Revenge Is Best Served With Explosives
Editor’s note: The below recap contains spoilers for Andor Season 2 Episode 6.
As the final episode of this week’s Andor arc opens, it’s hard to believe that we’re already saying goodbye to BBY 3. Thematically, this arc has been largely focused on the idea of being surveilled, both by the Empire and the Rebellion. Many of the plotlines laid out in this arc, as well as the loose threads from the premiere last week, reach a crescendo in this episode. Much in the same way as Episode 3 dealt a devastating blow to Cassian’s (Diego Luna) inner circle, Vel (Faye Marsay) faces a life-altering tragedy that many feared would come one day. Episode 6 also marks the end of Ariel Kleiman’s six-episode directing streak, with the latter trio of episodes being penned by Beau Willimon.
The episode opens along the Rimma Trade Route on Port Steergard (previously mentioned in the premiere) as Cassian reunites with Luthen (Stellan Skarsgård) following his failed mission to Ghorman. Cassian’s opinion about the Ghorman plight hasn’t changed at all since he departed the planet, and he recommends that Luthen shouldn’t get involved — which isn’t what Luthen wants to hear. Cassian believes that the Ghormans are rushing into things, and that trying to fight back against the Empire this late in their occupation will only make things worse for them. Luthen, however, sees the value in having a world like Ghorman on the Rebellion’s side: they have wealth and status. But Cassian is looking at the situation like a soldier who understands that an unfocused army will be crushed by the Empire. This scene speaks volumes to the type of revolutionary Luthen is. When Cassian questions him about what will happen when Ghorman goes up in flames, he simply states: “It’ll burn very brightly.” This sentiment isn’t particularly surprising, given how Luthen has always viewed his pawns as replaceable, but it also speaks to where Cassian is at this point in his arc. While there are shades of the do-or-die attitude he possesses in Rogue One, he isn’t quite there yet.
Cassian’s reluctance to assist with Ghorman doesn’t come as a surprise to Luthen. As they return home to Coruscant, Luthen contacts Kleya (Elizabeth Dulau) at the gallery and comments about how his trip was a “waste of time” because the “piece wasn’t what they needed.” Kleya glibly remarks that she knew that would be the case, and, in fact, she is already in the process of delivering another “item” to Ghorman. Naturally, the “item” in question is another one of their agents — Vel — who was sent to Ghorman to complete the task that Cassian failed to do. Andor reveals that Vel has already arrived on Ghorman, and she is approached by Dilan (Théo Costa-Marini) while she’s sitting on the steps in the plaza, ready to make first contact with the Front.
Cassian returns home to Bix (Adria Arjona), who looks worse for wear. Following her illuminating conversation with Luthen in the episode prior, she has tried to make the safehouse feel a little more like a safe home. She’s cleaned up the place and bought flowers, and she’s clearly trying to reclaim some of the normalcy that they once had on Ferrix and then on Mina-Rau. This scene is just one of many throughout Andor Season 2 that establishes Cassian and Bix as the single greatest couple to exist within the Star Wars canon. There’s such an effortlessness in their affection with each other as it teeters between steamy and sweet, and the interplay is so delightful. Bix questions him about the persona he adopted for the mission, who Cassian describes as a “very pretty” fashion designer, and she teases him about needing to bring home that persona one night.
While there is a lot of levity to the scene, at first, Cassian’s open concern for Bix’s emotional state sends things spiraling into a much weightier conversation. Bix reveals that Luthen came over shortly after he left on the mission and Cassian completely freaks out. He’s worried about her, and he has a hunch that Luthen came to see her for the sole purpose of causing consternation between them. His assumption isn’t entirely wrong, either. Cassian heads over to the gallery to confront Luthen about talking to Bix while he was away, which infuriates Luthen. Like Cassian did on Ghorman with Enza (Alaïs Lawson), Luthen tries to maintain his carefully constructed persona, informing Cassian that he came to the gallery to return a missing medallion from a shipment — but Cassian wants nothing to do with the farce. As the conversation spirals out of control, Luthen belittles Cassian, claiming that he hasn’t actually given him anything. He accuses him of being soft on Ghorman while being willing to protect Bix at any cost. Luthen tells him that he needs to figure things out before Bix’s situation becomes too big of a problem, and Cassian makes an off-handed comment about how much easier it would be to do what he does alone. Hopefully, this isn’t a piece of foreshadowing to explain Bix’s absence in Rogue One.
