Andor Season 2 Episodes 10-12 Review
‘Andor’ has come to an end on Disney+, with a set of episodes that close out the show in a phenomenal fashion. Luthen Rael also meets his end in this set, proving his speech correct that he won’t live to see the sunrise he wants to help make. The episodes also tie a surprising amount together, using the trademark detail that Tony Gilroy and all the other cast and crew have brought throughout the show.
The first episode focuses on Luthen, Kleya, and Dedra, as the ISB catches up to Axis. Luthen meets with Lonni, and the latter ties everything back to the Death Star, and unfortunately is unceremoniously offed for his contributions. It was a sad end for Lonni, especially knowing he has a family. Dedra’s meeting with Luthen begins tense, as the two play charades until Dedra reveals the Imperial Starpath from all the way back at the start of season one. What follows is a great conversation between the pair about rebellion, and how Dedra is far too late. Luthen doesn’t want to be captured either, so stabs himself with an art piece. Denise Gough shows some amazing shock here, as she watches her prize fall to the floor in front of her. This unfortunately isn’t fatal, and Dedra takes him to an Imperial hospital to heal before interrogation.
Kleya has proven herself to be a hugely valuable asset over the course of the season, with actress Elizabeth Dulau really shining, especially as it’s her first acting role after graduating. She has to assassinate Luthen in the hospital, and it’s woven with flashbacks to her and Luthen meeting, and their opening acts together. It fleshes out more of their relationship and adds to Luthens end.
The next episode too focuses on Kleya, and the ISB hunts for her. But there is turmoil inside the organisation as Defra has been arrested for her overreach, and has a fantastic scene with Krennic as he lords his power over her. One gesture that particularly stands out is Ben Mendelsohn holding his finger on Dedra’s head, which was improvised, adding to Krennic’s power in this moment. Partagaz explaining Kleya was diseased was a brilliant callback to his speech in season one. Andor, Melshi, and K2-SO hilariously break 18 orders to rescue Kleya – which shows why K2 wasn’t in earlier episodes, as he would disrupt the tone, as well as standing out due to being a huge imperial droid. The ISB are onto Kleya however, leading to a tense start to the final episode.
The final episode isn’t as big as perhaps many were expecting, as the escape from the ISB is quite short, with K2 proving his usefulness at ripping through Supervisor Heert and his men. It focuses much more on the infighting back at the Yavin base, first between Saw and Mon Mothma – a wonderful back and forth between them, similar to ‘Star Wars: Rebels’, – and more as Cassian’s intel about the Death Star is questioned. Luthen is dragged through the mud, as his dark tactics are questioned, though all the rebel leaders fail to see how Luthen has helped them.
Major Partagaz has a wonderful ending, listening to Nemik’s manifesto and lamenting the spread of the Rebellion. Lagret comes to inform Partagaz he’s been called by his superiors, but shoots himself rather than face them. Dedra also comes to a beautifully poetic ending, chucked into a similar prison like Andor for her crimes. The ending emphasises the fact that the Imperials are alone, but the rebels are together, as Mon sits with Vel, Wilmon is with his Ghorman girlfriend, Kleya looks out over the rebellion she helped to build, Melshi trains rebels, and Cassian walks to his ship to go to the Ring of Kafrene, seeing the Force healer and exchanging knowing looks. Bix has a child on Mina-Rau, showing the joy Cassian will never have. The theme music swells, as the show comes to a brilliant and emotional close.
Overall, the final three episodes of ‘Andor’ close the series out in a brilliant way, paying off a lot of moments, big and small, from across the series. The production design, writing, acting, direction, and more have all been top notch, helping to enhance what has come before. It’s a shame ‘Andor’ couldn’t run for its full five seasons, but the two it got were phenomenal, the likes of which audiences might never see again.
