A battle-tested warrior...?
I think the main highlight of the first season of Andor is witnessing the growth of the protagonist Cassian Andor. Everyone can clearly see how he gradually transforms from a "self-serving thief with only rebellious emotions and action but lacking a goal and program" into a revolutionary with his own aspirations under the influence of internal and external environments.
When Cassian first appears in the second season, he is already doing what his "guide" Luthen usually does: instigating rebellion, mobilizing everyone who can resist the Empire, and actively carrying out united front work.
"The Empire has no future. This is what you want to do. Devote yourself to the great cause of resisting the Empire." Look, with just a few words, he stabilizes the tester who has just started trying to rebel. Coupled with his handsome face, the effect of calming the mind is remarkable.
It is worth mentioning that this season of Andor still continues the advantage of striving for excellence in hard indicators such as costumes, props, scenes, and photography. The retro and rough material culture and the tough and mechanical aesthetic style make the audience's eyes very comfortable.
Take the Empire's most famous consumable, the TIE fighter, for example. It was filmed particularly handsomely in S1E6. The prototype test aircraft that appeared in the first episode has even clearer lines and prominent edges and corners. Why didn't I think it was so good-looking before... and it's also particularly durable...
The highlight of the first two episodes is Cassian's experience after escaping in his fighter jet - the contact person is gone, replaced by a group of rebels with very ridiculous words and deeds.
This rebel group led by Maarva has achieved a certain scale. Cassian has even done business with them. But after Maarva's disappearance/death, this remnant group immediately fell into a state of leaderlessness and confusion, and there was serious internal strife over verbal disputes and leadership.
Considering that Andor is a work that can carry out revolutionary narratives, the intention of such a ridiculous plot arrangement is obvious: it proves how important it is to "learn in battle" and have clear goals for struggle.
After all, in theory, as long as you dare to confront the Empire, you can become a rebel, and there are countless such large and small armed groups in the galaxy... But there are very few elite troops that can continue to fight even when fragmented in various harsh environments (most have become bandits).
A group that can't even handle a prisoner and finally has to decide a new leader by drawing lots is far from being a real revolutionary team.
In contrast, Cassian, who has escaped danger again, has long been rid of his former ignorance and wavering and can be said to be a mature revolutionary fighter.
The Empire's Orders Are Timely
Speaking of which, the "counter-revolutionary forces" of the Empire in Andor have as much screen time as other storylines.
Orson Krennic from Rogue One also appears in this season. He gathers a group of elite talents from the Empire to discuss how to quickly and effectively take control of Ghorman to mine the kyber crystals deep in the planet's crust.
First, Ghorman is a commercial planet famous for its weaving industry in the galaxy. Second, the Empire's influence here is not strong enough. Therefore, it is indeed not easy to achieve predatory mining of Ghorman at a small cost.
The first suggestion came from top students in the Empire's propaganda department. They proposed to launch public opinion, use economic status and stereotypes to discredit Ghorman, put it in a passive position, and strive for the Empire to gain an advantageous position in dealing with Ghorman.
This routine is now common, but the public opinion offensive takes effect slowly and lacks a decisive role, so it can only be used as an auxiliary alternative.
Another clever person from the Imperial military proposed releasing a plague or forging a natural disaster to drive people away... The Andor crew is really brave. Is this something that can be said?
But this plan was rejected a long time ago. The reason is that such weapons of mass destruction are too uncontrollable, and the final result will be very unpredictable. If it harms others without benefiting oneself and yields nothing, it will be over.
Among all the people, Orson actually values Dedra's ideas the most, which is why he brought her into this meeting. Dedra did not disappoint him. Her suggestion was to intensify the originally mild rebellion activities there, so that the Empire could act as it pleased with a justifiable reason.
Although Dedra recently lost the opportunity to continue tracking the "axis" of resistance, her ability to handle affairs has been widely recognized. Participating in this meeting, which she was reluctant to attend, is actually a demotion in name but a promotion in reality - just like Lord Vader chokes to death officers who make excuses and are incompetent, and those who are promoted are people like Dedra who talk less and act decisively.
On the other hand, Syril has been promoted from an ordinary teller in the Standards Bureau to a lobby manager. It can be seen that after saving Dedra's life on Ferrix, his career has been advancing by leaps and bounds.