Bix Finally Buries Her Demons in ‘Andor’ Season 2 Episode 6
Early in the episode, Major Partagaz (Anton Lesser) tells supervisors Lonni Jung (Robert Emms) and Heert (Jacob James Beswick) that Dr. Gorst’s (Joshua James) successful interrogation techniques have captured the attention of Military Intelligence, who have convinced the Emperor to expand his process into an entire program. He tasks the pair with keeping an eye on the program, which will be operated from a newly donated naval facility on Coruscant. As the conversation winds down, Jung tells Heert to take the lead on the project — and it’s clear that he intends to tell Luthen about this revelation. Confirmation of this detail comes swiftly, as Gorst has been haunting the narrative since the premiere. Cassian wakes up alone in their safehouse and finds Bix (who has taken her magic feel-better elixir) staring out the window. The beacon is flashing again, indicating that Luthen needs them for a mission — and Cassian agrees with Bix’s assertion that she wants to go with him on this one.
Andor Episode 6 delivers one of the most satisfying sequences in Star Wars history in its final moments. To an extent, it’s on par with Princess Leia’s (Carrie Fisher) Huttslayer moment, only this time there’s a much richer story behind the action. As the episode comes to a close, Dr. Gorst returns to work with a sweet treat he’s picked up from a local shop, blissfully unaware of what’s waiting for him in his office: Bix. Gorst panics over the fact he recognizes her, but can’t place where he knows her from. While she’s been haunted by his face and what he did to her, she’s just a fleeting memory to him. She promises him that what she’s about to do to him will “only feel like forever” as she straps him down and gives him a taste of his own medicine — literally.
After enacting her revenge, Bix flees the structure and rendezvous with Cassian, who looks quite pleased with what she’s accomplished. As they walk away from the scene of the crime like two of the slickest spies in the business, Cassian blows up the building. It’s the scene that has been featured as the money shot in numerous trailers ahead of Andor’s release, but it’s no less satisfying to see it all play out in real time. The framing of this entire sequence is deliciously satisfying, but the true delight lies within the irony of Gorst getting his “just desserts” with his own weapon used against him before he meets his ultimate end.
‘Andor’ Season 2 Episode 6 Confirms That Rebellions Have No Happy Endings
Vel’s arrival on Ghorman doesn’t go unnoticed, and the Front’s immediate uptick in activity triggers a chain reaction. Syril (Kyle Soller) informs Partagaz and Dedra (Denise Gough) that he believes an attack is imminent, and the trio begin to maneuver things into place to ensure that their plans for Ghorman go off without a hitch — even if Syril doesn’t know the full extent of what he’s involved in.
Vel isn’t the only rebel to come to Ghorman’s aid, as Cinta (Varada Sethu) returns after killing off Tay a year ago. She meets with Vel in the café in the plaza, and the two erstwhile lovers play catch-up while ruminating over the situation on Ghorman — which they plan to walk away from if the Front shows any sign of being unprepared. Cinta reveals that she’s spent the past year recovering from an “accident,” which was likely the event that resulted in Tay’s death. While the specifics are left unsaid (though Cinta promises to tell Vel some day), one might extrapolate that Luthen had her orchestrate a transport crash, which resulted in Tay’s death and her injuries. Vel is upset that Luthen failed to tell her about Cinta’s accident, but also admits that she told Luthen she would only take the Ghorman job if Cinta was involved.
Despite Cassian’s reservations about the Front (and the handful of red flags that crop up during their first meeting with them), Vel and Cinta deem the would-be rebels ready to pull off the heist. Vel issues one caveat to the eager group: they will not help them if they cannot follow the chain of command. She’s clear about the need for them to be cautious — they need to get in and out and leave no room for error. They already have factors working against them, namely outdated intel, and they can’t run the risk of anyone not toeing the line. After setting a time for the heist, Vel and Cinta share another moment alone. Cinta apologizes for hurting Vel, and they both discuss how they’re going to talk with Luthen after the heist. Their conversation bookends neatly with the conversation Cassian had with Luthen about Bix, as Vel and Cinta address the fact that they’re more valuable to Luthen separately. Watching the scenes back, it’s so clear what Andor is setting up with these little comments, and it’s heartbreaking.
