Andor Season 2 starts the season with a political wedding for Mon Mothma, or at least a wedding that has left her in a very good position after her political worries in Season 1. Even though Mothma very much did not want her daughter Leida to marry the son of Davo Sculdun, she was forced to secure an introduction after she was pretty much strong-armed by Sculdun. This is all because she needed Sculdun’s help to cover up the fact that she was using her money to help the Rebellion.
Throughout all of this, Mothma had one ally—her childhood friend Tay Kolma. One of the reasons the senator from Chandrila did not want her daughter to marry Stekan Sculdun is that she was forced to marry Perrin Fertha when she was just a teenager, and has never cared for him. The show never really goes as far as saying Mothma has feelings for Kolma, but the two do share a close friendship, though.
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Season 2 of Andor throws a wrinkle in that friendship really quickly, and tests Mon Mothma’s commitment to the Rebellion while doing it. During the celebration for Leida’s wedding to Stekan Sculdun, Kolma approaches Mothma to complain about the risks he’s taken for her and how he’s got nothing to show for it. Later, he even praises Sculdun, remarking on how much he could learn from him about being decisive.
Considering Kolma knows about Mothma’s involvement with the Rebellion, this is a big red flag, enough for Mothma to even mention it to Luthen. She tells him she’ll meet with Kolma in Coruscant, figure out how much money he requires for this problem to go away, but Luthen insists Mothma needs to be protected. She tries to tell Luthen she doesn’t understand what he means, but as she walks away from him, it’s clear she does. But what happens later? Is Tay Kolma really dead in Andor?
Is Tay Kolma really dead in Andor?
Yes, the show doesn’t show Tay Kolma dying, but it makes it really obvious he’s walking to his death. The conversation between Mothma and Luthen is very clear. Kolma is a problem, and Luthen cannot allow him to be one for Mon Mothma. She’s too important. “You must be protected,” he says, and though he doesn’t state it, the “at all costs” is implied.
As if that weren’t enough, we have Mothma’s reaction. Though she’s avoided drinking, she proceeds to accept a drink after the conversation with Luthen, and then another and another, and take the dance floor, as if she’s trying to loose herself and forget about what she knows is happening, not just to her daughter Leida, but to Tay Kolma, and how she is responsible for both things. About the choices she’s made that have led to this moment.
Later, we see Tay Kolma, who, after his conversation with Mothma and the promise of a meeting in Coruscant, left the party, looking for his driver. Except his usual driver isn’t there. Instead, there’s a new one. He doesn’t recognize her, but we do. And so does Vel. It’s none other than Cinta, which cements the notion that Ty Kolma isn’t walking out of that car alive. We don’t know how he dies, but we do know that much. Cinta would only be there on Luthen’s orders, and we already know that Luthen thinks Kolma is too much of a liability to be left alive.
So Andor Season 2 starts with a big death—or two, as Brasso also dies after being shot by a Stormtrooper—and a story that keeps laying down the groundwork towards Rogue One. We always knew not everyone was going to make it out of this one.
