Andor Episodes 8 and 9:

Note, spoilers!

These were both strong episodes. They really bring to life several different aspects of the oppression of the Empire. As an extra bonus, we also - for the first time! - get a window on some of the ideological differences between different Rebel factions. Saw Gerrera explains that he's an anarchist, but there are also separatists (presumably people who want their planets to become independent states), "New Republicans," and others.

But the two episodes were also very depressing to watch. Most of our screen time is spent on scenes of torture (when Bix gets interrogated by Dedro Meera), and Cassian Andor's life in a dystopian prison. The latter is actually (at least from my perspective) much more depressing to watch than the former. Villains who engage in torture are a standard TV trope. A system of forced labor where virtually every minute is regulated and controlled feels far worse. The current real-world analogue is China's concentration camps for Uighurs. Watching the episode made me feel like I'd almost rather go through a day of horrible torture than many months or years of complete totalitarian regimentation.

Dedra Meero and Syril Karn also get some useful development as villains in these episodes. The former is clearly ambitious, but appears to genuinely believe that stamping out the Rebellion is a moral imperative. She's also one of the very few genuinely competent Imperial officers we have seen at any point in the Star Wars franchise. Karn continues to be a genuine devotee of the Empire, as well, but in this episode also comes off as somewhat psychotic. I would not have taken the latter as far as the screenwriters did.

I have a few other nits to pick with these episodes. But my only significant reservation is that they are so depressing as to make them hard to watch, at times. On the other hand, I can understand why the writers are deliberately generating this reaction! Now, we can REALLY see why people hate the Empire.

Overall, this remains a strong series, and I look forward to the rest!