Andor: Who Else Knows?

Kleya: "You told me you were done once."
Cassian: "Yeah, and you told me I was wrong."

While the last episode was slow, thoughtful and sad, this was the complete opposite: it was tense, fast paced and occasionally joyful.

Things start in the immediate aftermath of Kleya's raid on the hospital. Heert is trying to figure out who could be responsible and thinks it must've been a Rebel team of at least three, not a single incredibly capable woman, of course. He is aware that he is on the hook for this as well, but wants to try and hang most of it on Dedra.

It was incredibly fun to watch Dedra get interrogated by Krennic. While he is able to establish what happened with Lonni pretty quickly, what I loved about the exchange is this was a fierce Imperial loyalist being questioned by a fierce Imperial loyalist. They should've been using her to track down Kleya and take care of the situation. Instead, they are treating her like a Rebel spy, which is hilarious. Well, not for Dedra, who is likely going to be executed or sent to a penal colony with no hope of release (well, perhaps in a few years when the Empire crumbles).

It's that arrogance and hubris on display that makes it clear why the Rebellion not only exists but actually wins. Krennic is terrified of anyone finding out about the Death Star because it is not operational and it would be political suicide for the Emperor if it got out that he was building a superweapon. It is an incredible tool when it can blow up a planet, but until then it is just a space station hanging above a planet like a giant ball in space.

Lonni did play things perfectly, waiting until just the right moment when Dedra was distracted as she closed in on Luthen to play her hand. I guess that was Lonni's last laugh, because he knew that Luthen was being targeted, too. Which he kind of danced around when he was talking to Luthen. Of course as a bonus, he implicated Dedra in his betrayal of the Empire.

Kleya did manage to escape back to the safehouse, and pulled an old communication device that uses the Star Wars version of interstellar morse code to send a message to Wilmon, who in turn tells Cassian. No matter what Cassian says, he owes Luthen some loyalty so he immediately sets out against orders to rescue Luthen. Of course Luthen is already gone, so when he arrives he finds a desperate and grief stricken Kleya who is barely holding on.

It was strange to see Kleya like this because she is usually so calm and calculating. Luthen really was her father, at least in her eyes. You cannot read her behavior as anything other than grief. I'm kind of surprised Kleya didn't have a ship squirreled away for just such an occasion, because Luthen's now in ISB custody. Perhaps she cannot pilot a ship? That would make sense, her priorities were elsewhere and Luthen could pilot. Back during the wedding scene a few episodes ago she mentioned getting a ride off of Chandrila so it fits. I was kind of under the impression almost every citizen of the Star Wars universe could at least partially pilot a ship, although it makes sense that not everyone can.

The final moments featured Cassian, Melchi and K-2SO closing in on the safehouse, and a squadron of Stormtroopers led by Heert storming the place at the same time. Cassian, Kleya and Melchi don't know what's coming, but K-2SO does and he immediately springs into action, killing a guard on the bridge and the ship's pilot. Watching Partagaz's confusion when the line went dead was delightful. K-2SO is a bit terrifying, even as he quips with Cassian and shows perfect loyalty to him.

Cassian and Melchi now know about the Death Star, or at least the details that the Emperor is building a superweapon. While I am curious what will happen in the finale, one thing is certain, the train leaving for Rogue One has already started moving, and there's no stopping until the final moments of that film.

Bits:

The opening music is almost triumphant.

Recklaw, medical director. Great name.

This was a perfect introduction to K-2SO. I still miss B2EMO, but considering how well Cassian treats droids, it isn't surprising he has won over this former Imperial murderbot. (Murderbot. Wouldn't that be a great title for a series?)

Setting up Kleya as a carrier of a deadly disease, no matter if it is a lie, is unfortunately perfect for catching her. That is, if she were out in public trying to run.

Draven arrested Wilmon for his role in Cassian's unauthorized mission.

I like that Wilmon is still with Dreena, and still loyal to Luthen.

Quotes:

Dedra: "I am not a rebel spy."
Krennic: "Oh, at the moment, that is the only plausible scenario."

Partagas: "Death Star. What a prescient turn of phrase."

Dedra: "All I've been told is Supervisor Jung is dead."
Krennic: "Is that why I'm here? For the murder of an ISB clerk? Has my reputation slid so precipitously? Now just take a moment. What single thing would drag me to this forsaken basement? Say it. Say the word."

Dedra: "Death Star." K-2SO: "You are hearing that, aren't you?"
Cassian: "Turn it off."
K-2SO: "I've been counting the orders we've disobeyed so far. Would you like to know how many?"
Cassian: "No."
K-2SO: "Seventeen."
Cassian: "K!" (Cassian flips a switch)
K-2SO: "Eighteen."

Dedra: "Yes, I'm a scavenger. But I've had to be. There's a partisan spy mentioned in the Jedha read-outs. A valet for the local Moff. When questioned, he said that he had been recruited by a man with a Fondor Haulcraft full of antiquities. In classic fashion your team tortured him to death, and that crucial piece of information, rather than being directed my way, was buried, and something I had to 'scavenge' for."
Krennic: "How terribly perplexing. How does one balance such passionate competency with the mindless decision to confront Luthen Rael on your own? If you're not a Rebel spy, you've missed your calling."

K-2SO: "Even discounting the volume of Revnog you've ingested, the chances of you making a bid of that scale are not statistically measurable." Cassian: "Be careful. He's trying to droid you."

A solid bridge episode that was all tension, but damn, that annoying cliffhanger!

3.5 out of 4 Signals and Missions

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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