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Reblog and you’re guaranteed to be successful at whatever you do next!

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Can't toast them all, can we?

ANDOR 2.12 | Jedha, Kyber, Erso

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Cassian and Vel toasting to those they have lost.

Cassian toasting to Cinta because he knew Vel could not say it. So he said it for her.

Vel toasting to Ghorman and Ferrix because they hold memories of destructions for Cassian that he would rather not relive again. So she said it for him.

Then Vel toasted Cassian’s mother. Because Vel was there at Ferrix during the funeral. And because Cassian couldn’t not say it. So she said it for him.

Together, they mourn those they have lost, helping each other carry the heavier parts, keeping them named, helping each other name them.

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Ngl I’m with you on this. I felt that Cassian and Bix are together because they’re the only “home” they had left, so they found that solace in each other, mistaken for romantic love. But they definitely do love each other, just differently, more like family, like someone who had become a constant in their lives, but that’s about it. And I could go on with it on how Cassian and Bix’s love is tragic because no matter how much they loved each other, Bix isn’t the home Cassian is looking for. It gave him too much anxiety, too much stress and guilt. Because of the guilt and sense of responsibility Cassian already had about Bix, even though Bix can take care of herself, Cassian couldn’t allow himself to let go enough, their relationship always have a level of tension to it, always an underlying fear, and you can sense it whenever they’re on screen together.

On the other hand, well, Jyn, grew up similarly like Cassian, destined to contribute to the Rebellion and die for the cause the same way. If anything, Bix hinders Cassian’s path forwards (although staying in the Rebellion may not be what Cassian wanted, but his destiny leads there), whereas Jyn pushes Cassian through with it, without compromising Cassian’s yearn for a home, because Jyn will be beside Cassian throughout the journey till the end, and Jyn will be that “home”, and Cassian get to carry that “home” with him without leaving anything behind or compromising either his “home” or his “calling”. He gets to “make his own decisions” without conflict.

But then again it’s just my opinion. I respect the love Cassian has for Bix, I don’t think it’s misplaced or fake. I just think that Jyn is probably, potentially a better suit, only if Jyn gets to be in Cassian’s life long enough to let their dynamic blossom.

Cassian has a trauma bond with Bix. She tells him she loves him, but he never says it back to her. He feels he has to protect her and keep her safe because he feels guilty about the torture she suffered because of him. He feels responsible for her. He does feel love for her, but they were childhood sweethearts and they are almost all they have left of their home, their family.

So it doesn’t feel romantic to me, even though they find physical comfort with each other. It’s not a burning, yearning love. I never really felt any chemistry between them either to be honest. I don’t know if it’s just my rebelcaptain love blinding me, but I was genuinely shocked when it was revealed early in season 2 they were romantically involved. He never looked at Bix the way he looked at Jyn.

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Cassian is so so tired and all he wanted to do was rest. But the war, the rebellion, the circumstances constantly pushed for him to keep going, that he is yet to achieve his biggest potential. And the time Cassian finally got to rest was when Death claimed him.

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Cassian is visibly so anxious this second arc, and shown in all his body language is so infectious. Made me feel his anxiety as if I was on edge with him.

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Thanks for saying this! I’ve absolutely thought about this. I’ve tried searching the gif using the gif option but couldn’t find it, and I’ve completely forgotten where I’ve gotten the gif from, but I also did not want to just not say anything about using other people’s gif, so the best I could do at the time is to at least inform I’ve used someone else’s gif. I’ll definitely do better the next time, and I appreciate you pointing it out so everyone gets to learn how to properly credit creators.

Update: I’ve edited the original post with a credited GIF. Once again, thank you for highlighting this!

