Tony Gilroy and Genevieve O'Reilly Discuss Mon Mothma's Significant Dance Scene in Andor
Hop aboard the Andor train on Disney+, as we dive headfirst into the early days of the massive Star Wars rebellion with season two!
In a talk with showrunner Tony Gilroy and star Genevieve O'Reilly (Mon Mothma), the duo opened up about the nail-biting final moments of the third episode of this season's drop. Gilroy also shared insights on how the three-episode mini-movie concept came to be.
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Sabina Graves, io9: The early plan was for Andor to stretch across five seasons, with each season spanning a year. However, that morphed into the current three-episode "movie" arcs. How much of the backstory was developed and fleshed out as you went along, Tony?
Tony Gilroy: At first, I thought, "Oh my god, is this going to work? Will it be swamped with exposition?" I didn't want to be stuck repeating, "Oh since last I saw you..." I didn't want it to feel clunky. If you'd asked me initially, I would've thought I'd have to pen a massive backstory bible, lots more writing, and nope, nope.
In episode four, Adria and Diego really needed to know the specifics about the soldier and the missions. But as we moved along, there were so few questions. The bits and pieces, the initial scenes that explained who was where and what they were discussing, weren't an issue. I rarely had to go back and do any heavy lifting like I initially thought.
io9: Genevieve, was it liberating to have that breathing room while fleshing out Mon Mothma's formative years and building the rebellion? Her let-loose moment in episode three was super cathartic. Can you divulge where your head was as you brought that scene to life?
Genevieve O'Reilly: Absolutely! Over three days, Mon is in her ancestral home, steeped in her culture and history. The rituals we see are implicit, yet rich and clear. As we clock through those days, wrestling with family complications and Luthen's presence, you really feel the implications of her situation.
Seeing her old friend Tay Colma in such disarray is a warning sign. He’s embracing imperial trappings, and that represents an implicit danger. Mon sees his vulnerability and knows he's manipulable, but Luthen has a clearer, more brutal vision of what the rebellion requires. He challenges her romanticism and asks her to confront the brutal reality of what lies ahead. This moment sparks an internal struggle that culminates in the cathartic dance scene.
io9: That dance scene is stunning, blending celebration with internal turmoil. Tony, why did you decide to alternate between the celebration and the disparate crossroads the characters find themselves in?
Gilroy: My brother John, the master builder, and I have crafted many crescendos in our movies. Season one's funeral was one example. In this scene, I get to build a multi-layered climax, incorporating Cassian's heroics, Mon's internal struggle, and Eedy's arrival, all while setting a beat with electronic dance music. And it binds the audience to Mon because only she and the audience understand the true stakes of her actions.
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As we delve into the second season of Andor on Disney+, showrunner Tony Gilroy speaks about the intricate final moments of the third episode, revealing the evolution of the three-episode "movie" concept initially planned for five seasons. In the fourth episode, details about the soldier and missions were necessary yet surprisingly scarce, showcasing a smooth narrative flow.
io9's Sabina Graves inquired about the development of the backstory, with Tony admitting his initial concerns about the show becoming overwhelmed with exposition. He found that the minimal exposition required was sufficient, and he didn't have to go back and do much heavy lifting as initially thought.
Star Genevieve O'Reilly, portraying Mon Mothma, expressed relief at the breathing room to bring Mon's formative years to life and build the rebellion. Her emotional, cathartic moment in episode three was influenced by her character's immersion in her ancestral home and struggles with family complications and Luthen's presence.
io9 questioned Genevieve about the dance scene, which beautifully encapsulated celebration and inner conflict. Tony Gilroy, illustrating his ability to craft climactic scenes, discussed the scene's layered build-up, incorporating various character arcs, electronic dance music, and audience connection to Mon's actions.
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