This article contains spoilers forStar Wars: Andor.Star Wars: Andorhas proven to be one of the biggest sleeper hits of 2022. From word of mouth alone, it went from yet another Disney Plus spin-off series to one of the most universally acclaimed entries in the entireStar Warsfranchise.
As such, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of instantly-iconic moments from the series that have engraved themselves into the minds of countless fans over the past few months. Just about every episode of the series has at least one scene that could have easily made this list, but five sequences in particular stand above all the rest as the defining moments of the story. So without further ado, here arefive of the greatest momentsfromStar Wars: Andor.
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The Opening Sequence
The first two episodes ofAndorare a bit of a slow burn before the plot really gets going in episode three. However, that doesn’t mean that the show is slow to draw the audience in. Right away, the opening scenes of Episode 1, “Kassa”, set the tone for the entire series in a way that is sure to stick with viewers long after the credits roll. It’s a somber, atmospheric sequence that feels more like something out ofBlade Runnerthan anything seen before in a majorStar Warsinstallment.
Aside from the striking yet gloomy visuals of the planet Morlana One, the first scene is notable for taking place in a brothel: whilenothing R-rated is shown,the allusion to any sort of sexuality instantly marksAndoras a more gritty, mature brand ofStar Warsthan anything found in the movies. Things only get darker in the following scene, in which the show’s titular character Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is confronted by a pair of corrupt security guards — not Stormtroopers, but ordinary police, establishing the smaller scale of the series.
What follows is a tense confrontation that ends with Cassian killing one guard by accident, then willfully shooting the second out of self-preservation. It’s a masterfully grim sequence that organically sets up not just the tone and scale of the series, but also the fact that the Cassian we see here has yet to become the experienced killerfound inRogue One.In just a few minutes,Andortells its audience everything they need to know about the series, and that alone earns the opening sequence of “Kassa” a spot on this list.
The Interrogation
Jumping forward to Episode 9, “Nobody’s Listening!”, we have one of the most harrowing scenes in the entireStar Warsfranchise. Imperial Supervisor Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) oversees the interrogation of Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona), determined to find out more about Cassian and his Rebel allies. When Bix proves resistant, Dedra resorts to drastic measures. She has her interrogator Dr. Gorst play a recording of the dying screams of the children of Dizon Fray: a sound so horrific that it’s used as a method of torture.
What makes this already-disturbing scene downrightterrifying is the factthat the audience never actually hears the sound Dr. Gorst plays — we only see the traumatized reaction of Bix, watching as this fiercely determined woman has her resolve shattered by the torture, until she’s reduced to a broken husk of her former self. It’s a downright chilling sequence that cements Dedra as a truly imposing main antagonist for the series.
One Way Out
The Narkina 5 prison story arc comes to an explosive climax in Episode 10, “One Way Out”, in which Cassian joins forces with Kino Loy (Andy Serkis) to lead their fellow prisoners to freedom in a full-scale revolt. But despite being the protagonist, Cassian declines the offer to deliver the inspiring speech to the prisoners, instead handing that honor over to Kino. And so, Kinooffers words of hopeto the hopeless prisoners of Narkina 5.
“Get out of your cells, take charge and start climbing,” Kino says to his fellow inmates. “They don’t have enough guards, and they know it[…] I would rather die trying to take them down than giving them what they want.” However, he calls not just for courage and defiance, but for compassion as well. “You need to help each other. You see someone who’s confused[…] you keep them moving until we put this place behind us. There are 5,000 of us. If we can fight half as hard as we’ve been working, we will be home in no time. One way out!”
It’san absolutely incredible speechdelivered with a brilliant performance by Serkis. Moreover, the jailbreak sequence serves as a sort of microcosm for the entire series — ordinary people suffering under Imperial rule are inspired to unite and fight back, proving that they can overthrow their oppressors by working together. And as if that wasn’t enough, the scene is given a final touch of irony with the reveal that Kino can’t swim, and thus can’t escape from the floating prison. But even so, he bravely led his fellow inmates to the freedom he cannot possess. It’s a wonderful climax to an unforgettable storyline, and it perfectly bolsters the driving themes of the series.
Luthen’s Speech
Of course, Kino isn’t the only character who gets a memorable speech in Episode 10. Later on, the manipulativeRebel leader Luthen Rael(Stellan Skarsgård) meets with a mole working for him within the Empire, who calls Luthen out for sacrificing others for the Rebel cause. When asked what sacrifices he’s made, Luthen responds thusly: “Calm. Kindness. Kinship. Love. I’ve given up all chances at inner peace. I’ve made my mind a sunless space.”
“What is my sacrifice? I’m condemned to use the tools of my enemy to defeat them,” Luthen continues. “I burn my decency for someone else’s future. I burn my life to make a sunrise that I know I’ll never see[…] So what do I sacrifice? Everything!” It’s a scene that proves incredibly revealing for the character of Luthen, who’s been an enigma until now.He reveals that he’s awareof how cruel and unscrupulous he can be, and that he feels immense guilt for it — however, he feels like he has no choice but to stay on this path. The speech is delivered impeccably by Skarsgård, and it cements Luthen as one of the most nuanced, fascinating characters in the series.
Maarva’s Funeral
And finally, there’s the climactic setpiece of the season finale, “Rix Road”, in which the funeral for Cassian’s adoptive mother Maarva (Fiona Shaw) explodes into a full-on riot to drive the Empire out of Ferrix.“Maybe fighting is useless. Perhaps it’s too late,” Maarva says in a posthumous message. “But[…] if I could do it again, I’d wake up early and be fighting these bastards from the start. Fight the Empire!" Thegrand finale ofAndoris a perfect encapsulation of the series’ central themes, showing how even ordinary people can stand up to tyranny by banding together as one. All it takes is one spark of hope to start the fire of a revolution, and even in death, Maarva was that spark. It’s a perfect climax to a truly spectacular series.
