Star Wars: Andor

[FishyFish]

Spoiler

In episode 8 when Andor arrives at Narkina 5, you see several prison structures at the surface of the water. Based on the layout you see during his stay, they don't appear to be connected (although I guess there could be underwater tunnels) so I wonder if they are all isolated units, and whether there will be some sort of alert when one of them suddenly goes dark (or stops drawing water for it's hydro power).

 

It's one of the interesting, if probably unnecessary, questions that this poses, as opposed to "Why didn't Obi-Wan just walk around the roadblock?".

 

[scottcr]

1 minute ago, FishyFish said:

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In episode 8 when Andor arrives at Narkina 5, you see several prison structures at the surface of the water. Based on the layout you see during his stay, they don't appear to be connected (although I guess there could be underwater tunnels) so I wonder if they are all isolated units, and whether there will be some sort of alert when one of them suddenly goes dark (or stops drawing water for it's hydro power).

 

It's one of the interesting, if probably unnecessary, questions that this poses, as opposed to "Why didn't Obi-Wan just walk around the roadblock?".

 

 

and and and...

 

Spoiler

given how utterly ruthlessly evil the Empire are in this - what do they do to the other structures to prevent another out break...

 

I suspect 'improving life for the prisoners and releasing them when they've served their time' isn't on the list.

 

[Sapa]

Do I need to have watched any of the more recent films or series to enjoy and "get" this, or does it stand on its own,.if that makes sense 

[Pob]

3 minutes ago, Sapa said:

Do I need to have watched any of the more recent films or series to enjoy and "get" this, or does it stand on its own,.if that makes sense 

 

Have you seen Rogue One? It might actually be interesting to watch this prior to Rogue One. You definitely don't need to have seen it, nor anything else really.

[scottcr]

13 minutes ago, Sapa said:

Do I need to have watched any of the more recent films or series to enjoy and "get" this, or does it stand on its own,.if that makes sense 

 

no... 

 

In fact, it'll be better if all you've seen is the original trilogy...

 

watch this, then when it's done next year - watch Rogue One.

[ZOK]

12 minutes ago, Sapa said:

Do I need to have watched any of the more recent films or series to enjoy and "get" this, or does it stand on its own,.if that makes sense 

I haven’t seen any except Rogue One and the Last Jedi…and I didn’t realise it was the guy out of Rogue One until the third episode! 

[Benny]

You could watch this without having seen absolutely anything related to Star Wars and still love it I would say.

[scottcr]

yeah - it's like a WW2 serial - 

 

IN SPACE

[PK]

2 hours ago, Sapa said:

Do I need to have watched any of the more recent films or series to enjoy and "get" this, or does it stand on its own,.if that makes sense 

 

No. And there's little to no infantile "look! remember that toy?" nonsense or references to obscure characters from dreadful books. All you need to know is it's set a few years before the first film, before the rebels have got their act together.

 

To be honest in a way the star wars setting is irrelevant. It's tense, atmospheric, beautifully shot sci-fi about standing up to fascism.

[SpagMasterSwift]

The Watch podcast has a great couple of interviews with Tony Gilroy - the first discussing the first 4 episodes and the latest one talking about up to episode 10. Well worth a listen.

 

Spoiler

I really liked the way he described how Andy Serkis’ character saw his role in the prison as his religion and that his freedom was like the afterlife for him.
 

Also was pretty telling that Gilroy had no involvement in the blue milk cereal - it’s clear that he has no interest in the Star Wars stuff and there are others at work slotting those bits in. Complete reverse of all those making of shows were they talking about being fans since they were kids. 

 

[Popo]

That was an excellent finale to a bloody excellent series. 
 

Exhibit A - Andy Serkis acting his socks all the way off

 

 Exhibit B - telling the guards to get on program. There’s yer joke! 
 

Edit - not the finale! There’s two more episodes!

[jonamok]

Alongside all the rightful lauding of Stellan in that scene, can we also just pour one out for the guy

Spoiler

playing Lonni? He was fucking great, such a tortured performance.