Another thing I like most about the first season of Andor is seeing "the state of workers whose personalities have been erased under a high-pressure, inefficient but meritocratic ruling system". Most of them have learned to be passive and slack off, while some have become misfit workaholics. Syril and Dedra are representative figures.
By the way, I really ship this couple. They have the same nature but different styles, and both have extreme sexual repression and a smoldering fire under the ice. They are simply a match made in heaven.
They have been together for a while, and finally, the day to meet the parents has come - it was actually the strong attacker Dedra who strengthened the weak Syril's determination.
Although Syril's mother can be called a clever and resourceful person, her power is limited to the small family. In front of someone like Dedra who really holds power, she can only put away her little tricks.
Secrecy on Thin Ice
The wedding storyline is the one I feel the least about in the first three episodes. It seems that this line is mainly for supporting characters such as Mon Mothma and Luthen to appear and make a cameo (as well as to show off the burning funds and production level to the audience). There is not much actual information, so I will just talk about it briefly.
One of the most important points is that Tay Kolma is in a bad state and has become a hidden danger.
As a banker who launders money for his old lover and acts as a go-between, although Kolma also dislikes the Empire, he obviously does not have the psychological quality to rebel or even keep secrets. Just taking risks and his wife leaving him have turned him into a dangerous time bomb.
Of course, Mothma wants to appease him and discuss the share and other matters with Kolma in Coruscant after her daughter's wedding. But Luthen can't wait anymore.
Even if Kolma can be appeased for a while, with his current state, he is not a partner who can cooperate for a long time. The hidden danger should be eliminated before he causes trouble.
Mothma disagrees with Luthen's proposal, but she can't stop him. Revolution is not a dinner party. When she realizes that she has indirectly ruin her old classmate's life and can do nothing about it, she can only briefly devote herself into the celebration singing and dancing to numb herself.
Luthen assigns the task to Cinta, who is familiar with the ropes. It seems that Kolma is about to leave the show.
To be fair, although Luthen's revolutionary will and determination to oppose the Empire are worthy of recognition, he is too murderous and has turned himself into a cold and ruthless sharp knife. Such a person will not live long (even if he lives to see the victory of the revolution, he will not be able to find his place). We can guess when he will exit.
Oppression, Resistance, Cost
Bix, Brasso, Vel Sartha (and B2EMO) who are hiding on the edge planet have changed from workers to farmers and secretly support Cassian's revolutionary cause.
One of the pleasures of watching Andor is that you can variously and presumptuously substitute it into modern and contemporary history. you can find some shadows in the Age of Discovery, colonial history, the Industrial Revolution, the international communist movement, world wars, etc.
It is true that those who can take the lead in execution and influence are often the petty bourgeoisie and small landlords like Luthen and Vel Sartha who have more status, money, power, and progressive ideas, but it is often the broad proletarian workers and peasants who can set off a revolutionary storm.
Because they are always on the front line of being oppressed by the Empire and naturally have the spirit of resistance and revolutionary potential.
The first three episodes of this season present a very typical Imperial officer to the audience. In the name of strict management and inspection, he abuses his power and even puts his dirty hands on Bix.
The officer actually didn't know that Bix and others were wanted criminals by the Empire. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been so careless to flirt. He just wanted to take advantage of the dear black households by using his authority.
This officer has both the greasiness and shamelessness of the Gestapo and the obscenity and lewdness of the Japanese army, fully displaying "I am a villain" on his face. If even such an Empire is not opposed, then what kind of person is one?
The rest is simple. Even without considering the secrets they hold, when being bullied to this extent, they have to resist (somewhat like Cassian being arrested and made to work as a laborer in the first season of Andor). It's just a pity that Brasso, a good friend and brother, fell under the random gunfire of the "edge-lord" stormtroopers.
This is also the hardest part for revolutionaries like Cassian: on this long road, they must constantly face the pain of losing relatives and friends.
An Imperial squad was completely wiped out by a TIE fighter. Now there's no need to pack up. They have to run away quickly... Cassian takes Bix and Vel Sartha and leaves the sad place. As for where to go, they have to take it one step at a time.
The fact is that the road of revolution is not romantic at all. It is accompanied by countless deaths and injustices... But "where there is oppression, there is resistance". Even if it is not ideal, this is the only way to choose.