Spoilers Star Wars: Andor season 2

[Older Beholder]

That Syril was not given a monologue the response of which was, "Who are you?" is I think a shame. I would have loved Syril challenging Andor

I thought his death was perfect.
To be taken out by the pacifist leader that he'd been taking advantage of, just as he'd realised he had been used too was IMO, pure poetry. Syrill represented the inherent pathetic cowardice and cruelty of fascism. He doesn't deserve a speech, he was a nobody that wasted his life causing others pain and then got what he deserved and was forgotten.

Or to put it another way...

 

[Celebrim]

he was a nobody that wasted his life causing others pain and then got what he deserved and was forgotten.

That's not my reading of him at all. Exactly when do we ever see him motivated to "cause others pain"? Syril is a man living a fantasy of being a hero, of doing a good work, of establishing justice, of protecting people. He's not really competent to do that job especially at first, but he does become quite competent by the end of the story. And then, at the end, he realizes he's been used and that the people he's working for never intended to establish justice, protect people, or do good work. All his attempts at upholding morality have been a fraud, not because he didn't believe in it or he lacked zeal, but because the system he worked for was a fraud.

 

[Older Beholder]

That's not my reading of him at all. Exactly when do we ever see him motivated to "cause others pain"?

I never said he was motivated to cause others pain.
He wasn't doing it wittingly, but it's the only thing he really achieved.

When he starts to learn Dedra had used him, his first response is to choke her.
When he learns what they were doing on Ghorman his response is to take out his frustrations by attacking Cassian.
That's who he really is beneath the facade. A weak person. The poster child for 'just following orders'.

Of course, this is all just IMHO it's perfectly fine to have a different interpretation of a character. There was plenty of room for that with the writing on the show to the point that I'd never call anyone else's opinion ridiculous. That's one of the many strengths of the show, the audience is never spoon-fed.

 

[Celebrim]

The poster child for 'just following orders'.

A guy whose story arc begins because he can't follow orders and who spends all of the 1st season breaking the law and refusing to take orders from anyone is the poster child for just following orders?

 

[Older Beholder]

A guy whose story arc begins because he can't follow orders and who spends all of the 1st season breaking the law and refusing to take orders from anyone is the poster child for just following orders?

ironic isn't it.

 

[chuckdee]

I guess in my head I had long though of Dedra as a "hothead" who believes she is only one that is competent, and so often takes matters into her own hands outside of the core chain of command.

But perhaps I need to rewatch season 1....I do think you have brought up an excellent point here and it will likely change my perspective on the subject.

Yes, I had the same thought. I didn't see that as that much of a switch- especially after she tried to muscle in with the guy in the hall that had been put on the Axis desk earlier.

 

[Celebrim]

ironic isn't it.

Wasn't the word I was thinking of.

 

[Older Beholder]