I don’t see people talking about Diego Luna’s performance in this enough. What I absolutely love about this scene was what it implied through just the way everything was communicated through the body language, the turn of the head, the eyes looking away first before the head follows. You can see grief at first, when he first looked at Bix, acknowledging who they’ve lost. Then the scene cuts to Bix who was absolutely devastated after what she had been through and after what happened to Brasso. Then the scene cuts to this, where Cassian can no longer hold eye contact. It was guilt. I didn’t come home fast enough.

I’m not sure how to articulate this well enough but when you feel guilt, or apologetic, or vulnerable, you struggle to hold eye contact, especially with the person you feel the most of these emotions towards. This was why this scene was so beautifully performed. Cassian’s guilt was the first thing I felt when I first watched this scene.

I don’t own the GIF, GIF cr to owner.

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I love the way you put it, it makes the second watch of the first arc even more frustrating knowing Cassian spent too long being held by rebels who are so disorganised and didn’t even know how to survive. Cassian within the year between arc 1 and arc 2 would be absolutely furious by how the disorganisation of the Rebellion costs him so greatly, which in futuristic insights Cassian will develop into the leader he is in Rogue One, operating in a more organised manner.

Tragically beautiful storytelling and character development.

I don’t see people talking about Diego Luna’s performance in this enough. What I absolutely love about this scene was what it implied through just the way everything was communicated through the body language, the turn of the head, the eyes looking away first before the head follows. You can see grief at first, when he first looked at Bix, acknowledging who they’ve lost. Then the scene cuts to Bix who was absolutely devastated after what she had been through and after what happened to Brasso. Then the scene cuts to this, where Cassian can no longer hold eye contact. It was guilt. I didn’t come home fast enough.

I’m not sure how to articulate this well enough but when you feel guilt, or apologetic, or vulnerable, you struggle to hold eye contact, especially with the person you feel the most of these emotions towards. This was why this scene was so beautifully performed. Cassian’s guilt was the first thing I felt when I first watched this scene.

I don’t own the GIF, GIF cr to owner.

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I don’t see people talking about Diego Luna’s performance in this enough. What I absolutely love about this scene was what it implied through just the way everything was communicated through the body language, the turn of the head, the eyes looking away first before the head follows. You can see grief at first, when he first looked at Bix, acknowledging who they’ve lost. Then the scene cuts to Bix who was absolutely devastated after what she had been through and after what happened to Brasso. Then the scene cuts to this, where Cassian can no longer hold eye contact. It was guilt. I didn’t come home fast enough.

I’m not sure how to articulate this well enough but when you feel guilt, or apologetic, or vulnerable, you struggle to hold eye contact, especially with the person you feel the most of these emotions towards. This was why this scene was so beautifully performed. Cassian’s guilt was the first thing I felt when I first watched this scene.

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I just realised that Leida told Mon that she wished she was drunk, and Mon did just that.

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I’ve had fear of how the time jump between each 3 episodes arc will be awkward and disconnected to us viewers but I’ve come to terms with a bigger picture here:

Before you continue, spoilers alert!

I understand the concern of how it might feel disconnected, rushed, having each year only 3 episodes to story-tell them. But I slowly see the point of the urgency, the disconnect. The storytelling tells the significant part of each year, omitting some details of the more mundane dailies. The nuance and subtle details they show for each arc gives us something to dig and realise about what have changed and how Cassian has grown without providing all context of his growth. The autonomy of “imagination” granted to us as viewers to view all these characters is a space for interpretation and how different people perceive grief, pain, and growth. So each and every one of us gets to insert how we imagined these characters dealt with their pain and struggles which led them up to where they are every time we see a 1 year jump. The lack of context of it all gives us all a chance to wonder, what have they done, what have they been through in those sleepless nights, what did they tell themselves, how did they even get through all those times? Sometimes there isn’t an answer, there isn’t a right way. Sometimes the only way is through. And the “how” of it all, it is up to us to define.

