Please be aware of spoilers!

Syril’s mother visits him and his new girlfriend Dedra Meero! Luthen is afraid Kolma talks to Sculdun and decides he has to meet with an accident. Bix is almost a victim of rape from one of the inspection team. Cassian finally arrives home and is just too late to save Brasso. He does destroy most of the inspection team with his stolen ship. Note - This was the best of the first 3 (Harvest), a slow-starter but towards the end of the 3^rd episode, it picked up the pace. But not only that, what happens with Bix and Brasso obviously has an emotional impact on Cassian as well as the viewer. What did bug me a bit, but this is eventually shown, is that after this episode, B2EMO is nowhere to be seen, it seems like it was left behind by Cassian. And yes, the attempted rape is very uncomfortable to watch, but I didn’t understand the fuss in the media about it.

With episode 4, “Ever Been to Ghorman”, the focus is being moved to the planet Ghorman and what is happening there. Cassian and Bix are living in a Luthen safehouse. Bix has understandable issues related to what happened on Ferrix and the attempted rape. Syril has taken a promotion, although his mother believes it is a demotion. He moves to Ghorman, but it is a set-up, Dedra is his contact of the empire. He doesn’t realize he is being used by his own girlfriend. Syril, with Dedra and Partigaz's backing, takes up a position on Ghorman and pretends to be sympathetic to the rebels' cause to feign being successfully recruited. Luthen sends Cassian to Ghorman, to assess the rebels.

Kleya must remove a bug during Sculdun's party when he plans to search his gallery after finding a forgery. Cassian rejects the rebels’ weapons plan, and decide to return which annoys Luthen. The Empire lets the rebels heist proceed to manipulate them, Saw executes Pluti for betrayal, assigns Wilmon. Luthen is really getting worried, panicked even when he thinks they may be find out by Sculdun. Syril’s office is checked for bugs and one is found. Note – Another exciting episode and perhaps the most thrilling moment was Kleya looking for their bug with Jung being her distraction. Cassian opposes Luthen's plan for Ghorman rebels and his attempt to recruit Bix for another opp. Luthen sends Vel and Cinta. There's a heist, but the Empire already is aware of the heist and they are letting it happen. But Cinta Kaz dies an unnecessary death. Kleya removes the bug at the party. Bix and Cassian use his own torture methods on the man who tortured Bix on Ferrix, of whom she had nightmares about. Bix is back! Note – This episode “What a Festive Evening” was the best episode till now. The deviousness of the Empire becomes more and more clear, Bix taking back her life with returning the favor to the man who tortured her.

Yavin, the headquarters of the rebellion is growing. Wilmon returns to the resistance and tells Cassian that Luthen wants to see him, wants to know if he is ready. On Ghorman things are escalating, it won’t be long before it will escalate, this is what the Empire is working towards. Dedra tells Syril he must be ready to leave Ghorman on her say so.

Episode 8, “Who Are You” is most likely the best episode of season two, a 10/10! It all boils down to it, a confrontation the Empire is looking for. They have manipulating this for years. Cassian is also on Ghorman but gets in the middle of it all. Meanwhile he still tries to kill Dedra Meero. Syril is caught by surprise, she didn’t tell him anything about the real reason he is here, and since he is someone who cannot take injustice, he leaves after almost strangling her, very powerful scene! Even she has issues with what is happening there, all for a stone that is in the ground which can help the Republic with their energy supply. In reality it is used for creating a devastating weapon, the Death Star! When Syril sees Cassian outside, he goes nuts and attacks him while a bloodbath is taking place there. Syril gets killed before he can kill Cassius. Note - What is perhaps the most frustrating for Syril when Cassian asks him in confusion: Who are you? This was the best hour of TV in a long time, the way this episode is built up to the climax is just incredible, the tension, the scope of it, the monster that is the Empire, it is just perfect!

Episode 8 sets the tone for the last 4 episodes, the are all close to perfection! In “Welcome to the Rebellion”, in the Ghorman aftermath, Mon Mothma takes a stand. She speaks about Ghorman and who is responsible for this massacre. Cassian must extract Mon Mothma directly after her speech for obvious reasons. Cassian tells Luthen he wants out, quit the rebellion “game”. When he tells Bix, she decides to leave him, because she wants him to keep fighting, she doesn’t want to be the reason why Cassian wants to stop. Note - Powerful scene when Mon gives her speech and as a consequence, Cassian must bring her out to safety because the Republic wants to capture her. Bix leaving Cassian because she knows he is needed, he is a leader in the resistance. She says she will come and find him after this is all over, we know that this will not happen and even more poignant when we later learn she had Cassian’s child! Great television!

Jung contacts Luthen and tells him the true reason why they have taken Ghorman and that Meero is closing in on him. Luthen kills Jung and protects Kleya which she only later realizes. He destroys evidence in his store as Meero comes to take him in. He stabs himself but his life is saved. For Kleya there is only one thing to do, make sure they cannot make him talk. We also see some flashbacks how Luthen and Kleya met with each other and that he and she became a team, caring for each other, having the same mission. Meero gets arrested for being to reckless and doing this on her own. Note – It is just one big rollercoaster ride! Through the flashbacks we learn that Kleya and Luthen have known each other for a long time. Kleya’s assignment is a hard one, but she has to do it, she knows he wanted her to do it, to keep the resistance save.

Dedra faces Krennic's reprimand. Heert leads the hunt for Kleya. He gets a tip from Dedra when she herself is incarcerated. At a safehouse, Kleya contacts Wilmon, who sends Cassian's team. While Cassian comes to save her, the Republic is on to them and are very near! After revealing Empire's weapon plans, she wants to stay behind while K-2SO fights the incoming Imperials. K-2SO takes out Heert's team but Kleya's hurt, they flee and go back to Yavin, a heroes welcome is not what they get unfortunately! At Yavin IV, they are grounded and the council find Cassian’s info hard to believe, dumbasses! Cassian and K-2SO head to Kafrene to look for Tivik, Kleya stays behind. Partagaz kills himself, Dedra's locked up. Bix and B2EMO find peace. Note - A fantastic series finale with the knowledge of also having Rogue One that closes the storyline. These people on the council were hugely annoying not believing Cassian and downplaying Luthen’s work. Nice to see Bix and presumably Cassian’s child and also B2EMO in the final moments.

Final Words:

Yes, Andor’s season two really starts out slow, not bad, but not that great either. But when you have seen the whole season, the first episodes also become better, because it all starts out there and wow, how the season is built up to the ultimate climax is just damned impressive. Very satisfying even though we know it is not finished yet. We’ve been waiting for so long now and getting this kind of a pay-off is almost unexpected in this day and age where TV shows are getting ruined. I was also looking forward to “The Last of Us” but boy, have I been disappointed with that second season. So, Star Wars fans, be grateful Andor is one of the best shows in the last decade or so. Recommended? Hell yes!

Blog written with help from IMdB, Screencaps taken from: cap-that.com