Andor director addresses fate of fan favourite character after episode

"I think it's open there with what happens to his storyline."

By George Lewis

13 Nov 2022

Andor spoilers follow.

The director of Andor has addressed the fate of fan-favourite character Kino Loy, following the tenth episode of the Star Wars spinoff.

At the end of 'One Way Out', Cassian (Diego Luna) and Kino (Andy Serkis) staged a daring escape from Narkina 5, with the inmates of the prison rebelling to cause a distraction.

As the pair work to navigate their way out, they realise the prison is in the middle of the ocean, a fact that proved problematic for Kino as he revealed he couldn't swim.

Lucasfilm Ltd.Disney+

As several inmates take a leap of faith to their freedom, Kino is forced to stay behind, leaving his fate a mystery for the rest of the season.

Speaking on the Dagobah Dispatch podcast with Entertainment Weekly, director Toby Haynes was asked about the character, revealing "he didn't know" if the character would appear in the final two episodes of the season.

"I think it's open there with what happens to his storyline. He certainly wasn't killed. So we know that much," said Haynes, who directed six episodes in the first season. "And then that's the interesting thing about [creator Tony Gilroy's] writing. If you're not dead, then who knows what's gonna happen to your character. So [his return] could happen.

Describing the twist as "surprising", Haynes revealed that Serkis played with ideas when attempting to find the right tone for the line, saying: "The way that Andy played it, we were doing it where he's sort of angry and it's emotional that he's saying: 'I can't swim! I can't swim!'

Lucasfilm Ltd.Disney+

"But then he just suddenly played it in this serene way where he was smiling and he goes: 'I've done all this and I can't actually get out, I can't swim. This is where we say goodbye.' I thought that was absolutely inspired and [it] was great working with Andy…it was sort of thrilling."

The actor also recently commented on the scene, saying he wanted the character to "see his own doom" without being too sentimental.

"Eventually we sort of settled into this area of his almost coming to terms with it," Serkis said. "I think that moment of pathos probably was the way to go."

Andor is streaming on Disney+, with new episode premieres on Wednesdays.