Andor’s collection finale is all about tying up free ends. After an unimaginable crescendo on Ghorman in chapter 3, Tony Gilroy and firm got down to get Andor’s affairs so as, with a final batch of episodes that feeds straight into Rogue One and solely actually leaves a single character behind.
There are TV exhibits that don’t know they’re getting cancelled once they finish their runs, after which there are those who get to determine how they exit. And then there’s Andor, a present that knew its finish level even earlier than they determined to make it. I’ve talked in my evaluations of this season concerning the absolute brilliance of telling a narrative that thematically aligns with that scenario, that highlights the truth that these characters are on a course that was set for them practically a decade in the past. It ought to come as no shock that the free ends that Andor’s remaining chapter ties off are as integral to the onscreen story as they’re baked into the proposition of doing a prequel within the first place – particularly a prequel that feeds so straight into the established large display lore of the franchise.
However that’s greater image stuff, and I’d moderately begin small when speaking about chapter 4. There’s a dialog very early in episode 10 between Luthen and his double agent on the ISB, Lonni Jung, that’s shot so pristinely that it form of drives me nuts. This scene on the web page is, I might argue, fairly simple spycraft stuff. It lives extra in ’70s thriller territory with 3 Days of the Condor than it does with Star Wars. It’s simply two guys speaking on a bench subsequent to a pond. That’s as inventory because it will get. What units this scene aside although is its visible language. The digital camera blocking that clearly asks and solutions the query, “How can we make this fascinating on display?”
I’m going to slide into film-technique nerd mode for a second and simply speak concerning the composition of the primary broad shot. It’s a large open area, beneath a set of bridges, not one other soul to be seen. However the strains fashioned by the bricks on the bottom draw your eyes as much as the 2 males, who’re wearing darkish wardrobe that stands out towards the white concrete of their environment. The bridges overheard are looping, circuitous paths resulting in totally different locations off sooner or later someplace whereas the skyline of Coruscant – the place life proceeds fully unaware of Luthen and Lonni’s assembly – looms within the distance. It’s a fantastic shot and even when all of that that means wasn’t supposed, it’s that means that may definitely be utilized to it due to how attractive the composition is.
However then as they start to speak the digital camera performs a job as effectively. Lonni desires assurances that he and his household will probably be protected, whereas Luthen desires to know what Lonni is aware of earlier than he assures Lonni of something. Episode director Alonso Ruizpalacios levels this a part of the dialog with what are often known as “French Overs,” or close-ups of the characters from behind their backs. This provides a barely closed view of the actors’ faces and leaves the impression that they’re holding one thing again. As Lonni turns into extra determined, placing his playing cards on the desk, the digital camera switches again to the entrance aspect of the actors and their intentions turn out to be clearer to us. Luthen even leans in like a predator ready to pounce in the direction of the tip of the scene. And that is the place digital camera blocking actually turns into invaluable. The pair of them haven’t moved an inch from their spots on this park bench, however the digital camera has been actively telling us really feel about it the entire time. It’s only a quiet scene on the park bench on the web page, however on display, it’s an exhilarating recreation of chess.
This isn’t meant to be digital camera blocking 101, although. I’m solely entering into gory element on the strategy of a scene to share simply how spectacular Andor is on quite a lot of ranges. The story the writers are telling on the web page is fascinating and dynamic and extra grounded than sci-fi sometimes tries to be, however Andor is telling the identical form of story visually as effectively. The best way each craftsman and commerce on set is pulling in the identical path, the truth that a quiet scene on a park bench is value breaking down with 300 phrases value of film-school stuff, speaks volumes concerning the top quality of the present.
In the meantime, crucial factor about Lonni Jung is that to me he’s most consultant of what this present has been doing proper all alongside. I’ve talked about it earlier than, however the unsung heroes of the Star Wars universe – the untold tales on the roots of the Riot – they’re the entire level of Andor. With out Lonni Jung, Luke Skywalker doesn’t blow up the Dying Star. Full cease. Perhaps they discover one other means, and “the chosen one” or no matter finally ends up bullseyeing a womprat anyway, however right here’s this man, a double agent center supervisor within the Empire’s intelligence machine – a aspect character on this very present – alerting the Riot to the Dying Star’s very existence, solely to be tossed away for any person’s canine to seek out useless on a park bench. It’s a reminder that many Lonnis died to deliver us this data.
That’s an unimaginable factor for Star Wars to do on this, the 12 months 2025, or ABY 48 for those who like. That is the way you do a prequel. Not by including an entire different canvas, however by filling within the particulars within the background.
