"The Axe Forgets"
Andor episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 5
Directed bySusanna White
Written byDan Gilroy
Featured musicNicholas Britell
Cinematography byFrank Lamm
Editing byDan Roberts
Original release dateOctober 5, 2022 (2022-10-05)
Running time46 minutes

"The Axe Forgets" is the fifth episode of the American streaming television series Andor, based on Star Wars created by George Lucas. It was written by Dan Gilroy and directed by Susanna White.

The episode stars Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, who reprises his role from the Star Wars spinoff film, Rogue One (2016). Toby Haynes was hired in September 2020 after a production delay due the COVID-19 pandemic, and Tony Gilroy joined the series as showrunner in early 2019, replacing Stephen Schiff. Both executive produce alongside Luna and Kathleen Kennedy.

"The Axe Forgets" was released on Disney+ on October 5, 2022.

Plot

Skeen becomes increasingly untrustworthy of 'Clem' searching through his belongings. Meanwhile, Clem builds a friendship with Nemik. The team train to go undercover as Imperial Soldiers, with Clem fixing their problems with formations. That night, they gather around a camp fire and discuss the plan alongside their personal lives. However, next morning Skeen finds proof of Clem's lies due to a Kyber Crystal left by Rael with Clem confirming he is being paid. Skeen tells Clem that his brother was killed by the Empire and they prepare to infiltrate the dam.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Gorn keeps his cover in the dam, but manages to convince his men, including Corporal Kimzi, to watch the Eye of Aldhani.

Karn continues to despair whilst spending time with his mother, Eedy. She manages to convince his uncle to put Karn in contact with someone willing to hire him.

Senator Mon Mothma struggles with her daughter, Leida, who believes in the Empire. Later, Fertha chastises her for keeping her donations to charities secret from him, in the presence of their driver - an Imperial spy.

Blevin oversees the entire Empire takeover of Ferrix, with their base set up in the local hotel.

Rael desperately tries to hear transmissions on the radio, until Marki convinces him to stop worrying about the Aldhani mission and to return to work.

Production

Development

Disney CEO Bob Iger announced in February 2018 that there were several Star Wars series in development,[1] and that November one was revealed as a prequel to the film Rogue One (2016). The series was described as a spy thriller show focused on the character Cassian Andor, with Diego Luna reprising his role from the film.[2] Jared Bush originally developed the series, writing a pilot script and series bible for the project.[3] By the end of November, Stephen Schiff was serving as showrunner and executive producer of the series.[3] Tony Gilroy, who was credited as a co-writer on Rogue One and oversaw extensive reshoots for the film,[4] joined the series by early 2019 when he discussed the first story details with Luna.[5] Gilroy's involvement was revealed that October, when he was set to write the first episode, direct multiple episodes, and work alongside Schiff;[4] Gilroy had officially replaced Schiff as showrunner by April 2020.[6] Six weeks of pre-production for the series had taken place in the United Kingdom by then, but this was halted and production on the series delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[7][8] Pre-production had begun again by September ahead of a planned filming start the next month. At that time, Gilroy, who is based in New York, chose not to travel to the UK for production on the series due to the pandemic, and was therefore unable to direct the series' first episode. Instead, the UK-based Toby Haynes, who was already "high on the list" of potential directors for the series, was hired to direct the first three episodes. Gilroy would remain executive producer and showrunner.[9] In December 2020, Luna was revealed to be executive producing the series.[10]

The fifth episode, titled "The Axe Forgets", was written by Dan Gilroy.[11]

Writing

The writing was structured so that a story arc is contained in every three episodes.[12] The second set of three episodes features Luthen Rael recruiting Andor for a heist on an Imperial payroll vault in the planet of Aldhani.[13] Following the Aldhani heist, Gilroy had commented that Dedra Meero had been ambitiously pursuing Andor as she was the first person to realize that it was an "announcement" in addition to realizing that doing so could also lead her to finding Luthen. He had noted that Dedra "thinks enough like him" to extrapolate the meaning of the Aldhani heist, and felt that the relationship between Meero and Andor was that of a "great hunter and hunted relationship".[14]

Actor Kyle Soller had collaborated with actress Kathryn Hunter, who portrays Syril Karn's mother, Eedy Karn, in developing elements of a potential backstory. Soller said they decided that Karn's father had "left really early on, in a real acrimonious, horrible way", which had served as a "launchpad for how Eedy then parents Syril, which is by being wronged and her anger and grief and disappointment and frustration of him leaving just got filtered into Syril".[15] Hunter had also noted that Eedy had difficulty in reaching the position she had been in, and set high expectations Syril as she had wanted him to succeed. She also commented that Eedy was "probably a thwarted woman herself, and she's overcompensating with her son".[16]

Casting

The episode stars Diego Luna as Cassian Andor,[2][17] Kyle Soller as Syril Karn, Adria Arjona as Bix Caleen, Joplin Sibtain as Brasso, James McArdle as Timm Karlo, and Rupert Vansittart as Chief Hyne.[17]

Filming

Filming began in London, England, at the end of November 2020,[18][19] with the production based at Pinewood Studios.[20][21] The series was filmed under the working title Pilgrim,[20] and was the first live-action Star Wars series to not make use of the StageCraft digital background technology.[22] Filming locations included Black Park in Buckinghamshire, England for the flashback scenes, as well as at Middle Peak Quarry in Derbyshire, England.[23]

Music

Nicholas Britell composed the musical score for the episode.[24][25] The episode's soundtrack was released in November 2022 as part of the second volume for the series.[26]

