#interesting that kenari didn’t get one of these

[chipthekeeper]

Andor + planet title cards

[kovnynir]

𝑭𝑰𝑵𝑰𝑺𝑯𝑬𝑫  ;

nero was incredibly proud of the work that he and the other troopers had accomplished in their time running batuu. everyone was terrified of them, people started leaving their homes less and less, people shut their mouths and lowered their gaze when they passed, it was evidence that he and the troopers successfully beat them all into submission. after how awful they all were to the troopers? it’s what they deserved. 

it was an interesting time, especially given the supreme leader and allegiant general right there, in opposition of the takeover but effectively powerless to stop it. they were too close to their morals -- they wanted to do this the ‘ethical’ way, which was hilarious to nero. they really seemed to be worried about ethics when they kidnapped millions of children and brainwashed them, committed genocide, blew up the hosnian system, the list goes on for miles. suuuper concerned with the ethics of all of that. and they even had the resistance in on it too, which made even less sense. collaborating with the enemy? pathetic.

cassian, however, was at his wit’s end, as was the rest of the resistance. he and the other leaders had been trying to figure out what to do about the trooper rebellion for months. they were trying to do it in a way that was morally right, which... well, was hard to do in a war. nothing about any of this was ethical. and cassian, whose morals were far more grey than the rest, knew he could get it done rather quickly if they simply acted, but he didn’t want to be a monster either. 

but finally, the man had enough. he was moving forward with his plan whether the rest liked it or not -- the trooper program was something that armitage had put cassian in charge of on the resistance’s side, and therefore, it was cassian’s jurisdiction. so, he decided to do what he did best -- work in secret. 

he planned a small group to go with him, they snuck into the base that the troopers were using, and they captured their leadership -- nero, kodaly, whoever else were seen giving orders. they transported them to the resistance base, knocked them to their knees, and pulled the bags off their heads. 

cassian paced before them, a little roughed up from his interactions with nero, but clearly he was the one still standing. ❝ enough of this, ❞ the kenari hissed. ❝ enough of this foolish rebellion. ❞

nero spat blood at cassian’s feet. ❝ funny. we were saying the same to you months ago. ❞

❝ ah, true. but where is the victor? is it you? or is it us? ❞ cassian gestured widely, catching leia’s eyes. he returned his gaze to nero. ❝ you have been trying my patience for far too long. we heard you out -- we were going to help you, all of you!! but then you kill an innocent doctor, and several other civilians, all for your misplaced anger!! ❞ cassian stepped forward, jabbing his blaster into nero’s forehead. ❝ i should kill you, just the same, for my own anger. ❞

nero grinned up at cassian. ❝ i know you, andor. adding my body to your list won’t even make a difference. you’re one of the biggest killers on this planet. ❞

❝ are you trying to taunt me with what i already know? you’ve lost, and all you have left is your semblance of wit. ❞ he lowered his weapon, then put it in his holster. ❝ we wanted to do this a better way, but you’ve given us no choice. you will be deprogrammed. once the other troopers see, then they will be deprogrammed too -- because they will choose it. they’ll see the truth, not the way you’ve twisted it all. ❞

nero said nothing. he glared, but cassian could sense a slight hint of fear. 

❝ kaydel. gawynn. let’s take care of this. ❞ cassian grabbed nero by the arm and dragged him up to his feet, leading him to gawynn’s designated deprogramming station. 

[rose-griffes]

Having (finally!) noticed the weird tension between Kino and Melshi, I went back and looked at what Melshi was actually saying. Here’s the first moment where Kino gets upset at him. Jemboc is introducing Cassian to the bunkroom and Melsi says this: “Don't ever look at the number. Double, triple, it doesn't matter. You're here 'til they don't want you. Understand? Getting out now is just a dream. Those days are over.”

Kino has to buy into the system he’s helping to enforce. Of course this is wildly upsetting - if no one is getting out, it doesn’t matter how well he’s doing his job… and everyone is doomed. Oof.

Episodes 11 & 12

Others have pointed out that Cassian’s significant moments center around water - probably a theme they took from his final scene in Rogue One. We have:

Niamos the first time, as he’s in denial

Arriving at Narkina 5

Leaving Narkina 5 (the water from the pipe, the water they swim through)

Niamos again, learning of Maarva’s death

The rainstorm as Cassian listens to Nemik’s manifesto

And I’m sure there are other moments I missed.

Hah, Syril accused his mother of getting into his private box, and now he apparently steals from her private box?!

Cinta really hates that Imperial officer who hangs out at her workplace. Love how that builds up and resolves during her time in Ferrix. She’s so subtle about it.

11 is an episode of unnecessary but interesting scenes. We didn’t need another scene of Mon Mothma revealing how much trouble she’s in. We don’t need Luthen’s amazing escape (“That’s one hell of a pilot!”) from the Imperial patrol over Segra Milo. Cassian and Melshi could have let us know how they got off Narkina 5 in one line of exposition. Even Bee emotionally blackmailing Brasso: unneeded. BUT. I enjoyed it. It’s the (mostly) calm before the storm.

Episode 12 is hard to write about because it’s JUST AMAZING, and I love it so. Most of all the funeral band as they switch to a more militant tone and march toward the Imperial forces, unarmed* and brave.

Well, one of ‘em had a brick.

Just thinking about the Bourne movie adaptations (written by Tony Gilroy), and how good spies are ‘made’ by their really messed-up childhoods. And how that matches Cassian, his time on planet orphan Kenari, and being uprooted from there.

Fun bit of trivia: Gilroy’s first writing credit is for the sports rom-com The Cutting Edge.