Review: Andor Episode 4 drives home the unglamorous nature of rebellion

After a searing three-episode premiere, Star Wars: Andor widens its scope in Episode 4 by taking Cassian away from Ferrix, teasing the breadth of Luthen Rael’s duplicitous dealings on Coruscant, and reintroducing one of the most quietly iconic characters in all of Star Wars: Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly).

While this show is chiefly about Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) and his journey with the Rebellion, the juiciest bits of “Aldhani” don’t involve our morally gray protagonist. In this episode, we’re welcomed back to Coruscant, now the capital planet of the Galactic Empire.

Coruscant like you’ve never seen it before

Coruscant played a key role in the Star Wars prequel films as the headquarters of the Jedi Order and the Republic Senate. But Andor lets us see the place with new eyes; Coruscant is painted with Imperial color palette of gloomy gray, white and black, marking this era as one of strict order and oppression. The episode gives us several perspectives on Coruscant: Luthen’s, Mon’s, and several officers in the Imperial Security Bureau (ISB).

When he’s not rounding up possible future recruits for the Rebellion, Luthen (Stellan Skarsgård) is a wealthy antique dealer who coordinates secret meetings with Mon disguised as appointments to sell her unique treasures. During this most recent meeting, they speak in hushed tones about secretly moving money around without the Empire’s notice. While they don’t say it outright, it’s clear these two are key players in what will become the Rebellion.

The stakes are extremely high. Mon is an Imperial senator who’s constantly being tailed by spies masquerading as her security and aides. Keeping up the facade is becoming more difficult, especially when Mon finds out her husband Perrin (Alastair Mackenzie) set up a dinner party with a bunch of her political rivals and enemies.

Syril Karn: unemployed and living at home

Elsewhere on Coruscant, we get a glimpse inside the Imperial Security Bureau and are introduced to Dedra Meero (Denise Gough), who wants to learn more about the Pre-Mor corporate security incident on Ferrix. While she insists she’s not doing it for her career, it’s clear she’s very interested in being taken more seriously.

On the flip side of the Imperial officer coin is Syril Karn (Kyle Soller), who’s been stripped of his position and duty and sent packing back to his mother on Coruscant. But no matter how many red flags this man waves, it’s clear the showrunners want us to question our harsh feelings toward him…and maybe even try to empathize with his points of view.

Meanwhile, we get plenty of teases about Cassian’s eventual fate in Rogue One. Luthen tries to convince Cassian to join the burgeoning Rebellion by telling him there are only a few outcomes for a guy like him, one of which is dying fighting the Empire. As collateral to get him to join a ragtag group of rebels on Adlhani, Luthen gives Cassian an expensive kyber crystal and tells him to bring it back to him. Luthen tells Cassian to give everything’s he got all to the cause, instead of carving off pieces of himself until there’s nothing left to give.

Luthen then introduces Cassian to Vel (Faye Marsay), the reluctant leader of a small group of Aldhanis who have a plan to infiltrate an Imperial garrison and steal crates of payroll documents. The group doesn’t trust Cassian, but forms an uneasy alliance with the mercenary who’s trying to prove his worth to a cause he’s not yet sure he wants to be a part of.

The episode ends right before they launch an attack on the Empire, setting up for an intense and action-packed Episode 5 that surely will feature Cassian losing new allies but possibly finding his place in the Rebellion.

Cassian Andor finds his groove

While Episode 4 is well-paced, it does feel a bit like a bridge episode connecting one act to the next. Then again, the whole of Andor is essentially a bridge connecting pre-rebellion Cassian to full-blown Rebel spy Cassian.

“Aldhani” drives home the unglamorous nature of rebellion. It’s reminiscent of the “mission of the week” episodes of Rebels, especially before the Ghost crew formally joined with the more organized Rebel Alliance.

Still, Episode 4 adds even more intriguing layers to its titular character and to the fomenting pockets of unrest in the Star Wars galaxy, from the hallowed halls of the Senate to the muggy highlands of rural Aldhani.

The first four episodes of Star Wars: Andor are streaming now on Disney+.

To stay up to date on everything fantasy, science fiction, and WiC, follow our all-encompassing Facebook page and sign up for our exclusive newsletter.

Get HBO, Starz, Showtime and MORE for FREE with a no-risk, 7-day free trial of Amazon Channels