Andor – One Way Out review S1 E10

Star Wars has been known for a lot of things, but performances that make me pause in amazement at what I’m watching is rare. I’m always going to partial to the season finale of The Mandalorian’s second season, but One Way Out might go down as a close second. If nothing else, Disney needs to start prepping its Best Supporting Actor campaign for not one, but two phenomenal performances.

This season has been building towards this moment and with One Way Out we truly and firmly see the rise of Cassian Andor, Rebel.

Cassian knew he had an opening with Kino. The supervisor was rattled to the core after learning the secret of prisoner sentences just being a fancy phrase for transferring to another block. Kino still wasn’t ready to confide in the rest of the cell block what he discovered, but Cassian kept pushing and steering this bombshell revelation. Finally, Kino reached his breaking point and told the others that tomorrow is their best chance to escape.

It seemed like Cassian was making up this plan as he went along, but he and some of his fellow prisoners mapped out a pretty sensible plan to wait for a new prisoner transfer and shortening out the power lift by water damage.

Was it intentional to have Andy Serkis leading the charge into the Imperial stations as a nod to The Planet of the Apes series? Regardless, it was a cool scene that felt more personal as some of Cassian’s crew and allies got gunned down by the Imperial officers momentarily enjoying the high ground. Would Darth Vader have mandated high ground classes in the Imperial Academy?

Kino’s speech to his fellow inmates was chilling. Serkis always gets so much love for his CGI performances, but this scene was outstanding. Serkis embraced Kino’s defiance to the Empire that sapped his will for so long. Now with even a glimmer of a chance to strike back, he was ready to rally the prisoners and take the battle to his jailors.

Star Wars doesn’t often have a lot of rallying inspirational moments either so the surge of prisoners going through the hallways, helping each other up the lifts and climbing the steps was more moving than I anticipated. It was equally satisfying watching the bullying Imperial officers cowering in chambers hoping not to catch the attention of their beleaguered prisoners.

As they rise to the top of the prison, Kino makes the ironic confession to Cassian — he can’t swim. So, while he can see freedom on the horizon it looks like Kino won’t ever actually be able to enjoy it.

If that had been all we got from this episode it still would have been one of the season standouts but there was so much more.

MORE:

• The Willowbrook review
• The 16th Episode movie review
• Black Panther: Wakanda Forever review
• Stargirl – Frenemies Chapter Eight – Infinity Inc. Part Two review S3 E8

Mon Mothma met up with Davo Sculdane (Richard Dillane), who agreed to lander her money in exchange for arranging her daughter to meet his son. Mon’s daughter is a brat, so an arranged marriage hardly seems like a bad deal for Mon.

These Mon Mothma scenes have quietly been some of the best of the series and Geneveve O’Reilly has been constantly knocking even the smallest moments out.

Luthen gets a message for a meeting with Imperial Supervisor Lonni Jung (Robert Emms), who’s really been a deeply embedded undercover rebel agent. Lonni has been in the background for most of the season, but he’s been gathering intel on Dedra in hopes that Luthen will finally pull him out so he can get back to his wife and newly born daughter.

Director Toby Haynes shoots this scene magnificently. First, Lonni is taking a slow elevator ride to a gantry where Luthen awaits explaining why Krieger has to take the fall to ensure Lonni’s cover isn’t blown.

 

Luthen looks completely bad a$$ with his trench coat billowing in the wind as he explains that Lonni can’t leave. Ian McDiarmid’s monologue in the opera house in Revenge of the Sith has been the pinnacle of acting in this saga.

I’m very close to thinking Stellan Skarsgard topped him with this as Luthen breaks down the various sacrifices he’s made to ensure the Rebellion and the galaxy thrives. It’s elite level acting here and shows why Skarsgard was such a casting coup for Andor.

Cassian and Melshi make their way to a beach and run off. Were they the only ones to make it?

One Way Out was fantastic on every level and gives Andor yet another superb episode in a season stockpiling gems in the post Clone War era.

Rating: 10 out of 10

Photo Credit: Disney

Pre-order the Star Wars Black Series Vel Sartha figure from Amazon

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.