This article has spoilers for Andor Season 2, episodes 1-6.
I have always found Andor's Perrin Fertha to be one of the most fascinating characters of the show. On the surface, he seems like Mon Mothma's crappy socialite husband who prefers dinner parities with her enemies because they're "fun" and "not sad all the time."
However, there were little moments in Season 1 that stood out to me that there was something more to Perrin. He helped Mon work her parties and get votes in her legislature. They would come together, exchange a few words, before dividing again, clearly knowing how to work as a team. When it came to marrying off his teenage daughter Leida, he sided with Mon against the Chandrillan tradition. He didn't want Leida to do it, but everyone ended up having no choice. When Mon called him out for gambling, he vehemently denied her accusations, sounding hurt that his wife would even say such a thing.
Despite the lack of "fun" Mon was and his suspicions of Tay Kolma having an affair with her, I do think Perrin does genuinely care for Mon, even if it's as friends and not as a romantic partner. While speculation on my part, I do think that despite their arranged wedding, they did or might still have some love for each other. There is something more to Perrin than being Mon's dopey husband.
Which is why Andor Season 2 has been absolutely fascinating for me when it comes to Perrin, and I think he's a character to watch out for in the back half.
In Week One, he played all the normal father of the bride role he had to for Leida's wedding. He entertained guests. He gave his speech. A lot of it was very much like him and Mon working parties in Season 1. Though there was one weird scene in the midst of all of this.
When Mon is having her tragic dance, knowing that Luthen Rael is going to kill Tay to silence him in the name of the Rebellion, Perrin sees her. He notices her dancing and looks concerned. Andor creator Tony Gilroy doesn't do anything in this show for no reason. Gilroy wanted us, the audience, to see Perrin watching Mon. It was a purposeful moment.
Jumping one year ahead to this week's episode, "What A Festive Evening," there's a small scene of Mon and Perrin riding in their car together. He's complaining about a year's worth of diplomat parties within a span of a few days. These are all new Imperial senators who have been voted in, which he notes that it took Mon years to even host her first event. During the party when she's trading words with Director Krennic, Perrin is quick a few times to try and defuse the situation. He's also sticking very close to Mon. They're not dividing and conquering as much anymore, but standing more united at these events.
I think Perrin's starting to wake up. These parties aren't "fun" anymore. I think he's starting to see what's happening around him. He's realizing that there is some sort of change in Mon. Maybe he even suspects her rebel activity and quietly covering for her, if only to protect his own lavish lifestyle.
I think Perrin is someone to watch in the back half of Andor. We know that Mon is going to defect from the Empire in Season 2 thanks to Star Wars Rebels. We don't know how Perrin's story ends, though. I think he's going to be one of the more surprising factors in the last two weeks.
Andor Season 2 is now on Disney+.