Andor 1×08 “Narkina 5” is an episode about hitting rock bottom, about what it’s like to lose hope — and how even that looks different depending on your level of privilege. For Cassian Andor, rock bottom is a prision where he’s barely treated as a human, for Syril Karn, rock bottom is a mindless job that doesn’t allow him to shine. Very different indeed.
The ways Andor reinforces the message of imperialism, of oppresion, and of how people react to both are both poignant and incredibly real. Because yes, there will always be people who comform, people who are happy to keep their heads down and keep moving forward. But there will also always be oeple who aren’t, people who fight even when it feels like all is lost. Especially when it feels like all is lost.
And if anything, Andor 1×08 “Narkina 5” is about those people. The show is about those people. And it’s also about how, every so often, those people can indeed make a difference. Rebellions are built on hope and all.
THE SYSTEM IS WHAT THE SYSTEM IS
Andor 1×08 “Narkina 5” is an inside look at the Empire’s prison system, and no surprise, it looks about as bad as the real one — except with a little outright more torture, because this is the Empire we’re talking about.
There’s nothing subtle about what the show is trying to do, the message it’s trying to send. It’s hard to watch, it’s dehumanizing, and it’s a reflection of reality. Plain and simple. The political messages are either obvious or you’re the kind of person who never sees them, no matter how plain they are. There is no other choice. And yet, Andor is also, subtly here to remind us that …even in the middle of a place that beats you down and tries very hard to strip you of your identity, people still remain who they are deep down.
In the end, that’s the only thing we can do when everything is against us. The only way to fight oppresion — not conforming.
YOU THINK THE EMPIPRE STOPS TO CATCH ITS BREATH?
We don’t even get that much of Cinta and Vel, not really, but their existance is still groundbreaking for Star Wars in general, and for Andor in particular. Not because the show is making their relationship out to be a big thing, but especially because it isn’t. They are who they are, and their relationship is what it is …one that probably won’t have a happy ending, because they are rebells and the fight come first.
But they have moments. And though those might never be enough, they are more than Star Wars has allowed two women before, and more than many people get in real life. You can’t make a life out of stolen moments, but sometimes, you can survive off of them. You can gather strenght for another fight thanks to them. And you can keep going because you know you’ll have one more instant, and if it all goes well, another chance at maybe making it permanent.
Hope, once again. The thing that makes us take the next breath. The thing that makes us fight. And, ironically, the thing that will push this Rebellion to where it needs to go.
OPPRESION BREEDS REBELLION
But must it get that much worse before it gets better? Human beings are tricky things, we get used to everything. Things are bad? We get used to that? Things are good? We get used to that too. Of course, that means we cannot truly enjoy the good things as much as we should, and we can put up with the bad things that we perhaps shouldn’t. We’re conditioned that way.
Luthen — and Saw — in many ways, are the kind of men who are willing to break the world to put it back together again in a better way. And that’s both commendable, and truly scary. Because, once you break things, how can you have faith that they will be put back together in the best way possible? How can you trust the new world will be any better than the world you fought to get rid of?
You can’t. But then again, what are you really gonna do? Not try? Give up? Conform. That’s even worse. No, the only option is to fight — and then if you need to, fight again. That might mean the fight is never over, but it also means you’ll get those moments in between — the moments where you live, and you smile. And those …well, those can make everything else worth it.
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Andor 1×08 “Narkina 5”? Share with us in the comments below!
The first eight episodes of Andor are now available to stream on Disney+.
