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https://nerdist.com/article/andor-dedra-meero-backstory-doesnt-hold-up/
One of the best scenes in Andor season two’s third episode is the tense dinner where the overbearing mother of Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) meets her son’s girlfriend, ISB officer Dedra Meero (Denise Gough). The entire scene is comically awkward, although one gets the idea that Dedra actually does care for Syril and sticks up for him to his unrelenting and eternally unappeasable mother, Eedy (Kathryn Hunter). When she asks Dedra about her parents, Dedra says her parents were criminals who died when she was 3 years old, and she was “Raised in an Imperial Kinderblock.” But none of that tracks for us, for a few reasons. Was this whole explanation another one of Dedra’s lies?
First off, the timeline in that statement just doesn’t add up. In this episode, we are about BBY 4, which means four years before the events of A New Hope. So, the Empire has existed for roughly 15 years only at this point. The actress who plays Dedra is 45 years old. Even if we’re being generous and saying she’s playing younger, perhaps as young as 30, she would have still been a teenager when Palpatine declared his New Order. So there’s no way she was raised in a fascistic Imperial facility. Certainly not since she was three years old.
Of course, the Galactic Republic probably had “Kinderblocks” for orphans too, and they just became Imperial in name after Palpatine became Emperor. So maybe what Dedra said is true, from a certain point of view. (Sorry, we had to.) But the way she told Syril’s mother made it sound like she was literally raised by Imperial dogma, and timeline-wise, that just can’t be the case. But then, for all we know, Dedra’s parents weren’t criminals at all, or even dead. Everything she said might be a fabrication.
Dedra’s statements actually point out one of Andor’s only big flaws: timeline discrepancies. Rogue One suffered from this too. In that film, Cassian said he’d been fighting the Empire since he was six years old. Now, we know he had a rough childhood, but the Empire didn’t exist when he was six. It often feels like Tony Gilroy’s main inspiration for the Empire in Andor is the Soviet Union. At least, the USSR as depicted in films of the ‘70s and ‘80s. During that time, the USSR had been around decades, with most grown adults raised in that system. But in the time of Andor and Rogue One, every adult has a memory of the Republic era. Yet it never really feels that way.
All of that aside, it still feels as if Dedra Meero is lying to Syril’s mother about her backstory. Would the Empire have taken in the child of criminals to such a high position within the ISB? Given how much the Empire caters to those with wealth and power, it seems unlikely. This just lends credence to the theory that Dedra is the secret daughter of Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn), which would explain why she keeps getting passes after so many failures at the ISB. Maybe before Andor reaches its conclusion we’ll find out the truth about Dedra Meero’s past. Or maybe this was all a rare instance of Dedra Meero being entirely truthful for once.
The post Why Dedra Meero’s ANDOR Backstory Doesn’t Entirely Hold Up appeared first on Nerdist.
One of the best scenes in Andor season two’s third episode is the tense dinner where the overbearing mother of Syril Karn (Kyle Soller) meets her son’s girlfriend, ISB officer Dedra Meero (Denise Gough). The entire scene is comically awkward, although one gets the idea that Dedra actually does care for Syril and sticks up for him to his unrelenting and eternally unappeasable mother, Eedy (Kathryn Hunter). When she asks Dedra about her parents, Dedra says her parents were criminals who died when she was 3 years old, and she was “Raised in an Imperial Kinderblock.” But none of that tracks for us, for a few reasons. Was this whole explanation another one of Dedra’s lies?
First off, the timeline in that statement just doesn’t add up. In this episode, we are about BBY 4, which means four years before the events of A New Hope. So, the Empire has existed for roughly 15 years only at this point. The actress who plays Dedra is 45 years old. Even if we’re being generous and saying she’s playing younger, perhaps as young as 30, she would have still been a teenager when Palpatine declared his New Order. So there’s no way she was raised in a fascistic Imperial facility. Certainly not since she was three years old.
Of course, the Galactic Republic probably had “Kinderblocks” for orphans too, and they just became Imperial in name after Palpatine became Emperor. So maybe what Dedra said is true, from a certain point of view. (Sorry, we had to.) But the way she told Syril’s mother made it sound like she was literally raised by Imperial dogma, and timeline-wise, that just can’t be the case. But then, for all we know, Dedra’s parents weren’t criminals at all, or even dead. Everything she said might be a fabrication.
