Andor's Andy Serkis breaks down episode 10's twist ending

"That was one of the great things about having that arc."

By Sam Warner

11 Nov 2022

Disney+

Andor spoilers follow.

Andor star Andy Serkis has broken down that huge ending to the Star Wars show's latest episode.

The series' tenth episode, which debuted earlier this week (November 9), wrapped up a three-episode arc set in a prison on Narkina 5, with the inmates finally rebelling.

They manage to escape after it dawned on Cassian (Diego Luna) and Kino Loy (Serkis) that they were never getting out of the place alive, though the latter stays behind when they do eventually escape after revealing he can't swim.

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Speaking about the heartbreaking twist, Serkis explained to Collider: "I mean, that was one of the great things about having that arc. And obviously as an actor, I knew that I was going to arrive at that point. And so that's why I wanted to make him sort of bullish and really kind of unsympathetic early on.

"Then actually the effect of Cassian and he going head-to-head, and then the moment of realisation that they're never going to ever be released. And that's sort of reigniting his humanity in a way."

Serkis explained that Kino "goes on this journey" in episode 10, "which is absolutely part of his core belief system, that the power of the individual can help others, and if you unite, you can change the shape of the future.

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"That comes flooding back to him, and you actually see the process of that happening, which ends up with the kind of sacrifice, if you like, in that scene at the end," he added.

Elaborating on the delivery of the key swimming line, Serkis recalled: "We tried it in different ways, we tried that line in lots of different ways, of him almost being angry without being too sentimental, kind of seeing his own doom.

"We tried it, and then eventually we sort of settled into this area of his almost coming to terms with it. I think that moment of pathos probably was the way to go. It was a really explorative scene to do, and especially for me, for my character.

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"But it was an amazing scene to shoot with everybody diving off, and jumping to freedom, and just this sort of sense of vertigo, and fear, and phobia of war. Yeah, it was an interesting layer, a very interesting layer to play."

As for whether Kino survived, Serkis admitted that he doesn't "know what the future holds" for his character, though would be "thrilled" to direct an episode next season if he doesn't make an onscreen appearance again.

"To be part of the other side of it, on the other side of the camera for this world would be amazing," he said.

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