What I’m Watching: Andor

Andor: Season 1, Episode 4 “Aldhani” (B)

We are at least getting into some decent character development even though I’m still waiting for something to truly intrigue. It’s easy for people not to trust each other in this world, and even Andor has plenty of secrets that he’d probably rather not reveal to new friends who are still determining whether they can count on him or if reading him in on what they’re doing is a mistake. He’s definitely not happy about having to start at the bottom and having his credentials questioned, but he also understands the need to stay under-the-radar, especially with a growing list of people coming after him eager to arrest or kill him. It’s great to see a showcase for Denise Gough, a standout player from the underrated FX limited series “Under the Banner of Heaven,” as Meero, another determined officer of the Empire who will stop at nothing to ensure that she achieves her aims. It’s interesting to watch Luthen and see him looking so different, and I’m glad that a capable actor like Stellan Skarsgård is in that chameleonic role. It’s also good to see Mon Mothma, a character with plenty of history in this universe who got a prominent showcase in this episode and is sure to be a major player going forward. Watching the transformation of society as the Empire gains power has previously been one of the more worthwhile facets of all these fill-in prequels, and I hope that continues to be the case throughout the rest of this series.