installment six ofAndorprovided one blaze of a payoff to the rip-off that ’s been brewing over the course of thelast couple episodesof the Disney+ series . “ The Eye , ” directed by Susanna White with a script from Dan Gilroy , is likely to go down as one of the great hour ofStar Warscommitted to screen .
The Diego Luna - led , rebellion - era narration from Tony Gilroy has really rig itself apart and we ’re only halfway through !
The episode open on the morning of the Aldhani cell ’s armed robbery , in a abbreviated exchange of political orientation as Nemik ( Alex Lawther ) chooses to conceive in the person he know as “ Clem ” ( Luna ) even when Cassian Andor ca n’t quite believe in himself . In a quiet second before the latent hostility of the rest of the episode , the pureness of Nemik check right through Cassian ’s armour . He asks , how does an insurgency adjust by using the means of mercenary ? Cassian ’s an irregular variable quantity , yes , but he would n’t be there if at least some part of him was n’t in for the conflict , no matter how reluctantly . Cleverly for a youthful mind , Nemik posits how “ Clem ” could cogitate it ’s hopeless , but a sense of assurance airstream over the kid as he confides in Cassian that he question when he ’ll get to sleep . “ You ’ll sleep when it ’s done , ” is the response — and we can tell Cassian recognizes in Nemik the young human he used to be . It ’s such a tender second , we just know it was going to set us up for some sort of brokenheartedness , even as we hoped the kid really got through to our reluctant fighter .
Photo: Disney+
Up in his tower Commander Jayhold ( Stanley Townsen ) is hash out with Colonel Petigar ( Richard Katz ) how he ’s crush the spirits of the Dhanis enough for them to forego trips en masse to the sacred vale to see the nominal center , the dazzling meteor shower that will cover our rebels ’ run way of life . Of of course , it ’s by introducing a moment of a cheat and taking advantage of their refusal to accept free things out of superbia and trim down their departure . The options are accommodation or good old capitalist economy — both not ideal option , but the only ones on the board to lure the Dhanis away from their state and make the trek less executable . Put up stops with boozing and repose diaphragm , and the numbers dwindle finally , ready the stumble not worthwhile . Petigar asks if they know it ’ll be their last year at the sacred tabernacle , and Jayhold tells his superior that their expanding upon will go as planned , eventually sanctioning a festival as far away as potential so the Empire can pillage the highlands . set a damage on religion is a folly that Jayhold place himself up for .
The greyback break up into teams : squad Echo One , which are the bloke , and team Valley One , Vel ( Faye Marsay ) and Cinta ( Varada Sethu ) , who set up gimmick to sputter comms . In the taut modulation of team Echo into infiltration mode , Andor finds out that leading come naturally to Tameryn ( Gershwyn Eustache Jnr ) , because he was once a stormtrooper who has since defect — a shock to his system , but also something that give the crew proficient cover alongside Gorn Sule Rimi ) , their mol on the inside . The tautness builds as you see more information disseminated by Skeen ( Ebon Moss - Bachrach ) at just the good present moment to potentially undo the trust Nemik build with Cassian , but there ’s no time for doubt yet . Not step out of line , team Echo escorts Jayhold and his family to a traditional trading of furs , an Aldhani impost to score the start of solemnisation . Gorn acts as a translator between the Dhani pilgrims and Jayhold , who does n’t get the rightful message from the Dhanis — essentially , that their touch remember . Once Jayhold walk away , they throw the fur he incautiously consecrate them into the ardour … kindle to set off the spark of rotation as they chant their ritual .
Once they ’re back on the Qaeda , team Echo ( now joined by Vel ) reveals themselves to Jayhold and take his family hostage . Jayhold refuse to avail , figuring they ’re all in anyways but Vel points out only the Empire does thing that way . A clear delineation that they are not the same , and if Jayhold helps them plug the paysheet and get his men to cooperate in the burial vault , he and his family will take the air complimentary . The stress of this consequence , where we and our rebel likewise just have to assume Jayhold will cooperate , is bowel - wrenchingly tense , a impression that barely leaves the episode from this moment on — there ’s not a anatomy blow here , and the episode charges into action .
Photo: Disney+
Almost as if invoking divine vengeance , the Dhani chants are intercut with the moments the meteors commence to assume across the sky in cinematic luster , and with the Johnny Reb as they infiltrate the regal store . There ’s a stunning , heady mixing of tension and hope as the plan apparently starts to look like it ’ll go off … until , eventually , Corporal Kimzi ( Nick Blood ) intercepts the interfered comms between the rebels , making out that they ’re in the vaults . And now , the cuts between the Dhani , the Eye ’s brilliance , and the rebels is given another level : tailor to Kimzi and a police squad of state trooper as they hasten to the bank vault , the big businessman of the fundament flickering out , and more , as TIE pilots at the local airbase scramble to help them . Everything is building , the rush as the squad squall at their Imperial captors to dilute the payroll department information quick , Jayhold ’s actualisation of the cathode-ray oscilloscope of perfidy he look when Gorn arrives not to stop them , but to fall in in …
And it ’s only let go of when Kimzi and his men get in . Jayhold keels over on the situation , the tension too much , and infernal region breaks out . There ’s chargeman attack everywhere , and every shot another spike in our anxiety . Gorn goes down almost forthwith as the Reb skin to make it to the ship , Cassian bump himself save from near death by a injection from Nemik , and alas , poor Tameryn is gunned down making a running play for the ship , leave the rebel contingent down to three ( Cinta , meanwhile , is standing safety gadget over Jayhold ’s family , quick to be left planetside ) .
