The second season of the critically acclaimed Star Wars series Andor premiered this week. As tension builds in the third episode, “Harvest,” the members of the Rebel Alliance are pushed to their limits. None more so than the regal Senator Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly The Dry, The Honorable Woman) who comes undone in the episode’s final moments. The tragic juxtaposition of joy and distress has been captured in an extended hour edit on YouTube. View the video below. Warning: mild spoilers for the episode continue below.
For some background on this scene, we rewind to a year prior. Season one finished with Mothma begrudgingly forging a deal with Coruscant thug, Davo Sculdun (Richard Dillane Argo, Wolf Hall), to fund her foundation that covertly financed rebellion operations. In exchange, she promised a meeting between her daughter and his son. Fast-forward to the present and the two teenagers are set to marry, permanently cementing Davo in Mothma’s life. However, the festive marriage celebration is marred in subtle terror as Mon discovers her trusted friend and accomplice, Tay Kolma (Ben Miles V for Vendetta, The Crown), threatens to expose the foundation’s true purpose if he isn’t grandly compensated for his losses in the ordeal.
Mothma shares this news with rebel orchestrator Luthen Rael, played by Stellan Skarsgard (Dancer in the Dark, Melancholia). In so few words, he ensures the problem is handled, protecting Mon from the hairy details. Shattered at the lengths she’s being forced to stretch— first with her daughter, and now possibly a dear friend — Mon finds solace in several liquor shots. Under the influence, she joins the reception party in the raucously choreographed number. But her dance isn’t a symbol of happiness, but a failed attempt to escape the suffocating circumstances.
The hour-long video captures Mon and the wedding party dancing to the electronic tune, “Niamos.” A version of the song also appeared in season one, episode seven, “Announcement,” where Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) escaped Ferrix for refuge at a beach resort.
Andor’s first of four three-episode arcs premiered on Tuesday, April 22. The rest of season two will stream weekly on Disney+ through May 13.
