Season 2, Episode 6, titled What A Festive Evening, directed by Ariel Kleiman and written by Beau Willimon, continues as tensions escalate and the rebel cause inches closer to open conflict with the Galactic Empire. This episode marks a turning point in the arc, with key characters regaining their purpose and convictions after personal struggles. As the Ghorman Front prepares for a decisive mission, the Rebellion is reminded that to resist tyranny, they must place their faith in each other—or risk fracturing, as the Maya Pei Brigade did earlier in the season.

The central theme of this episode is faith—not religious belief, but trust in one another, the cause, and the possibility of victory. Cassian and Luthen, both strained by personal losses and ideological rifts, begin to rediscover their purpose. Cassian regains hope after helping Bix find closure, while Luthen’s confidence is renewed by Kleya’s determination during a dangerous operation. Faith becomes a necessary fuel—without it, rebellion collapses under fear and doubt.

Yet the Empire, too, wields faith—twisted into fanaticism. Emperor Palpatine’s Oathkeeper, cloaked in gold vestments reminiscent of ancient Sith priests and pure-blooded Sith Lords, begins transforming the Imperial Senate into a theocratic cult of personality. Through ritual and fear, the Emperor seeks to be worshiped not as a ruler, but as a god—immortal, omnipotent, and beyond reproach.

Lonni Makes His Move

Cassian (Diego Luna) is discreetly picked up by Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård), who helps him return to Coruscant while receiving a full debrief on the Ghorman Front. Cassian insists that the Ghorman rebels are too inexperienced and ill-prepared to face the Empire, warning that any support would only lead to needless deaths. He’s unwilling to see innocent people sacrificed for the sake of long-term strategic gain. Luthen, however, argues that even in failure, the Ghorman Front can become a symbol—one that might inspire others across the galaxy to rise up. The conversation exposes a deep philosophical divide: Cassian wants to save lives, while Luthen is willing to risk them for the greater momentum of rebellion. The tension worsens once they return to Coruscant, where Cassian confronts Luthen over his consideration of bringing Bix (Adria Arjona)—still traumatized and unstable—back into the fight.

But Luthen soon finds a way to restore faith—not just Cassian’s, but Bix’s as well—through the quiet efforts of his mole within the ISB, Supervisor Lonni Jung (Robert Emms). Lonni learns from Major Partagaz (Anton Lesser) that Dr. Gorst—the sadistic interrogator responsible for Bix’s trauma—is being reassigned by the Emperor to head his own special interrogation program. The aim is to share Gorst’s methods across the ISB, the Imperial Army, and the Navy. The decision enrages Partagaz, who considers the military and naval leadership incompetent and resents being forced to collaborate. Seeing an opportunity, Lonni works with Luthen to engineer a plan in which Bix can take her revenge: assassinating Gorst during his transfer to a military intelligence facility. To cover his tracks, Lonni assigns Supervisor Heert (Jacob James Beswick) to oversee the logistics of Gorst’s relocation, ensuring Heert becomes the public face of the operation. When Gorst is killed, suspicion will fall squarely on the Army or Navy—never the ISB—leaving Lonni untouched and his secret allegiance preserved.

The plan unfolds flawlessly. Bix eliminates Gorst, achieving personal justice and breaking free from the trauma that has haunted her. Her spirit as a rebel is rekindled, and Cassian, watching her reclaim her strength, feels his own belief in the cause return. Through subtle strategy and careful misdirection, Luthen and Lonni manage to deliver a decisive blow—not to Imperial infrastructure, but to fear and despair. It is a reminder that rebellion is not only fought with weapons, but also through small, human victories that restore conviction in the darkest of times.

The Transport Heist Team

On Ghorman, Vel Sartha (Faye Marsay) and Cinta Kaz (Varada Sethu) arrive to assist the Ghorman Front with their first major mission: an ambush on an Imperial transport. The operation is crucial, both tactically and symbolically. Vel and Cinta drill the rebels in discipline, strategy, and combat, stressing the importance of unity and the chain of command.

The heist succeeds—but not without tragedy. During the retreat, Citizen Lezine (Thierry Godard) stumbles into the group and is mistaken for an Imperial collaborator. In the ensuing struggle, Samm (Abraham Wapler) accidentally discharges his blaster, fatally wounding Cinta. Racked with guilt, Lezine helps carry her body to safety, while Samm breaks down. Vel—now more hardened and composed—sternly tells him to act like a soldier. Her restraint reflects her growth; the Vel of Season 1 may have killed Samm in a fit of grief.

Syril Karn (Kyle Soller), still embedded as an ISB agent, witnesses the entire incident and reports back to Major Partagaz (Anton Lesser) and Dedra Meero (Denise Gough). His intel confirms that the Ghorman Front has stolen six crates of weapons and is using the spillway tunnels to move them. Partagaz is satisfied. He now understands the Front’s tactics, positioning the Empire to strike back.

The Investiture Party

On Coruscant, Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) and her husband Perrin (Alastair Mackenzie) attend the grand Investiture Party alongside Luthen and Kleya (Elizabeth Dulau). The lavish event brings together senators, military officials, and Imperial elites—all gathering to indulge, scheme, and celebrate the Empire’s growing power. Mon and Perrin first greet Senator Bail Organa (Benjamin Bratt), a trusted ally and key architect of the growing rebellion. In the larger structure of the Alliance, Bail focuses on assembling rebel military forces, Mon handles political and financial support, and Luthen leads the spy network.

Later, the group meets with Davo Sculdun (Richard Dillane) and is introduced to Director Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn) in Sculdun’s private artifact room. A tense philosophical debate erupts between Mon and Krennic on the nature of insurgency—freedom versus order, rebellion versus terrorism. During the distraction, Kleya enlists Lonni’s help to remove a hidden listening device from the Tinian Codex. The operation is risky—failure could expose Lonni as a mole in front of one of the Empire’s most dangerous men. Still, the extraction is a success. Lonni breathes a silent sigh of relief.

As the party concludes, Luthen jokes that Kleya should have killed Krennic—his dark humor masking the constant danger they live in. But the night is a victory. The Rebellion survives another close call, and its leaders—however quietly—walk away with their faith renewed.

Rating: 9/10