Episodes 1-6: "Yay Dedra is competent and getting things done!" :D Episodes 7-9: "Oh God Dedra is competent and getting things done." D:

She’s definitely scarier than the inquisitors

There’s nothing more terrifying than a lawful evil character

Despite being a main antagonist, Supervisor Dedra Meero has become one of my favorite characters because of how well developed she is, like all of the characters in Andor. Her intuition, competence, and the thoroughness of her investigative skills are very Thrawn-like. However, we know how the rebellion turns out and Major Partgaz’s warning to Dedra to watch her back echoes in my mind. I suspect, her ambition will be her undoing.

Aside from Luthen. Dedra has hands down become one of my favorites, it's not often we see thrawn level competence in the Disney era imperials

“I don’t like wasting time.” I love the high Kino’s last line brought me but I equally love the dread Dedra injects into the first line. Also, I just cannot shake off the feeling that her assistant might betray her. “Watch your back”, literally. And I just realized as I type this, Dedra is an anagram for ‘dread’.

I found it interesting at how awkward she became when Syril professed his feelings to her. She clearly has never had a relationship with another human. Which leads me to believe she has been indoctrinated from her early years into serving the empire. Her cold and calculating persona has just recieved its first real test with him. She is ruthless and uses all means necessary to get what she needs. Which is what makes her an excellent Imperial officer. But under that armor, she is still human. I find her quite fascinating and complex. The Andor series has given me a new hope for Star Wars.

Omg you had me dying with "there's gotta be a reason Syril is eating cereal so seriously" 😂

When Meero started interrogating Bix in Ep. 9, all I could think was if I were in that chair, I'd confess to anything even before she started the threats... no stonewalling, no protecting my friends, no rebellion... that's how scary she was.

Dedra is definitely the one in the Imperial Academy who would be asking, “Will we be getting homework?” Academy Students, “Ughhh! Whyyyy?”

She’s shaping up to be one of my favorite villains in all of Star Wars. She’s like Admiral Trench

Denise Gough is playing the hell out of this part.

im loving the portrayal of the empire in andor. They are clearly a regime but its full of both good and bad people. I wish live actions showed that more or even animated series. i agree with your point we need more character in the empire that are more than “cartoonishly evil”

First off I have to say the actress portraying this character is doing a fantastic job. Deedra is possibly one if the scariest of the star wars villains. Aside from her cold nature as seen during the interrogation her intelligence and Bi,it to link so many separate incidents is very impressive. So far she seems the only one who can put the pieces together, various thefts of tech, Andor was part of the Aldanni heist. I think if the rebels knew what she knows they wouldn't be sleeping too soundly at night. Excellent review of the character and I'm loving the show. Keep up the good work.

The way she can be casually cruel is scary. When she tells the soldiers to leave the first guy that was tortured so that Bix can see her, and then says just a few seconds later, bix doesn't need to see that, get him out of here, like dedra's on her side. later she okays his hanging as almost an afterthought. And her solution to the captured rebel in a ship is to trash the ship and send it into a shipping channel with the pilot dead. but not make it look like they murdered him.

10:05 Syril Karn: "I need an adult." Deedra Meero: "We are adults."

She’s been a excellent character, perfect casting and convincing performance. She’s terrifying 👍

Right from the very first short - the very legendary walk into the ISB headquarter, she never bored us

4:04 Whenever Tarkin goes for a walk, he asked the Rebels how's their health plan. Apparently it was great.

I've never admired and hated a character so much. Shes a ruthless person, so far - I predict her turning to the rebels, but I hope they keep her as a villain - but you have to admire her conviction and intelligence. Shes quiet, calculating, and a risk taker. This woman is not to be fucked with. Though shes the type of woman I'd marry. This is how to write great characters who happen to be women. Unlike angry Reva or emo Kylo.

Meero is the first Imperial that I genuinely love. The Empire is twisted and she's trying to preserve it, but I'm all here for it. She gets shit done in a show where shit getting done means bad times for the good guys. And I want more.

Question: Why Palpatine decided to promote crazy psychopaths and loose-minded lunatics to the positions of powers instead of the competent and capable leaders?

If you’re imperial, you’re following Dedra like it’s “Zero Dark Thirty”.

