Messenger

Messenger sets the scene nicely following the next time jump. It sets in motion what feels like an exciting plot involving characters we have invested in over the past season and a half.

Events involving characters such as Cassian, Dedra, and Syril are at the forefront of everything and it leads compellingly into whatever comes next.

Certain aspects of Andor are now starting to connect strongly to Rogue One and also the original trilogy. I can feel the prelude to a massive nerdgasm, as the recognisable backdrops, characters, and foreshadowing all feature good storytelling opposed to just fan service.

If I were forced to pick only one single piece of entertainment I could see in 2025, "Andor" S2 was and still is the first choice.

Having said that, the first 6 episodes were somewhat disappointing and lacklustre. Mostly due to the directing; partly due to the writing, cinematography, and editing; and partly due to not enough touching moments by Nicholas Britell's score.

All of this is back in a big way! This episode was a breath of much-needed tense air and lush sets, a convincing bridge between Gilroy to Lucas. It is the first time in S2 that everything felt in its rightful place.

Most of all the touching score, which I sorely missed. I truly believe that music is a major, understsated reason why the first 6 episodes of S2 just felt flatter and didn't make as much of an impact as I'd have hoped for.

With a new director at the helm, things are definitely looking up.

Powerful and intense. The tension is palpable and the stakes are at an all time high. The next two episodes of this arc will be generational. The pieces are moving forward and the storm is coming.

Not only was this episode incredible at raising the stakes but it also had some very moving scenes.

Everything with the force healer, Cassian, and Bix was so profound. Its the first time this shows writing has really dealt with the force and it was used to bring such meaning to Cassian. Trying to understand your purpose in life, not knowing how to express your pent up emotions, very strong writing. So excited for the next episodes.

History doesn't shift all at once. It pivots quietly, on moments so small they might be missed-a word spoken in frustration, a whisper in a hallway, a mission accepted with quiet resolve. "Andor" has always understood that revolutions begin not with grandeur, but with ripples. And in "Messenger," those ripples gather force, signaling a tide that's about to turn. Cassian Andor's journey started with a search for his sister, a longing to reclaim something lost-his home. In time, he found just that, just not in the form of his family-the Rebellion. And this episode may have just proven why this was always his clear direction.

In an episode that serves largely as a setup for what's next, "Messenger" succeeds most in how it balances momentum with introspection. The Rebels have begun to coalesce, now organizing out of the iconic Yavin IV base. It's thrilling to see the earliest formations of what will become the Rebel Alliance, but this episode doesn't shy away from showing how fragile that unity still is. There's fire in their hearts, but they're still learning how to aim it. The storytelling is deliberate. The pacing refuses to rush, and that patience pays off. On Ghorman, tension simmers beneath every scene. We watch the Empire's sanitized lies clash with the growing unrest of the people-Imperial propaganda woven with the fraying hope of a planet on the brink. The careful setup here gives every character's action weight and meaning, ensuring the payoff to come will land with force. One of the most fascinating additions to this episode is the subtle introduction of the Force. It's a bold move in a series that has thrived in the shadows of Jedi mythology, but it works. There's no mysticism for mysticism's sake. Instead, it's filtered through skepticism and grounded realism, aligning perfectly with the tone of "Andor." The Force is not a miracle-it's a question, and that question lingers powerfully in the minds of those who doubt it. It's handled with care, making its inclusion feel earned. All of this in the hands of Janus Metz and Dan Gilroy makes for a tense episode that clearly sets up great things to come.

"Messenger" reminds us why "Andor" remains a masterclass in world-building and character-driven storytelling. It may be a setup episode, but every frame buzzes with the promise of change. The rebellion is stirring, and Cassian's path forward is becoming clear-one small, weighty step at a time.

Writing this review after watching all three new episodes, helps me placing the events that happened better into the overall story.

I call this episode the silence before the storm, since it shows how the empire prepares a massaker to secure their control over the planet, which is vital to the construction of the Death Star.

On the other hand we see the rebellion prepare themselves to strike first and send a message. Foolish they are, the empire is one step in advance. Ceril slowly discovers the true purpose of his tasks. The empire has been planning a trap all along. Andor is there, but can he save the people of Ghorman?