Dedra’s statements actually point out one of Andor’s only big flaws: timeline discrepancies. Rogue One suffered from this too. In that film, Cassian said he’d been fighting the Empire since he was six years old. Now, we know he had a rough childhood, but the Empire didn’t exist when he was six. It often feels like Tony Gilroy’s main inspiration for the Empire in Andor is the Soviet Union. At least, the USSR as depicted in films of the ‘70s and ‘80s. During that time, the USSR had been around decades, with most grown adults raised in that system. But in the time of Andor and Rogue One, every adult has a memory of the Republic era. Yet it never really feels that way.
All of that aside, it still feels as if Dedra Meero is lying to Syril’s mother about her backstory. Would the Empire have taken in the child of criminals to such a high position within the ISB? Given how much the Empire caters to those with wealth and power, it seems unlikely. This just lends credence to the theory that Dedra is the secret daughter of Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn), which would explain why she keeps getting passes after so many failures at the ISB. Maybe before Andor reaches its conclusion we’ll find out the truth about Dedra Meero’s past. Or maybe this was all a rare instance of Dedra Meero being entirely truthful for once.
The post Why Dedra Meero’s ANDOR Backstory Doesn’t Entirely Hold Up appeared first on Nerdist.
Watching true crime documentaries is, as I’ve learned, part of the female experience. You can label the act an act of “girlhood” if you must but many women find themselves obsessed with true crime shows and stories. Why? It’s unfortunately necessary for our survival.
I’ve often watched a true crime story to understand how to pick up signs, what to avoid, and take in what has happened to other women to keep myself and other women safe. That’s the sad reality of the world we live in. While yes, male presenting individuals can also be a victim to the wrath of a serial killer, more often than not, it is those of us who present female that end up in a murder doc. And that’s what makes Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer such a terrifying watch.
After the highly successful first season of Andor came to us in 2022, fans had eagerly been awaiting the follow up after being captivated by the characters and their story arcs. Season 2 concludes the journey of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) as the events lead us right up to a fan favorite, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Ariel Kleiman, Janus Metz, and Alonso Ruizpalacios share directing duties while Tony Gilroy, Beau Willimon, and Dan Gilroy wrote three episodes each. Besides Luna, there are quite a bit of returning faces including Bix Caleen (Adria Arjona), Syril Karn (Kyle Soller), Dedra Meero (Denise Gough), Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly), and Luthen Rael (Stellan Skarsgård), with some additional familiars that are best kept a surprise for now.
Every character has their own dilemma to face over the course of the 12 episodes that keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. The final season of Andor answers which characters will seek out their purpose, settle for an ordinary lifestyle, or meet their demise. At the forefront of it all, we are taken on a thrilling journey to uncover the truth as Cassian gets rid of his doubts and ventures into his newfound life from a nobody to a hero.
One of the most fascinating things about the series is its ability to have quite a few storylines that manage to keep you intrigued and interested the whole way. Oftentimes, when a project has a lot of character arcs developing simultaneously, it can become fairly overwhelming and thus leading to a loss of interest. Andor defies that as each story ties in to another, making it enjoyable to piece things together as the season progresses. You find yourself trying to predict what happens next as each episode opens up another hurdle for each mission they are individually on.
Despite the series title, it doesn’t place a primary focus solely on Cassian Andor, but instead sheds that attention on the entire cast. With that being said, it’s a must to point out that Luna shines as he delivers a standout performance, perhaps the best of his Star Wars appearances. His chemistry with Arjona is subtle and in no way overpowering to where this becomes a hero looking to save his damsel in distress. Instead, their romance pours into Cassian’s purpose, further fueling his actions and desire to lead the rebels to a victory.
Although the season spans over 12 episodes that range from 40 to 55 minutes each, you can tell much more was supposed to take place but was ultimately consolidated. Showrunner Gilroy tells SFX that the series was set to take place over over five seasons, but was reworked shortly after COVID. “We were halfway through shooting Season 1…and the monumental size of the show, the effort, and everything else was just dawning on us… I didn’t have enough calories to do it and Diego’s face couldn’t take the time because it just takes too long to make…”
This is likely in reference to Luna being around 50 years old at the conclusion of the original five-season plan. So to still capture the same story they wanted to convey, time jumps were sprinkled throughout this season. From a cinematic perspective, there are several shots that are fairly breathtaking, including one of Bix and Cassian walking out of a building at night and Syril standing in the courtyard with chaos erupting around him.
