Fantastic Aaron Sorkin-level dialogue by Dan Gilroy allows the distrust among rebels to shine in The Axe Forgets. Andor‘s continued slow-burn approach to storytelling works well due to Gilroy’s writing and Diego Luna‘s performance.
In the last episode, Cassian Andor took a backseat to Luthen Rael and Senator Mon Mothma on Coruscant. In The Axe Forgets, Cassian is back in the spotlight. The team doesn’t trust Cassian and the feelings are mutual. Every dialogue exchange brings out the toughness in Cassian and the best out of this terrific cast.
The Axe Forgets is Luna’s best performance so far in this series. Cassian has an understandably distrustful disposition towards his team. In many ways, he’s also the most competent on the team. The scenes between Luna’s Cassian and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Arvel Skeen are the highlights of the episode.
The Axe Forgets struggles a bit when it leaves Aldhani. The further exploration of Mon Mothma’s home life, Luthen’s worries over the fate of the mission and Syril Karn’s relationship with his mother take away from the tension present on Aldhani. However, Gilroy’s script does a great job of humanizing the people in the Rebellion and the Empire, so it’s tough to dislike it too much. Perhaps, if we spent more time in the subplot as opposed to jumping back to Aldhani so quickly could have helped.
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The Axe Forgets is very much a bridge episode that sort of just ends. Luckily, the build-up works well enough to help you care about the character dynamics between the rebel group.
With the overview out of the way, let’s dive deeper into the elements that stood in The Axe Forgets. There may be some minor spoilers. Andor is available to stream on Disney Plus.
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The Axe Forgets, the rebels remember
“The Axe Forgets; the tree remembers” is a phrase uttered by Skeen to Cassian about the Empire. The phrase is an old proverb that means those who cause harm often forget about the pain they caused, but those who were hurt will never forget.
Gilroy does a great job of establishing how everyone has their own rebellion. Those differing reasons cause strife between Cassian and Skeen. Cassian isn’t opening up about joining the cause. Skeen tries on three separate occasions to draw out an emotional plea towards the cause from Cassian, but he’s unsuccessful until he swipes the kyber crystal.
Cassian tells the truth about being paid to be on the team. Some of the member wonder at loud whether that’s the only reason. Cassian replies of course not.
The dialogue in this episode is the best dialogue in any Star Wars property. There’s palpable tension in every exchange between Cassian Skeen. The tension is built solely through the dialogue like a great Aaron Sorkin screenplay. Gilroy accomplishes this feat at such a level you can completely understand that these two strong-willed, devoted men come from different origins.
Planning the attack from below
Before this episode, Cassian has mostly been a passive protagonist. In The Axe Forgets, Cassian drives the episode forward. Not with physical violence or cool action, but with intelligence, skill and nerves of steel.
Vel asks Cassian how he will calculate the weight of the haul they’re going to steal from the Empire. Cassian is so appalled by the stupid question that he thinks it’s a test. Fortunately, it’s not a test and Cassian offers a solution and tells Vel he’s going to pilot the ship. Vel attempts to protest. Cassian points out it’s his life on the line and says Vel can tell the rest of the team it’s her plan.
Later, Taramyn is instructing the team on how to march like the imperials. Cassian points out they should switch positions based on their dominant hands. Already impressive, Cassian goes even further by pointing out each person’s dominant hand.
After Cassian tells the truth about being paid, he points out another truth. If Cassian wasn’t on the mission, there would just be another reason to call it off out of fear. Cassian even admits to feeling scared himself. However, he also insists there’s a difference between fear and losing your nerve.
Terrific writing by Gilroy. He does an incredible job of building these characters up while showing off their weaknesses. It’s a difficult needle to thread but Gilroy does a wonderful job.
Empire state of mind
Aldhani is the focus of The Axe Forgets. However, the episode jumps around a bit.
In fact, The Axe Forgets starts with a peek at the relationship between Syril Karn and his mother. Gilroy’s writing shines once again. Within one exchange of dialogue between Karn and his mother, you understand exactly why Karn became the person he is in Andor.
Mothma’s family issues don’t stop with her husband. Her daughter Lieda also treats Mothma with disdain. Lieda views everything Mothma does as a political move for attention.
The spotlight belonged to Luthen in the last episode. Luthen only has one scene in The Axe Forgets. He’s shown worrying about the mission on Aldhani. His assistant tells him there’s nothing Luthen can do at this point. The plan is in motion. All Luthen can do is wait.
Dedra Meero, the ISB supervisor who was trying to tie seemingly random events together, is still trying to put the pieces together with her loyal assistant in tow. She points out that if she were starting a revolt this is she’d want the events to appear unconnected.
With the exception of Luthen and to some degree Karn’s hate for Cassian, none of these subplots are tied into the events on Aldhani. Yet these subplots are excellent at building up crucial blocks of the rebellion and the empire.
The Axe Forgets Final Thoughts
The Axe Forgets is one of the best-written episodes of television this year. Gilroy’s terrific dialogue, the fantastic performances and the terror of a single Tie Fighter allow Andor to shine.
The Review
The Axe Forgets
PROS
- Dan Gilroy's writing is phenomenal. This is the best dialogue in all of Star Wars and one of the best written episodes of tv this year.
- Diego Luna shines and delivers his best performance.
- I love how everyone in the rebellion has a different personal reason for joining.
- Thanks to Andor, the sound of a Tie Fighter is easily the 2nd scariest sound in Star Wars behind Darth Vader's breathing.
CONS
- There are some interesting subplots. The writing and performances are on point. However, I wish we could have spent the whole episode on Aldhani or spent more time in the respective suplots instead of cutting back quickly to Aldhani.
