FIRST TIME WATCHING: Andor S2E9

That moment when knowing how it ends makes it THAT much more tragic. Ugh. I have cried to this episode every time I've seen it.

You see Gold Squadron bring Mon Mothma to Yavin and the speech in the animated show "Star Wars Rebels" which also mentions the Ghorman Massacre years before we saw it on this show.

In case it wasn't seen - this episode won the Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series this year.

When are you reacting to S2 E10?

If you want to see the direct continuation of this from Mon mothma's side (getting to Yavin and the second speech) you should watch the Star Wars Rebels episode Secret Cargo. The writing definitely isnt quite at Andor level but it's still interesting to see what happens right after. The fact that that episode already existed beforehand meant they had to write around it in Andor.seeing the ghorman massacre was the last puzzle piece for those of us that alread watched Rebels

Cried right along with you Nat :,) It hits so hard knowing she wont find him again because he sacrificed himself for the cause...

This may be a bit unconventional, but would there be any interest in doing a patreon-only rewatch of Rogue One given the added context of the show?

It is fun to realize, if Bix had not sacrificed her relationship with Cassian and left him...none of the heroics in the original Star Wars movie would have happened. Luke would have not blown up the Death Star which set the trajectory of the Rebellion actually winning and defeating the Empire in the end. In a show that shows how integral and important each and every person was to do the small things that leads it to the events of the end we witness in the original trilogy (every small action by each individual in the fight against tyranny and fascism is important), Bix truly is one of the MVP's for the decision she made that day, believing in the Force that told her Cassian was important in the Rebellion at the end of the day. She made one of the hardest sacrifices a person can do.

I know it would make for a very unconventional reaction, watching a single episode from the 3rd season of a show you've never seen before semi out of context, but Mon's story actually continues immediately, the next day after this in the animated show Rebels, voiced by the same actress. You could, if you wanted to, react to or just watch on your own that specific episode of the show, (episode 18 of Season 3, "Secret Cargo"), which might get you interested in reacting to the entire series from the start, if you're looking for a new show to watch.

In Obi-Wan Kenobi, Obi mentions that he thinks he had a brother in his family before he was raised by The Jedi, who was a baby. Cassian's sister is a character background detail expressing how we all have lost family which sometimes never gets resolution. I for instance have a half sister somewhere which my deceased dad had in a marriage of which I had no clue she or the marriage existed till I was 30, 17 years after he passed away. My mom told me she once found her on Facebook, but had since lost profile.

I think the sister arc is something that could’ve been explored if the show was longer, but with the 2 season cap it’s something that you can just explain away as a metaphor for not getting all the answers in life etc

Mon’s speech in the senate is probably one of my favourite moments in Star Wars. It was apparently documented in canon before this, but actually bringing it to life and making it feel as grand and defiant a moment as it was - her declaring her opposition to palpatine and quitting the senate to join the rebellion full-time - is genuinely impressive Her arc has probably been one of my favourites to follow in the show. Watching her make forced to make sacrifices in her personal life in order to turn into the Leader of the Rebellion that we know her as… that’s my QUEEN right there

Girl I had no idea who Melshi was when this season first dropped 😭 or the significance of the gun

Yeah it’s also really jarring to watch these 3 episodes then go to season 3 of Star Wars rebels and what’s this more family friendly animated series and watch the Episode where the Rebels crew finish off the job of escorting Mon to yavin. Rebels also had references to Ghorman in it and confirmed the Mascare in that so any of us who saw that series nearly 10 years ago (god I feel old) knew Ghorman wasn’t gonna make it. Though The Ghorman massacre was an even that happened in the books in the 90s. In those books it was Tarkin landing his ship on protesters which was reference as happening years ago in this story as that was what the memorial in the plaza is for so in the new canon that means there was actually 2 Ghorman massacres.

There actually a comic that tells how Cass reprogrammed K2 that came out around the time of Rogue One but this show completely writes over it so the explanation seems to be because the rebellion wants Cass’s involvement in Gorman secret the comic version is the cover story for the “official record”. It’s actually a nice way of incorporating a retcon into the actual story.

Bail Organa is indeed in Revenge of the Sith, where he witnessed the clone troopers killing a young Jedi. At the end of the film, he and his wife (the Queen of Alderaan) adopt Leia.

You forgot about Melshi escaping the island prison with Cass. He also joins him in Rogue One. I forgot who he was too. Lol

I think it is generally bad practice to expect everything to be a chekovs gun. If his sister comes back around it's a nice surprise and memorable moment. If she doesn't and you expected her to because that's what normally happens in these shows and movies then you will be disappointed because of your own mindset, which I find so unnecessary. For me the point of the sister subplot was on the one hand to show the scale of the galaxy and how things get lost in this vast space and not everything fits back perfectly through lucky coincidences, and on the other hand to show how fascism and the empire are so oppressive and unsustainable that even people who's lives revolves around something else entirely will still in some way be pushed towards the Rebellion.

The "Yavin escort" and the 2nd speech Mon Mothma makes is from Star Wars Rebels, an animated show that ran for 4 seasons. It's a cool little tie-in, a nice Easter egg for those of us who know and watched Rebels. You can check it out here if you want: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UEmtUP1JAM

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a Natalia.

One thing I like with the context of Bix leaving Andor with the “once this is done, we can be together”, we understand his motivation to take WHATEVER risk possible to win

The sister dying is a part of his character development; he failed to protect his sister, he failed to protect Maarva, and others through his life. Because of this he pushes hard to save everyone he can, He tries to save Nemik, Saves Mon, Saves Melshi, Saves anyone who crosses his path and feels he can try to save. This is what I think at least. Glad you're liking the series!

All good about not recognizing Melshi with a beard at first, you definitely weren't the only one, he looks more like how he did in Rogue One rather than Season 1. The blaster is also a nice bonus detail to learn about. Not only did Andor give it to Melshi after Narkina V, it's a corporate security blaster from Morlana One, presumably the one Andor took off of Syril during his escape from Ferrix. Andor had it as one of his few possessions when he joined the team on Aldhani which is why Vel recognized it because she had Skeen go through his stuff.

I REALLY love this episode. Mons' speech is spectacular, but the way they really kept the tension. Because as you said, we know both these characters survive, but there's still genuine STRESS. You haven't missed anything in terms of Cassian's sister. And the guy we see say the weapon is his after Val asks is Melchi, the guy Cassian escaped Narkana 5 with.