 

It was also a nice reveal about his true nature and the depth (up until now, at least) of his commitment to the cause.

I also loved the line about him being trapped, as he literally spent the entire scene in a tiny lift, which Luthen had remote control over. Cute.

[Alan Stock]

Quality episode. Some amazing performances, especially the last speech. Also the main theme tune has really grown on me, it was used beautifully here.

 

Spoiler

I imagine that's the last we'll see of Andy Serkis, I hope he made it out though.

 

I was fearing the worst for the prisoners, although of course a lot of them will probably be rounded up, I was dreading the site being orbital bombarded by the Empire or something, or all the floors being turned on and frying them all. So it was nice to see a bunch make it out.

 

Finally the thread with Mothma's daughter comes into play. The players in the city have some rough sacrifices to make for the rebellion. Like I said, Stellan Skarsgard's speech was amazing, he's a great character as well, and I didn't see the insider in ISB coming. When the moustache guy was realising the terrible situation he was trapped in, I was actually expecting him to jump off the walkway, although Skarsgard's powerful words put an end to that!

 

[probotector]

9 hours ago, Stanley said:

This is so true, a friend of mine was saying how terrible Andor is on Facebook, and how it’s boring. He’s a long time fan since the first trilogy, like me, and doesn’t think much of anything else. So you have to ask, what is it you want?

 

I think they fucked up in making the first episode...maybe a bit tooo boring.

 

They should have started with a big blaster shoot out, some headshots etc.

[probotector]

6 hours ago, scottcr said:

 

and and and...

 

  Hide contents

given how utterly ruthlessly evil the Empire are in this - what do they do to the other structures to prevent another out break...

 

I suspect 'improving life for the prisoners and releasing them when they've served their time' isn't on the list.

 

 

 

Spoiler

What didn't make sense for me was, the mistake was apparantly, they were sent to another floor and not another prison.

 

What's stopping people transferred to one of the other prisons also blabbing they've simply been moved from one prison to the other when they arrive at the new place?

 

[Girth Certificate]

Cos everyone in the new prison has also been ‘released’ from the original prison so it’s not a secret there.

[probotector]

Mmmm….so I guess the 2nd prison is more heavily monitored?

 

As when they arrive, they know they’re fucked for good so will be more militant?

 

I guess it’s a good set up for a plot point so I’ll let it go, but it stood out as a bit of a silly reason.

 

The whole set up really reminded me of the Van Damme film “fortress”. 
 

 

[elyuw]

3 hours ago, SpagMasterSwift said:

The Watch podcast has a great couple of interviews with Tony Gilroy - the first discussing the first 4 episodes and the latest one talking about up to episode 10. Well worth a listen.

 

  Reveal hidden contents

I really liked the way he described how Andy Serkis’ character saw his role in the prison as his religion and that his freedom was like the afterlife for him.
 

Also was pretty telling that Gilroy had no involvement in the blue milk cereal - it’s clear that he has no interest in the Star Wars stuff and there are others at work slotting those bits in. Complete reverse of all those making of shows were they talking about being fans since they were kids. 

 

Yeah what they said. I love that Podcast anyway but getting Tony Gilroy on twice has been great. 

[Stoppy2000]

20 minutes ago, probotector said:

The whole set up really reminded me of the Van Damme film “fortress”. 

 

 

Do you mean the Christopher Lambert movie Fortress? 

[probotector]

oh yeah! That's the one! For some reason I remember it as a Van Damme movie!

[Moz]

On 10/11/2022 at 13:05, yakumo said:

He's so good isn't he?.

 

I love his arc. At first he is

Spoiler

so sure of himself, confident and commanding operating in his tiny environment, while in reality he knows nothing and is simply hoping the system works for him. By the latest episode he is scared, voice shaking, unsure of his own ability to lead and living in the discomfort of the unpredictable as truth is revealed and opportunity awaits. It's completely the opposite of so many hero arcs where characters gain a steely resolve and command of their emotions as they progress through their story beats. Beautifully acted by Serkis.

