Tony Gilroy, co-creator of Andor, and Genevieve O'Reilly, portraying Mon Mothma, discuss Mon Mothma's critical dance scene.
Take a seat, folks! The long-anticipated first chunk of Andor's second season is now streaming on Disney+, sending us hurtling back into the raw, rebellious early days of the galaxy far, far away.
During an exclusive sit-down with io9, showrunner Tony Gilroy and Mon Mothma herself, Genevieve O'Reilly, dished on the finale of the third episode. Gilroy also spilled the beans on the inspiration behind the three-episode "movie" arcs, and how they tackled the corrosive tide of exposition.
Sabina Graves, io9: So, the initial plan called for Andor to run five seasons, with each season covering a year, but that shifted into these three-episode "movie" arcs. How much of the backstory was provided and developed as you went along?
Tony Gilroy: In the beginning, I thought we were gonna be drowning in exposition. I imagined having to write a colossal bible of all the things happening in between seasons, issuing memos, and spending an extra month writing backstories. But, surprise surprise, it turned out to be unnecessary.
I mean, in episode four, Adria and Diego really needed to know about the soldier and the missions. We had to be specific. But as we moved along, the questions were so few and far between. I barely had to write memos about it. We had some conversations, but I never had to delve deep into heavy lifting like I initially thought I would.
io9: Genevieve, I gotta ask—was it freeing to have that negative space and broad strokes to flesh out Mon in these formative years of the rebellion? That moment of letting loose in episode three was nothing short of cathartic. Can you take me behind the scenes of how that unfolded for her?
Genevieve O'Reilly: Absolutely! The first three episodes span over three days, all within Mon Mothma's ancestral home and family culture. The tradition and history there were palpable, and we didn't bother with unnecessary exposition. We saw Mon as she was, partaking in the rituals and traditions, and then navigating the complications of her family relationships.
As we near the climax of those three episodes, you can really feel the weight of it all—the familial rigidity, the wedding, and the looming threat from Luthen. His arrival forces Mon to confront the reality of the rebellion and her friend Tay Colma's declining state. Luthen is more brutal than anyone else, showing Mon the darkness lurking behind the glitter of Davos Sculdun.
Mon knows the danger in Tay Colma but Luthen sees it more clearly. He pushes her to face the harsh truth—that rebellion requires sacrifice, and that she must be prepared for the bloodshed. Mon tacitly agrees, leading up to that explosive moment on the dance floor. It's a woman wrestling with her internal chaos amidst celebration and culture.
io9: Man, that was a beautiful scene, and the music, the dancing, and the drinking perfectly encapsulated those moments of crossroads. Tony, what was the appeal of intercutting those elements to create such a memorable scene?
**Gilroy: ** My brother John, post-production mastermind, helped craft those unforgettable crescendos we've become known for in our movies. We did it in season one with the funeral, and now we've built upon that formula.
I love how that scene binds the audience to Mon, as we both know what she's going through. Everybody else in that room is partying, dancing, and oblivious, but you—as an audience member—know the stakes she faces. It creates a powerful connection that I absolutely love.
Andor is now streaming on Disney+. Make sure you're all caught up on the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, and keep an eye out for the Future of Doctor Who.
- Tony Gilroy, showrunner of Andor, admitted that he initially thought they would be overwhelmed with exposition when the plan was to produce five seasons, but as events unfolded, the need for explicit backstory was minimal.
- Sabina Graves from io9 questioned the amount of backstory provided and developed during the shift from five seasons to three-episode "movie" arcs.
- In response, Tony Gilroy explained that they found it unnecessary to write extensive backstories, citing the specific instances in episode four where Adria and Diego needed to understand the soldier and the missions.
- Genevieve O'Reilly shared that the first three episodes of Andor took place over three days within Mon Mothma's ancestral home and family culture, which allowed them to focus on Mon's growth without relying on unnecessary exposition.
- During these three episodes, Mon grapples with the weight of her family relationships, the threat from Luthen, and the inevitability of the rebellion, which leads to a powerful, cathartic moment on the dance floor.
- Tony Gilroy, post-production mastermind, collaborated with his brother John to craft a memorable, emotionally charged scene in episode three that binds the audience to Mon's journey, making them privy to her internal struggles amidst the celebrations.