However for those who had been nervous about Luthen not getting all his particulars stuffed in, chapter 4 has you coated. Because the collection’ most enigmatic character, there’s one thing very romantic about him popping up out of nowhere to play a pivotal function within the Riot solely to vanish as shortly. So, once we get a ton of his backstory by way of flashback, I truthfully didn’t know really feel about it.
On one hand, he turns into his personal free finish to cope with as Dedra lastly finds him – which, as a fast apart, is an unimaginable scene. Luthen is getting the one conclusion that ever made sense for him. It’s the one he knew was not solely attainable, however probably inevitable, and to have him cling to life for an origin-story-revealing period of time is smart. It additionally doubles as Kleya’s backstory as effectively, as she remembers her associate in crime within the empty safehouse. Alternatively, I don’t actually like flashbacks.
As effusive as I’ve been a few double prequel as a whole collection, I’ll admit it appears just a little hypocritical to balk at a flashback, however as a rule, I don’t like how flashbacks are used. There’s an inclination for them to really feel like they’re coming from the author for our profit as an viewers. It’s straightforward for them to really feel inorganic on display, just like the present is saying “I guess you need to know the place Luthen and Kleya got here from, so right here you go!”
So unfairly or not, the primary bits of the pair’s origins had me rolling my eyes just a little. However sooner or later it turns into clear that the event of Luthen and Kleya’s relationship over time is a surprisingly essential thread within the historical past of the Riot and a little bit of a microcosm of the entire level of Andor. Their story sneaks in proper on the end line and does all of the issues that the whole present has executed so effectively.
Firstly, it provides private and small, emotional stakes to the motion on display. Kleya has for the whole run of the present been a chilly and callous, “That is what you signed up for, cease complaining” presence within the present. She’s needed to hold everyone in test. Her line to Vel in season 1 about needy faces on the door is nice. She’s even needed to slap Luthen’s hand a bit when he begins to waiver – we noticed plenty of that in chapter 2 of this season. Giving her this deep connection to Luthen creates a very new form of presence for her. It’s an entire different emotional funding within the job that she is now caught with, which is in fact, to complete killing her father earlier than he will be resuscitated and interrogated.
Kleya additionally turns into perhaps crucial character in the whole Riot. If she weren’t round to cross paths with Luthen, if she hadn’t been there to encourage him to do one thing concerning the horrors he was witnessing, perhaps there isn’t a Riot in any respect, however definitely it begins elsewhere. Like Lonnie Jung, unexpectedly right here’s this one who’s a aspect character on this present however proves to be a central determine within the struggle towards the Empire.
In the meantime, that concept of destiny that’s been tossed round so totally on this collection is current within the flashback as effectively. Throughout the scene the place Luthen and Kleya set off a bomb amongst a gaggle of troops on a bridge they discuss making selections however does she get to? Luthen is form of making the selection for her. It’s a scene with a number of reads, I believe, on one hand there’s Luthen taking the selection out of Kleya’s fingers, on the opposite there’s Kleya making the selection to do it, however Luthen finally sparing her the act of truly doing it. So is he a ruthless and chilly father determine right here, or is he defending Kleya in a second the place she’s nonetheless very younger? Both means, they’re each social gathering to killing folks, and there’s nothing black-and-white about what’s occurring on this scene. It’s top-of-the-line within the remaining chapter and most emblematic of what the whole collection is about and it’s all of the extra spectacular that it does so in a flashback – which, once more, is one in all my least favourite filmmaking units of all.
A number of the again half of this remaining chapter is about establishing Rogue Another than anything, nevertheless. That is the one pitfall of the prequel collection Andor wasn’t in a position to solely keep away from. As a result of the opposite factor is that I’ve gotten by over 1,800 phrases of this evaluate with out mentioning the present’s title character. To be truthful, I’m nice with that, as a result of, as I’ve stated with characters like Luthen, Lonnie, and Kleya, this can be a collection devoted to the aspect characters. Dedra will get a splendidly tragic, becoming finish, and so does Partagaz. However Cassian’s relative unimportance to the finale can also be some extent value scrutinizing.
The heavy lifting for Cassian in these remaining episodes comes when he, Melshi, and Okay-2SO get an inaugural onscreen mission to go and rescue Kleya from Coruscant – however it’s all very acquainted, as a result of we’ve seen that form of factor from these guys earlier than. There’s a gradual movement, walk-and-nod shot on the tail finish of the season that feels compulsory greater than satisfying. In a means, although his absence is smart as a result of the ultimate season of Andor is definitely Rogue One. That’s the tip of his story so so far as Andor the collection is anxious. Andor the Insurgent shouldn’t be a free finish but.
