Andor’s conclusion masterfully sets the stage for the perilous mission depicted in Rogue One: obtaining the Death Star plans for the Rebel Alliance. The series intricately weaves together the narratives of ordinary individuals across the galaxy, transforming them into unsung heroes. From a senator evading Imperial clutches to survivors of colonial oppression, humble bellhops, radical splinter cell members, and even disillusioned Imperial defectors, the convergence of these diverse characters is a testament to exceptional storytelling. Tony Gilroy and his team have not only crafted the finest Star Wars installment of this era but also elevated the standard for television narratives within the franchise. It’s an inspiring and crucial triumph that will likely reshape how we perceive Star Wars going forward. Upon finishing the show, viewers will undoubtedly be compelled to revisit Rogue One and the original trilogy, a clear indicator of Andor’s impact. The realization that the series has concluded is genuinely surprising, as Andor stands as Lucasfilm’s crowning achievement in recent times. Kathleen Kennedy’s leadership, granting Star Wars the creative liberty to explore darker and more nuanced themes, demonstrates that the spirit of rebellion remains vibrant.
The final arc of episodes unveils critical developments. Deep undercover agent Lonni, played by Robert Emms, urgently contacts Luthen, portrayed by Stellan Skarsgård, revealing the Emperor’s purported energy program as a mere façade. Lonni exposes the grand scheme Luthen has been diligently trying to decipher: the Empire is systematically exploiting Ghorman for its fuel resources and Jedha for its abundance of kyber crystals. These resources are essential for constructing a super weapon, utilizing prison labor as evidenced on Narkina 5 during Andor’s initial season. Following their tense exchange, Luthen eliminates his Imperial informant and embarks on a mission to deliver the crucial intelligence he has acquired to the rebels. He connects with Kleya, portrayed by Elizabeth Dulau, instructing her to immediately contact Cassian, played by Diego Luna. As Kleya prepares to depart, Dedra, played by Denise Gough, arrives, having pinpointed Luthen’s storefront, leading to their long-awaited confrontation. Their discussion revolves around antiques, during which Dedra unveils the vintage Imperial star-path unit that ignited the entire sequence of events.
Dedra seizes the moment to assert her dominance, but Luthen challenges her, suggesting that "freedom scares her." He proclaims that "The Rebellion is everywhere" and that there’s "a whole galaxy out there waiting to disgust" her. Skarsgård delivers this line with exceptional skill, just before stabbing himself to ensure the evidence is destroyed, having bought sufficient time. He anticipated Dedra’s need to bask in her victory. In a classic "evil villain undone by their hubris" scenario, Dedra orders a medical extraction, hoping to keep Luthen alive so she can present him as a trophy. However, her ambition slips through her fingers. At the ISB headquarters, Partagaz, played by Anton Lesser, is furious about the failed raid, and Heert, played by Jacob James Beswick, informs him of Lonni’s death.
Kleya finds herself at the group’s safe house after witnessing Luthen being taken away by Dedra to the hospital. She reminisces about her past, revealing that she, like Cassian, was found on a warfront by Luthen. Thankfully, the narrative avoids the cliché of Kleya being Cassian’s sister, demonstrating that Lucasfilm has learned the lesson that Star Wars narratives don’t require every character to be related. The Shakespearean element lies in the revelation that Luthen’s real last name is Lear (Rael backwards!). He was an acting sergeant who, traumatized by the endless families wiped out by the armies under his command, deserted with the young Kleya.
Their shared past is poignant, depicting how they learned to navigate the galaxy together while identifying opportunities to sow the seeds of rebellion against the injustices they had suffered. Early on, Kleya learned the importance of waiting for the opportune moment to strike, recognizing that premature action could jeopardize everything. She matures into a calculating soldier in their two-person army before expanding their rebel spy network. Dulau’s performance is remarkable, serving as the show’s best-kept secret; her facade crumbles with a significant sacrifice, ensuring Luthen’s death remains unconfirmed. Her action sequence as she infiltrates the hospital on a mission is fast-paced and precise, unlike anything we’ve seen from a rebel before, and utterly captivating.
Meanwhile, Heert ensures that Dedra’s ambition doesn’t exceed her capabilities, as she jeopardized everything. Krennic, played by Ben Mendelsohn, appears to conduct a full inquisition. The confrontation between Mendelsohn and Gough is a masterclass in villainous animosity, although Syril’s mother could perhaps bring Krennic to tears. Krennic and Dedra deduce that Jung stole her certification access and reviewed her files for several hours. However, the intriguing question is how Dedra knew about Galen Erso.
