Andor – Ever Been to Ghorman review S2 E4
Ever Been to Ghorman is a reminder that the Andor team had the right idea in releasing episodes this season in three-part batches.
Nothing was particularly wrong with Ever Been to Ghorman, but this was not the episode for thrilling, riveting action. Andor remains the Star Wars universe’s cerebral show with a greater spotlight on political intrigue and the not so pleasant side of forming a Rebellion.
It’s BBY 3 now — a year after the first batch of episodes. Bix is in bed with Cassian so maybe they actually are married? It certainly feels like the Empire wouldn’t recognize common law marriages. She’s still having nightmares about Dr. Gorst and losing some serious sleep but sleepwalking with a blaster in hand kinda makes her a hazard to everyone else in the apartment.
After Cassian calms her down, Bix says they need to get some decent plates and towels if they have to keep coming back here. Oooh, if they do decide to decorate maybe they should get in touch with Syril? Hmmn, scratch that recommendation. They’re in Coruscant where Cassian is afraid to shop for fear of being detected by a surveillance camera and Bix can’t get any sleep.
She’s haunted by the face of a young Imperial officer that Cassian killed. He stresses they’re in a war now and not everyone realizes it yet. That’s your Luthen talking…
Cassian has a stock answer for taking out folks just like he did when explaining to Jyn Erso. “He was an imperial threat. You and I are here now because he’s dead. It had to be done.” Cassian is paranoid, but he’s not wrong. Just like Bix isn’t wrong for telling him that if they truly are in a war, he can’t protect her anymore. Since they’re in a war, Bix says she wants to win. They have to win.
Ever Been to Ghorman also fixes a major problem with the first arc where Cassian was tied up with the worst subplot. Once again, his scenes have a purpose and aren’t just killing time keeping him occupied. This interaction with Bix shows how rough this life has been on them having to be on the run for nearly three years now and the knowledge that any slip up could cost them their lives.
One person who doesn’t have to respond negatively to the Ever Been to Ghorman question is Syril. He’s back to being browbeaten by Eedy, who implies he’s been demoted by having this gig. Syril understands if your significant other has a better paying gig and has to relocate then so do you. Syril is starting to feel like he has no privacy and lays a subtle trap to detect if anyone is snooping into his apartment when he goes off to work.
Similar to Cassian, Syril’s paranoia is not without merit. Ghorman rebels are listening in to his conversation to determine if he really could be a potential ally. Protestors are chanting “Stop the Empire! Build With Us!” on his walk to work and one of them slips him a message with coordinates for the next town hall meeting. This is what all of Syril’s subterfuge has been for as he contacts Dedra to tell her that the rebels are finally trying to make contact.
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At the meeting, Syril doesn’t see the rabble-rousing anarchists he expected. Instead, it’s a passionate, but civil discussion with legitimate concerns about the Empire building a massive armory overlooking the victims in the Tarkin Massacre. Ever Been to Ghorman does an excellent job of building the case against the Empire’s tyrannical, cruel reign of the galaxy. Their leader, Carro Rylanz (Richard Sammel), appeals to Syril about aiding in their efforts to better communicate with the Empire. Tariffs and blockades have been set up just like another scheme of Emperor Palpatine.
Major Partagaz is holding court with the Imperial strategic team when Luthen’s inside man, Lonnie, explains that they’re coming up short on leads because they can’t process all the people they’re rounding up in a timely manner. This earns Lonnie some cred with the other officers who thank him after the meeting for putting himself out there.
Lonnie didn’t need any credit as he got what he needed from the meeting — the bombshell revelation that Dedra is secretly and very discretely running the show in Ghorman. It’s always funny seeing Luthen ditch his wavy wig for his standard, grizzled old veteran look.
On another political front, Mon Mothma is lobbying for assistance to Ghorman, but no politicians want to end up on the wrong side of the Emperor right now. Mon’s arc in the previous three episodes doesn’t seem to have much impact in Ever Been to Ghorman unless it was to show Mon doesn’t worry about her pampered family in light of what Palpatine and the Empire are doing to the galaxy.
Luthen meets up with Cassian and asks that oh so important question — have you ever been to Ghorman? He wants Cassian to get intel on Carro to see if he’s worth the trouble of making an ally. Only catch is Bix can’t go. He has to go alone. Sure that works out just fine for Luthen, but Cassian really needs to consider Bix’s state at this juncture.
Over on D’Qar, Wilmon is here showing a still largely human Saw Gerrera a device he crafted fueled by Rhydonium. Saw is pleased, but he wants Wilmon to teach his crew how to make them as well. Until then, he’s stuck here. This wasn’t a quick scene but this interaction didn’t exactly scream essential viewing just yet.
Ever Been to Ghorman was another table-setting installment with a new mission for Cassian, familiar faces returning and a rebellion possibly being quelched from the least likely inside man.
Rating: 8 out of 10
Photo Credit: Disney
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