Narkina 5

This episode shows the security policy and penal system of the empire in such an incredible detail.

Every aspect of this episode and the brilliant execution of it provides the viewer with a lot of insights into the situation in which the common people are situated.

It shows their fear but also the burgeoning of rebellion and on the opposing side the attempt to prohibit suchlike while simultaneously also reminding of the cruelty of former and current dictatorships. Something everybody should keep in mind and never forget. Especially during current situations we have in some countries.

This is truly the peak of Star Wars and I hope the show continues with this quality.

I liked the new "Star Wars for grown ups." I kinda like SW for people who think too much.

Episodes that slow down to flesh out new characters or just to add some more to the story tend to catch some heat. Surely a burst of violence or a riveting chase or cash grab are more interesting when we know who these people are. That has been said about Andor before and will be again.

It hasn't disappointed yet so maybe we can give it a chance before we write it off. We got a couple of big new names to hear about, one of them a complete surprise.

The Empire is a very well known entity but we have never been given more inside looks into how the uniforms think and feel about their status (and how to better it).

I'm sure the special effects will be back. Knowing more about these people is not a distraction.

Damn this show keeps impressing me! I like it more and more with each episode! This episode offers some great character development! Despite the slow progress we get some great monologues that leaves you thinking and makes this show feel so real!

The actors are ALL doing an amazing job! Something that we dont usually expect from Star Wars! Some shows or movie usually have a performance or characters that are not convincing or believable! But here.. every character feels natural and you connect with all of them!

The Cinematogrophy and direction is also amazing! It looks a lot better than Kenobi and you can feel how much work they put into this!

This is Star Wars doing something new and different and i LOVE it!

We now come to a key moment in Cassian Andor's life, which is extremely effective in showing us what it takes to radicalize a man into a rebel. That process of radicalization is adorned with frighteningly convincing performances and subtle details, all of which are cautiously presented to us.

Between radicalization, back door politics, and subtle clues to family strife, it is clear that Andor is again building a massive tower of cards, and preparing us for its climatic and eventual toppling. Yet even as it builds this tower, it manages to demonstrate predicaments in the literal and figurative prisons of the show's characters. Deedra is imprisoned by her ambitions. Syril is imprisoned by the monotony of a corporate job and a need for vengeance. Vel and Cinta, are imprisoned by their rebellion, unable to pursue their love for each other. Luthen is imprisoned by his anxiety, counting the number of days he has left. Yet all of them are tied to the ultimate prison, the Empire. And all of their fates are tied to Cassian Andor.

It is Cassian who is the ultimate prisoner, as we are introduced to a brutal new way of life. This new way of life clearly borrows from several inspirations both real and fictional, but most notably the Shawshank Redemption. There is something sadistically fascinating about watching someone such as Cassian navigate this new way of life, as hopeless, blasé, and vicious as it is. We are jarringly introduced to it by Paul McEwan's playing of an Intake Warden, whose glaring eyes and smile is about as good as Satan's. And then, I could not help but geek-out at Andy Serkis appearing as a brutally efficient manager of his fellow inmates. He incentivizes with a gleaming smile, then goes from 60 to 0 in a split second and turns it into the glare of the grim reaper of an insane asylum. After dealing with Serkis, we meet other characters and soon suspect that Andor and many others may simply have been forced into slavery. This place we see is definitely not fun and games, no matter what galaxy you're from.

As is the case with all the previous episodes, the show continues to follow the detailed interpersonal story of several characters, which is what allows us to recognize the subtle suspicions of Mon Mothma's family, or the cold, precise, brutal efficiency behind the persons of the ISB. It is perhaps this incredible detail that tends to detract from the usual things that we obsess about with Star Wars. Other than a quick shot of shore troopers at the beginning of the episode, the quirky droids that spout funky noises, the strange locales, strange aliens, the unusual Star Wars vernacular. All of it takes far less stage. But whether this episode could have achieved what it did with or without those things is a matter of debate, with some advantage to the persons who constructed this episode and series.

Regardless, Narkina 5 is an excellent investment of your time if you have followed the show up to this point. And it seems to be setting up its audience for a future episode of toppling its intricately constructed fortress of cards. I have a hope and feeling that it's going to be pretty breathtaking to behold. 9 out of 10 stars.

For the first time in a Star wars movie or series we get to see the diabolical mechanisms of the empire in such detail....this episode in particular felt like orwell's 1984 in some parts of it...the empire is the ultimate regime and this is reflected perfect here...the character building is fantastic and the climax at the end of the season i imagine will be spectacular.,.........i believe that this series is the best star wars series ever.. and i know we have The mandalorian which is spectacular show also ..but this series has a special heart like nothing before..we are gone see for the first time how the revolution begins.