Chris Connor reviews the eighth episode of Star Wars: Andor…
After the cliffhanger ending of the previous episode and Cassian’s incarceration, Andor’s eighth episode, ‘Narkina 5′ sees many of the disparate story threads begin to convalesce as the Empire tightens its grip and we see wider signs of the fledgling rebel movement. This episode is one of the series’ longest to date and gives each of the main storylines room to breathe as they overlap with the Empire searching for signs of Cassian, especially Kyle Soller’s Syril Karn, who has been a surprisingly integral figure in this series and is seeking to clear his name.
The episode’s focus on Cassian’s arrest gives the episode a different feel, bathing in the pure terror of the situation with Diego Luna acting mostly through facial expressions, resigned to his fate and terrified of the consequences of speaking out. This is a sign of the ruthlessness of the Imperials and a side we’ve largely not seen in the films. We are treated to a surprise appearance from Andy Serkis, a floor manager on Narkina 5, of course no stranger to the Star Wars universe having portrayed Supreme Leader Snoke in the Sequel Trilogy.
The design of this facility bears similarities to the Clone factory on Kamino with its bright white aesthetic and a water based planet. This works well in contrast to the opulence of Coruscant and run down nature of Imperial rule on Ferrix.
The way the storylines begin to overlap here is cleverly done with Dedra Meero speaking with Syril about his experiences on Ferrix and with Cassian especially showing growing Imperial interest in the case. We also see the growing effect of Imperial occupation on Ferrix with Maarva growing weaker and the residents growing restless, it is welcome to see more of Bix and Brasso who have been more bit parts outside of the opening three episodes. The shows commitment to covering various storylines beyond just Cassian’s is commendable, showing the effects of even small actions on the wider community.
We see the continued impact of the Aldhani heist through Luthen’s interaction with Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker), the character making his first appearance in the series perhaps later than expected, showing us how his setup here differs to the one seen in Rebels and Rogue One. Again the continued focus on this event shows its magnitude and capturing the sense of a changing tide in the Rebels’ fortunes.
This is an episode short on shootouts but heavy on intrigue, delicately positioning various factions for later on in the series, laying the groundwork for the remainder of the series as an organised rebellion takes shape. Mon Mothma is continuing to raise funds in her fight against the Empire and Genevieve O’Reilly excels at capturing her conflict and increasingly erratic behaviour and the effect this is having on her personal life, also informing us far more on a character with a long history in the franchise.
‘Narkina 5’ sets events in motion for the rest of the series, longer than previous episodes but making the most of its run time to move each of the story threads forward. Episodes like this underline the strength of having twelve episodes to let the story move organically and not feel rushed. This episode gives the greatest sense of the Empire tightening its grip and the need for a rebellion, captured in the prison on Narkina 5 and growing sense of desperation on Ferrix. Tony Gilroy continues to make Andor its own beast that still draws heavily on the series’ iconography to make it a true standout in the illustrious franchise.
Chris Connor
