Andor Season One Finale Review: A rousing success

The Andor season one finale caps off one of the best seasons of television of 2022 with a moving sendoff in Rix Road.

Maarva’s funeral serves as a fitting place to bring most of the disparate Andor storylines together in a single location. Cassian finds a way to sneak into Ferrix. Dedra Meero’s onhand to apprehend Cassian. Luthen Rael, Cinta and Vel are keeping a wary eye for Cassian. Syril Karn is also around and sticking to his stalking ways, which is the only major blemish in the season finale.

Throughout the season, the dialogue in Andor has been terrific. Every line has meaning. Tony Gilroy‘s screenplay in the season finale is no exception.

The monologues in this series have had a gravity missing in Star Wars with the exception of Luke Skywalker’s speech in The Last Jedi. To be fair to The Last Jedi detractors, the monologues are far more earned in Andor than in Episode VIII. Rix Road follows up on this grand tradition with two outstanding monologues that reveal the weakness of the Empire in Namik’s manifesto and a wake up call for the rebels in Maarva’s posthumous speech.

Meanwhile, on Coruscant, Mon Mothma is dealing with family drama. She’s setting up her husband to take the fall in case something happens. While also taking steps to set up her daughter for an arranged marriage. Mothma’s process in this episode finally show’s the Senator making the dirty choices necessary for the rebellion.

Bottom line: Andor is the best live-action Star Wars series.

With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the elements that stood in the Andor season one finale. There may be some minor spoilers. Andor is available to stream on Disney Plus.

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Cassian is an unstoppable force for good in the Andor season one finale

Throughout the first season, Cassian has been on the outskirts of most storylines. He takes the spotlight when he needs to. However, he’s most effective in the shadows, behind the scenes.

Rix Road showcases these traits in brilliant fashion while flashing back to key moments. Cassian arrives on Ferrix. He meets with Brasso and some of his other allies. He finds out Bix has been captured and begins to orchestrate a one-man rescue plan.

In a brilliant example of Cassian flourishing in the shadows, he uses Maarva’s funeral as a centerpiece which allows him to skirt around the hotel where Bix is being held. The Empire is paying so much attention to the message staring them in the face, they fail to see the snake in the grass that’s Cassian.

Throughout the first season, Cassian has struggled to find purpose. He’s been forced to acclimate to situations he wasn’t expecting. Killing the guards in the pilot, meeting Luthen and orchestrating a prison break are some of Cassian’s greatest encounters. However, Rix Road shows a motivated Cassian is the worse thing possible for the Empire.

Tyranny requires constant effort

Nemik’s manifesto is finally unearthed in one of the best monologues of the season. Nemik’s words beautifully capture the weakness of the Empire’s tyranny.

Oppression requires constant attention. As Nemik so beautifully extols, “Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear.”

The only way to break out of the Empire’s iron grip is to try, which is a nice shout-out to Yoda’s age-old quote. Even the smallest act can help. One single solitary thing is capable of breaking the Empire. The message of trying is carried on later in Maarva’s eulogy.

As the Daughters of Ferrix march and play their songs, the Empire begins to feel uncomfortable. The simple act of not having full control makes the Empire feel uneasy. They assemble in riot gear to thwart a nonexistent threat. Later, Maarva’s speech gives them a reason to be fearful.

During the funeral, this obstinate desire to control is brilliantly captured. The Empire’s totalitarianism provides a false sense of security. For instance, Dedra doesn’t hesitate to walk along the streets in search of Cassian. When a riot does erupt, she’s easily overwhelmed and nearly killed until Syril intervenes.

Since the Empire is so fixated on finding Cassian on the streets of Ferrix and Maarva’s funeral procession, Cassian is easily able to rescue Bix.

Time to Wake up on Rix Road

The Empire’s fixation with Maarva’s own eulogy is understandable. Fiona Shaw‘s monologue as Maarva is the spark of the rebellion.

Similar to Nemik, she also touches on Empire. Although her message is less centered around the weaknesses more focused on how the citizens of Ferrix have placated the Empire. Like rust, there’s a pervasive quality to the Empire that’s spread across the galaxy. She makes it clear the citizens have been sleeping as has she.

The evil perpetuated by the Empire isn’t visiting, it wants to stay. The Empire is a disease that thrives in darkness, but if the citizens of Feerix can wake up, then hope will bring the evil might of the Empire to light. She urges the citizens to wake up early and fight the Empire. Of course, Maarva’s words strike a chord with the Empire who start a riot over the speech from a dead woman.

Cassian’s adopted father also has words from the grave. In a clever flashback, he explains to Cassian how the Empire overlooks older, still functional tech. They perceive a rusted device as useless and buy a whole new one. In so doing, they fail to see others outside their grasp and haven’t forgotten the value these devices still hold

Mothma’s storyline on Coruscant also succeeds in showing a leader waking up to the realities of her position.

Cassian uses Maarva’s speech to free Bix. Unfortunately, Bix’s mind is still lost at the moment. He’s able to reunite Bix with Brasso on a ship heading off-planet. Cassian sneaks onto Luthen’s ship. He offers Luthen a choice. Luthen can kill Cassian and take him in as part of the rebellion. Luthen’s wry smile says it all.

Andor Season One Finale final thoughts

Andor is slow-paced, it’s precise in the story Gilroy is telling within this universe. Every line and gorgeous musical theme by Nicholas Britell inch the story forward. The spark of the rebellion has been lit and with Cassian firmly attached to Luthen’s cause, season two can come soon enough.