'Andor' Episode 8: Who is Andy Serkis' Kino Loy?
'Andor' had a surprise star in Andy Serkis, and not as Snoke. This time around, the 'Black Panther' star plays Kino Loy — a foreman/inmate in a floating prison on Narkina 5. While much of his appearance was a close-guarded secret, the stern manager of Unit Five-Two-D, which stands for floor five, room two on the day shift plays his part to absolute perfection. Episode 8 picks up from where it left off, and Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is now arrested for crimes he didn't commit. The prison is in fact a factory that manufactures components for the Empire, the nature of which is unknown at this point.
Although Loy is a prisoner with 249 days left in his sentence, he also comes in as the manager. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Serkis shed light on his character but didn't give away too much. "What I imagined of Kino's backstory before he was in prison, was that he was a union leader," he said. He's used to working as a foreman. I wanted him to come from a place where he was put in prison for, perhaps, standing up for workers' rights, and then put into a position of authority because that's what he does. He is a natural leader. But he really just wants to serve his time. He's got a family. He wants to get out and get back, and assumes that that's going to happen after his incarceration."
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While it is clear that Loy will be seen in at least another episode, his fate seems uncertain considering the Empire's history of slavery and how they operate. As a foreman, he urges the inmates to be competitive but is also aware that they could fail. His initial interaction with Cassian is harsh, but firm and speaks of the time he's spent in the cell. 'Andor' dished out a massive jaw-dropper with Serkis' character and with the show not hesitating to kill, it remains to be seen if Loy makes it out after his sentence.
For those yet to catch the show, the official synopsis reads, "The Andor series will explore a new perspective from the Star Wars galaxy, focusing on Cassian Andor’s journey to discover the difference he can make. The series brings forward the tale of the burgeoning rebellion against the Empire and how people and planets became involved. It’s an era filled with danger, deception, and intrigue where Cassian will embark on the path that is destined to turn him into a rebel hero."
'Andor' Episode 8 is streaming on Disney+