She's my favorite character on the show...easily. It might have a lot to do with the performance by Denise Gough.

Andor ist doing one solid job in making us care for the villain. By showing how isolated Dedra is in the ISB, by making us watch her battle against incompetence and arrogance, we actually root for her as the underdog. We want to watch her succeed! At the same time, of course we want Biggs to succeed, to be safe and that makes their interrogation scene so tense and rich in emotion.

I would happily tell her anything she wants to know.

Dude, I am loving Andor. I hear comments about there not being enough action, but there is. Deedra is cunning, and she will be formidable in future episodes. Allen, your analysis was spot on.

*thumbnail* "Chill out Ice Queen." - Qrow Branwen

Her subordinate also saved her and backed her up during one of the meetings, probably risking his own position by speaking out.

The favorite thing about Meero is the nuanced facial movements during her interactions - from the twitches to slight raises and smirks - that really add character to her well… character.

Dedra Meero was an interesting character from the start. Intelligent, analytical, and lacking the arrogance of most imperials, she seemed to be a protagonist waiting to emerge. However the truth is much scarier. Meero recognized that cracking down on freedoms after the Aldhani heist that such crackdowns would only aid sentiment for the rebels. However her having a change of heart moment seems unlikely after her heavy handed authoritarian interrogation of Cassian's adoptive mother. She is cold, deadly, focused, and worst of all competent. These hyperfocused officers are what make the Empire an intimidating force. She is not cruel for no reason on the contrary she is calculated in her actions. Very well written villain.

The way they're developing her character is brilliant.

One thing I really like about the series is watch what background characters are doing. They've thought out everything. For example in the last episode when they're talking about the rebel pilot they've captured and how they want to make the destruction of a ship look like an accident. Watch the isb agents that are coming in late to the meeting and whispering something to their superiors. They didn't need to do that but it builds that world so well. The one agent saying sorry they were in the field. All these little background things make that scene seem much more real and you're actually sitting in on a real meeting. For me it's those little things that make the series so interesting. This is hands down the best writing in Star Wars since Disney has taken over.

Great analysis, Alan. The Bix Inquisition was superbly acted, filmed and directed. Dedra’s neck pops, her sentient eyebrows and precisely-timed nostril flares were incredible.

I’m starting to think that the biggest weakness of the Sith was the dark side. They were so steeped in it they couldn’t see how that was heavily effecting their competency.

You really illustrated how brilliant Deedra is. I really hope she survives the series.

I absolutely love how you’ve drawn parallels between Cassian, Dedra and Syril and how they operate/function. Was just discussing this with someone. Excellent insight!

It is amazing how scary competency can be with the right resources. Great video👍

i have been rooting for dedra in a way, maybe not to catch andor and the rebels but it made me happy when she got the position over blevin

What people don’t realize is that most people inside the Imperial apparatus aren’t evil. To most of the galaxy, the Empire IS the Republic. Nothing changed, except that the Jedi betrayed them all, the Chancellor took measures to bring security and peace to the galaxy, and everything is fine. Then, things started tightening up . . . But, it’s still better than the alternative! The older officers in the Imperial Navy and the ISB held similar positions in the Old Republic, but maybe with a little less power. To them, they are just doing their jobs.

I’ve never watched your videos before but I’ve been really enjoying your breakdown of concepts in the show. Lots of things I would have never thought of. Keep it up.

Allen, I want to congratulate you for the entertaining, highly competent job you do. In this day and age, I suspect there are not yet a lot of people in my generation (I am 47) or older who take KZfaq seriously. Certain content creators like you put out highly insightful yet jocular commentary together regularly. I know how much effort you put into your work on writing and research, and it shows. All of this whilst creating a feeling with your audience that you are chatting with a life long buddy. I watch several other KZfaqrs as well when the algorithm queues them up but I subscribe and seek out your channel and your shorts. I also have to mention that you have nailed the small things like the grammar in your writing which I confess, isn’t seen as very important these days. Many other KZfaqrs continue to distract me with the poor use of their fancy phrasing and ‘big words’ they use in their writing (as I cringe…sorry guys: S.Wave, SWTheory and others). Thanks from all of us and keep up the great work!