Syril continues to surveil the group as their attack gets underway, and he’s so excited by the entire experience. By the time it is over, he’s out of breath, as if he was actively participating, rather than just sitting on a rooftop watching it all play out. For the most part, the heist goes well for the Front. Vel and Cinta manage to lead the rebels through a successful operation, right up until the moment it all falls apart. As they prepare to take off in their getaway vehicle, an older woman walks through the operation, which leads to Dreena (Ella Pellegrini) stepping away from her task to take the woman home. Dreena’s absence leads to a delay, and, while they do have a moment to wait, that singular moment leads to another interruption: Lezine (Thierry Godard). While Lezine is clearly sympathetic to what the Front stands for, Samm (Abraham Wapler) uses his interruption as an opportunity to flex his own muscles, and he turns his blaster on him, warning him to leave. Lezine takes up the challenge and the pair tussle, which leads to the blaster going off and killing Cinta.
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It happens so fast, but it doesn’t lessen the devastating impact of her loss. Vel takes a moment to mourn her lost love (who was shot through the heart), and Lezine offers to carry Cinta’s body for her, which she agrees to. In the getaway vehicle, Samm is sobbing as the weight of what he accidentally did hits him, and Vel doesn’t let him get away with any sympathy, telling him: “I’m not going to say ‘remember this,’ because I don’t have to. This is on you now. This is like skin. You’re taking her with you for the rest of your useless life.” She makes it clear that Samm doesn’t get to cry or grieve for what he did; the only way he can ever make up for what he did is by living with it, owning it.
With Episode 6, Andor joins a long list of series that have “buried their gays,” but it is, perhaps, the least egregious example of the trope. Rebellions may be built on hope, but they are also built on the backs of fearless, dedicated warriors who never got to live to see their success. Cinta’s death is an echo of Luthen’s standout monologue from Season 1: she made a sunrise that she will never get to see. There is something to be said about which half of the tragic space lesbians was chosen to die, even if Cinta’s death was far from unexpected. Between the two of them, Cinta was more dedicated to the cause — that was a leading factor behind their break-up in Season 1 — and it makes sense that she would be the one to die in the stupidest way possible. As another one-year jump looms ahead of us, it will be interesting to see how Cinta’s death impacts Vel going forward.
‘Andor’ Season 2 Recasts an Iconic Rebel
Investiture Week is in full swing throughout Episode 6. While Sculdun’s (Richard Dillane) party delivers its own fair share of chills, the kick-off of Mon Mothma’s (Genevieve O’Reilly) arc in the episode is damn-near bone-chilling. She stands within the Galactic Senate Chambers, while the booming voice of the Oathkeeper blends with the senators’ voices as they swear their full allegiance to the Empire. Mon grips her podium and struggles to say the words that are expected of her, and it’s made obvious that this election cycle is far more paramount than those past. There are little asides made throughout the episode in the lead-up to Sculdun’s party. Namely, that she and Perrin (Alastair Mackenzie) are overbooked, and this is the first year that there have been this many parties to attend. This meta-commentary, which seems to almost be pointing a finger at the over-compensation that tends to happen when people know they’re aiding and abetting an authoritarian regime, is underscored further when they finally arrive at Sculdun’s. Mon and Perrin are greeted by Bail Organa (now played by Benjamin Bratt), who comments on the sheer magnitude of parties, which led to him and Breha splitting up their duties. It’s merely a cameo, but with one singular reappearance, the scene establishes where Organa is at in his own arc towards revolutionary ideologies.
