AndorGave Us the Gayest Screen Fade inStar WarsHistory

Andor gets a dear pile right — very right , even — about a lot of things in Star Wars , but it ’s lento but sure enough discover how to do one thing even good : cinematic tropesin the galaxy far , far off are even better when they ’re queer .

After the events of the Aldhani heistrippled throughout the galaxy , it seemed unlikely that we ’d get to see the wonderfulVel and Cinta — Star Wars TV ’s first explicit on - screen female queer couple — again , butthis week ’s installment , “ Narkina 5 , ” briefly caught up with them as they surreptitiously throw in on Ferrix to try and supervise Cassian ’s whereabouts . Unfortunately , no one know where Cassian is , because he ’s been imprison on the sequence ’s titular regal prison house macrocosm . After a brief chat which reveals just how much each of them are willing to give in their personal animation to commit to fight back the Empire , Cinta decides to delay on Ferrix while Vel goes off - world . “ I ’m a mirror , Vel , ” Cinta secernate her doubting spouse , after excuse her program to imbibe into Ferrix and get closer to Cassian ’s known associates . “ You love me because I show you what you need to see , ” she continues , before grasping Vel ’s hand tenderly .

If the familiarity between the two in anterior episodes was too daily for you to have noticed that Vel and Cinta were romantically involve , and somehow even feel this conversation is too subtle to know for certain , we then get the Star Wars romanciest - thing imaginable as Vel glumly take a shuttle off - world :

Screenshot: Lucasfilm

This infernal slicing shot . Look at it ! removed lovers , gazing at different thing — Vel , her eyes smartly matched to be looking into Cinta ’s , while Cinta looks away from her , express us that her love for Cinta stay on Vel ’s mind , while the mission is on Cinta ’s , as the completed fade shows us she is watching the doorway to Maarva ’s habitation . It ’s full of somber and longing , and represents a personal example of a theme running throughout “ Narkina 5 ” of how the Empire tears people apart in so many way as it tightens its chokehold on the galaxy . But also : it ’s fantastically queer .

Andor already sympathise that it could portray rum people in the Star Wars galaxy as nonchalantly and as part of its fabric as heteronormative characters have been since the very beginning . But there ’s something wonderful in its attack to Vel and Cinta developing into something more explicitly textual ( and developed to the point that it ’s infinitely more piquant and quixotic than The Rise of Skywalker’sblink - and - you’ll - young lady - itqueer candy kiss ) by taking one of Star Wars ’ most consistent editing tropes and just … making it merry . It could ’ve only been more Star Wars if it was afull - on screen door rub , but still : it ’s wonderful .

desire more io9 news ? Check out when to expect the latestMarvelandStar Warsreleases , what ’s next for theDC Universe on film and TV , and everything you need to recognize aboutHouse of the DragonandLord of the Rings : The Rings of Power .