Warning! This review contains spoilers for Andor season 2, episodes 4-6.

Andor season 1’s ending, it was clear the four acts had very different tones, with season 2 emulating this.

The second batch of episodes acts in the same vein as the Aldhani heist from season 1, with the titular character scoping out the planet of Ghorman, which seems of specific interest to the Empire. No one in-universe knows what the Empire truly wants with Ghorman, though Andor’s returning character Orson Krennic revealed this much to the audience in act 1. This leads Cassian and other rebel heroes to the planet, as Andor season 2, act 2 injects a faster pace into the story, a similar level of strong writing, and heaps of Star Wars romance into proceedings.

Andor Season 2’s Romantic Relationships Make A Difference For Star Wars

Star Wars Romance Has Never Been A Particular Focus

One of the elements I immediately noticed and liked the most about these episodes is the focus it puts on romantic relationships. The Star Wars movies of old tended to have some romance, be it Han and Leia in the original trilogy or Anakin and Pé in the prequels. However, the various Star Wars TV shows and most other movie installments tended to place romance as a back-seat element of storytelling. Andor changes this.

The relationship between [Cassian and Bix] is, nonetheless, intriguing to see as it offers a look at domesticity in Star Wars...

Throughout Andor season 2, act 2, a specific focus is placed on three romantic connections: Cassian and Bix, Syril and Dedra, and Vel and Cinta. The former is intriguing, with Bix struggling to overcome her PTSD from season 1’s events and Cassian having to regularly leave her to operate missions for Luthen. The relationship between the two is, nonetheless, intriguing to see as it offers a look at domesticity in Star Wars for two rebels hiding from the Empire. How the arc concludes for them is also incredibly satisfying.

On the opposite side of things are Syril and Dedra. I mentioned in my review for the first arc of Andor season 2 that the show is excellent at presenting certain Imperials as investable characters, despite them squarely being villains. This continues here, with Syril essentially being used by Dedra to further the Empire’s efforts on Ghorman. Not only does this give Syril more to do as a central part of the plot, but it also emphasizes the lack of genuine love and trust between them, with the opposite being true for Cassian and Bix, for example.

Finally, the couple of Vel and Cinta is perhaps the most compelling in Andor season 2, act 2. Naturally, the relationship is one of the only depictions of an LGBTQ relationship in Star Wars concerning main characters, adding a level of maturity to the show. Beyond that, how their story plays out here is suitably heartbreaking. Cinta’s death is depicted as a sad casualty of rebellion, something Andor is excellent at portraying as Star Wars' Rebel Alliance grows.

The Ghorman Storyline Takes A More Compelling Direction That Lucas Began 30 Years Ago

Rebellion Brews Across The Galaxy

Andor season 2, act 1 already established that the Empire wants Ghorman for minerals — which the Empire deems more worthy than the lives of those living on Ghorman. Andor takes this storyline even further by showing how the people of Ghorman are responding to the new Imperial occupation of the planet. The increased Imperial activity has locals worried, leading the Ghorman Front to inspect exactly why. The politics on display here are fascinating, truly exemplifying that Andor’s biggest strength is its mature writing. The Ghormans are naturally angry at the Imperial activity on the planet, leading to outright rebellion.

What this immediately brought to mind for me is that, yes, prequel fans, George Lucas was right...

This comes in the form of a heist that involves Vel and Cinta. However, the reveal that this rebellion was provoked by the Empire as a means of the institution cracking down on Ghorman makes it all very complex. The heist itself is fun and adds a deal of tension and action to the second act of Andor season 2.

That said, it is the politics at play beneath it that makes it all the better. Seeing how the Empire will force retribution for this act is both terrifying and intriguing, as it will likely propel Cassian, Bix, and maybe even Luthen to aid Ghorman. What this immediately brought to mind for me is that, yes, prequel fans, George Lucas was right. Star Wars’ creator was criticized in the 1990s for making the franchise even more political than it already was.

Talk of taxation routes and peace treaties were deemed too boring for a high fantasy series, but it seems as though Tony Gilroy is aligned with Lucas. Andor season 2 perfectly delves into the deeper intricacies of galactic politics in a way that Lucas began in the prequels. In this way, the creator of the franchise is being vindicated 30 years later. Not only that, but Andor is exploring Star Wars politics in a more exciting way than we have ever seen, making the show truly one of a kind.

Surrounding Elements Of Andor Season 2, Act 2 Were A Mixed Bag

Though They Were More Positive Than Negative

Outside of the Ghorman storyline and the romantic aspects, there were things to love and some aspects I was slightly indifferent to. Concerning the former, Mon Mothma’s depiction continues to intrigue as she fights against the Empire from the inside. She does not get as much to do here, but it allows other characters to shine.

The brief subplot with Luthen and Kleya that sees them trying to infiltrate Davo Sculdun’s event to recover a bug began as something unimportant. However, the final scene of this plot thread was suitably tense and excellently crafted. It pushed me to the edge of my seat. At the ISB, the politicking of the Imperials continues to be one of the most well-written, exciting parts of the show.

The one issue I had with this batch of episodes is simply how the titular character seemed removed from the main storyline. His relationship with Bix was good to see, and his brief excursion to Ghorman was fun as we watched Cassian embody a social aristocrat. Nonetheless, Cassian was not involved in the Ghorman heist like he was alongside Cinta and Val in season 1’s Aldhani arc, which made him feel somewhat inconsequential in episode 6, specifically. Aside from this, though, Andor season 2, act 2 was just as enjoyable as its predecessor.