In a new video, Marco Risch from Nerdkultur talks about three of the most interesting episodes of Star Wars: Andor, Season 1.
Who is Marco Risch? Since 2015, Marco Risch has been focusing on his YouTube channel Nerdkultur with news, analyses, reviews, and interviews about current movies and series.
Additionally, he meets weekly with his colleague Yves Arievich to chat in the Nerd & Culture Podcast about pop culture film topics like Star Wars, Marvel, and DC.
Both the YouTube channel and the podcast are part of the Webedia network, which also includes MeinMMO.
In a new video on YouTube, Marco talks about episodes 8-10 of season 1 of Andor.
Sacrifices made and to be made
What is the video about? Marco focuses in his video on episodes 8, 9, and 10 of the first season of Andor. In his analysis, he focuses on sacrifices
. This primarily concerns Narkina 5. On this planet, there are rules that prisoners, including Cassian, must adhere to.
People are more relatable. However, they are also humiliated and dehumanized more strongly. In the game
of the planet, they compete against other inmates. The group that is slower is punished. Marco says in the video: The absolute peak of their dehumanization is then the mutual.
Marco compares the circumstances with Squid Game, particularly the voice that comments on the game
.
In the series, the situation on Narkina 5 is further clarified through parallel montages, as Marco explains. Scenes from the high society of the senators are shown in comparison. This also represents the class struggle.
The dictatorship is tolerated as long as one has a little more power over those beneath them. Even the sacrifices
accept the injustice when one has privileges. This is an inner conflict that is illustrated by the character Kino Loy.
In contrast to the dehumanization of the prisoners stands Syril Karn. Through a match cut, in which shoes are taken off, a new chapter of life is symbolized for him.
Victims within the Rebellion
Mon Mothma has to make sacrifices. Not only the prisoners are victims of the Empire. The people behind the Rebellion also make sacrifices. Marco explains this using the example of Mon Mothma. She accepts a political forced marriage. Marco compares this to Game of Thrones. However, the other side of the wedding sacrifices nothing.
On Narkina 5, the question arises whether the Empire is listening to what is being said. The title already reveals: No one is listening.
Cassian makes it clear: The Empire is too arrogant to monitor them. We as viewers disregard the privacy of the characters. We follow them even to the bathroom.
According to Marco, the episodes on Narkina 5 work so well because Tony Gilroy, the showrunner of the series, has focused on one thing: show us ordinary people in an ordinary environment despite this extraordinary world
. The events are not so far removed from our own world.
This is also reflected by Dedra when she starts to torture. She is, as in our real world, not the pure evil
, but she believes she is doing the right thing, thus her actions are justified. Here we also have a novelty in Star Wars: Torture is shown and executed in more detail.
Kino Loy is one of the biggest victims
Kino Loy realizes that he is a nobody to the Empire. This contradicts his collaboration, which brings him nothing. He wants to be a somebody
. Even though Cassian’s attempts to bring him to his side fail throughout the episodes, a single sentence reveals that Loy has already thought about it. According to Marco, the series manages to unveil a character arc without clearly presenting it.
Cassian is the inspiration, the born leader. His sleepless night shows that the big picture now concerns him. The rebellion begins, and after attempts at persuasion, Loy gives a speech. The address has no reference to revenge or rebellion. It is solely about freedom. But freedom comes with a price.
Loy knew that he could not escape and that there was no alternative. Loy is a sacrifice for the fall of the Empire. We do not learn more about him. Marco explains that Gilroy does this on purpose. Any resolution would diminish the sacrifices.
Cassian learns that sacrifices must be made, even if one will never experience the success. Unlike Luthen, however, Cassian is not yet ready to sacrifice others. Not yet.
Even though Andor is over, it remains one of the best Star Wars projects of all time for many fans. It showcases a different side of the franchise and the rebellion. For MeinMMO editor Karsten, Andor is part of a new
trilogy: Star Wars has a new “best trilogy” with about 1,400 minutes of runtime
