Andor Season 2 Chapter 2 Review

Andor Season 2 Chapter 2 showcases the inner workings of a rebellion and features tremendous performances from Diego Luna and Adria Arjona.

We also get a better sense of how things are going to work and why the decision was made to release this season in batches of three episodes. What series creator Tony Gilroy and the creative team have done is written individual installments that serve as one three hour or so length film when audiences watch them consecutively. It is a cool strategy which works better with this second batch than the first. 

We dive back in a year after Cassian (Diego Luna) escaped Mina-Rau with Bix (Adria Arjona) and Wilmon (Muhannad Bhaier). Cassian’s number one priority is keeping Bix safe as they share a safe house provided by Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård), who signals Cassian whenever he has a job for him. Audiences are well aware that Bix and Cassian care for each other, but things have taken a more loving turn in Andor Season 2 Chapter 2. Though I would have loved to see their slow burn play out a little longer, this certainly is not a jarring development given their history and the fact it has been a year in universe since we saw them.

The best moments of this batch of episodes involve Cassian and Bix, both together and separately. Luna and Arjona have this genuinely warm bond with each other that helps us buy into their character’s love story just as much as the writing. There is a particular moment early on when Bix is struggling with her trauma and Cassian comforts her that made me recall the desire and fire I had in my soul to be there for a partner or even a friend. 

At the same time, though, we witness the toll that the rebellion is taking on them, similarly to what we saw happen to Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) last week. Cassian cares so deeply for Bix that it is beginning to cloud his judgement and commitment to the Rebel Alliance (more on this later). Bix, on the other hand, is stuck in a bad spot. Her trauma has taken such a toll on her, to the point where there does not seem to be a way out even with Cassian’s support. Speaking of: Cassian’s overprotectiveness has Bix on edge as well, as he and Luthen can, or perhaps will not, provide her with the escape of a job. We have seen Bix be able to hold her own, but at the same time, she has also unraveled enough to where viewers can understand why Cassian and Luthen are hesitant to let her leave the safe house. They want Bix at her best because they care about her and know what an asset she could be to the rebels. 

Cassian is not exactly in the best spot either during Andor Season 2 Chapter 2 because of Bix. It has affected him more than he is willing to let on, and the only person who recognizes it is Luthen. Those two butt heads over this and his handling of a job on Ghorman, where a rebel cell seems to be emerging.

Indeed, a year after Director Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) put into plans to mine Ghorman for kalkite as part of the Death Star construction with Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) at the helm. Meero is using Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) as her eyes and ears as his latest promotion has him on Ghorman.  A group of rebels suspect that Syril could be turned. If so, they could get information about the Empire’s plans for the planet, which is why the group invites him to one of their meetings. Unfortunately for them, that could unravel their rebellion before it has a chance to really take hold. 

Cassian is sent to evaluate the Ghorman rebels and does not take kindly to their plans, even without knowing that Syril is their inside man. His hesitation comes from a combination of factors but Luthen stresses that, in a rebellion, Cassian must think beyond himself and the wellbeing of those he cares for. If he cannot, then there is no use for him within the Rebel Alliance. When Andor Season 2 Chapter 2 ends, there is no doubt where Cassian and Bix stand. 

Elsewhere, Mon Mothma tries to collect senate votes related to Ghorman and audiences get to see a few surprising interactions. Then there is Wilmon, who gets more than he bargained for when he takes on a job and comes face to face with Saw Gerrera (Forest Whitaker). 

Andor Season 2 Chapter 2 works so well because it allows Cassian Andor and Bix Caleen to serve as  centerpieces for pretty much all three episodes, with everything else I have discussed being subplots. Writer Beau Willimon crafts a batch of episodes that truly feel like a feature film with twists, turns, and excellent plot and character developments. Since every three episodes are clearly going to cover a year in Cassian’s life, it needs to feel like it and constantly move the narrative forward while also leaving a springboard for the next set to build off of. Willimon accomplishes all of this with ease and crafts a thrilling, suspenseful three hours or so. 

What helps him do that is having actors like Diego Luna and Adria Arjona, who have bought into the material and deliver some of their best work as their respective characters. The entire cast does a terrific job throughout all three episodes, but those two are on another level. If I had to highlight someone other than them, Kyle Soller would get the nod because his work as Syril Karn was more captivating than it has ever been. My feelings on the character are up and down mostly because of how he is written, but he finally is getting an arc that interests me and Soller takes complete advantage of it. 

Andor Season 2 Chapter 2 is the series at its very best. These episodes tell a cohesive, character driven story that is emotional, suspenseful, and exciting. I have little to no idea what will happen next even with the seeds they planted this week, which is super thrilling. Thankfully we will not have to wait long to find out.

Chapter 2 (Episodes 4-6) of Andor Season 2 is now available to stream globally on Disney Plus. The remaining episodes will be released on May 6 (Part 3 – Eps. 7-9) and May 13 (Part 4 – Eps. 10-12).