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In the ending of episode 3, we see Mon Monthma drunk and broken, having to make one of the most cruel decision to assassinate her childhood friend who had helped her through her most difficult times. Then Cassian, Bix and Wilmon on the TIE, leaving behind Bee and Brasso, grieving his death and not able to give him a proper burial, with the ending scene zooming in on Cassian’s face that shows how much pain he is in.

So the next time we see them, on the second arc, it would’ve been a year later. Everyone would’ve had to “move on”, continue with life, continue with what needs to be done to survive. The next time we see Cassian, he’d be different, grown, carrying more responsibility, carrying his grief like a dull pain at the back of his mind. And Mon, unsure where she would be, but definitely no longer drunk, and having to move on from the decisions she made. And Bix, going through the torture trauma and we see her recovering to a certain extent by arc 1, then her SA attempt, and by arc 2 she’s probably another different person, many things would’ve changed.

In the story, it’s been a year. They’ve had a year to grief and push themselves through. But for us, it will only have been a week. Our grieves are being pushed in a way where we carry all those pain with us from each arc and leading up to Cassian’s death in Rogue One. The pain is going to compound, and I think that is the point. That although the characters in the story will go through pain in years, we as viewers are supposed to carry all that pain with us within a short amount of time, feeling the weight of it all until they all crashed down on the moment Cassian’s death happens. It’s exactly what it is meant to do, that we are now living the ticking time bomb of what is going to happen to all of these characters in the show, the urgency of it all. It’s meant to make us feel it all. I think the way it’s being dawned upon us is tragically beautiful.

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I’ve forgotten how much of a flirt Cassian Andor is.

“We started flirting—”

“I like that”

Then proceed to deliver the most legendary of a line a leader can say: (while asking her to look at him)

You’re coming home to yourself. You’ve become more than your fear. Let that protect you.

Not that I’m complaining.

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Andor season 2 promo clip having Cassian saying yet another very leader thing to say “You’re coming home to yourself” and “you’ve become more than your fear. Let that protect you”. Also the idea that Cassian in S1 didn’t even realise he has it in him to lead. A few times it occurred where his words inspired people, in S1, in Rogue One, and him allowing people to use his words to inspire more people, taking a step back and giving others the moment. I don’t know how else I can describe the respect I have for this man.

I swear S2 is going to be packed with even more legendary quotes and dialogues. I think I’m gonna go to the corner and sob now.

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On the side note, I’ve been going through some tough times lately and had to make a very difficult decision for myself, something I probably haven’t done in my life, making my own choice, purely for myself. And it is terrifying. So I might be over-resonating with what he’s saying here, but I absolutely needed to hear it.

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DIEGO LUNA as CASSIAN ANDOR ANDOR Season 2 | A Special Look (Disney+)

(special thanks to @jeronandor)

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Cassian Andor taking on an Imperial garrison…

The subtle use of echoing lines in Andor (frequently right through to Rogue One) is so well done, and one example shows Cassian’s character development very clearly…

When Cassian is first being briefed by Vel about the heist on Aldhani, he reacts with horror at the news about there being an Imperial garrison nearby. Luthen didn’t mention it, and you get the sense that he might not have agreed to take on the job had he known about this extra danger . But of course, he commits and the heist is a success – of a kind.

But afterwards… he doesn’t want to do anything like that again. He wants to “win and walk away” to “somewhere warm and easy” . The irony is – his actions have helped to inspire Maarva, who refuses to leave Ferrix - while praising the actions of the “brave” “heroes” of Aldhani. She’s just indirectly praised him, and you can see that he’s delighted by a split second little spontaneous smile of pleasure that he quickly suppresses. Ouch. He’s finally done something she could be proud of, but he doesn’t want to give her a reason to stay so he has to stay quiet.

