In ‘Andor,' minor ‘Star Wars' villains play major roles
In the galaxy of 'Andor,' 'Star Wars' super villains are relegated to the shadows. The Disney+ series is more interested in what might be called supervisor villains: the bureaucrats, planners, schemers and petty functionaries who make tyranny possible. Instead of Darth Vader and Emperor Palpatine, we get Dedra Meero and Syril Karn, a pair of ambitious middle-managers who become an unlikely couple in their pursuit of Diego Luna's Cassian Andor. 'It's so nuanced, these villains are operating in a real grey zone, and they're representing a side of the empire that we have never seen before,' said Kyle Soller, who plays Karn. 'You're getting a real like cogs and nuts and bolts view of how the empire machine works, from the very bottom to the upper echelons.'
In a joint interview with Soller for The Associated Press, Denise Gough, who plays Meero, added, 'It can't just be brute force. An empire can't survive on brute force, it takes all these Machiavellian, tiny movements here, tiny movements there, ripple effects everywhere.' Gough is a 45-year-old Irish actor who is also currently starring in the thriller 'The Stolen Girl' on Hulu. Soller is a 41-year-old Connecticut-born actor who has long lived in London with his wife, actor Phoebe Fox.
Their characters came together during Season 1 as each sought to collar the mysterious figure of Andor amid the burgeoning Rebel Alliance — Karn from the police side, Meero from the police-state side. In Season 2, Meero and Karn each become caught up in the exploitation of the powder-keg planet of Ghorman, a previously peaceful place where the Galactic Empire needs to gouge-mine a mineral essential to building the Death Star. The process is likely to kill or displace its residents, among whom a rebellion brews.
A group of imperial bureaucrats meet secretly in a conference room to plan the planet's destruction, in scenes that see the return of actor Ben Mendelsohn's Orson Krennic, the Death Star builder who was the chief antagonist of 2016's 'Rogue One.' ('Andor' is a prequel.) He's a senior leader but is still a functionary subject to the mercy and whims of the dictators he serves.
'Andor' creator Tony Gilroy said the meeting was his chance to make his version of the oft-dramatized Nazi Germany Wannsee Conference, what he calls a 'PowerPoint meeting' of middle managers over lunch in 1942 to drily and practically plan the extermination of European Jews. Krennic singles out Meero during a lunch break, seeing a strong thinker in counterintelligence. She smartly suggests encouraging the Ghorman rebellion to become violent.
'Propaganda will only get you so far,' Meera says, in one of the season's key lines. 'You need Ghorman rebels you can depend on to do the wrong thing.' The plotline pushes Karn and Meera, neither of them ideologues, out to moral cusps where it seems they may switch sides. 'You get to see how the empire is using its underlings,' Soller said. 'No matter how high up they achieve power, they're all being used, they're all pawns, and disposable.'
Gough said the difference between the two sides is that of 'a gang and a tribe.' 'The empire is the gang and the rebellion is the tribe,' she said. 'The tribe has heart and loyalty and all of those things, and values all of those things, and the gang makes it seem like they do, but they don't, they disperse at the first sign of trouble, and they dispense when it's no longer needed.'
Meero and Karn's overlapping ambitions also lead them into a romantic coupling. That had Gough worried at the end of Season 1 that they would end up in an 'insipid' world of common couple tropes, but she said 'I couldn't have imagined how weird it would get.'
'They've never had an example of love,' Gough said. 'They grew up in a controlled, cultlike environment. So actually the story we're telling is how do two people, when they grow up like that, how do they function in relationships?'