 

[Grobbelboy]

Yeah I couldn’t help but think of the whole prison arc as an apt analogy for capitalism in a microcosm. Its evil machinations are just a bit more outwardly depicted. The whole thing works as long as the prisoners/workers accept the system, are kept in the dark and have hope for the future. When that falls away and the hopelessness starts to dawn in, a revolution occurs and the system is overthrown. Serkis doesn’t know how to function outside of its confines.

[PK]

50 minutes ago, Grobbelboy said:

Yeah I couldn’t help but think of the whole prison arc as an apt analogy for capitalism in a microcosm. Its evil machinations are just a bit more outwardly depicted. The whole thing works as long as the prisoners/workers accept the system, are kept in the dark and have hope for the future. When that falls away and the hopelessness starts to dawn in, a revolution occurs and the system is overthrown. Serkis doesn’t know how to function outside of its confines.

 

Completely agree! The feverish building of objects with no discernible point or use, completely cut-off from the natural world and eating things with unknown industrial origin felt like both an analogy of where a lot of us are and a prediction of where our whole species is heading.

 

And yet I have no doubt

 

Spoiler

"I can't swim"

 

is how I'd feel if the revolution ever comes within my lifetime. I've spent too long diligently fulfilling my role in a system that I know is an illogically cruel waste of life. I've honed survival skills that are only applicable to survival within the system.

 

This is such good telly I almost can't believe it's been allowed to exist.

[jonamok]

14 minutes ago, PK said:

This is such good telly I almost can't believe it's been allowed to exist.

Never mind telly, it’s one of the best things that’s happened in all entertainment (and arguably the wider world) in the last few years.

[Waggo]

It is the little things as well that you barely notice they go by so quickly, that all add up to make this so exceptional.

 

Latest episode for me it was:

Spoiler

The single shot of the surviving guards cowering in fear behind a closed door with blasters in hand as the prisoners rampaged past outside, that sold the whole prison break.
 

It perfectly in a 1 second scene encapsulated the narrative that now was the time to act, as the guards were at their most vulnerable and they knew it.

 

[Vespa Alex]

[Moz]

9 hours ago, Grobbelboy said:

Yeah I couldn’t help but think of the whole prison arc as an apt analogy for capitalism in a microcosm. Its evil machinations are just a bit more outwardly depicted. The whole thing works as long as the prisoners/workers accept the system, are kept in the dark and have hope for the future. When that falls away and the hopelessness starts to dawn in, a revolution occurs and the system is overthrown. Serkis doesn’t know how to function outside of its confines.

 

Yeah, and it really speaks one truth loud and clear - In reality, fighting against an established system, even one which strips you of your dignity and freedom, is fucking scary. Not just because of what you're up against and the unlikelihood of success, but because you're throwing away everything you know, any last modicum of stability, for a completely unknown future. Freedom can be frightening. That's what it means to rebel against fascism or dictatorship once it becomes established.

[Pistol]

On 10/11/2022 at 15:11, Stoppy2000 said:

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I think it's much more narratively satisfying that he was leading the breakout whilst knowing it would probably be futile for himself. Also I hope we never get his fate confirmed. 

 

 

Spoiler

I don’t think Kino knew the only way off was to swim. I don’t think any of them did, they would’ve had very little idea what was going to be possible beyond breaking everyone free. So it was really heartbreaking seeing the realisation on his face

 

[Stoppy2000]

22 minutes ago, Pistol said:

 

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I don’t think Kino knew the only way off was to swim. I don’t think any of them did, they would’ve had very little idea what was going to be possible beyond breaking everyone free. So it was really heartbreaking seeing the realisation on his face

 

Spoiler

They all knew they were surrounded by water though right? I guess he might have been hoping for a ship to fly off in. But even then it wouldn't have been big enough for all of them. I like the idea of him choosing to die trying. 

 

[Vulgar Monkey]

Spoiler

I was trying quite hard to remember if Andor had the opportunity to see outside of the shuttle as he was bought in, assuming his experience to be similar to all the other arrivals. Drawing a blank, though, annoyingly.