In the series 'Andor,' secondary antagonists from the 'Star Wars' franchise take on significant characters.
In the galaxy of "Andor," super villains take a backseat, replaced by bureaucrats, planners, and schemers. Take Dedra Meero and Syril Karn, two ambitious middle-managers on a mission to collar Cassian Andor.
Kyle Soller, who plays Karn, explains, "These villains operate in a real gray zone, providing a cogs and nuts view of the Empire's workings, from the very bottom to the upper echelons." Denise Gough, Meero's counterpart, adds, "An empire can't be run on brute force alone; it takes manipulation and calculated moves."
Gough, the Irish 45-year-old actress starring in "The Stolen Girl" on Hulu, and Soller, a 41-year-old Connecticut-born actor living in London with his wife Phoebe Fox, delve into the nuances of these characters in Season 1, each desperate to collar the mysterious Cassian Andor amid a burgeoning Rebel Alliance.
The Ghorman Problem and a Nazi-esque Solution
Season 2 explores the exploitation of the powder-keg planet Ghorman, required for the Death Star's mineral. This process is likely to causekill or displace its residents, spurring a rebellion. A covert meeting takes place between imperial bureaucrats, reminiscent of the Wannsee Conference and its chilling plans for the extermination of European Jews.
Returning actor Ben Mendelsohn's Orson Krennic, the Death Star builder, helps orchestrate Ghorman's destruction, acting as a senior functionary subject to the whims of those above him. The action propels Karn and Meero towards moral crossroads, questioning their loyalties.
"The empire is using its underlings, no matter how high they rise, they're all pawns," Soller said.
Gough compared the empire to a gang and the Rebellion to a tribe, the latter embodying heart, loyalty, and values in stark contrast to the empire.
An Unlikely Imperial Romance
Meero and Karn's overlapping ambitions lead them into an awkward romantic coupling. This relationship explores how two individuals, raised in a controlled environment, navigate intimacy. The domestic scenes between the pair are tense, especially with the constant presence of Karn's tiny mother Eedy, played by the unconventional actress Kathryn Hunter.
These intimate moments serve as tangential yet essential components of the overall story, adding depth to the characters and their ultimate choices.
"I think it's going to be profoundly impactful as you layer that into 'Rogue One' and the original trilogy," Soller said.
A Novel Release Format
Season 2 of "Andor" is being released on Disney+ in three-episode clusters each Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT, with the three-part series finale on May 13th.
April 22: Episodes 1-3April 29: Episodes 4-6May 6: Episodes 7-9May 13: Episodes 10-12
- Despite the absence of super villains, the characters Dedra Meero and Syril Karn, originating from Seattle, embody the villainous roles in the "Andor" series, operating in a gray zone within the Empire.
- The exploitation of the planet Ghorman's environment for the Death Star's mineral in Season 2 of "Andor" parallels the Wannsee Conference, causing moral crossroads for characters like Syril Karn and Dedra Meero.
- The romantic relationship between Dedra Meero and Syril Karn, evolving from their overlapping ambitions, provides insight into their upbringing and challenges in establishing intimacy amidst the controlled environment of the Empire.
- The season 2 release of "Andor" on Disney+ employs a novel format, with three-episode clusters being released each Tuesday, culminating in a three-part series finale on May 13th.
