Tension, secrets, and strained relationships seem to be a recurring theme in Episode 5 of Andor. In “The Axe Forgets,” Syril and Mon deal with their estranged families, respectively. Meanwhile, Cassian is still viewed as an outsider as Vel’s crew prepares for the upcoming heist.
Back to the Drawing Board
After getting booted from the Corpos, Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) finds himself back under the roof of his critical, overbearing mother Eedy (Kathryn Hunter). Over a tense breakfast, Eedy tears into him about everything from his posture to his future prospects. Syril insists he’ll figure things out, but Eedy isn’t having it. She reaches out to her brother, Uncle Harlo, hoping to get Syril a new job.
But, of course, Uncle Harlo doesn’t have any offers—especially not in the police force. Later, Syril sits in his room, staring bitterly at a hologram of Cassian. He’s not just jobless—he’s humiliated, angry, and nursing a personal vendetta.
Familiar Tension
Meanwhile, Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) is tangled in her own family drama. A breakfast argument with her daughter Leida (Bronte Carmichael) accuses Mon of caring more about appearances than actually being involved in her life.
Mon’s husband Perrin Fertha (Alastair Mackenzie) offers no support and lets them fight it out. Later, Perrin mentions learning about Mon’s new “foundation” from Gar Tafeed. Mon explains she didn’t think Perrin would be interested because it’s charitable. But with Perrin’s disinterest, it’s clear that Mon’s secrets are putting up a wall between her and her family.
Preparing for the Heist
Back on Aldhani, Cassian (Diego Luna) wakes up to find his bag is missing. He rushes outside and finds Arvel Skeen (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) going over the team’s weapons. Skeen tells him Vel (Faye Marsay) is having second thoughts. No one knows who Cassian really is, why he’s here, or what he believes. And that’s a problem.
Despite the tension, Cassian bonds with Skeen over their time spent in prison. One of the rebels, Karis Nemik (Alex Lawther), shows Cassian a navigational tool he built and shares his philosophy regarding the Empire.
Vel and Taramyn (Gershwyn Eustache Jr) ask Cassian for input on their mission, and he explains what a load clutch is. He insists on being the pilot, which they reluctantly agree to. Cassian’s mercenary skills prove to be valuable when he suggests the right formation to blend in as an Imperial unit during their infiltration. Meanwhile, Imperial Lieutenant Gorn (Sule Rimi) clears the air base for the rebels using the celestial event as an excuse.
A Secret Investigation
On Ferrix, while Blevin (Ben Bailey Smith) sets up a new ISB headquarters, Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) and her assistant Heert (Jacob James Beswick) are digging into the rising acts of rebellion across the galaxy. A series of heists involving Imperial tech catches her eye—too random to be random, Heert points out.
Boiling Point
As the team approaches the garrison, Cassian asks Vel why Lieutenant Gorn would betray the Empire. Vel explains that Gorn fell in love with a local woman, lost a promotion, and then lost her. They’re all driven by something, and Gorn’s choices speak to the broader disillusionment they all share.
Things take a sharp turn when Skeen pulls a knife on Cassian, demanding to know why he’s really here. And why is he carrying a sky kyber necklace worth 30,000 credits? Cassian admits he’s being paid while Vel admits she’s known all along. Cassian reassures the crew he’ll get the job done, but if anyone wants out, don’t use him as an excuse.
Once the team arrives at the Imperial base after nightfall, Skeen reveals to Cassian that his brother died after the Empire seized his pepper farm. It’s less of an apology and more of a reluctant recognition: this fight is personal for all of them.
As the rebels prepare to move in, Luthen (Stellan Skarsgård) nervously checks the radio for updates, his mind racing with doubts over his decision to bring Cassian into the mission so late. Kleya (Elizabeth Dulau) tries to calm him, but Luthen isn’t having it.
“It’ll all be over this time tomorrow,” she reassures him.
“Or it’ll just be starting,” Luthen mutters.
You can stream the first season of Andor in its entirety on Disney+. The second season premieres on April 22, 2025.
📌 Changelog
- April 19, 2025: Rewrote sections and updated the subheadings to improve flow. Also added links to stream the entire first season on Disney+.
- April 13, 2024: Updated formatting for better clarity, added subheadings, and included a short summary of the article.
- October 6, 2022: Original article published along with a link to stream the episode on Disney+.