Caught in the act, Dedra admits that she was mistakenly forwarded a bundle of intel and decided to keep it. This mistake will have dire consequences, as the name of the Death Star’s architect caught Lonni’s attention, who then passed it on to Luthen. The actors’ portrayal of the interplay of villainy is delightful, with Krennic’s sneers and Dedra’s biting retorts about why she scavenged for discarded information, which ultimately led her to Luthen. But it’s all irrelevant now; her prized asset has been eliminated, and the Empire’s biggest secret is about to be exposed. Dedra provides Kleya’s identity as someone else who might have knowledge.
At the midpoint of this arc, Kleya builds a transmitter to send word to Cassian to rendezvous, but time is running out. Heert is about to identify Kleya on the hospital’s security cameras as they search for a team of rebels, only to realize it was just her. The moment of embarrassment as their shooters are outdone by one woman is satisfying.
Partagaz and Krennic clash, with Partagaz asserting that Krennic is over his head if he thought something as massive as the Death Star could be hidden. They circulate Kleya’s image to all security points, with Partagaz falsely claiming she has an infectious disease that could kill thousands if not stopped. This is fitting and revealing, as Partagaz has lost faith in fighting the "disease," and Lesser does an excellent job portraying a man who sees the writing on the wall.
Despite Draven’s disapproval of Wilmon and Cassian taking Kleya’s call, it’s too late as Cassian and Melshi head out to extract her. Everything is closing in on her as they meet up, and she tells them everything Luthen told her. The pace and tension of the scene will leave you breathless; they could have left her there, but Cassian fights against her reluctance and convinces her to return with them to Yavin to witness what she helped build. It’s not too late for her to see she can choose to stop working alone and transform Luthen’s foundation into what the Alliance has built on Yavin.
The Imperials close in as K-2SO eliminates as many as possible, which is most of them, but some still manage to injure Kleya and the extraction team in the firefight. But with one KX unit on their side, they manage to escape Coruscant. When the mission fails, Partagaz knows it’s over and that they are doomed.
Saw, Mon, and Bail argue about course direction as Andor arrives. Saw ends his transmission with a wink regarding the dangers he faces on Jedha, showcasing the beginnings of the table the Alliance has built. The subsequent scene of Cassian explaining the Death Star makes it even more amazing to see a group of people with varying degrees of power and influence actually working together for the betterment of all – for freedom from tyranny.
At first, they don’t want to believe Luthen’s intelligence about the Death Star being constructed under the guise of the energy project the Senate has been funding. Bail and the Rebel Alliance immediately dismiss it as the ramblings of a paranoid man. Cassian argues that they should believe the intel and investigate Galen Erso’s connection to the Kyber on Jedha and the Ghorman mining. He points out that they have only contributed a fraction of what Luthen has given to the rebellion. Luna delivers a powerful speech that solidifies Andor’s position as a leader and the hero we deserve.
Bail argues that Luthen may have been played as the ISB was onto him. Andor asks to visit Kleya in the infirmary and assures her he’s doing what he can. Mon and Vel meet up, and it’s reassuring to see they at least have each other. Mon asks Vel to talk to Cassian to help her believe him, even though she intuitively knows Luthen was right. Vel and Cassian drink to their fallen from Jedha to Ferrix, including Luthen. He died for the intel, no matter what he did to them along the way. Nemik’s manifesto resonates throughout the last act. The Rebellion is everywhere, and Partagaz, realizing the disease has taken root, takes his own life rather than face the Emperor.
Back on Yavin, Vel encourages Cassian to reconnect with Bix. He asks if she’s safe wherever she is. Vel’s nod helps him see distance as the best option to keep her safe for now and that he’ll think about it once things settle down. She encourages him not to "wait too long," foreshadowing his future path. Vel finds Kleya wandering in the rain and reminds her she has friends everywhere.
As the finale draws to a close, Draven informs Cassian that his informant on Jedha wants to meet him at Kafrene’s trading post with pressing intel and that he’s been released from being on time out for saving Kleya. The fact that the informant is reaching out from Jedha, where Kleya exposed the Empire’s presence, gives leadership enough reason to rethink their position. Bail shows up to give Andor the go-ahead to pursue more information on the Death Star and sends him off with a "May the Force be with you, captain." The poignant delivery from two figures now deeply embedded in Star Wars lore is powerful. Cassian and the Rebel Alliance head towards their destiny. On a distant planet, we see B2-EMO again with Bix and a baby. It underscores the message of Andor that acts of resistance, no matter the outcome, are worth it for the freedom of those you love. Bix and their child breathing free shows that thanks to Cassian’s actions in the Rebellion, his choices will lead to victory, no matter the cost.