I bring that up to commend the manner in which Andor plays out like a big screen film rather than a TV series. Without naming names, some shows feel like just that; projects that were diluted and cheaply thrown together and rely on the lore alone to attract viewers. The action sequences are so reminiscent of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith and could arguably have been turned into a feature length film instead of a series (not that I’m complaining at all). Even the music in a few of the party scenes is solid and caught my attention as they were so current and upbeat, you wouldn’t think you’d find them in a Star Wars piece.
Andor coming to a close after only two seasons is both beautiful and bittersweet. It’s quite a treat to have been able to dive more into Cassian’s character, but sad that it ended so quickly. It would have been great to explore his relationship with Bix more, since every other character’s storyline wrapped properly ahead of Rogue One. The realistic sets and wardrobe lend to the series’ overall tone of being a bit more realistic than the space sequences we know and love. Luna leads an intense cast of bright actors and gives his career best. With its elite storytelling, Andor has concluded as the best spin-off that has come from the Star Wars franchise by an absolute longshot.
The final season of Andor premieres on Disney+ April 22, 2025, with the release of the first three episodes.
The post ‘Andor’ Season 2 Review: Captivating Storytelling Leads to More Than Just a Spin-Off appeared first on Black Girl Nerds.
Coincidentally, 4/20 falls on Easter this year. So, Happy Resurrection Day to Christians and those who observe. For those who engage in smoking bud—Happy 420!
This day isn’t just about sparking one up—it has evolved into this amazing celebration of cannabis culture where community, creativity, and all-around good vibes take center stage.
Throughout the country, cannabis connoisseurs are gathering to honor how this humble plant has intersected everything from wellness routines to business opportunities and artistic expression. BLACK ENTERPRISE has done a bit of legwork for you and rounded up six events you can pull-up to the 4/20 spirit and celebrate properly. These aren’t your average smoke sessions!
SweetWater 420 Fest
Going down in Atlanta, the SweetWater 420 Fest is a three-day festival held April 18-20 at Pullman Yards. This year marks its 20th anniversary with Cypress Hill, The Revivalists, Marcus King, Greensky Bluegrass and Drive-By Truckers performing. The festival offers SweetWater craft beers and a cannabis-friendly atmosphere with interactive activities.
Mile High 420 Festival
Denver Mile High 420 Festival goes down April 20 with long time bud advocate Tommy Chong as host. It should be noted that the Mile High 420 festival is a 21-year-old and older event held in Civic Center Park. Mile High will feature performances by Cordae, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, and Conway the Machine. The festival will have food vendors, sponsor activations and VIP experiences with meet-and-greets.
420 Week
Washington, D.C. is home to 420 Week. The event is a week-long series of cannabis-themed events starting April 20 and leading up to the National Cannabis Festival on April 28. The week features movie screenings and educational sessions as well as themed community gatherings.
420 Sunday Funday: A High-Vibe Downtown Shreveport Experience
The 420 Sunday Funday event in Downtown Shreveport, Louisiana, is on April 20. Funday offers a cannabis-friendly experience with games and vendors, infused and non-infused food, mocktails, and a secret consumption lounge. The event also features educational talks and a local artisan marketplace. The exact location will be disclosed to ticket holders on the day of the event. The event welcomes attendees 21 and older who want to experience community and wellness through conscious consumption. Ticket prices start at $25.
Washington Square Park Cannabis Meetup
Thousands of people will gather at Washington Square Park in New York City for an informal celebration featuring impromptu music performances, vendor stalls, and a group smoke session at 4:20 PM Eastern.
Cannafest
A three-day celebration of all things cannabis takes place at 3453 W Hamilton Ave in Nashville, the gathering goes way beyond smoking. It’s a full-on immersion into cannabis education, wellness benefits, and bringing like-minded folks together. Expect hands-on workshops, live music, vendors, art displays, hemp products and CBD-centered activities. Attendees need to be 21 and older to engage. Tickets start at $35.
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