Once the remain rebels are privileged , Cassian takes off , jetting the ship into action … tragically not realizing the force of the birdie ’s engine will send the rest of the squad and the paysheet stacks wing . Nemik is crushed between two of them and the sound is horrifying : it ’s clear it ’s bad , and it ’s only worse when Vel and Skeen drag him out as he sheepishly repeats that he ca n’t experience his leg . Even in seeming success , “ The Eye ” never ratchet down down its tension . Cassian shout for flight of stairs data to make it through the Eye in one objet d’art , Vel and Skeen give Nemik an adrenaline shot so he can stay conscious long enough to hollo guidemarks and coordinate back — and if that was n’t enough sound and frenzy , three tie shriek into legal action to give chase . Miraculously , or by the goodwill of the Dhani ’s ceremony , every TIE Fighter on the tail gets stricken down in a moment of cathartic grace . It ’s unclear if the Dhanians had any awareness that Gorn was mobilizing to facilitate , or if they were in on it , but they feel it in the air . There ’s something spiritual , almost of the Force , of their still awe calculate up at the spectacle — as we know our greyback have succeeded .
Photo: Disney+
Back on board the shuttlecock , triumph is unawares - lived . Nemik has slipped into unconsciousness , and Skeen tell Andor that Vel need to forfend going to a back - up doctor to save his life , choosing to give the male child for the good of the mission . But it seems that Nemik did indeed get through to Cassian , who chooses to side with Skeen , and together they out - vote her , take aim him to the doctor ’s safe house . While Vel waits with Nemik as he goes into surgery , Skeen and Cassian look out of doors , and Andor ’s mussy , complicated human beings continues to blossom . Skeen decides to commit in Cassian that he can be just as mercenary as his mate supposed insurrectionist . He wants to cut the payroll data ’s value—80 million credits , far more than Luthen offered Cassian—50/50 , and trench Vel and Nemik . Skeen , he thinks , has found in Cassian someone like himself : a man who do where he came from , someone who knows you only get out of that place by climbing over others .
And just as you think thing could take a turn for the worse , there ’s a here and now of abbreviated catharsis : without a 2nd thought , Cassian blasts Skeen away . But crucially , he ’s not a paladin here — just because he was willing to stop Skeen screwing Vel and Nemik over does n’t intend he ’s not just done with all this . chargeman still pull , Cassian depart to Vel to bargain for his cut and a way off - world , only to walk in on the recognition that Nemik did n’t make it through surgery . Distraught that he have others in and overcome with grief at another young life lost around him , he severalize Vel he ’s leave with his cut and instructs her to give Luthen back his jewel . He ’s out . It all happens to quickly , the worked up act of protect the cause despite rent another loss get to him . Vel , at least , gives Cassian Nemik ’s manifesto , his final petition apparently that he take it . The last human action of winding and reveals are so breakneck that you do n’t get a minute to breathe , or take the random cruelness of Nemik ’s exit . It ’s so much to take in , and potently executed . and yet there ’s something promising even in the desperation . Some of them lived — and Nemik ’s words are designate to resonate , no matter how frightened Cassian is of them .
Back on Coruscant , however , things keep moving . At the ISB , Dedra ( Denise Gough ) and her fellow ship’s officer are collect for an emergency meeting bear by Major Partagaz ( Richard Katz ) , who demand every star sphere and terrestrial emergency retaliation plan in the construction ready for intro : they ’re finally taking the insurrectionist seriously . The Aldhani strike was even learn at the senate as Mon Mothma pleads for a proposal to aid the Ghormans , only to realize something has happened as her fellow senators turn by as the news break . Even in Luthen ’s den of antiquities , a deep couple inquire if he has any Aldhani pieces jestingly , name to the intelligence ; we cease , at last the tension over , on his sheer joy , laughing in the back room as he realizes his plan work out . At last , so can we breathe — the revolt has only just begun .
Screenshot: Disney+
Additional Transmissions
– Nemik was a real one , we got ta teem out some milk for him . His last lines to Andor mirror K-2SO ’s they both recite him to climb ( let off me , I have something in my eye ) .
– Vel and Cinta live ! A easing and we go for to see them again . peradventure they get their own spin - off series ?
– The Eye was Star Wars spectacle at its fine , I could n’t look away and the beauty and the brutality that could have hit them down .
Photo: Disney+
– Skeen LIED , curse his sad backstory and awesome lines ! Geez , I trust no one get any of that tattoo on themselves . Oof .
– The costuming was on dot , check a real culture through the Pilgrim Father in demarcation to the bare Imperial uniforms and array .
– Dedra is ready to get her mess , really what ’s she going to do ?
Andor drops every Wednesday on Disney+
require more io9 news ? Check out when to expect the latestMarvelandStar Warsreleases , what ’s next for theDC Universe on film and TV , and everything you require to know aboutHouse of the DragonandLord of the Rings : The Rings of Power .
CassianDiego LunaKindleMon MothmaStar WarsTony Gilroy
Daily Newsletter
Get the best tech , science , and culture news in your inbox daily .
News from the future , delivered to your present .
You May Also Like
