Andor Double Take: Episode 7

Last week’s episode of Andor was definitely a high in terms of story for the season so far. Episode 7 titled Announcement, written by Stephen Schiff and directed by Benjamin Caron, shouldn’t be thought of as a dip in terms of story, but rather an in between as the characters deal with the fallout and the series builds momentum into the final third of Season One. Like the emotional come down after an epic vacation from work, reality is setting in for the characters of Andor, and for some, their lives will never be the same.

Markedly absent from last week’s episode, everyone’s favorite mama’s boy Syril Karn is back. And while mommy may not approve of his interview outfit, he still secures a job at the Bureau of Standards department on Coruscant. The utter bleakness of this monotonous desk job isn’t lost on Karn, I suspect it’s only a matter of time until his arc is on a new trajectory; someone as ambitious as him will not be satisfied punching the clock for long.

Easter egg hunters didn’t have to search too hard this week, as Wullf Yularen makes his debut in Andor. Played by Malcolm Sinclair, Yularen has been in the universe since 1977’s A New Hope, with The Clone Wars and Rebels fleshing his character out so much so that he’s become a fan favorite. The majority of the screen time Yularen received in Star Wars canon features him as one of the good guys, aiding Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi as an Admiral in the Republic Navy. Viewers saw his transition to Imperial officer as Grand Admiral Thrawn’s right hand man in Rebels, and here in Andor, he’s a full fledged Imperial Kool-Aid drinker (he even name drops Emperor Palpatine for goodness’ sake!). Yularen’s heading up a meeting where the tighter restrictions and punishments for crimes against the Empire are made clear to everyone. Office Blevin takes an opportunity to put Meero on blast for the subversive way she continued her research into thefts of Imperial property, but his plans to take her down quickly dissolve as Yularen praises Meero for her initiative. Meero may be the new golden child (she’s rewarded with overseeing Ferrix) but Yularen delivers a stern warning for her to watch her back.

On the Rebel side, Rael Luthen’s assistant Kleya Marki covertly meets up with Vel and instructs her to kill Cassian as he’s a loose end that risks Luthen’s identity. Mon Mothma makes an unannounced visit to Luthen, making her shock at the robbery mission clear, though Luthen strongly informs her that this is what needed to happen. Later at yet another house party, Mothma reunites with a Chandrilan pal from her childhood, banker Tay Kolma (Ben Miles) with whom she’s comfortable enough with sharing a bit of her rebellious plans. Cassian’s back home on Ferrix, determined to settle up, grab Maarva and leave for a life of peace. He and Bix say their goodbyes, but not before she informs him that most of the community blames him for the Imperial presence after the dust up with Corporate Security. He experiences firsthand the Empire’s presence on the planet, and while viewers have been waiting for Stormtroopers to make their appearance in the series, their presence triggers traumatic memories of Clem Andor’s death by their hand. Things don’t go super smoothly for Cassian with Maarva, she makes it clear she’s not going anywhere, dead set on fighting a rebellion of her own on Ferrix. In an emotional gut punch of a scene, Maarva gives Cassian her blessing to leave (shoutout to actress Fiona Shaw, her performance is stellar), knowing how strongly they each feel about their convictions. Cassian ends up on the resort planet of Niamos, but his life of luxury doesn’t last long. A chance interaction with Shoretroopers and KX units results in Cassian’s arrest, ultimately being sentenced to a six year prison sentence for a perceived offense to the Empire.

In the aftermath of the robbery on Aldhani, the Empire takes drastic measures to ensure it doesn’t happen again, and the Rebels delight as this is exactly what they were hoping for. Luthen wants more people to experience the severity of the Empire, as it will draw more people to their cause. Announcement saw many of our characters drawing a line in the sand and standing firm in their convictions. Mothma was clearly upset by the intensity of the mission, but became more determined than ever to take steps to take them down. Officer Meero, now emboldened by her bending of the rules, will likely become more dangerous as she continues her investigation. Maarva probably makes the most emotionally driven decision, to stay in a place that has brought her so much pain and suffering, but doing so to make things better. And while Cassian’s own line in the sand was washed away by his victimization by the Empire, this is most likely one of the ways in which his Rebel convictions become stronger than ever.

While not as action packed for visually stunning as last week’s episode, Andor Episode 7 provided its own kind of intensity, one steeped in humanity. Seeing how each character responded to a high caliber incident (combined with a cast of actors who are top-notch) once again proves that Andor is doing some of the most relatable, emotional and all around excellent Star Wars storytelling ever.

With Andor Episode 7 kicking off another three episode arc, the stars only know what the future holds, all I know is that it’s going to be an amazing ride. See you back next week for another Andor double take!