Andor Season 2 Chapter 4 Review

Andor Season 2 Chapter 4 (episodes 10-12) sends the series out on a beautifully brilliant, tragic, but hopeful note.

**This review contains slight spoilers for Andor Season 2 Chapter 4**

A year after Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) helped Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) escape the halls of the Galactic Senate, his fellow Rebel Alliance member Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) takes a meeting that will change everything. Luthen finally learns just what the Empire has been doing under the ruse of The Emperor’s energy project (building what we know is the Death Star). Naturally, he and his assistant Kleya Marki (Elizabeth Dulau) have to get this information to the Rebels but with Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) now hot on their trail, this is easier said than done. 

One of the biggest surprises of this batch is Bissell and the creative team making the decision to focus on Luthen and Kleya. Unlike Cassian’s detour earlier this season, I actually love the choice to do so because it furthers the story while also giving us a closer look at two characters that we have followed for two seasons. Focusing on these two also brings Dedra Meero’s arc full circle as well, given that her central objective since being introduced was to capture Luthen (code named Axis by Meero and the Imperial Security Bureau). 

Luthen and Kleya’s arcs are compelling, especially since Stellan Skarsgård and Elizabeth Dulau save their best performances for last. Both bring out the humanity in this odd, extremely dedicated pairing. Dulau is sensational, portraying Kleya with such depth and brings forth many emotions. Her work really lets Kleya’s walls come down for the first time. The same can be said of Skarsgård, who balances being gruff and open very well. These two have always been very calculating and Andor Season 2 Chapter 4 makes them play from behind a bit which leads to a ton of tension.

Then there is the matter of Cassian; with Bix (Adria Arjona) gone, he has dived headfirst into the Rebel Alliance, and no longer works with Luthen. Things change when Wilmon (Muhannad Bhaier) receives a distress signal from the man that got them into the rebellion. This sends Cassian and two of his allies, fellow rebel Ruescott Melshi (Duncan Pow) and reprogrammed imperial security droid K-2SO (Alan Tudyk) into action. Cassian’s journey during this batch revolves around that distress call, helping to get the truth about the energy project to the rebels, and making peace with Luthen and Kleya. 

Luna has fully developed into the version of Cassian we saw in Rogue One at this point. He is unafraid to stand up for what is right and remains fiercely protective of those close to him. You can constantly hear the passion in Luna’s voice whenever Cassian speaks here, and though his loyalty to the Rebel Alliance no longer wavers, he still cares for his friends like Luthen. His realization that even though he might not always see eye to eye with Luthen, it does not mean he cannot/should not be there for him is one of my favorite aspects of Andor Season 2 Chapter 4 because it brings their season long conflict to a close in a touching way. Even though Luthen had Cassian do things that were not always right, he is a good friend and vital piece to the rebellion. Cassian balancing his duties with the rebels and his bonds confirms this character is at long last his own man.

As series creator Tony Gilroy has said all along, Andor Season 2 Chapter 4 takes viewers right up to where we first met Cassian in Rogue One, and it has been such a pleasure to watch him grow over the course of two seasons. Writer of this batch of episodes Tom Bissell not only gives us the fully fledged Cassian, but gives every character a fitting send off.

The best thing about this series is that it is so human and has a ton of heart put into it. Things would have felt completely wrong if we had not gotten to see where this show’s original characters like Dedra and Mon Mothma’s cousin Vel Sartha (Faye Marsay) ended up. Their fates are just as important as what these last episodes set up for Cassian and the Rebel Alliance because we have gotten to know them. The final montage of the series brought me to tears for several reasons, but mostly because of the connection I feel to Cassian Andor and his corner of this world. That connection winds up making the final shot of the series so incredibly sad and special at the same time.  

I cannot believe this series pulled off something so ambitious and gave audiences some of the best moments in the history of Star Wars along the way. Even if you are aware of what happens to Cassian, you will be on the edge of your seat throughout this batch of episodes. Each of them is wonderfully crafted, thrilling, and features some fascinating character moments. My only complaint, which is not even really a complaint, is that we did not get to spend more time with Cassian and K-2SO as their bond grew. Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk play off each other so well that you will naturally want as much of them as possible. 

There were so many times that everything Tony Gilroy had built could have fallen apart but this amazing team put together a show that not only stands well on its own, but enhances everything that takes place after it. I cannot wait to rewatch both seasons in full followed by Rogue One, my guess is it will be a magical experience. 

Andor Season 2 Chapter 4 is Star Wars at its finest. The narrative has so much heart and manages to prepare audiences for what comes next while giving all of these characters their full circle moments. This cast is remarkable from top to bottom, led by Diego Luna as Cassian Andor. I have not been blown away by a series finale like I was here in a long time, and my guess is that you will feel the same way.

Chapter 4 (Episodes 10-12) of Andor Season 2 is now available to stream globally on Disney Plus.