Associated Press
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
an hour ago
- Gulf Today
Marlee Matlin tells her story in an intimate documentary
When American Masters approached Marlee Matlin about doing a documentary, Matlin had one name in mind to direct: Shoshanna Stern. Like Matlin, Stern is deaf. She also hadn't directed before. But Matlin, who herself became the first deaf person in the Directors Guild of America just a few years ago, was certain she was up to the task. The resulting film, 'Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore' is an intimate look at her life: Growing up in a hearing family; winning the best actress Oscar at 21 for her first movie role in 'Children of a Lesser God,' which film critic Rex Reed at the time called a 'pity vote'; what she's described as an abusive romantic relationship with her co-star, the late William Hurt, which he denied; getting sober; and her experiences in an industry not equipped to accommodate deaf actors. It's also an evocative portal into the world of the deaf community that uses groundbreaking techniques and sound design to put American Sign Language (ASL) and visual communication first. The film opens in select theaters Friday. While Matlin told much of her story in the memoir 'I'll Scream Later,' on some level it wasn't a completely satisfactory experience. Before the #MeToo movement, its revelations were not treated entirely seriously in the media. But a documentary also provided an opportunity. 'We communicate visually,' she said. Matlin and Stern spoke though translators to The Associated Press about the 'CODA' effect, making the doc on their terms, and why they hope Reed sees this film. Shoshanna, what was your approach? STERN: I had never seen a deaf person direct an episode of TV or film. Never. I thought, what does that even look like? I didn't realize until I took the job that really the whole form of documentary as we know it is really rooted in sound, in the assumption that people will be speaking and they can speak. I thought, what are we going to do when we're using American Sign Language? I have to reframe a whole form of documentary. We have to be able to see what a visually-based documentary is going to look like. We wouldn't do justice to Marlee's life if I had forced this form that really wasn't rooted in the way that she experienced this life. And that was exciting to do. Scary for some people out there, but I never felt scared in making this documentary because she believed in me. MATLIN: If I had had a hearing director approach me to do this project, we could have done a very good job, but that person would not have seen me in the same way. They would not have the same lens as a deaf person. What were some techniques you used to spotlight the deaf experience? STERN: I did want to film with captions in mind, so I made sure that we did have a wider frame. We figured out visual voiceover with a split screen that we added. We did this little surgery with words and syllables in one of the scenes where we mixed them all around to be able to bring people into how Marlee experiences conversations and the world. We wanted to make this documentary an immersive experience for the audience members, a sensory experience to help them understand. 'CODA' felt like a big moment, but in the years since it won the Oscar, have you seen things change? MATLIN: 'CODA' certainly was a milestone and respected by so many people in the industry. It tackled a lot of things that both deaf and hearing people or audiences can identify with. I love the fact that they burnt in the captions. That you can't just turn it off. And I hoped that all the love we received and the three Academy Awards that we got would make a difference. It was honored on so many other levels too as well, whether we're talking about (director) Sian (Heder) or you're talking about Troy (Kotsur) or the SAG award which was just a dream come true, specifically of mine. I took that opportunity to specifically address that that we 'exist,' that we want to be actors just like you, we want to be directors, we want be producers, we want to be hair and wardrobe stylists. STERN: Marlee said something really brave when we were at Sundance. She said, 'It won't last.' The moment, yes, in the moment. But I don't know if we have movement. Associated Press
What's On
3 days ago
- What's On
8 things to do in Dubai this weekend: June 20 to 22
Looking for things to do in Dubai this weekend? Whether you're planning to relax, party, or enjoy quality time with loved ones, your weekend is precious—and we've got you covered. From laid-back leisure to exciting events, here's your ultimate guide to the best things to do in Dubai this weekend, no matter your vibe. Friday, June 20 Party at O Beach before it closes It's the second last weekend you'll get to party at Ibiza-inspired O Beach before it closes in Dubai for the summer season. Grab some drinks out of the iconic orange cups and party the day or night away to the best DJs. You'll be entertained by dancers, live musicians and incredible acrobats. On Fridays enjoy the evening offer which is Dhs295 for free flowing drinks from 7pm to 10pm. Location: O Beach Dubai, Dubai Harbour Offer: Free flowing drinks from 7pm to 10pm for Dhs295 Contact: +971 52 858 0464 reservations@ Get a taste of Ireland If you're Irish, or you want to try some Irish food, head to Mama Shelter and you'll be able to taste the Emerald Isle in Mama restaurant. Try the finest of Ireland's sustainably sourced meat, poultry, dairy, seafood, and beverages with the Taste of Ireland menu, available only from June 1 to 30 June. Prices start from Dhs175 per person. Location: Mama Restaurant, Mama Shelter Dubai, Business Bay Times: Available daily from June 1 to 30 Price: Dhs175 per person; Including three-course set menu Contact: @mamashelterdubai +971 (0)4 527 0888 The Noches de Verano is back at Tagomago