Main cast: Diego Luna (Cassian Andor), Stellan Skarsgård (Luthen Rael), Kyle Soller (Syril Karn), Adria Arjona (Bix Caleen), Fiona Shaw (Maarva Andor), Joplin Sibtain (Brasso), James McArdle (Timm Karlo), and Alex Ferns (Sergeant Linus Mosk)
Director: Toby Haynes
Oh, so the first episode is Kassa, and now this one is called That Would Be Me? I wonder if the rest of the titles in this show would eventually spell out a story of its own, or maybe a secret code, ooh. That would be fun.
Anyway, Andor is now trying to evade the law after having killed two Pre-Mor Security Inspection goons. He seeked help from Bix Carleen, a mechanic that is also his ex; the two of them are still friends and she’s okay with him. His adoptive mother Maarva is also around to help, although she’s annoyed at how he seems to blab all his secrets to the wrong people all the time.
I can’t blame Maarva, as Andor will admit here that everything, up to the Pre-Mor Security people knowing of his true origins, is his fault.
Meanwhile, Bix is involved with Timm Karlo, and that fellow, believing that she and Andor are still shacking up behind his back, reports Andor to the authorities in a fit of jealousy.
Okay, am I the only one that thinks Karlo looks hotter than Andor? I like me some man with some meat, and I find Diego Luna’s round-shaped face tad too boyish for me to buy him in the role of this rugged, not-always-smart, sometimes-too-impetuous, hot-headed guy that can kill and whoop ass but only wants to find his sister.
Anyway, this is another solid episode, one that is tad more enjoyable than the previous one because things are rolling out at a pretty fast pace. Solid pacing, solid acting, and solid stuff happening on screen—I realize with a pleasant start that things on Andor so far are chugging full speed ahead like a fast-paced space caper would.
Sure, The Mandalorian has its moments, but that show can spend half a season wandering around looking for a plot, and the less said about the other two shows the better.
On the other hand, this show so far is taking me back to classic Star Wars vibes, with danger at every corner and political plots brewing in the background as the good guy is on a seemingly personal quest that ends up being something far bigger than anyone initially expected. The only thing missing is a droid, but hey, there are quite a number of episodes more to go!
So yes, I’m excited, I’m thrilled to be interested in a present day Star Wars show, and I can even live with Diego Luna’s face and voice that feels so, so mismatched with what I’d expect someone like Andor would look and sound like.