As hard as it is to root for a character in the Empire (especially the ISB) I think that Dedra Meero is such an excellently written antagonist. Her enforcement background makes her an outsider in a bureaucracy, but will serving her well as the scope of the rebel activity is becoming apparent. Her interrogation technique reminds me a little of Cristoph Waltz’s character Col. Hans Landa in Inglorious Basterds when she is interrogating Bix, (the only emotion she displayed was the little angry cheek twitch before Dr Gorst tortures her). She’s doing her best to maintain a cold, dispassionate exterior, but little “cracks” appear when she is rebuked by a superior or when she can relax around her trusted subordinates. I also think she recognizes Syril’s capabilities, but has not figured out a way to safely utilize him yet (definitely post prison break!). On a side note… where the fuck is LT Belvin?!? He has not been in any of the full meetings since he tried to call out Dedra. He is missing in Dedra’s brief to Col. Yularen and every other full staff meeting.

Dedra is so powerfull of character, she gave me chills just by walking

Definitely one of my favorite characters in this show

I kind of relate to Deedras weaknesses. A part of "climbing the ladder" is getting involved and making yourself known but I've realized I don't really have that same charisma as my peers who are able to become best friends with people in a "higher rank". I'm pretty anxious and that makes me very detail oriented but also kind of awkward, so I can get the job done but most times I feel very isolated.

really love your analysis makes the experience of watching richer

Episode 9 was incredible…. I don’t know why, but Andors floor boss finally changing thought on his and the prisoners situation hit me very hard…. I really enjoyed how I really had no idea what was going to happen, what was happening on floor 2, only to come to such an OBVIOUS conclusion that these prisoners are not let free…. I had absolutley no clue that this OBVIOUS twist was coming. I find that each episode just builds on the last. There really isn’t a slow down on the plot or a lull in pace. The only episode I’d say that did slow down about was the one right before the heist and maybe the 2nd episode, which was a good choice too. I LOVE this series. As a long time starwars fan falling I love with the OT at about 8 years old, then extreamly enjoying the sequels at around 10-12 years old (I bet if I rewatched them I would hold the OT high above the prequels but I was young when I watched them and they were incredible at that time. Better suited for a young person than the OT. Rouge one was pretty good, I did NOT like the skywalker saga… the mandalorian blew me away and redefined what a starwars movie or TV series could be. I enjoyed book of boba fett but when it ended I was left feeling pranked or something…. I knew watching it it wasn’t that good but It kept me watching until the end and I was left with a funny feeling. I couldn’t watch the second half of Kenobi and I almost passed on trying out Andor. Andor is now my new favorite starwars of all time SO FAR. I’m 25 now, I feel the OT is a bit dated and not as serious feeling anymore, and the mandalorian, but especially Andor and even Rouge One give me that more mature, realistic and serious tone and I love it… I love the politics, economics, the very complex characters, the plot, everything. I like seeing the Empire and Starwars as it “really is” (I know it’s a fucking fantasy lol) like mud troopers, mechanics, prison gaurds, you know…. The roles and positions we don’t see in a hero versus villain setting. Like come on OT! Stormtroopers as all the empires fighting force? I loved seeing the clones and the LACK of stormtroopers. The deafening intense flybys of tie fighters….. its just great. Very realistic.

Andor is such a great show great and performances by Blough (Dedra), Skarsgaard (Luthen), Serkas (Kino), and O'Reilly (Mothma) have really been driving its excellence. Plenty others have been great in it too including Diego Luna (Andor) but Dedra, Luthen, and Mothma have had the roles that have really given them the opportunity to flex their acting muscles--and they truly have seized the moment imo. Luthen and Dedra are my favorites in the show largely just from being in awe at the tremendous range of their characters. Consider Dedra: We are made to root for her, rage at her, recoil fromand be repulsed by her, fear her, sympathize with her, and all while knowing she is the probably the main villain of the show. The contrasts show her in the beginning fighting to be taken seriously by her peers and superiors, then being in power and interrogating, then being smug and taunting those she will have tortured, then the torture itself, then she gets aggressively and creepily stalked is physically kept from leaving by her stalker and is clearly shook by the whole scene, and finally then she goes on to be just continue to be a proficient cog in the imperial machine. Luthen's character similarly has trememndous range though maybe not quite as varied as Dedra's but his brilliance comes out in his transitions between the roles and extremes of his character. His little trips to the back of his shop gives him a chance to collect himself and prepare for his upcoming role. Skarsgaard plays it out brilliantly.

new to the channel. This is great stuff man! Love the videos!