and you can beat the heat with a dip under the stars every Friday and Saturday from 8pm, its Dhs150 minimum spend to go so swim, sip and soak up the summer vibes. That BBQ menu and margarita lineup will make you drool. Location: Tagomago, Palm Jumeirah Times: Friday and Saturday from 8pm Offer: Minimum spend Dhs150 per person Contact: book@ @tagomagodubai Saturday, June 21 Have a social Saturday at Smoki Moto Every Saturday this summer, the Korean steakhouse Smoki Moto is bringing a grilled liveliness to West Palm. Get a 2-hour beverage package, house drinks for Dhs245, or Dhs345 for premium with prosecco. Both options will feed you properly with unlimited bites. Location: Smoki Moto, West Palm, Palm Jumeirah Times: Every Saturday, from 9pm til late Offer: Two hours of unlimited drinks and bites, Dhs245 for house, Dhs345 for premium Contact: reservations@ Celebrate Yoga Day in the most unique way We all know how popular the coffee parties are now, however combine it with yoga and you get a whole new concept. Fred's Coffee Party and POSTURE are teaming up with W Dubai – The Palm and there's all the ingredients necessary for a good time. The morning starts with yoga at 8.30am and Fred's Coffee Party takes over from 9.30am, there's coffee, breakfast, and all round good vibes. Book here. Location: W Dubai – The Palm Times: Saturday, June 21, 8.30am to 12pm Offer: Dhs100 for just the coffee party, Dhs150 for coffee party and yoga Contact: @wdubaipalm Do something different with Dad All the dads in the world are sick of socks and mugs as presents, so here's something different to do with your dad for Father's Day. Join the LEGO Group's special Father's Day activation at Mall of the Emirates on June 21, from 10am to 12pm, where you can build a LEGO bricks photo frame together and take home a Polaroid keepsake. How cute is that? Location: Mall of the Emirates Times: 10am to 12pm Sunday, June 22 Get beauty ready for summer A salon that lies within the halls of Atlantis The Royal will obviously ooze luxury, and what better place to get ready for jetting off this summer. ALKEMY has a combined spiritual-luxury approach and focuses on transformative beauty treatments. Try the Caviar Treatment and Blow Out or a manicure and pedicure that you want to experience, you'll feel like a new person walking out of there. Location: ALKEMY Salon, Atlantis The Royal Contact: +971 54 793 17 99 Try out a new cafe If you like modern cafe concepts and Brazilian-inspired coffee culture, then Caju Coffee House is the place to go. The cafe combines contemporary flavours with that rich Brazilian heritage and has uniquely brought it to the UAE for us to enjoy. They have even started a business lunch now if you fancy going during the week. Plus it's pet friendly so bring your furry friend too. Location: Caju Coffee House, Business Bay Contact: @caju_coffee_house Don't miss a thing , follow What's On on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for the latest news, events and everything in between…
What's On
3 days ago
- What's On
Join What's On for a fun party brunch at Ma Buckley's in Abu Dhabi
If you have plans already in place for June 28, you may want to cancel them. Why? Because something more exciting has just come up. We have teamed up with Ma Buckley's Bar & Restaurant to celebrate one of the UAE's most popular weekend traditions: a party brunch. What's On Brunch is a deliciously curated new series that will see us taking over the capital's tastiest spots, and of course, you are top on our guest list. We will be kicking things off on Saturday, June 28, from 1pm to 5pm at Ma Buckley's Bar & Restaurant at Souk Qaryat Al Beri. Haven't visited the spot before? Think of it as an Irish soul with a cosmopolitan twist. If you choose to join us, your afternoon will be filled with raucous laughter and that unmistakable hum of a place where the craic is always mighty. Need some more convincing? Allow us to share the details with you… What's On the menu? Plenty of lip-smacking bites and mains. You will start with a delicious dynamite shrimp, basil and mozzarella arancini, or an old-school chicken satay or mushroom vol-au-vents. Once you're warmed up, it's time to saddle up for the main event. There are crispy fries, juicy meats, peppers, onions, and McDonnell's Curry Sauce – the unofficial sauce of Irish glory. If you can't take the spice, there's the juicy smash burger, Buffalo chicken wrap, hearty fish 'n' chips, Asian beef salad, or loaded stir-fries. We're letting you know in advance… save space for dessert. There's lotus berry cheesecake, classic apple pie, and a perfectly torched crème brûlée. Yum! And what about drinks? You can't have a brunch with just food, so expect bottomless pours at this epic What's On Brunch. Expect all your favourites from draughts to wines, spirits and more – the team at Ma Buckley's will keep your glass filled and your spirits high. Prefer cocktails? You can add signature cocktails to the mix for just Dhs50. The vibe? You'll find nothing but cool, lighthearted, fun vibes here. As the backdrop of your afternoon, we have the tunes from not one, but two top-tier troubadours: Dermot Taggart and Dale O'Hanlon, both armed with guitars, silky Irish vocals, and more charm than a pot of gold at the end of a very tipsy rainbow. Sold? Can't wait to join us? We have more good news. The usual price for this brunch is just Dhs199 for three hours. However, as a special deal just for What's On readers, it's Dhs129 for four hours. That's right, for the food, drinks, and great vibes, your total bill will just be Dhs129 per person for this fun lunch. What are you waiting for? Get this in the group chat quick to confirm the plan with friends and get to booking quick, as there are limited spots. You can make your bookings here. For more information, visit 02 642 8600 or follow @ma_buckleys > Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
