REVIEW: Andor – Season 1, Episode 7, “Announcement”

Television Reviews

**Spoilers**

“Announcement” finds Syril and his mother debating his suit when he learns of what happened on Aldhani. The ISB is given access to all naval documents, but Dedra isn’t happy they’re treating it as a robbery. Syril is hired by the Bureau of Standards. Back on Aldhani, Cinta uncovers a speeder. Clea meets with Vel and orders her to find Andor and kill him. Cassian arrives home to Marva on Ferrix. She tells him everything, and he plans to leave in the morning for another planet. Mon Mothma recruits an old friend to help her move money for the Rebellion. Cassian visits Bix, who tells him to get off Ferrix. At home, Marva and Bee tell Cassian they’re not going with him. Marva tells Cassian to stop looking for his sister. Blevin publicly questions Dedra’s behavior in investigating his sector, but Major Partagaz commends her and assigns Ferrix to her. Cassian hides on a beach planet called Naimos but gets arrested for disturbing the peace. 

“Announcement” is this season’s only standalone episode, according to executive producer and writer Tony Gilroy. The episode essentially explores the fallout of the Rebel break-in on Aldhani, both to the heroes and villains. I think it’s an interesting choice to break the arc formula halfway through a season, but it pays off, and it’s nice to break up the arc format a bit. It’s cool how Andor shows us the Imperial perspective and that of the Rebels and the “normal people.” The writers are succeeding in making the Empire more than understandable; I like Dedra and Syril, the latter of whom I assume will eventually join the ISB. It’s cathartic to finally see Dedra’s superiors and colleagues forced to take her seriously. I was very concerned about this character following talk about how she was a feminist icon. I don’t see her plight and rise as being about gender; there’s another female officer on her level, and her male boss ultimately gives her more responsibility. Blevin is a man, but I don’t think their being rivals is automatically some statement on gender. I could see Dedra getting on well with Syril, and when/if he comes up in the Empire, they would make a great team. He shows the same initiative and gumption she does, and I still say he hasn’t done anything wrong!

As for our hero, this is perhaps the least I’ve liked Cassian Andor so far, and that’s saying something. When Marva and Bee refuse to run away with him, he leaves them and heads off to lounge on the beach! This guy is just despicable. How can you leave your mother and the equivalent of a beloved pet to fend for themselves? I love the conversation between Cassian and Marva about the love they share and her rejuvenated will to live. It’s both well-written and genuinely moving, and we learn a lot about Marva here. Her love for her adopted son is far more selfless and understanding than what he offers in return. He says he can’t go without her because he’ll always be worried about her. While this initially sounds sweet, he’s playing the victim here. Because she won’t run and hide like him, she’s forcing him to worry. His half of the dialogue is slimy and despicable, but it fits the character, so I can’t fault it on a technical level. Her reply that the worry is “just love” is great, but my favorite line from Marva is when she says, “That place is in my head.” This comes in response to Cassian’s suggestion that they find somewhere the Empire hasn’t ruined yet. Marva says she’ll never be overcome by them because she has her own, internal happy place. I like this character more and more; I hope we get more scenes like this with her further on. 

Not much is made of Bix or the loss of Timm in “Announcement;” Cassian returns to pay Bix what he owes her, and she tells him to leave Ferrix. I actually think she’s a lot nicer and more helpful here than she could have been. After all, a less reasonable person would likely blame Cassian for the Imperial visit and Timm’s death. There are two more things I want to discuss regarding Ferrix: Bee and the flashback to Clem’s death. Clem was Andor’s adoptive father and Marva’s husband/boyfriend, which is why Cassian took Clem as his codename for the mission on Aldhani. The flashback is filmed in an exciting way that I didn’t even catch at first. They jerk the camera away when the Stormtroopers turn to fire on Clem and the others. This is really effective because you’re forcing the audience to imagine that bloodshed rather than providing a simple image. As for Bee, I feel sorry for him! He loves Cassian and looks for him like a lost puppy. Marva won’t even let him speak when Cassian leaves. I also believe there’s a callback (call forward? Foreshadowing?) of K2-SO from Rogue One; a similar droid apprehends Cassian on Naimos. 

“Announcement” is absolutely stunning to the eyes and ears. The aerial view of Coruscant after the scenes at Mon Mothma’s house is just magnificent. Likewise, the Star Destroyer over Aldhani is nothing short of terrifying as poor Cinta looks on. They’ve done much in Andor to re-contextualize Imperial craft, policies, and personnel, and it’s paying off in spades. These ships are dread-inducing for the average person who doesn’t have the Force. The party at Mon Mothma’s house is beautiful visually, but the highlight of these scenes is the dialogue. The dialogue in Andor has been awesome in general, but so much character-building happens in “Announcement.” Mon Mothma and her friend dance around the topic of Rebellion as they suss one another out, each thinking the other isn’t willing to go all-in. The music in “Announcement” is beautiful, distinctive, and varied. I especially like the tune that comes in when we enter Naimos; this is unlike anything I’ve ever heard in Star Wars. 

“Announcement” is yet another fantastic episode in an outstanding season. It’s a breather in-between story arcs, but that doesn’t stop it from being eventful, character-driven, and tense.