Warning: This article contains SPOILERS for Andor episode 9!
Andor is proving to be one of the most complex and intricate Disney+ shows so far – with what happened on Level 2 on the Narkina 5 facility a perfect example of the series' twists and turns. Andor episode 9 highlights the show's credentials as a taught psychological and political thriller, with the mystery of Level 2 only heightening the tension. Yet not only is establishing exactly what happened on Level 2 in Andor crucial in understanding the series as a whole, but it also points to the wider point Andor is making about authoritarianism and rebellion.
A significant part of what makes Andor stand out is its focus on the Empire. Not only is this the most audiences have seen of the inner workings and power struggles inside the Empire itself, but Andor is also showing just how ruthless the Empire is. In episode 9, for instance, with Cassian in prison and working on Level 5, there is chatter about something awful happening down on one of the lower levels. It takes a long time for news to travel, so Andy Serkis' Kino isn't worried and says not to panic. However, once an older Level 5 worker collapses, it soon becomes clear that an inmate had been previously released on Level 4, but instead of being set free, was just sent down to Level 2. This was a clear deception from the Empire, indicating that there is no real prospect of escape. Word quickly got around and to stop a riot or the news from spreading further, the security guards killed every inmate on that level. This massacre is the horrifying truth of what happened on Level 2 in Andor.
Why The Empire Killing The Prisoners On Level 2 Is So Important For Andor's Story
The revelations about Level 2 is one of the most important plot developments in Andor so far. Not only does it show just how ruthless and unforgiving the Empire is in Andor, but it also is the moment Kino realizes there is no real freedom, no getting out. For the entire episode, Kino is reassuring himself that Ulaf only has 40 days left on his sentence and then he's out free. Ulaf dying would have been devastating for Kino on its own, as the light at the end of the tunnel dims, but the realization that it wouldn't have mattered anyway devastates him. In 40 days, he'd have just been sent down to another level and died there instead. This looks to set the potentially explosive events of Andor episode 10 in motion, which started in Andor episode 8.
This is also a pivotal moment for Cassian Andor as a character. He spends the episode trying to recruit Kino into an escape plan, but he's not hearing it. The balance of power is with Kino, he is clearly in charge. As the episode goes on though, it's Andor telling Kino to keep it together and Kino revealing information to Andor. This is an early hint at the character he will go on to be. Cassian started the season not caring for anyone but himself. Slowly but surely, he's starting to care about the cause and the collective.
What Happened On Level 2 Makes The Empire Even More Horrifying
What happened on Level 2 in Andor episode 9 makes the Empire even more horrifying than they already were in this series. Andor has had some great twists, like Mon Mothma's family revelation, but the meat of the story focuses on the Empire. Not only are they arresting people for no reason and keeping them in prison for longer sentences, but once those sentences are up, they just move the inmates to another section of the prison. Then, if word starts to spread, they'll kill the entire floor. From Dedra's interrogation of Bix at the start of the episode to the revelations for Andor and Kino at the end, Andor is the most ruthless the Empire has ever been. All this highlights the true horror of the Star Wars' galaxy's most oppressive regime.
New episodes of Andor release on Wednesdays on Disney+.
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