Andor: Episode 5 (Original Soundtrack)
No.TitleLength
1."Andor (Main Title Theme) – Episode 5"1:08
2."If I Was Them"1:34
3."The Valley"2:10
4."Tomorrow"3:51
Total length:8:43

Release

"The Axe Forgets" was released on Disney+ on October 5, 2022.[27]

Reception

Critical response

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reports a 100% approval rating, based on 18 reviews. The site's critical consensus reads, "Andor's band of scrappy rebels comes into full focus in "The Axe Forgets", a bridge episode that goes a long way toward fleshing out these characters."[28]

References

  1. ↑ Goldberg, Lesley; Couch, Aaron (February 6, 2018). "'Star Wars' TV Series: Disney Developing "a Few" for Its Streaming Service". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 11, 2019. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
  2. 1 2 Lang, Brent (November 8, 2018). "'Star Wars': Diego Luna to Lead Spinoff Series". Variety. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  3. 1 2 Andreeva, Nellie (November 30, 2018). "Disney+ 'Star Wars' Series Starring Diego Luna Taps Stephen Schiff As Showrunner". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved June 9, 2019.
  4. 1 2 Otterson, Joe (October 15, 2019). "'Rogue One' Writer Tony Gilroy Joins Cassian Andor 'Star Wars' Series at Disney Plus (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on April 3, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  5. ↑ Breznican, Anthony (May 17, 2022). "Star Wars: The Rebellion Will Be Televised". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  6. ↑ Kit, Boris (April 24, 2020). "'Star Wars': Cassian Andor Disney+ Series Adds Two Actors (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
  7. ↑ KingPatel (April 10, 2020). "Exclusive: Cassian Andor Disney+ Series Had Completed About Six Weeks Of Pre-Production Prior To Shut Down". Comic Book Movie. Archived from the original on April 14, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  8. ↑ Otterson, Joe (April 24, 2020). "Cassian Andor Disney Plus Series Adds Genevieve O'Reilly, Denise Gough". Variety. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  9. ↑ Kroll, Justin (September 22, 2020). "'Black Mirror's Toby Haynes To Direct 'Rogue One' Spin-Off Series At Disney+ As Tony Gilroy Steps Aside As Director". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  10. ↑ Star Wars (December 10, 2020). Sizzle Reel | Andor | Disney+. YouTube.
  11. ↑ "Andor (2021–2022)". Writers Guild of America West. Archived from the original on June 11, 2022. Retrieved June 11, 2022.
  12. ↑ Vary, Adam B. (August 24, 2022). "How 'Andor' Became the First 'Star Wars' TV Series for Grown-Ups: 'I Wanted to Do It About Real People'". Variety. Archived from the original on August 24, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  13. ↑ Vary, Adam B. (November 10, 2022). "Sex and Revolution: 'Andor' Showrunner Tony Gilroy on Challenging the Limits of the 'Star Wars' Universe". Variety. Archived from the original on November 10, 2022. Retrieved August 2, 2023.
  14. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 23, 2022). "'Andor': Tony Gilroy On Cassian's Season One Finale Ultimatum; Teases Season 2 Filled With Rebel Gangsters & Outliers". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 24, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  15. ↑ Tinnin, Drew (November 3, 2022). "Andor's Kyle Soller Explains What Happened To Syril Karn's Dad [Exclusive]". /Film. Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  16. ↑ Josephine Riesman, Abraham (November 29, 2022). "Andor's Kathryn Hunter Saw Eedy Karn's Comedic Potential Immediately". Vulture. Archived from the original on November 29, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  17. 1 2 Gilroy, Dan (October 5, 2022). "The Axe Forgets". Andor. Season 1. Episode 5. Disney+. End credits begin at 41:06.
  18. ↑ Paz, Maggie Dela (December 4, 2020). "Cassian Andor: Diego Luna Confirms Disney+ Series Has Begun Filming". ComingSoon.net. Archived from the original on December 5, 2020. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
  19. ↑ Peters, Jay (December 10, 2020). "Star Wars: Andor starring Rogue One's Diego Luna is coming to Disney Plus in 2022". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
  20. 1 2 "Last Traces of Star Wars Filming in Cleveleys". Visit Cleveleys. May 11, 2021. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 17, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Star Wars: Andor filming at Pinewood Studios until summer 2021". KFTV. December 8, 2020. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  22. ↑ Kim, Matt (May 27, 2022). "Andor Is the First Star Wars Show for Disney That 'Doesn't Lean' on StageCraft". IGN. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  23. ↑ Guimarães, Elisa (December 3, 2022). "'Andor' Filming Locations: Where Was the 'Star Wars' Show Shot?". Collider. Archived from the original on December 7, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2023.
  24. ↑ "Nicholas Britell to Score Disney+'s 'Rogue One' Prequel Series 'Andor'". Film Music Reporter. February 16, 2022. Archived from the original on February 16, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  25. ↑ Burlingame, Jon (May 27, 2022). "'Succession' Composer Nicholas Britell Enters the 'Star Wars' Universe With Music for 'Andor' (Exclusive)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 28, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  26. ↑ Major, Michael. "Disney+ Drops 'ANDOR: Volume Two' Soundtrack". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved December 1, 2022.
  27. ↑ "New Andor Trailer Goes Big On Rebel Action, And Updated Premiere Details Revealed". StarWars.com. August 1, 2022. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  28. ↑ "The Axe Forgets". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
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