'Andor' Episode 10: "One Way Out" Recap and Review
The moment to rise up against oppression has come and by days end it will be the fresh air of freedom or the dark pit of death
WARNING: Contains Spoilers
The consequences of the actions taken by our characters are highlighted as the theme of this week’s episode is: sacrifice. Those keen to give themselves to the cause are willing to give everything. This week we see every form of self sacrifice for the cause. Sacrificing their lives, their family, and their soul to fight the tyranny of the Empire. The series brings an interesting point of view that rarely gets to be explored and that is the view of a sympathetic rebellion. So often rebellions are presented as nothing more than terrorists but once in a while a setting is able to portray an intimate look into the birth and operation of a rebellion. Anchored by the performances of two veteran actors, Episode 10 is an incredible look at desperation and the sacrifices one makes for freedom.
The episode begins in the prison as the doctors wheel out the body of Cassian Andor’s (Diego Luna) comrade. In custody, Cassian and Kino Loy (Andy Serkis) begin planning their escape for the following day. Kino is reluctant but Cassian is determined, as soon as they enter the holding area, he tells his fellow prisoners about what really happened on Level 2. The room starts to panic until Kino snaps, and focuses the room on escape. At the ISB, Lt. Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) monitors the trap they laid for the rebels. It’s morning for Cassian and the other prisoners, like always they do their work and wait for the right moment. On Ferix, a doctor is called to look at Maarva Andor (Fiona Shaw) while Cinta Kaz (Varada Sethu) watches from the shadows. At the same time, Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) and Tay Kolma (Ben Miles) meet with a potential ally, Davo Sculdun (Richard Dillane). But his demands in return are extreme to Mon, for his son to be introduced to her daughter. She adamantly refuses and the meeting ends. Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård) tends to his shop when Kleya Marki (Elizabeth Dulau) informs him that one of his contacts wants a face to face meeting. Luthen does not hesitate but Kleya is worried. The prisoners are beginning to panic as the time grows closer. Cassian returns to the bathroom and finishes breaking the pipe as the new prisoner is prepared for intake on the floor. The pipe bursts and the room goes on lockdown. The prisoner is lowered in as water pours into the room. A distraction is orchestrated and it begins. The prisoners pelt the guards in metal pieces as Cassian Climbs the ledge. They activate the floor but the water shorts it out. They charge the guards en masse. Cassian manages to take out the guards and take a blaster pistol. They storm the main area and start to liberate the other rooms. Cassian and Kino climb the stairs to the main control room. Kino enters the room and starts giving orders, they kill the power for the entire facility. Kino gets on the comms and rallies the entire prison, they reach the edge of the water that surrounds the facility and start jumping in except for Kino, who cannot swim. In the back allies of Coruscant, an ISB officer in disguise sneaks away to secret elevator. Lonni Jung (Robert Emms) talks to Luthen through a communications device and warns him about Lt. Meero and the trap they are setting. The spy and Luthen meet face to face and the spy says he wants out. Luthen convinces him otherwise. Cassian runs along the beach as a free man.
Luthen has a spy. This twist comes at the end of the episode and is extremely effective. The series has been placing Lonni and his distinct red hair closer and closer to the main players in the ISB through out the season. Lonni’s presence should be an interesting wrinkle in Lt. Meero’s plans. This moment leads to Stellan Skarsgård’s best moment of the series as he outlines the sacrifice he makes for the cause. In a brilliant moment, he explains that in order to fight the Empire he has to be just as ruthless as they are. He even sacrifices a cell of 50 men to keep his spy at the ISB safe mirroring the 100 men that were killed by the prison to keep them from talking. Luthen is sacrificing his humanity to protect the humanity of others. Mon Mothma was faced with the proposition to decide her daughter’s future for help accessing her money. There seems to be a line drawn in the sand for Mon, one that she refuses to cross. Seeing her being constantly tested and pushed by her, noticeably male, counterparts is an interesting view into the struggles woman of power deal with on a regular basis. As for the the prison, not everyone was able to experience the feeling of freedom. After taking charge and inspiring the entire prison to rise up, he and Cassian reach the edge only to stay behind because he cannot swim. The heartbreaking moment was built by an incredible performance by Serkis as he runs the gamut of indecisive, determined, reluctant, then finally, cathartic. When he stands up there and watches everyone escape to freedom except himself, he laughs and smiles. In his face was relief, pride, irony and all of it was felt. His return to the Star Wars Universe was well worth it and only elevates the already amazing show.
Two episodes left. Cassian is free but on the run. Lt. Meero is getting closer and closer to Luthen. Mon Mothma is faced with difficult choices regarding her family. Luthen is eager to make the rebellion known. So many ways their stories can go and yet there isn’t one more likely than the other. The immediate future of these characters is murky but it shouldn’t be any other way. Tension is continuously growing, building somthing explosive, and there is no hint at what that is. It’s a series full of people with plans shrouded in secrecy. Each one with an agenda and willing to kill for it. No matter what happens as we rapidly approach the end, it’s been a hell of a ride so far.