Sculdun’s party gives audiences a rare look into the social aspect of Star Wars’ political landscape, which is typically only relegated to the pages of novels like The Mask of Fear or in-world historical texts like The Rise and Fall of the Galactic Empire. Paparazzi droids snag shots of Mon and Perrin as they arrive, hovering around their every interaction as they wind their way through the crowd to greet their newly minted in-laws. Gawking statesmen fawn over Luthen and his artifacts in a pitiful attempt to seem cultured and worldly. Runai Sculdun (Rosalind Halstead) regards her husband with a degree of apathy that would make her a prime candidate for The Real Housewives of Coruscant.
Amidst the covert politicking and the intrigue of Luthen and Mon’s terse words about Vel and Kleya and Mishko’s conversation about the impending reappraisals, Jung and Heert arrive at the celebration, much to the surprise of their peer, Supervisor Lagret (Michael Jenn). Jung tries to make it seem like they belong among the throngs of socialites, but Heert is quick to admit that they’re only there because Partagaz had an emergency and gifted them with the tickets. Heert questions Lagret about whether his “buddy” will be in attendance, and they’re all assured that he will be there. Once Kleya spots Jung, she starts hatching a plan to retrieve the listening device from Sculdun’s collection without being noticed. It’s a risky plan that involves establishing their prior interactions (Jung came to the gallery looking for a gift for his wife) and trusting that Heert will see her bold moves as harmless flirting (which does work). As the Sculduns gather up their “chosen few” to see his collection, Kleya lures Jung across the room to marvel at her favorite piece: the Tinian Codex.
As the guests file into the gallery, Lagret’s “buddy” is revealed to be none other than Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn), much to Mon’s chagrin. Throughout the tour of the gallery, the two butt heads. Mon snips about what a delight it is to see him outside of the witness box, and Krennic jabs at her about the technicalities of what constitutes as genocide, as they marvel at a tairn that was recovered from the Battle of Carmeen. Perrin does his best to keep the peace, but he also knows better than to undermine his wife when she’s going toe-to-toe with someone like Krennic, and exchanging words about the semantics of some rebels being viewed as terrorists. Mon is blissfully unaware of the fact that her prolonged disagreement with Krennic over how the ISB Academy educated the masses about the “systematic execution” is actually benefiting Kleya’s attempt to remove the listening device, especially after the key jams and she cuts her hand open in the process.
It’s remarkable how much effort Andor goes to to create moments like this one. Not only does every character in the series have a name — even those who never once say their name on screen — but Tony Gilroy and his band of writers are thorough in crafting new details that strengthen the tapestry that is Star Wars. Here, they weave an intricate tale about the Trinian Codex and the people who once possessed the artifact. As Kleya fights to remove the listening device, she tells Lonni to listen closely to the history of the artifact, because they will be tested. The people who crafted the codex hailed from a planet where sight was considered a disability and blindness was considered a gift. The tactility of the relic makes it a prime piece for Kleya to fondle in her pursuit of removing the listening device, and her ploy goes unnoticed by the rest of the guests in the room. Once Krennic and the guests reach the relic, Lonni flawlessly relays what he learned from Kleya, while she keeps her bloodied hand tucked out of sight. Krennic makes a glib remark about how they all know someone who would have gotten on well on a planet dedicated to the blind, but no one seems genuinely amused by his commentary.
While this plotline is relatively low stakes (at least compared to the other plotlines throughout this arc), it proves to be one of the more enjoyable sequences, if only because it gives a deeper look into the dynamics and relationships of the characters politicking their way through Coruscant. There is also something truly sinister about the idea that Krennic is hamming it up, rubbing elbows with Coruscant’s political elite while Partagaz, Dedra, and Syril are willing (and unknowing) pawns in his schemes on Ghorman. As Luthen and Kleya head home for the evening, they joke about how they should have killed Krennic when they had the chance, and it feels like such a knife to the chest with the knowledge of what lies ahead.
The first six episodes of Andor Season 2 are streaming now on Disney+
Just desserts are finally served in Andor Season 2 Episode 6.
- Release Date
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2022 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Disney+
- Showrunner
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Tony Gilroy
- Episode 6 is a brilliant culmination of Andor Season 2’s second arc, which even ties up loose threads from Season 1 threads.
- Adria Arjona gives a remarkable performance as Bix faces her worst fears.
- The episode is a tragic reminder of the costs of rebellion.
