REVIEW: Andor – Season 2, Episode 5, ”I Have Friends Everywhere”

“It's not stealing things that's difficult. It's getting away.”

Television Reviews

***SPOILERS***

“I Have Friends Everywhere” opens on Kleya listening to her various bugs. This is a running theme in the episode, as Syril’s call with Mom is interrupted by an Imperial device sweep. They locate the bugs placed by the Ghorman Front, but evidently don’t know more than that. Cassian books passage to Ghorman and receives his briefing and cover story. The Ghormans learn about Syril’s history on Morlana 1. Rylanz asks Syril to keep him informed on shipments to the new Imperial annex. Luthen checks on Bix. Wilmon teaches a nerve-wracked Pluti the variations on the fuel machine. Syril heads to Coruscant. Davo Sculdun’s assistant tells Kleya he’s having his art collection reappraised. Syril arrives on Coruscant and visits Dedra. Cassian meets Enza and warns her about her organization’s clumsy methods of espionage. Syril visits his mother. Cassian meets Carro Rylanz. Dedra and Syril present their intel to Partagaz. Saw wants to kill Wilmon, but Pluti pleads for him to stay alive and go with them. Kleya tells Luthen about the Sculdun problem, and they plan for the worst. Saw kills Pluti. Rylanz tells Cassian to get lost. Wilmon accepts his place with Saw Gerrera.

I absolutely love the opening title in “I Have Friends Everywhere.” Andor is so well put together and carefully calibrated that even small details that would be forgotten in other shows shine. The sound of different radio frequencies that slowly piece together the Andor theme is soon revealed to be Kleya’s network of listening devices. It’s just super cool that even the show’s theme music can be incorporated into the story in this way. I love how the idea of surveillance is ingrained in every aspect of this episode. Before we get into the meat and potatoes of the story, Grymish, the ISB officer leading the search of Syril’s office, is played by Kurt Egyiawan. He plays Maester Orwyle on House of the Dragon. I don’t think Grymish will end up being terribly important; I just thought it was a cool connection. Syril putting up such a fuss over being searched is almost certainly part of his cover for Dedra; I can only imagine he knew someone besides him would notice the bug eventually. I enjoyed him shouting, “Because, of course, we’re bugging our own office!” His frustration is very convincing. I also like small details like Syril and the Ghorman Front wearing berets.

Luthen knowing about Bix’s drug problem is interesting, and it makes sense that he wouldn’t want her help after that. Luthen can’t afford for things to go wrong, and I wouldn’t want a drug-addled Bix running missions for me, either. I wonder if this is why Luthen didn’t want Bix to accompany Cassian to Ghorman, although keeping that particular mission small makes sense anyway.

The scene where the bellhop tells Cassian about the Tarkin massacre on Ghorman is nothing short of powerful. Actor Stefan Crepon only appears in this scene (at least in this episode), but his dialogue is impactful, and he delivers it well. It’s interesting that Cassian and Syril trade places in this episode, with Cassian checking out the Ghorman Front and Syril returning home to Coruscant. And of course, Cassian would have no way of knowing that the man who harbored a grudge for his actions on Morlana is the one fomenting rebellion on Ghorman. Cassian is eager to teach the Ghorman Front just how careless and indelicate they’re being, potentially undoing some of Syril’s plotting. I think Carro Rylanz is wrong to shut Cassian down. He says Cassian isn’t much of a revolutionary, but I don’t think that’s fair, given what we’ve seen. And that’s fine; characters in stories clash, or there would be no story. Syril’s line to Major Partagaz, “They’re inexperienced but very eager,” comes to mind. Partagaz’s reply is awesome, too: “How often those attributes align.” He’s clearly referring to Syril. The Ghorman Rebels are very naive and unassuming when it comes to the Empire. However, I also enjoyed Rylanz’s line asking Cassian if he suggests they just stand by. The script for this show is just unbelievably good.

The scene in Dedra’s apartment is painfully awkward, but it’s so perfect for these characters. Everything from the distant, proper peck on the cheek Syril gives Dedra to her stern “Turn out the lights” has this uncomfortable, sterile vibe. You can tell they do care about one another; he’s upset he can’t stay longer, and I think we all know exactly why she wants the lights off. I think Syril is more than a pawn to Dedra. He is obviously very useful to her for this play on Ghorman, but they were together before she even received that assignment. I love how bizarre this relationship is, for some reason. Speaking of bizarre, Eedy naming her spider Syril, and her reasoning for it, was pretty funny, even if I’d want to strangle her in Syril’s shoes.

We don’t see Mon Mothma in “I Have Friends Everywhere,” unfortunately. Obviously, we have some crossover with her storyline in the form of Luthen’s Sculdun worries. I’m watching these one at a time for the reviews and trying to really savor them; I dread this ending, I really do. The last thing I want to touch on is the last thing that happens: Wilmon taking his place as a radical with Saw Gerrera. Wow, this genuinely shocked me, and I don’t feel that way about TV often. I absolutely thought Saw was going to murder Wilmon in cold blood, and I constantly dreaded it. Especially when Saw asked Pluti or Wilmon if Pluti was ready, I feared for Wilmon’s safety. I don’t expect anyone from Ferrix to survive this show except for Cassian, obviously, so he can die in Rogue One. I don’t think Wilmon wholeheartedly joining Saw will save him, although I think this was a bold and very good decision for the story. What the heck? The little boy from Ferrix is a radical warmonger’s little pal now. Am I the only one wondering if Pluti really is a spy for the Empire? Saw is absolutely nuts, and I wouldn’t put it past him to be paranoid or even frame Pluti, although I don’t know what benefit there would be. I absolutely adore the music for D’Qar and Saw. The dialogue is insane at this part too; I particularly enjoyed “Revolution is not for the sane,” and “We’re the Rhydo, boy! We’re the fuel!” Saw’s whole speech about Onderon and Rhydo was masterful stuff. This is everything that shows like Ahsoka can’t be; you learn everything you need to know about Saw Gerrera from The Clone Wars in this monologue. This is very satisfying and evocative of past content if you have seen it, but if not, everything makes sense, and the character is enriched for you. I’m intrigued by Saw calling the fuel his sister. In my opinion, this is a reference to his sister, Steela, who was killed on Onderon when they stood up for themselves against Republic occupation.

I don’t know what else to say. Andor gets stronger and more complex with every episode, and I’ll be so sorry to see it go.

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