As good as Andor has been, you may get the sense that one thing is lacking. That’s as a result of, not like principally each different piece of Star Wars
that’s come earlier than it, it’s purposefully devoid of some basic iconography. There aren’t any Jedi, no Sith, no lightsabers, and no daring area battles. However, episode 11, “Daughter of Ferrix,” modified that barely with a scene that straight up blew our minds—and was in some way even higher as a result of the present has made us wait so lengthy for one thing prefer it.

If you’ve seen the episode, and hopefully in the event you’re studying this you might have, you already know what we’re speaking about. No, fortunately, Andor didn’t give us any Jedi or lightsabers. At least not actually. It did, nevertheless, give us a vastly thrilling, intense area scene because of the person who has turn out to be synonymous with thrilling and intense: Luthen Rael.

Luthen has simply come again from subtly corrupting Saw Gerrera when his ship, the Fondor, is detected by the Empire over the planet of Segra-Milo. It’s an Arrestor Cruiser (a ship whose design is predicated on an authentic idea for the Star Destroyer, designed by Colin Cantwell, which is why it’s “Cantwell Class;” it was additionally seen in Solo, however that’s an entire different level) and Luthen makes an attempt to speak his manner out with some lies and a faux code. It’s not working.

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The Imperials determine to energy on their tractor beam, which is principally only a large satellite tv for pc protruding from the entrance of the ship. Luthen fakes some technical difficulties after which makes a run for it. Unfortunately for him, he’s caught in a tractor beam. But he’s additionally ready: all this time he’s been charging countermeasures, which then fireplace backward, destroying the tractor beam like one thing out of Top Gun. The Imperials weren’t prepared for that, in order that they launch 4 TIE Fighters (nicely, three and a bomber, if you wish to be particular) to go after Luthen. Let the area battle start.

Only it’s not a lot of a battle. Luthen brings his foremost gun out of the highest of the ship and makes fast work of the bomber and one of many fighters. Then, after a fast u-turn, he repositions his wings and opens up two further weapons, one on all sides of the Fondor. These unleash RED LASERS outward as Luthen spins his ship like a high, creating an impossible-to-pass-through barrier, destroying the 2 different TIEs. Yes, Luthen’s ship has its very personal Grand Inquisitor Lightsaber, so to talk. And identical to that, with the TIEs destroyed and Arrestor disabled, he engages the hyperdrive and is gone.

Obviously, the scene guidelines on so many ranges. As a rousing burst of motion, for Star Wars followers who love ships, its extremely creative cool weapons, the dramatic enhancing, all of it. Again, Luthen’s ship has fricking laser beams popping out of its wings. No notes.

But that is Andor. A cool area battle wouldn’t be in there for no purpose in any respect. So, along with all of that, the scene additionally serves as a vital piece of character-building for Luthen. To this level, the present has made it very clear that Luthen is succesful. He’s enjoying double obligation on Coruscant, he organized the heist on Aldhani, and he has spies and connections in all places. He’s a Rebel spy extraordinaire. But the talents he displays on this scene present he’s additionally an extremely expert pilot. Where did he get these abilities? Who skilled him? What’s his story? Why does he hate the Empire a lot? The scene is an ideal stability of including to the mystique of this character we’ve been following for a whole season, whereas additionally delivering that type of high-octane Star Wars motion we crave.

And possibly, simply possibly, as a result of Andor is so sparing with scenes like this, it lands tougher. If each episode was continuous area battles we’d yawn on the destruction of an Imperial tractor beam and 4 TIE Fighters in a matter of seconds. But in Andor, it really works that a lot better.

Andor episode 11, “Daughter of Ferrix,” is on Disney+ now. The finale airs subsequent week.

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