Spoiler Alert !!!
Spoilers ahead for Andor season 2 episode 8!
Andor season 2 arguably delivered its best batch of episodes, with the Rebellion finally taking shape by the end of episode 9. The latest batch of episodes deals with the Empire’s occupation of planet Ghorman, which leads to the repetition of an extremely tragic incident.
In the process, one of the show’s most complex characters meets his fate in a rather fitting fashion. The eighth episode sees Kyle Soller’s Syril Karn finally bite the bullet after a devastating downward spiral, which also seemed destined. The tragic ending to Syril’s storyline was honestly deserved, and here is how it all went down in the end.
Andor season 2 delivered a tragic fate to Syril Karn
Syril Karn was introduced in the first season of Andor as an Imperial officer obsessed with catching Cassian Andor. As the series progresses, Syril finds himself deeper into the Empire’s lies as he simply wants to feel seen and recognized.
The second season sees him forming a relationship with Dedra Meero, which eventually culminates in a fallout when Syril learns that he was being lied to about the Empire’s true motivations behind occupying Ghorman. As a result, he left questioning his role in the system until he came face to face with Cassian.
In episode 8 of season 2, Syril and Cassian face off in a fist fight as the former desperately tries to cling to some form of self-identity. However, his last remaining shred of identity is also shattered when Cassian fails to even recognize him.
It’s so elementally Greek and dramatic that the thing that you’ve based your life on doesn’t even recognize you.
Showrunner Tony Gilroy made the above comment to Entertainment Weekly, regarding Syril’s dramatic downfall in the episode.
Moments later, Syril is shot in the chest by a blaster aimed by none other than Carro Rylanz, the pacifist leader of the Ghorman front. As a result, Syril meets his tragic end, receiving a painful yet unheroic demise, which is made all the more depressing because he ultimately failed to make a difference.
Syril Karn actor Kyle Soller reacts to his fate in Andor season 2
Following the shocking ending to Syril’s arc, actor Kyle Soller, who played the role, discussed the character’s demise in the same interview as Gilroy. Soller explained that the character’s demise is made tragic because of his earlier betrayal at the hands of Dedra and the Empire.
The actor stated that Syril channelized all his frustration and hate into fighting Cassian, who has become the focal point of his negative emotions over the years since their first meeting.
When Cassian fails to recognize Syril, Soller had the following to say about his character’s reaction:
It’s just brutal. Because he has maybe delusions of grandeur, but Syril believes he is doing the right thing in his own little sliver of the Empire.
From Soller’s comments, it is clear that Syril simply wanted to feel validated, which has led to him taking most of the actions we see him take in the series. However, he turns out to be delusional, having spent his life focused on capturing Cassian for the Empire, only to realize that he did not matter in the grand scheme of things, making his fate well deserved.
Andor season 2 is currently streaming on Disney+, with the final batch of episodes releasing on May 13, 2025.
