A surprisingly moving section of Andor is “The Axe Forgets,” when Dan Gilroy’s script probes the Aldhani rebels’ objectives while simultaneously shining a spotlight on the diverse group of individuals who are also having their motivations and drives tugged at. Susanna White has a remarkable eye for directing, taking viewers to the Rebellion’s front lines and highlighting its everyday origins.
In the last episode, Syril Karn (Kyle Soller), who had returned to his mother, was seen continuing to endure the millennial nightmare as the episode began. He had lost his job, been compelled to return home, and was forced to sit through awkward breakfasts with his mother, who was trying to help him find meaning when it became clear he had no prospects. Their segments are spliced together throughout the program, providing a tense area of subdued conflict that eases tensions on Aldhani. Karn may not have any specific plans now that he’s lost his work, but his mother is certain that his invisible Uncle Harlo will provide them with the solutions they need.
Karn has been a fascinating character study from the beginning, but getting to know his mother helps us understand him better. (Ted Lasso had a point when he said that he had met someone’s mother.) The episode clearly intends to exploit the adage “the axe forgets, but the tree remembers” to explain why each character is driven by their own personal reasons, despite the fact that it is meant to be used only to describe why the Rebels are fighting the Empire.
In another scene, Genevieve O’Reilly’s character Mon Mothma is up against her own adversary, her husband Perrin (Alastair Mackenzie), who has turned their home into a battleground by setting their daughter up against Mon. During breakfast, Lieda, Mon’s daughter, accuses her of merely using her to appear nice and of having political motives for doing so. Perrin sits back smugly, satisfied that his schemes are succeeding. Given that arranged marriages aren’t the best, the fact that Mon and Perrin were married off at the age of 16 may help explain why they don’t get along, but Andor has only offered a fleeting view into their lives, one that casts Perrin in a negative light.
However, it quickly becomes apparent that not everyone is ready to accept “Clem” as a member of their group; in fact, the majority of them are waiting for him to reveal himself as a turncoat, sent there to ensure they fail. Skeen (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) is sure that he is there for nefarious purposes despite the fact that he proves himself to be a valuable member of their organization by pointing out obvious weaknesses in their plans and utilizing his expertise to advance the cause.
Andor has meticulously created a cast of characters that are exclusively their own for the rebels on Aldhani. Since their motivations don’t always line up, each member blends in while yet standing out because of it. Often, a series will ignore how important it is to develop its supporting characters because it is just interested in the next big event, but this show refuses to do that. Every person Cassian comes into contact with is identified, three-dimensional, and driven. It improves the storyline and paints a clear, concise picture of this period in the history of the Galaxy.
The Star Wars series Andor is still the strongest one to date and is a serious candidate for the best narrative to emerge from the franchise since Rogue One. While Skywalkers and lightsabers are a lot of fun, Andor is a far more real-world narrative that offers insight into the lives of those who actually live there. The show embodies flawed and intensely driven disobedience in its purest form.