongrels, not remotely their equals, worth nothing, and treated as stupid and unable to hold multiple ideas in their heads. It made it very easy to root for what amounts to terrorists who kidnap and ultimately kill quite a few people in their mission. Having two of the hostages be imperial citizens, the wife and daughter of Commandant Jayhold, made it more harrowing. While it was clear the Rebels weren’t intending to kill if possible, they absolutely would have if necessary.

Each character did have a moment to shine, with Cassian, Vel, Nemik and Skeen taking up most of the screen time. Cinta also came across as a badass, escaping by just walking out of the compound as an imperial officer that no one would second guess. Taramyn and Lt. Gorn both had some good moments, but I’m a bit bothered by the fact both the men of color in the group died. At least they went out well. Nemik on the other hand went out tragically, although he was able to save the mission with practically his last breath. Again, how did they think it was going to work without Cassian?

Of course Skeen was no good; you could feel it from the first episode. His history and motivations all seemed perfectly on the level, but something in his reactions and behavior gave major hints to his ultimately duplicitous intentions. Then there was that slow roll of Skeen sitting with Cassian, thinking he understood the man, and realizing far too late that Cassian is not an opportunist. Cassian is a bit of a loose end for Luthen and Vel now, but he was honest about everything he said and did, except of course for his own personal demons. He took only what was owed to him, and took out the traitor in a way only a true loyalist would’ve done. Perhaps Nemik’s words will sink in for Cassian, but this is feeling very much like an origin story for the character.

I love the long shots and intentionally slow moving cinematography. It added to both the atmosphere and action. Even during the hectic moments during the heist, the camera work was deliberate and intentional. While it was a bit hard to track who actually died in that vault on occasion, it made for incredibly tense action. I also wanted to mention the costuming, with what felt like traditional Russian or perhaps Ukrainian influences the costumes felt like a message about tradition and culture being vital and important, no matter who is in charge.

Bits:

The Eye was as glorious as it was built up to be, just absolutely stunning.

Luthen’s laugh at the end was delightful, a pure moment of relief and joy in what must feel like a world of darkness and pain.

Mon Mothma delivering a speech to a mostly empty Senate room was incredibly powerful and telling about the state of the Galaxy, highlighting what Padme said in Episode III about liberty dying.

I love how they used lighting to express tension. When the lights went out on the dam, it was almost like the calm before the storm.

It was a shame Nemik died, but that was the point. He represented the hope and the ingenuity and the tragedy of war, especially when you're talking about an insurgency against a ruthless dictatorship. Good people die.

We learn here that stormtroopers killed Cinta’s whole family, and it was hinted that she is in a relationship with Vel. I love the subtle LGBT representation.

Loved the four-handed alien doctor called Quadpaw. So Star Wars.

Quotes:

Nemik: "So you think it's hopeless, do you? Freedom? Independence? Justice? We should just submit and be thankful? Just take what we're given?"
Cassian: "Do I look thankful to you?"

Aldhani Elder: "May the Eye stay open long enough to find some good within you."
This was said to Lt. Gorn, which was ironic given that he had already found that inner goodness.

Vel: "One path, one choice. We win, or everyone dies. Starts now."

Commandant: "You'll hang for this."
Lieutenant Gorn: "Seven years serving you? I deserve worse than that."

Skeen: (to Cassian) "Don't play the high mind with me. You're not here to save anybody but yourself. I saw the first minute you came into camp. You're like me. We were born in the hole and all we know is climbing over somebody else to get out."

Another brilliant and thought provoking end to a story arc here. The series just keeps getting better and better.

4 out of 4 cups of bad tasting milk booze.

Samantha M. Quinn spends most of her time in front of a computer typing away at one thing or another; when she has free time, she enjoys pretty much anything science fiction or fantasy-related.

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