Andor: Narkina 5

"Oppression breeds rebellion."

From the first few seconds of this episode there was a sense of deep unfairness and oppression. That unease continued as we delved deeper into the Empire’s utter contempt for just about everyone.

What is made very clear is that in this society no one has value, even the most loyal and devoted. I got the sense that even someone like Dedra would be thrown into the bin without thought or hesitation if she crossed the wrong line. Case in point, Cassian getting six years for literally nothing. Sure, if he was caught during his actual crime he would’ve been executed, so in a way this is kind of karmic. Yet to be thrown in prison without defense or even the possibility of fighting such an unjust ruling has to be beyond frustrating and humiliating.

You can see it on Cassian's face throughout the rest of the episode, because he barely says a word. He is just adjusting and observing his new reality, although it isn’t entirely clear if this is because he is in shock or if he is trying to find a way out. It is this subtle performance that showcases why Diego Luna is such a good actor. He isn’t flashy, and that almost internal performance doesn’t always translate to a compelling character. It is the consistency of that performance, and the fact that Cassian is stone faced most of the time that brings his flashes of emotion to great effect.

So let's talk about this barbaric prison a bit, because it is a perfect example of progress meets fanatical fascism. First is the sterile and almost clinical utilitarianism present in the white walls with unpainted metal accents. The hints of orange and the black of the guard uniforms makes it feel almost like the colors of the rebellion, and I bet that was intentional. The fact that the arrogance on display is contrasted with the sheer disparity of guards to inmates makes this feel like a pressure cooker.

This absolutely felt like the beginning of an arc, and nothing was resolved. It made for a mildly frustrating experience, but a fascinating one. The Narkina 5 prison in particular was very curious and awful, and impossible to look away from. From a Star Wars fan POV, I was slightly disappointed we didn’t go to Belsavis. Belsavis is one of the more famous prison planets in lore. It is an ice planet with large sinkholes featuring warm fertile areas. During the time of the Old Republic (Featured in Star Wars: The Old Republic MMORPG) it was the place where the worst in the galaxy were sent. In a way Narkina 5 is the opposite of this, being a primarily water based world with prisons set in the water far away from any land.

Then there are the unanswered questions. What is the PORD? Why are sentences increasing without reason? What are they building? Are they parts to the imperial war machine? Or just random bits of metal taken apart every evening automatically and recycled for the prisoners to work on ad nauseum (the latter being almost a Vonnegut-inspired nightmare)? Which brings me to Syril and his new job working in the worst office imaginable. His only brief moment of freedom appears to be his repeated inquiries into Cassian.

Of course that obsession would be noted and it lands Syril in an interrogation room with Dedra, which ended up being unexpectedly flirty. Syril clearly likes Dedra, and it almost appears as though she might like him as well. Perhaps on her end it is just a mild attraction, but for Syril she is clearly the bees knees. Denise Gough, who plays Dedra, is a perfectly attractive actress (and I mean no offense to her personally here), but she somehow feels more than ugly – outright repulsive. Is it just her acting talent or did they do something to her teeth and lips? Because when she talks I get creeped out.

Throughout the episode there were all these lovely parallel moments where the same thing was happening in more than one place at the same time, from Cassian's overhearing gossip on the prison planet to conversations about the same thing happening on Coruscant in front of Mon Mothma. Or like Syril imprisoned and questioned like Bix, except that he's a cog and Bix is a rebel sympathizer. Dedra was definitely nicer to a cog she might need, whereas Bix and Paak are, of course, tortured.

Bits:

Narkina 5 is yet another habitable moon around a gas giant.

I loved the detail that the prisoners have to be barefoot. It isn't just a way to punish them instantly; it adds physical vulnerability to their situation, like John McClane in Die Hard.

“On the day of your anniversary of your arrival, which would be today, we beat you.” The first moments Cassian experienced in the prison were a thematic parallel to the Count of Monte Cristo. I wonder if that was intentional.

I like the mildly ill fitted outfits the prisoners were wearing, and the fact that they were given new ones every day. Also the food doesn’t have any taste. What a truly inhuman detail to their incarceration. It’s enough to understand why Veemoss from Table 3 kills himself.

The great character actor Andy Serkis makes a rare live action appearance as Kino Loy, the Five-Two-D unit manager, another prisoner given authority over the rest of them. He doesn’t have to work at the tables, and rules with a strict iron fist. Yet he is clearly just institutionalized. With only a couple of hundred days left in his sentence, he clearly just wants to keep his head down and get through it. Red from Shawshank said it best: "These walls are funny. First you hate 'em, then you get used to 'em. Enough time passes, you get so you depend on them. That's institutionalized."

The little detail of Mon Mothma refusing squigs in her drink was an example that she is the mature one in her relationship.

I love that Bix and Brasso are checking on Maarva, who is growing more feeble as time progresses but feeling bold and rebellious. Bix gets frustrated and tries to message Luthen, but Kleya convinces him to sever ties.

Vel and Cinta are watching Bix on Ferrix, hoping Cassian will return. It is confirmed they are in a relationship and Cinta even shows some emotion towards Vel for the first time.

The sound effects that played before the door slammed shut before Bix’s torture were straight out of Leia and Han’s torture scenes, and were just as effective.

I loved the back and forth between Saw Gerrera and Luthen. Goes to show that Luthen can't even trust his allies.

Mon Mothma was a senator at sixteen, a bit like Padme Amidala and Princess Leia.

Quotes:

Prison Guard Voice: "On program. That means, hands on head, eyes front, feet on the floor. Do it."

Luthen: "I'm a coward. I'm a man who’s terrified the Empire’s power will grow beyond the point where we can do anything to stop it."

Saw Gerrera: “Kreeygr's a separatist. Maya Pei's a neo-Republican. The Ghorman front. The Partisan alliance? Sectorists! Human cultists! Galaxy partitionists! They're lost! All of them, lost! Lost!”

Yet another brilliant episode with some incredible acting by our lead.

4 out of 4 Pairs of shoes discarded like the lives of the wearer.

All images sourced from StarWars dot com.

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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