After a slow start to the Disney+ series, Andor picked up steam today with a fourth chapter that's set the stage for Cassian to become the Rebel we first met in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
He's not a hero yet, of course, and is roped into Luthen's mission with the promise of 200,000 credits. To keep Cassian in line, the mysterious leader gives him a blue Kyber crystal as a promise of future payment (suggesting he may have a history with the Jedi).
Kyber crystals are used in the creation lightsabers, but are thought to be in short supply thanks to the Empire's Death Star plans at this time in the Galaxy.
There's even a nod to that when we hear about an "increase in shipments going to Scarif." That's the planet Cassian ultimately loses his life on and the place where Kyber crystals are being shipped in order to power the superweapon.
We also get a mention of Saw Garrera, a character we know will return in this series after Forest Whitaker was shown in various promos for Andor. Still, to hear his name is definitely exciting, and a strong indication that this show will better explain the events of Rogue One.
This first mission? To rob the payroll of an entire Imperial sector in an effort to "really hurt the Empire."
Elsewhere in the episode, we learn more about Mon Mothma. She meets with Luthen on Coruscant where we learn that the grizzled Rebel poses as a preening antique dealer. She's being watched by those who are loyal to the Empire, and can't even entirely trust her husband who appears to have little to no respect for Mon or what she wants.
Andor will clearly be every bit the origin story for her as Cassian, and while Luthen struggles to get her to fund his latest operation, it's clear that she wants to fight back against the Empire in a way her place in the Senate doesn't allow.
What did you think about today's episode of Andor?