6:20 It's so funny, this scene brought me back to 11th grade, our biology teacher had quite funny way of giving out questions to us, he'd ask us, we'd answer, and regardless of our answer he'd go "exactly,(other student's name) do you agree?", it was a mindfuck, you thought you got it right but then didn't, but even if you didn't you'd end up learning the correct answer

really been diggin these Andor videos.

Great analysis as usual. I’m sure it’s fun digging into Andor because it’s so incredibly well done. Keep up the good work!

I like your analysis and it is point on. You catch things that i completely missed or did not think about

Great analysis. I'm impressed with your own personal growth, as seen in your last handful of videos.

Yo Allan love your analysis of star wars content and shout out to you and everyone on team!!! Please keep up the work

Great analysis!

Very cool video. I think this character's story is fascinating. Looking forward to the eventual confrontation between her and Cassian Andor.

Great video as always. I love her ...

I love learning about the lore from your channel. I've been curious about who the other people around the conference table with GM Tarkin in episode 4. I know Yolarin and Tag. But who were the rest. I'd love to know more about them and their role/history in the empire. Keep making good content!

I really like your longer videos. Very intelligent content.

An excellent assessment.

She is my favorite character this season, I've never rooted for a villain more!

Great job!

I noticed that Blevin hasn't been seen or featured in the show after she took over his sector. Seems like he got the boot

Awesome analysis; I enjoyed it very much. To paraphrase Major Partagaz, "Imagine if all KZfaqrs showed such endeavor like Generation Tech."

great analysis

Spot on. A well written character. To become a good leader demands learning how to be a competent follower and team mate. Leaders must also learn from their followers. This circle of leadership is what the real military teaches.

Dedra Meero seems to be the female version of Thrawn. She is logistical and is a good manager. Hopefully we see her in more stories.

This is such a great video.

She is smart, ruthless, relentless and a right proper sociopath. She intimidates me!

Good video. I agree.

Great character, I am really liking the competent advisary.

Great Breakdown.

This video is awesome!

Great analysis. I would luv to see more storylines that flesh out the intricacies that are the Empires corruption and dysfunction. They both have distinct analogues in our real world today. All those things that hold humanity back from achieving its greatest potential.

It’s like she knows everything that’s going on 😮 awesome video Alan! Put a shirt on Tarkin was pure awesomeness 😆😆😆

Dedra has nothing to fear from the Rebels as the Dark Lord of the Simp Syril Karn will be with her always. Always...

Dude your videos make me laugh hard sometimes. I fucking love your delivery lol, the ai babies part got me

I know im Like 5 months late but i just wanted to say that i really enjoy your Videos and the way you present them. I think your one of the best KZfaqrs Out there and Just Jeep going please

Finally..somethings that explain how the Empire stayed afloat..for so long.

Denise Gough who plays Dedra sold me fully on her character in the last episode in the last scene she was in. Seeing her shivering in fear when she met up with Syril

my fav character so far in the series by far! Mon Mothma and Luthen are also cool.

It's scary to imagine what she can do under Grand Admiral Thrawn command.

Dedra is my new favorite character. She’s a badass and I kind of like her subtle cruelty 😂

Great video..liked and commented for the algorithm

The thing that makes her scary is that she thinks that she is “right;” that she’s the good guy. And in a sense, she is. She’s doing what it takes to do a job, a job that seeks to provide security and order for the citizens of the Empire. She’s my favorite character.

