Star Wars Andor Episode 5 Review and Breakdown

Episode 5 of the Star Wars Andor series is another build-up where we learn more about the relationships between the characters and their motivations!

It’s odd to see two episodes in a row where there’s no action, everything is moving slowly but surely. The pieces are in their spots and something big is about to happen, you can feel the tension in the air.

This review contains heavy spoilers.

Andor Recap: the story so far

Luthen Rael invites Andor to join a mission to steal the payroll of an Imperial sector, without anywhere else to go Andor accepts the offer.

The team didn’t feel comfortable with the new addition, they were very vocal about it but they had no choice but to accept it. They start preparing Cassian as they only have three days before the heist.

After the fiasco on Ferrix, the Empire took control of the planet, and Syril Karn was dismissed and he returns to his mother’s place.

Mon Mothma and Luthen Rael have a reunion where they discuss the incorporation of a new member to their “circle”.

Andor Episode 5 Review - Mon Mothma talks to Luthen Rael

Family issues

Family is the foundation of society, in both real and fictional stories. Good family, bad family, or no family at all; regardless of which one anyone has, it can’t be denied how it affects our perspective of the world, values, social interactions, and development as human beings.

Family Reunion Rebels — The main characters in Star Wars Rebels

To understand characters like Anakin Skywalker, Rey, Cassian Andor, Din Djarin, Assajj Ventress, etc; it’s fundamental to learn about their relationship with the people they consider their family.

Syril Karn is no exception to this, in the first episodes we met a rigid officer who was fully committed to his duty but as time passed it became evident how inexperienced and incompetent Karn truly is. His failed mission was the final nail in Preox-Morlana’s coffin, causing the Empire to take over their operations completely and for Syril Karn to lose his job.

With no place to go, he returned with his mother, a woman that cares for him but has an odd way of showing it. Her passive-aggressiveness and comments full of “told you so” don’t make it easier for her son. At least she has a backup plan to help her son, she mentions uncle Harlo and that it’s time to call the family favor.

My suspicion is that uncle Harlo is a man in a position where he has some level of influence, I don’t think it would be the easiest thing to incorporate a former security Corpo that was dismissed in such a dishonorable way. On the other hand, the Empire is as mighty as it is corrupt, nepotism exists at every level so it’s more than possible for Syril to get a “more suitable” job.

Syril Karn has a major role in this story, it is yet to be known what this role is and how it’s going to affect Cassian Andor, but one thing is sure, the face of the man that caused his disgrace is carved in Karn’s memory and he’s not going to let go that easily.

At this point of the story, it could be said that Karn is at one of his lowest, but now, let’s talk about someone who’s considered to be at the top of the ladder. Mon Mothma is a senator in the Imperial Senate, she represents Chandrila, her homeworld.

Since the Clone Wars, Mothma questioned Palpatine’s methods and policies. She had secret reunions with other senators (including Bail Organa and Padmé Amidala) to think about ways to reduce Palpatine’s influence.

She has always been someone that cares about others and unironically believes in democracy, Mothma is one of the few politicians with a moral compass.

Andor Episode 5 - senate members talking

This is why it’s so confusing when I try to picture her marrying someone like Perrin Fertha, a man that couldn’t care less about what happens in other regions of the galaxy. They’re completely opposite poles, while Mothma actively pushes for actions that could benefit less fortunate planets, Perrin won’t even bother to learn the driver’s name, and by inviting Sly Moore to a dinner in their own house, it’s clear that he’s not aligned with what she stands for.

Mon Mothma with Perrin from Andor Episode 5

Leida, the daughter of Perrin and Mon Mothma is also not a fan of her mom. As soon as Mothma told her to grab her expressed her desire to go with her dad, but Perrin told Leida to clear it with Mothma. When asked what the problem was Leida couldn’t give a proper response and claimed that it was just about the ego of her mother, which Perrin seemed to enjoy.

Leida is a teenager, she’s at an age where defiance against her parents is natural, I’m sure having parents that are involved in politics isn’t easy; busy days, everything is scheduled, an absurd number of rules and there’s little to no time for fun.

Andor Episode 5 Review - Mon Mothma and her family are having dinner

I’m sure Leida is tired of it but I still can’t help but feel bad for Mon Mothma. She’s already under pressure with how the Empire manages everything, at the very least she should feel supported by her own family.

Of course, there are two sides to every story and perhaps we might learn more about how this came to be, but I hope they eventually show Mothma some support, she’s going to need it.

