“Andor” on Disney Plus (opens in new tab) masterfully arrange a number of good, new story sub-threads, however does its eighth episode proceed to take action as successfully? The quick reply is a convincing “sure.” And never solely that, however there’s a wealth of unimaginable story-telling jam packed into episode 8, entitled “Narkina 5,” plus some attention-grabbing cameos … and even somewhat little bit of mistaken identification.
We final noticed poor Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) being punished for nothing greater than being within the incorrect place on the incorrect time. Justice is swift — and clearly sweeping — within the new age of the Empire and following a laughable authorized continuing on Niamos, he’s dispatched to Narkina 5. Episode 8 is known as after this Imperial Jail Facility for excellent cause, for it’s the star of this epsode’s installment.
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Except for a number of, very small dips in what’s in any other case distinctive and impeccable pacing, this present has been of a seldom-found, terribly excessive commonplace all through. And at each step of his inadvertent incarceration, we are able to really feel the worry coursing via Cassian’s veins. Luna captures it fantastically, principally in his eyes and when his forehead is not furrowed, he is often nonetheless struggling to soak up his new surroundings. That mentioned, there are tiny adjustments in his facial features all through his jail induction and the character reveals inhuman quantities of resolve in not letting worry fully take over, however fairly give attention to the extra speedy drawback, that of merely staying alive. And as every agonizingly lengthy second ticks by, it turns into obvious that he regularly understands what he should do to remain alive.
The manufacturing design of Narkina 5 is straightforward and intensely efficient and there is a cause for that; the sterile, white, soulless surroundings acts to slowly destroy any remaining individuality, as jail life turns into your solely life. George Lucas used one thing comparable in “THX 1138.”
It is delivered with the identical type of piercing precision because the workplace surroundings seen in “Severance” solely you will not get fatally electrocuted working for Lumon Industries. The worry that maintains this manufacturing line nightmare efficiently permeates from that black mirror of your tv display screen and into your very soul as you ponder whether or not you would possibly unintentionally neglect the place the lavatory services have been and step out onto the electrified flooring.
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From the second his incarceration begins, Andor’s schooling mirrors our personal and what’s particularly attention-grabbing to see is the multi-stage, systemic breakdown of the hierarchy inside Narkina 5, finally ending up with the legendary Andy Sirkis, in a fantastically solid cameo as Kino Loy, the inmate flooring supervisor, so to talk. It will likely be attention-grabbing to see is that if what these prisoners are tasked with establishing is definitely proven. There definitely appears to be plenty of them and little doubt it is Imperial weapons of some sort, however has the choice been made to disclose it, or will it merely stay a MacGuffin?
The Empire is gathering momentum and is, to all intents and functions, very practically at full energy, which may very well be thought of the second that the primary Death Star turns into formally operational. In response to canon, it was solely after its destruction on the battle of Yavin, that Emperor Palpatine opted to construct a second, even greater Demise Star. And as such, a vital recruitment drive can be wanted to interchange the approximate 350,000 troops and officers — to not point out {hardware} — misplaced when Luke scored his game-winning three-pointer with a proton torpedo.
However for now, as its paranoia grows and fixed suspicion of rebellion permits acts of suppression to be carried out on a whim, Imperial forces tighten their grip on the galaxy and punish anybody who even a lot as appears to be like suspicious. Consequently, no matter is being constructed down there, below all that water, the Empire appears to wish plenty of. Parts of a TIE maybe? YouTuber New Rockstars (opens in new tab) appears to concur with that idea. Nonetheless, Star Wars Fanatic (opens in new tab) believes the Narkina 5 inmates are constructing the undercarriage leg attachments to an Imperial Probe Droid. It is also fully possible that inmates on every of the numerous flooring on this detention facility are constructing one thing completely different.
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To paraphrase Han Solo in “The Empire Strikes Back,” I do not know the way he will get out of this one. As a lot as we’re making an attempt to course of Andor’s new lodging, you possibly can’t assist however really feel he is already one step forward of us and we’re ready to position a big wager that he is already memorized the needlessly sophisticated, bureaucratic process of processing and that will likely be key in his eventual escape. What is going to occur to all the opposite inmates? Will the power flood as a part of Andor’s escape, or will he merely be capable to sneak away? Will the opposite inmates type the Revolt? There are such a lot of questions, so many attention-grabbing avenues for superb storytelling…and it is protected to say that now we have confidence “Andor” will ship.
The age-old debate of terrorist or freedom fighter has taken a again seat all through most mainstream “Star Wars,” nevertheless it’s way more evident right here, this week. Andor’s survival is mirrored considerably by Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) as he struggles with a barely less-lethal incarceration, working within the Gas Purity Division on the Bureau of Requirements on Coruscant, however to him, staying within the recreation is price his life. Searching Cassian Andor has turn into his life. If solely he simply requested for a job serving the Empire.
Each different essential story thread additionally progress sufficient to keep up our curiosity, one thing that sounds easy and but different large funds sci-fi shows cannot efficiently obtain this, however this episode focuses — and fairly brilliantly so — on poor Andor’s present state of affairs. Nonetheless, with the ability to watch Stellan Skarsgård (Luthen Rael) and Noticed Gerrera (Forest Whitaker) collectively in a scene was masterfully understated. Then there was a second on this episode the place Each Single Particular person watching, all of the sudden sat up and requested whoever was in earshot, “Did he [Skarsgård] simply say what I believe he mentioned?” And fortunately he did not.
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We’re speaking about Kleya Marki (Elizabeth Dulau) and principally somewhat little bit of confusion that has arisen from Skarsgård’s pronunciation of “Kleya” because it sounds an terrible lot like “Leia.” Plus the lengthy, darkish hair and youthful appears to be like of Dulau do not assist. However as we talked about final week, that is merely a coincidence, or oversight, and greater than possible nobody may’ve anticipated her title would sound so comparable when the legendary Swedish actor would say it on set. That mentioned, given Disney has a Skywalker drawback that it has super problem letting go of, we may all be forgiven for leaping to this conclusion. It ain’t so although, phew, ‘trigger that will’ve been actually disappointing.
Lastly, in different “Star Wars” information, rumors abound (opens in new tab) that the third season of “The Mandalorian” will drop on Feb. 22, 2023. Whereas not but formally confirmed by Disney Plus, it sounds about proper.
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