^ Awww 😞

But what’s really interesting is the editing in this masterful and moving scene. On Maarva’s words ‘If there are heroes brave enough to take on a whole Imperial garrison I’m brave enough to stick it out here” we see the flashback of 13 year old Cassian approaching the Troopers with a cudgel, revealing at long last the details of the assault that landed him in youth prison for three years and Mimban after that. The horrifying execution of Clem combined with the injustice and pain of his own punishment has not just traumatised the adult Cassian, it’s also made him somebody who will now avoid a conflict – and therefore the Rebellion– wherever possible. 

‘It’s all useless… it’s better to live!’ is what he told Luthen before Aldhani, but the precise placing of the shot here is very telling.

Cassian is starting to subconsciously associate that act with bravery rather than recklessness. He hates the Empire for what they did to Clem but it has so far translated to trying to ‘live’ and ignore them as much as possible; but his teenage self wanted to fight, to get revenge. Nonetheless it was an emotional response, an impulsive act that was not thought through. This is in total contrast to the calm methodical shots of Wilmon Paak preparing the bomb at the start of Episode 12. Wilmon is balancing emotion with rationality in planning his own revenge, in an arc which otherwise is like a replay of Cassian’s own.

Later in Episode 12 Cassian hears from Brasso his mother’s last words for him - all proof not just of how much she loved him but of how much she knew him too. He does indeed now ‘know everything he needs to know and feel everything he needs to feel’. His reasoning and his emotions are now able to work together to be that ‘unstoppable force for good’. He won’t be making emotional but futile attacks like rushing armed Troopers with a stick anymore. He will think, plan, observe and react. But he will act. He is not going to walk away any more. And he’s not going to leave loved ones behind if he can help it…

…Because in a final bit of lines-linking brilliance - immediately after hearing these words of his mother, Cassian prepares to go into the hotel, via the tunnels she checked were open, to rescue Bix.

Incredulous, Brasso says: “Are you going to take on a whole garrison?”

And Cassian doesn’t verbally reply. The look says it all. ‘I’ve done it before, twice, l’ll do it again, and I’m doing it now.’

It sums up Cassian’s arc so well. From oppression, to fighting back, to running from the fight, to taking up the fight again (now an even more exact mirror of Jyn Erso’s arc too). But this time… having learnt from experience. One lesson being: teamwork matters…

…Because thanks to Brasso and the riot the Troopers are ordered out of the Rix hotel, which is the Empire’s base. Making it possible for Cassian to extract Bix, with the “Imperial garrison” deployed elsewhere. A technique so effective, it will also be used on Scarif to give Jyn, K2SO and himself a chance to reach the data files.

“Light it up …

..Make ten men feel like a hundred “

And that’s how you make a realistic hero. Cassian is somebody who learns and grows despite some bitter experiences.

Better deploy that garrison, because Cassian Andor is taking it on.

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A blink and you miss it moment of Cassian becoming an excellent leader in episode 9 of Andor.

Ulaf is slowing the team down, and Cassian (‘Keef’) has the idea to swap places with Taga. Taga asks why and Ham rather brutally tells him “Keef is faster”. Hurt, Taga grumbles “There’s a better way of saying that!”

After Kino comes over to investigate, he asks Cassian whether the swap was his idea, clearly about to compliment him.

Kino is still quite antagonistic towards Cassian (who he has marked as a troublemaker like Melshi) so we might expect him to enjoy receiving some praise but instead of accepting the compliment, Cassian says that the swap was Tagas’s idea. “Are you kidding?” says Taga in respect, and happily accepts the praise, making up for the insult 30 seconds earlier.

Earlier, Cassian wanted to avoid attention for self-centred reasons . Now, this trait is becoming a positive leadership quality . Standing behind others, encouraging them on, freely allowing them to use his ideas and even his words. Motivating them to find their own motivation. 

^^ Kino using Cassian’s words

I think Kino realises exactly what was going on here and comes away with new respect for Cassian. Kino is the figurehead and voice of the prison rebellion, but it’s pretty clear who is the real leader.

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so I got into grad school today with my shitty 2.8 gpa and the moral of the story is reblog those good luck posts for the love of god