Trust is everything

Cassian has just been around for a few days and almost no one trusts him, but how could they? They’ve been planning this operation for months and a stranger was dropped at the last minute.

Working with a team is always challenging, if everyone’s lives are at risk the difficulty increases exponentially. Cassian is someone who’s used to lying and manipulating others, he has done that since the first episode. Watching him encounter people that are as untrusty as him, is very interesting.

He’s now the outsider, the stranger, some members like Vel or Nemik accept him almost immediately, but Gorn, Taramyn, and Skeen are very skeptical, to the point that Skeen puts a knife to Cassian’s throat and takes the expensive crystal that Luthen gave him.

Vel calms down everyone and convinces Skeen to return the crystal, but Cassian knows that if there’s a future altercation with the other members of the team it’s not going to end well for him, so he decides to be open and honest for the first time. His reason might not be what the rest expected but it is enough for them to accept him into the group.

At the end of the episode, we can even see Luthen having doubts about the mission and Andor. He met a skilled but scared man and threw him with the rest of the team, no wonder why he feels uneasy. He knows that one thing is reading someone’s history and something entirely different is actually knowing the said person, people can behave in unpredictable ways when under extreme pressure.

But, if this mission is a success I’m sure Cassian is going to earn the trust and respect of everyone involved.

Everyone has their own rebellion

The Empire has destroyed thousands of homes, torn millions of families, and ravaged uncountable planets. There are many reasons to hate the Empire, some might be considered more “noble” than others but what ultimately matters is the dedication to the cause.

Andor, Mon Mothma, Saw Gerrera, or Luthen Rael, and everyone in the rebellion wants to fight for a better galaxy, the reasons vary between hate, money, revenge, or freedom and the methods used are even more diverse; sabotage, espionage, murder or diplomacy.

I think it’s incredible how something can unite so many people that are so different to fight for a single thing. The Rebel Alliance is always outmanned and outgunned but they have a very powerful weapon that allows them to thrive under the direst circumstances; determination.

Let’s use Skeen, Gorn, and Nemik as an example. Skeen wants revenge for the death of his brother, Gorn lost the woman he loved and Nemik truly believes in the idea of freedom. If we compare them to the standard imperial officer what do we get? an average worker that is more worried about quotas and getting a promotion (or avoiding demotion) than the success of the Empire.

A good plan, capable people, and determination can make a team of seven people outmaneuvers an entire platoon, this is what I think is going to happen in the upcoming episode. The war against the Empire is full of these small but meaningful victories, this series along with Star Wars Rebels is probably going to be the best example of it.

Andor Episode 5 Easter Eggs

There were fewer easter eggs in this episode, but some of them are very cool. There are three that caught my attention and I want to bring your attention to them. Two are part of conversations and the last one is an item in Luthen Rael’s shop.

Kessel

When Dedra Meero is talking with her assistant, he brings up some incidents that happened recently. He mentions Kessel, which is the planet where Han, Chewie, Qi’ra and Lando stole coaxium that later ended in the hands of the Cloud Riders, a rebel cell led by Enfys Nest.

Fondor

The assistant also talks about Fondor, a shipyard planet where Inferno Squad was called back after the Battle of Endor, the planet was later attacked by the Rebel Alliance. These events take place in the video game Star Wars Battlefront II (2017).

The Sankara Stones

Five stones were given to Sankara by the god Shiva. These five stones could give life but also have destructive properties, they appeared in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

I’m really enjoying the slow pace and how we’re getting to know the characters in a more intimate and vulnerable way. All of them are different but are brought together by one common goal.

I would expect to see lots of action in the upcoming episode, if this is the case it might be a pattern for this series, a few slow episodes, followed by one (or more?) packed with lots of shooting and explosions. I’m not sure if I’d like the rest of the series to be like this.

Have you enjoyed the slow episodes so far? What do you think is going to happen in the next one?

Star Wars Andor Season 1 Episode Reviews and Breakdown

This is a collection of individual reviews and a breakdown of all events, secrets, references and easter eggs in the first season of the Star Wars series Andor available on Disney Plus. Adrian goes beep behind the plots of each episode to discover what the world od Star Wars was like when the Rebellion was born!

Please note that every single one of the reviews contains heavy spoilers from the episode it analyzes. It's better to watch the episode and then read the articles.

Also, each review starts with a recap of the events leading up to this episode, so you will never be lost with where things pick up from last week.