Andor season 2 episode 4 sees Syril Karn finally discovering his purpose within the universe. After his obsession with Cassian Andor derailed his career with the Preox-Morlana law enforcement agency, he’s gradually worked his way up the ranks in the Empire’s answer to the civil service.

But it’s his relationship with ambitious Imperial Security Bureau agent Dedra Meero that may have the most crucial bearing on his – and the galaxy’s – future. Here’s how his relocation to the planet of Ghorman is shaping the Andor season 2 story.

Spoiler alert! Proceed with caution if you’re yet to watch Andor season 2 episodes 4, 5 and 6

Who is Syril Karn?

We first met Syril Karn (played by Kyle Soller in the Andor season 2 cast) when he was an ambitious deputy inspector for Preox-Morlana law-enforcement (effectively a privatised police force) on Morlana One. After Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) killed two of Karn’s fellow officers, Karn became obsessed with tracking him down – and persisted, even after he was ordered to let the case drop. This led to a disastrous operation on Andor’s homeworld, Ferrix, in which numerous people were killed, plenty of property was damaged, and Cassian escaped anyway.

Dishonourably booted off the force, Karn moved back in with his overbearing mother Eedy (Kathryn Hunter) on Coruscant. She pulled strings with his uncle, Harlo, to get him an administrative job with the Imperial Bureau of Standards, where his unauthorised research into Cassian Andor attracted the attention of Imperial Security Bureau (ISB) supervisor Dedra Meero (The Stolen Girl’s Denise Gough). Although she initially demanded he desist, he persuaded her that he could be helpful in her own investigation into the Andor case, and Cassian’s connection to the mysterious “Axis” (aka Luthen Rael) pulling strings for the Rebel Alliance.

Subsequently promoted at the Bureau of Standards, Karn later received a message from former Preox-Morlana colleague Sergeant Linus Mosk (Alex Ferns) that Cassian’s mother, Maarva, had died. Reasoning that Cassian would likely try to return home for the funeral, Karn made an unsanctioned trip to Ferrix in the hope of apprehending his nemesis. He was unsuccessful but during a riot – partly incited by Maarva’s rousing posthumous speech – did rescue Dedra Meero from the mob. This moment proves integral to the Andor season 2 story…

What’s Syril Karn’s relationship with Dedra Meero?

That’s not entirely clear, though it’s safe to say it’s more marriage (or cohabitation) of convenience than star-crossed romance.

In the second and third episodes of this second season, “Sagrona Teema” and “Harvest”, the unlikely couple put on an act for Eedy when she comes round for dinner at their apartment. She’s clearly pleased her son has found a partner, though can’t help belittling him at every opportunity – until Dedra takes the opportunity to tell Eedy to get off Syril’s back: “I will guarantee a level of engagement but it will be inversely proportional to the volume of anxiety you generate in our lives.” It’s arguably the closest she ever comes to showing affection for Syril.

But by the time Andor season 2 episode 4 rolls around – approximately a year after the aforementioned dinner party – there’s no question that professional advancement is at the heart of Syril and Dedra’s relationship. For both parties.

Why is Syril Karn on Ghorman in Andor season 2 episode 4?

He’s accepted a job as Imperial Bureau of Standards head on Ghorman, a planet the Empire has singled out for aggressive mining of its kalkite reserves – even if it leaves the world uninhabitable. Eedy sees it as a downward step in his career, and doesn’t hold back on a HoloNet (videophone), telling him he’s wasting his time on a dead end world. She’s also swallowed the Empire’s Kool-Aid wholesale, believing all their propaganda about the supposed arrogance of the Ghormans.

During their conversation, however, Syril is uncharacteristically critical of the Empire and its actions on Ghorman. Indeed, it’s enough to make the Ghorman resistance listening into the call believe that he could be a potential asset in their fight against Imperial occupation, and they present him with an ornate spider ornament as an invitation to a top-secret rally.

Has Syril really switched sides to join the Ghormans?

It would have been one of the biggest character twists in Star Wars history, and one that’s ultimately too big even for Andor. Instead, it turns out that Syril has been working for Dedra all along.

While he doesn’t yet realise that the Empire’s ultimate goal is gouging the planet for its kalkite reserves – or that Dedra’s highly classified assignment involves obliterating any sympathy for the Ghormans and their plight – he willingly goes along with her orders to infiltrate the resistance.

And there’s no question the ever-ambitious Syril is enjoying the opportunity to mix with the higher echelons of the Imperial security service. After Dedra’s boss, Major Partagaz, praises his work, Syril asks Dedra: “If I say this is the greatest day of my life, does it spoil everything?” There’s a man who’s taking pride in his – albeit morally questionable – work.

New Andor season 2 episodes debut on Disney+ on Wednesdays.