Andor Season 2

[gallpizi]

Alright. Who is caught up?

[SWSF Eidolon]

here.

love this real world take on the galaxy Gilroy is dishing, one gripe, let's get some aliens on the screen even if background.  The Maya Pei Brigade would have been an easy obvious place to insert a few.  There might have been ONE at the wedding finale in the crowd but thats even more awkward.


The peak and shaping of Chandrilan culture has been pretty sweet.



The whole Dedra Syril situation could not have been handled any more awesome than its going.


Mothma's sis giving Luthen's cohort the up and down look at the wedding first day was hilarious.



Cannot wait to watch Rogue One immediately after the last episode of this season.




The jungle planet being Yavin 4 probably coolest egg so far.

All the background shit has been just plain excellent.  The look of all the scenes, the behavior of all the extra and supportings, the TIE Avenger interior, wow.  Who comes up with this shit?  Very cool designs.

Total immersion.  Besides no aliens ;p

[Syren]

Processing this. 

The cost of rebellion and parallels to our history are not lost. Will Andor lose them all before we meet him again in Rogue One? I like that there are so many sides to Star Wars. Some that are sillier, some more adventurous, and others gritty and serious. All of them have value in their own way, even if one story doesn't resonate, there is another that will. I enjoy exploring the nuances and perspectives of these different filmmakers.

Dedra and Syril are laying down those dom/sub vibes. No kink shaming, but def goes to show one never knows what someone else is into. Dedra involvement with Krennic's plan fills me with dread - I know what is coming, how this ends, but handled well, as I feel Gilroy will, it will be impactful.

Very cool to see Chandrila in live action, especially since I've envisioned it in many different ways over the years through the now-legends stories.

I want that disco party droid thing immediately!

[gallpizi]

Chapter 2 done. Whoa baby.

[Syren]

Whooooo! Spoilers - so you've been warned. I actually watched these three Wed, Thurs, Fri to give myself some time to reflect.

Elite fashion house insurgency? Check. Rebel saphic love? Check. Gay ISB agent knocking back drinks like the queen he is? Check. Lavish party with gorgeous outfits? Check. Dom using sub as a makeshift spy? Check. Illicit drug use and sweet revenge? Check.

Here for it. However, the kill the gays trope is an oft-used and tired cliche. I've done it myself (RIP St. Claire/Rydan) to serve the plot, so I am just as guilty. Still sad though. Vel's lashing in that transport as they escaped was biting - and necessary. They are inexperienced and failed to listen. It does drive home the point that rebellion is messy and requires far more organization to fight back than many of the scattered groups of resistance have shown.

Some thoughts:

That scene with Kleya had me nearly chewing through my own fist. Our girl pulled it out, though, whew! Also, capes should be more of a thing.

Dedra using Syril in this way is just so delicious. After all the times the Empire has shit on him, Syril loves it, can't help himself, having the best damn time of his life. That boy lives to be tied up and told what to do.

People were apparently up in arms over the Bail Organa recasting - it happens - and should be a lesson moving forward. Many of what we would consider legacy characters are missing from periods in which they should be quite prominent, because of all the hand-wringing over recasting. A hell of a lot better than those creepy CGI monstrosities they cooked up for Tarkin, Luke, and Leia. The uncanny valley is not where one wants to be when experiencing this. The casting teams have worked magic across all properties, so I have no doubt they could do it here.

Saw is legit insane, and delightfully so. For my whole life, it was always "the rebels are the good guys," and, yes, they are fighting against the tyranny of the Empire, but not all of them are good. Or just. Or right. Nor is everyone within the Empire all bad. The shades of grey and nuance Gilroy takes with the characters and arcs are impressive and very effective.

Motha's exchange with Krennic was masterful - all with tight expressions and perfectly crafted barbs.

More than anything, I am enjoying experiencing the galaxy far, far away in these ways.

Thoughts?

[gallpizi]

I didn’t think it could get better. It has. And I must say. I don’t know how the last three episodes can top this. Just.  Wow. 

“I believe we are in crisis. The distance between what is said and what is known to be true has become an abyss…. Of all the things at risk, the loss of an objective reality is perhaps the most dangerous. The death of truth is the ultimate victory of evil."

[Medivh]

I'll say I cannot stand the three episodes, and then jump.

Each 3 episode period of time could be expanded to be a full season.  The little snippets I'm finding frustrating.
I'd rather see a narrative that is continuous.   There's so much to do with it.

[gallpizi]

Interesting.  I actually feel like it works really well. 

Like we all know so much would happen over a year. By doing the skips we get to see snapshots into their lives and the greater galaxy.  And see the change more clearly than if we were slowly immersed in it. 