Finally, a great analysis on Dedra Mero. I have always loved the Empire but was frustrated with why they couldn't crush the Rebellion.. I mean, really, they didn't wipe out the Ewoks within a 500-mile radius and didn't clear the forest down to the bare ground so nobody could sneak up on them. Even if Emperor Palpatine was setting a trap. Where was his legion of his best troops? The Empire we see in Andor would have done more of what I described above. Now, before I am thought of someone who enjoys inhumane treatment of others, I love to help and serve others, I am a Hospice Nurse Case Manager and I will move heaven and earth to provide exceptional care for my patients and their families and I don't stand for incompetence in my coworkers. Back to Dedra Mero, I see a lot of myself in her. I never seemed to fit in, but I loved to analyze everything down to the smallest detail. Before becoming a registered nurse, I worked for the largest telecom company in Texas for 18 years, I started on the ground level. I was in Logistics, the scene where Syril was on his job interview when we saw the endless rows of cubicles that was like my beginning. Through studying the way we did things and figuring out how to improve work processes that made my department more efficient, which of course improved our bottom line (which for any large corporation) is the most important thing. I also looked at people in management positions and picked out ones who were like Major Partagaz who liked out of the box thinking, and when I produced results for the company, I was rewarded with more responsibilities and those managers also mentored me, and pointed out to higher-ups my successes. Yes, I had opposition by those who had fancy degrees. To cut a long story short, I rose to the rank of director and oversaw the entire state of Texas in the Logistics department. Like Dedra Mero, my subordinates knew I had their backs, and in return, they had mine. In the early 2000s, when outsourcing was popular, I pursued a career in nursing. I used the same formula in nursing school, I worked harder than ever to learn the language of medicine, and I rose to the top of my class. I sought out instructors and the nurses who were my preceptors, to help me succeed and prepare me for the real world of working in the medical field and I have always risen in the ranks wherever I worked. So even though Sidious and Vader were awe-inspiring, I have a deep connection with Dedra Mero. Again, I don't love the Empire for anything they do to it's citizens, although I found it just as evil of Luthen to want to make the innocent citizens of the Empire suffer horribly to achieve a unified Rebellion.

Great analysis! I'd love to get an action figure of HER now. For me, she's up there with Thrawn as one of the best bad guys

I love her. Dedra Meero: She wolf of the I.S.B.

11:29 I'm thinking that Mr. Underling here will try to usurp/backstab Dedra Meero at some point. He's always trying to be one step ahead of her (i.e. sending Dr. Smiles to "interrogate" the captured pilot before her authorization) and Major Partagaz told her to "watch her back".

Excellent analysis. Competence in the era of dictators is somewhat of a rarity. Hitler's mania would have collapsed without the monstrous competence of Heydrich, the chilling drive of Himler or the financial ability of Speers. The others, such as Goering, were simply corrupt wannabes by comparison. Dedra Meero has a similar chilling air around her, but would command great respect from her staff and could be a great tool for those who wanted to climb further in the Emperor's cabal.

Omg I freakin love this show! I can’t get enough

I really hope they don't give her a redemption arc, she will make a great ongoing bad guy.

My favorite part is during Bix’s interrogation. Dedra isn’t cruel by nature and she’s more like a detective using scare tactics. She’s following protocol and doesn’t enjoy torturing people which is why she needs these specialists to do it for her. Also, I hate Bix for trying to protect Cassian like she’s his mother and getting mad at Timm for reporting him even though he’s an ex-convict that has very few plans on repaying her for all the trouble he’s caused.

@12.50 I literally watched this scene play out in the first week it hit screens (I was like 10 or 11) and only now I am catching the two men who are totes thinking interesting thoughts. Tarkin is wondering if he should let Lord Vader execute one of his staff and the next dude (Tagge) is all like “Huh, so the rumors are true, fascinating…how could I use this.” Yep, old age brings some definite benefits, I had never caught that before. Like there is so much power play subtext here. George had his moments and the first one is still the best one. I mean I dig something from all the movies, but the first moments had me and always will.

I love her character i hope she is going to be in S2 as well!

The fact that she is SOO Good at her Job and the way she treats her Subordinates. Yah well you do the Math!

Way back in the last century, i.e. 1977 when I first saw Star Wars: A New Hope, I was delighted, yet frustrated that there were a mere one and a half female characters (Aunt Beru being the half since she got knocked off so quickly). Being 26 and working on my black belt, I longed to see more scope for women in this universe. A friend asked, "Would you want female villains?" "Of course!" I replied. "Women should do everything." It only took 45 years (Captain Phasma notwithstanding), but we finally have a female antagonist who isn't just "evil" but is a fully realized person. Kudos to all.

Hopefully we'll get Dedra as Legion miniature eventually. And Luthen.