Andy Serkis has revealed why he thinks it was the right choice for his fan-favorite character not to return inAndorseason 2. Despite being aStar Warsshow, it took Tony Gilroy’sAndora while to gain traction. While it was immediately and rightfully hailed as a critical success, its function as a prequel series to what is, essentially, another prequel movie, made someStar Warsfans, both invested and casual, hesitant to engage. Thankfully, though, word of the show’s incredible storytelling soon spread, andAndorseason 2has been phenomenally successful.
Andor’s victory is down to its attention to detail, carefully crafted story of Rebellion, and its layered, complex characters, even those who only show up for a handful of episodes. One such character isAndy Serkis’ Kino Loy, a prisoner who eventually helps Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) lead a daring yet successful escape from an Imperial prison inAndorseason 1. Despite the character’s technically unconfirmed fate,Serkis recently toldColliderwhy he believed it was the right decision not to bring his character back forAndorseason 2:
“I ultimately think it’s best for the character. It was such a great arc, and it had a very, very definite and heroic conclusion. I think, in many ways, to go back would be difficult because it has left a mark.I was so surprised at how emotionally effective that character was, actually, and so I think it’s way, way better that we leave him in Narkina 5, on his own.”
Andy Serkis Is Absolutely Right About Kino Loy’s Season 2 Absence
Though Serkis’ Kino Loy was an undeniable highlight ofAndor’s first season – even after the incredible storylines inAndorseason 2, the Narkina 5 prison arc from season 1 is still one of my favoriteStar Warsstories ever put to screen – one of the reasonsAndorhas managed to differentiate itself from itsStar Warspeers is that it isn’t afraid to brings certain storylines to an end.Characters in storytelling always serve a purpose. Kino Loy served his.
The Narkina 5 prison break is a smaller, more intimate version of what the Rebel Alliance was working towards inAndorseason 2. That’s what makes Kino’s story so powerful.
Andoris a story about revolution. It’s about ordinary people willing to give up their freedom and lives for a chance at a better future for everyone else. The Narkina 5 prison break is a smaller, more intimate version of what the Rebel Alliance was working towards inAndorseason 2. That’s what makes Kino’s story so powerful. He knew he couldn’t swim. He knew he would never truly escape. Yet he led his brothers into the light because he knew it was the right thing to do. The Empire was never going to let them go, after all.
It’s Refreshing For Star Wars To Leave Characters' Fates Open-Ended
Star Warswas built on nostalgia, legacy characters, and family dynasties, and it would have been easy enough forAndorto bring Serkis back after the overwhelming love his character received. He"can’t swim,“but we never saw him fall into the water. For all we know, he was hauled back inside the prison, forced to keep manufacturing parts for the Death Star. Perhaps the guards killed him in retaliation after he became stuck on the landing platform.
Sometimes, not knowing a character’s fate can ultimately be more powerful.Andoris Cassian’s story, after all, and Kino Loy was an important part of it. He undoubtedly inspired Cassian to embed himself further in the Rebellion, fighting against the galaxy’s oppressors, and that’s a beautiful legacy to have as a character. Kino Loy’s part inAndormay not have been long, but it was undeniably impactful.
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Ahsokaseason 2 (live-action)
