Andor 1×09 “Nobody’s Listening” is a very hard, but essential episode in this tale. It’s heartbreaking because everyone involved in the hour brings their absolute best — acting-wise — even while considering this is already one of the more realistic, and human Star Wars stories to date. But it’s also gut-wrenching because writing-wise, this is a difficult, brilliant script, one that never hammers an idea it can just present and let you process by yourself.
Storytelling, good storytelling, is about finesse. We’re way past morality tales and stories that spelled out the lesson for us. What we want is entertainment that makes us think, that makes us feel. If we happen to learn a lesson through that entertainment, so be it. But the entertainment shouldn’t be just about the lesson — or at least, it should remember that is entertainment first.
We Take What’s Left
But Andor is politically charged entertainment, and it’s not at all apologetic about what it is. The stories the show is telling might be framed around a fictional Empire, but that Empire has always resembled a great number of autocratic governments. We can recognize the signs. And, even if we didn’t know the story of the upcoming Rebellion, we could see it building.
Just as we can see Mon Mothma’s path ahead get clearer, and Vel’s storyline move closer and closer to tragedy. The same tragedy that sees Bix tortured, and Cassian in prison — not even for the crimes he did commit, but for petty, made-up ones. Lack of freedom is the thing that ails everyone in this galaxy. And yet it’s people that will make a change, and not just people fighting for themselves, but fighting for each other.
How do you overthrow fascism? Star Wars has told us before that the only way to do so is for people to listen to each other. In this episode of Andor, it’s established that the Empire isn’t listening. So that leaves enough room for people to do so — and find a way out because of it.
Nobody’s Listening
This is the message of the episode –– and of the series in general, and it’s a message not just about the Empire, but about authoritarian systems in general. The idea of democracy is about the power of the people, and true democracy is only achieved when everyone has a voice. The Empire is, of course, as far from that as we can be. They not only don’t want to give people a voice, but they also aren’t interested in what people have to say.
And yet, sometimes it’s easier to tell yourself that all they want is order. That if you do what they want, when they want it, you will be treated fairly. It’s about rules, after all, isn’t it? About order. Except it isn’t. It’s about control. And the Empire isn’t interested in giving up any of the control they have.
Cassian Andor sees it clearly. No one’s listening. And the smart move is to take advantage of that.
Toxic Masculinity Is Always a Thing
Syril Karn always seemed like the type of character who would end up where he is right now, obsessed with something new — in this case Dedra Meero. And though the show doesn’t spend too long on their interaction or her reaction, it’s clear that Karn unsettles Meero to a degree she isn’t used to. She’s a powerful woman, and things are going well for her, but even in a galaxy far, far away, Supervisor Meero isn’t safe from men like Syril Karn. And she knows it.
Toxic masculinity — a sense of entitlement — has been a serious problem in the Star Wars fandom for almost as long as there has been a fandom. And Andor‘s most obvious message in an episode filled with important lessons might just be that this kind of issue is as problematic, and as pervasive, as fascism itself. Karn wants what she wants. He knows it. And it’s unlikely he will take no for an answer. And Meero, well …ironically, for all her power, she’s left to attempt to pacify a creepy man lest he cause more trouble.
Andor isn’t exactly pulling its punches, is it?
Agree? Disagree? What did you think of Andor 1×09 “Nobody’s Listening”? Share with us in the comments below!
The first nine episodes of Andor are now available to stream on Disney+.
