Warning! This article contains spoilers for Andor episode 9.Andor episode 9 ended on a massive cliffhanger that saw Andy Serkis' Kino Loy switch allegiances, with the show perfectly setting up this character change over the last few episodes. Andy Serkis was introduced to the show in Andor episode 8 as the floor manager for one of Narkina 5's many prison/labor systems. Loy is introduced as a very by-the-books, order-driven man whose main goal is to take each shift day by day until his sentence is up.
Andor episode 9, though, made an effort to test Kino Loy's loyalty to the system he is in charge of through his relations to other prisoners, and the growing suffocation of the Empire. Andy Serkis' Star Wars return after the sequels was a welcome surprise in Andor episode 8, with Andor episode 9 now capitalizing on that and making Loy a central character to this arc of season 1. This character change at the end of Andor episode 9 is much better than it might first seem, thanks to the subtle foreshadowing of the twist, the believable change in character, the fantastic performance of Andy Serkis, and the overall ties to the themes of Andor and Star Wars as a whole.
Why Andy Serkis' Kino Loy Finally Turns Against The Empire
Andor episode 9 does a fantastic job of setting up multiple reasons that, when isolated, may seem inconsequential and unlikely to turn Loy against the Empire. However, when combining each element, Loy's character switch makes perfect sense. Firstly, the episode introduces whispers of some trouble within the other wings of Narkina 5's massive facility. At first, much like Andor episode 8, Kino is unshaken in his dedication to getting out of the prison, simply telling his men to focus on the shifts as they come rather than worrying about other levels. After this came a scene in which Kino is somewhat interrogated by Cassian himself, with Andor wanting to know everything Kino does about the prison's security. Once again, Kino does not waver, though not without Cassian insisting upon him his own beliefs about the Empire's complacency in their control which lends itself to Andor episode 9's title: "Nobody's Listening!"
The final element of the episode which ties all of these events together is the unfortunate passing of one of Kino's men: Ulaf. After the stress of the high-intensity work of Andor's Imperial labor camp causes the elderly Ulaf to suffer a stroke, the facility's doctor euthanizes him, to the distress of Kino who wanted to help Ulaf live out his remaining 40 shifts so that he could be free, which is also Kino's driving motivation. The doctor then says that Ulaf is lucky, and cites the incident on level 2 of the prison that was hinted at earlier as reasoning, also stating that Kino will want to keep his men in line. It is then that Kino asks what happened, to which the doctor states the Empire simply recycled a prisoner from one level whose sentence had ended to another floor, before killing every single man on the level after word got out of this. Kino realizes his worst fears are coming true, that no one is escaping the prison, and decides to aid Cassian and Melshi, another Rogue One character, in escaping Narkina 5 themselves.
The Real Meaning Of Andor Episode 9's Kino Loy Twist
While all of these elements introduced in Andor episode 9 make Kino Loy's switch make sense in terms of his character, the twist has a deeper meaning that makes it even better. The reasoning for this is that the twist ties into the themes that have been intrinsic to the show as a whole up to this point, as well as the themes of the Star Wars franchise overall. Firstly, when concerning Andor, Loy's character switch exemplifies exactly what Luthen spoke to Mon Mothma about in an earlier episode. Luthen explained that his reasoning for organizing the Aldhani heist was not just to earn money, but to force the Empire into tightening its dominance and control over the galaxy. This all came in Andor episode 7, in which Luthen states that forcing the Empire's hand like this, despite causing people of the galaxy to suffer, will lead to more unrest and therefore rebellion from citizens of the Empire. This is perfectly encapsulated by Kino, whose inevitable rebellion against the Empire on Narkina 5 is a direct result of their overwhelming control and injustice.
Also, in terms of the wider themes of Star Wars itself, Kino's twist pairs perfectly with what has come before it. The core theme of Star Wars throughout every film, TV show, book, or video game, has been good against evil. While shows like Andor certainly blur the lines between good and evil slightly, there is never any doubt about who are the protagonists and antagonists, with the Empire's prejudice and injustice in Andor on full display. On the good side has always been hope, with despair contrastingly being ever present on the evil side. Kino's change exemplifies this, with him choosing the hope of escaping the prison by going against the evil of the Empire, as opposed to living in the despair of the Empire's rule over him.
What Will Happen To Andy Serkis' Kino Now? Does He Escape The Prison?
With Kino's twist comes the question of what will happen to him in Andor's upcoming episodes. Kino is a new creation for Star Wars canon, meaning that Andor has full freedom in its treatment of the character going forward. This means that Kino could in fact survive the brewing escape attempt and go back to his life. However, given the many deaths in Andor episode 6, it is likely Kino meets a similar fate: tragically dying to help his fellow men escape the prison he longed to be free of in Andor episodes 8 and 9.
New episodes of Andor release on Wednesdays on Disney+.
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