Tony Gilroy and Genevieve O'Reilly, creators of Andor series, elaborate on Mon Mothma's poignant dance scene, highlighting its significance in her character's development and the Rebellion's progression.
Crank up the Star Wars action, because the first three episodes of Andor season two are now streaming on Disney+! Jump back into the early days of the rebellion, as this high-octane series delivers a breakneck start to the forming resistance.
During an interview with io9, showrunner Tony Gilroy and star Genevieve O'Reilly, who plays Mon Mothma, discussed the crucial moments of the third episode. Gilroy also shared insights on the thinking behind the three-episode "mini-movie" arcs.
Sabina Graves, io9: Originally, Andor was planned for five seasons, with each season covering a year. However, that evolved into these three-episode “movie” arcs. How much of the backstory was provided and developed as you went along?
Tony Gilroy: At first, I thought there might be an excessive amount of exposition needed, with characters needing to recap events that had passed since the last episode. But as we went along, there were so few questions, and the gaps in the story seemed to fill themselves. In episode four, Adria [Arjona] and Diego [Luna] needed to catch up on the soldier's backstory and mission details, but other than that, I didn't have to do much heavy lifting.
Io9: Genevieve, was it liberating to have that negotiable space to explore Mon Mothma during her formative years in the rebellion? I found her cathartic scene in episode three particularly powerful. Can you shed some light on how that moment came about?
Genevieve O'Reilly: The first three episodes cover just three days, and Mon Mothma is deeply rooted in her family history and culture. Although there was little exposition, we immediately understand the customs and rituals. Throughout these days, interwoven with family complications, Mon's relationship with her daughter, the tension with her husband, and the arrival of Luthen, we see her grapple with the implications of her actions and fully realize the weight of her decisions.
Luthen is a stark contrast, brutally clear-sighted about the demands of rebellion, and challenges Mon to face reality and accept the consequences of her actions. This confrontation triggers a moment of internal turmoil for Mon, leading to the emotional crescendo that you described.
Io9: It's a beautiful, emotional scene, with its rhythmic dancing and mingling of tension and celebration. Tony, what did you see as the strength and power of intercutting those contrasting elements at that delicate turning point in the story?
Gilroy: My brother John, who's always been my go-to post-production builder, helped construct that powerful finale. We've built numerous crescendos through our collaborations, and this was another opportunity to push our skills. We employed a piece of electronic dance music, making it possible to showcase Cassian saving the day, Mon with blood on her hands, and Eedy arriving for lunch, all at once.
When Mon dances on the floor, surrounded by celebrating people who don't realize the weight of her actions, we, as the audience, share an intimate connection with her. This emotional bond strengthens our attachment to the characters. Andor is now streaming on Disney+.
If you're thirsting for more tech and sci-fi news, check out the latest updates on upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
- Tony Gilroy and Genevieve O'Reilly, discussing the third episode of Andor, shared insights on the evolution of the series from five seasons to three-episode "movie" arcs during an interview with io9.
- Gilroy mentioned that despite initial concerns about excessive exposition, there were fewer questions and the story seemed to fill its gaps on its own.
- O'Reilly, who plays Mon Mothma, explained the power of her cathartic scene in episode three, where she grappled with the implications of her actions in the rebellion.
- The contrast between Mon Mothma and Luthen, along with interwoven family complications, contributed to the emotional crescendo in the third episode, according to O'Reilly.
- Gilroy collaborated with his brother John to construct the powerful finale of the third episode, employing electronic dance music to showcase key moments and enhance the audience's emotional connection to the characters.
- For more entertainment news, fans can follow updates on upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek releases, the DC Universe, and the future of Doctor Who on Gizmodo, Movies-and-TV, and technology-focused websites such as io9.
