Warning: This article contains spoilers for Andor season 1, episode 9, "Nobody's Listening!"Andy Serkis teases a huge shift for Kino Loy's character development in Andor episode 10. After playing Supreme Leader Snoke in the sequel trilogy, Serkis made a surprise return to the Star Wars franchise in episode 8 of the Disney+ series. Andor sees Diego Luna reprise his role of Rebel Alliance operative Cassian Andor, and Andor season 2 will begin filming soon.
The two most recent Andor episodes have found Cassian trapped within the Narkina 5 Imperial Prison Complex. Assigned to table 5 in Unit 5-2-D, Cassian falls under the supervision of Serkis' Kino Loy, an inmate who serves as manager for the floor and is responsible for maintaining productivity. Despite being a prisoner himself, Kino willingly enforced the prison's rules and urged his fellow inmates to follow the system. However, following the deaths of numerous prisoners, namely elderly inmate Ulaf (Christopher Fairbank), Loy's faith in the system is broken beyond repair, and he opens up to Cassian about the prison's protocols. After Andor episode 9 put Kino through an experience that shattered his worldview, Serkis has teased how his character will respond in upcoming episodes.
In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Serkis explains what drives Kino throughout his sentence, and how Ulaf's death opened his eyes to how the Empire has constructed an unfair system that he will never be free of, despite his willing participation. The actor then teases that episode 9's events will inspire Kino to ruly consider breaking free of the Empire's imprisonment in Andor episode 10. Check out Serkis' full response below:
He has a family outside, he's been working towards his release, and now this is the moment that turns him—compounded with the death of one of the inmates who was one of the longest serving on his floor, and who he begins to care for. When he's euthanized at the end, he realizes that they've got to do something about it. That's the beginning of a transformation in his character.
The turning point at the end of episode 9 is so crushing for him. He begins to realize that he has been deluding himself—and not only deluding himself but actually being untruthful to himself. He's lost his inner core. And I think we see him beginning to question the possibility, “What if there is a way of getting by and getting out and releasing all of the prisoners?” We start to see, throughout the course of episode 10, him buying into that and enabling that to happen.
Will Cassian & Kino Manage A Prison Break In Andor Season 1?
While Cassian's escape from Narkina 5 is certain thanks to his prominent role in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the fates of his fellow inmates are less certain. However, Andor episode 8 also saw the reintroduction of Duncan Pow's Ruescott Melshi as an inmate, who will become a fellow Rebel Alliance operative in Rogue One and will ultimately serve alongside Cassian during the battle of Scarif. With both Cassian and Melshi's survival confirmed, as well as teaser trailers depicting the inmates running through the Complex's bridges, it is clear that Cassian and Kino will manage to inspire a majority, if not all of the inmates of Unit 5-2-D, to rise up. However, Andor has already proven itself willing to kill off characters whom audiences spent a significant period of time with and grew attached to during the Aldhani heist. With series creator Tony Gilroy warning fans not to get attached to Andor characters, it is possible that Cassian and Melshi may be Unit 5-2-D's sole survivors.
Serkis' Andor return was a surprise welcomed by Star Wars fans, with Kino's development providing new insight into living under Imperial rule. The character allowed fans to see the actor join the franchise in a role that is a far cry from his Snoke performance, both as a character and in terms of production. With Serkis teasing Kino's drastic change of heart, the prison manager may prove himself a standout addition to Andor season 1.