Kinda like the frog in warm water slowly being heated to boil instead of throwing the frog in boiling water. 

[Syren]

The three-episode chunk time jump both thrills and frustrates me. I'm thrilled because I like the idea of touching base with them along the way, but I'm frustrated because I want to spend more time immersed in their stories and lives. Sometimes inference can be powerful, leaving the audience to fill in the gaps based on their behaviors and interactions. It's gone by so quickly, built so meticulously, that I will be crushed when it's over.

But these three episodes...wow.

[gallpizi]

Just rewatched the three episodes with my wife yesterday. The force healer mentioned he was a messenger and the last line he spoke in rogue one was “they got the message”. Hot.  Damn. 

[SWSF Eidolon]

   The Dedra Syril arc.  Wow.  I was not expecting it to become so integral nor go so wrong for Syril.  What a C.  Forget Palpatine, Death to Dedra.


   But very awesome series.  The world building has been just incredible.


   Overall the whole workings of Luthen/Kleya network and disparate groups in rebellion, the behavior of the Empire, the false flag build up.  It's pretty interesting.  Both sides are giving each other exactly what they want.



   The time jumps caught me by surprise at first but provide some necessary unwritten depth to the evolution of everyone.  Also leave plenty of room to imagination and probably eventual licensed material for the inbewteens.



    I had also expected Mon and Cas' senate exit to require a little more than fast walking, three or four blaster shots and a coat change.  Since the intent was already to deprive Cas the glory and give it to Gold Squadron delivering Mon to Yavin, they could have gone through some trash compactor type nonsense and she gets to clean up before her stately arrival. Ultimately though, the incompetence of Imperial action to prevent the whole thing can also be chalked up to Palpatine's devious scheming.  It better serves the agenda of total power through dissolution of the senate.  Going back to everyone giving each other what they want.


    That's a cool note on the Messenger designation and final R1 quote Gal!


    Kleya seems at times more capable than Luthen lately and def more than any sort of subordinate, an equal co conspirator.



Whats Left?

    Hope we see the Declaration of Rebellion by Mothma in final 3 episodes.  Also some kind of more development or closure on Bixs disappearance and her and Cas' relationship.  I hope/think we prob got one more time jump between Episode 11 and 12, that will put Cas more on direct lead in to R1.

[Medivh]

     Kleya seems at times more capable than Luthen lately and def more than any sort of subordinate, an equal co conspirator.

The actor who plays Luthen, Stellan Skarsgard is an amazing actor, but we know he had a health issue "a few years" ago. He had a stroke at some point, that he's said made it harder for him to memorize lines. 
He was interviewed on the Colbert show earlier this week, and I noticed that Colbert carried the interview, with Skarsgard actually saying very little.

I wonder if they elevated Kleya and reduced Luthen's lines and presence in Season 2 to help cover for that difficulty?

[SWSF Eidolon]

That is an interesting tid bit Med. (We tend to watch Fallon if up that late)



I just read a very cool article about a query I had but forgot, the blaster Vel picks up from table at Yavin and the guy who claims it, it was Cassians blaster he took from Syril early on.  After escaping from Narkina 5 they go back to Niamos where Cassian gives Ruescott Melshi the blaster and they split up for better chance to survive.  Melshi apparently made it to Yavin.  Vel recgonized the blaster from the Aldhani heist where Cassian is using it and is asked about it.  One guy notes its corpo gear, Cas says he didn't get a name.  Later as he and Syril are tussling at Ghorman Massacre, he asks him.. "Who are you?"

The blaster recognition scene is meant as breadcrumb, or more of a flare I guess, to lead you back.  Very good writing.  Quality egg.

[SWSF Eidolon]

Just did Episode 10.  Putting off final 2 for at least tomorrow, savoring it.

We got hit with the time jump right away, But WHOA (a la Black Rob).  Best yet.  It's really coming together.

So glad we got Kleya and Luthen's backstory and the finish.. I was in denial it was coming up until she hit the window shades but once she got to the floor I remembered 'the room is only thing keeping him alive' and thought "Naaaaah...."



Also Luthen did in Lonni??? man, the wife and kids reference didn't even save him.

Then Luthen's seppuku move? dude.  He's teaching us something about dedication to a cause, puts an asterisk next to ruthless in his legacy description.  It seemed something obviously was going to happen with the bleeder but crazy.


I hope Kleya survives the next two episodes.  She'd make a sweet lead in any medium of story.



I know Gilroy said he gave a lot of years to his Star Wars work (I just got privy to fact he was heavily involved in R1) and was gonna do other stuff but really hope they rope him in for something more.

[gallpizi]

Just finished it all. Man. I...I honestly don't know where to begin. I have so many thoughts and a bit of tears shed....damn.