‘Ahsoka’ Episode Seven Recap: “Dreams and Madness”

Warning: the following article contains spoilers for episode seven of Ahsoka.

After two middling episodes, Ahsoka goes back on track with a highly enjoyable penultimate, mostly one-long action sequence. It’s perhaps why I enjoyed it so much, even if the most unexpected cameo of the entire series (so far) could’ve derailed this entire thing. On Coruscant, Hera Syndulla (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) faces a disciplinary hearing for her actions on Seatos. While Mon Mothma (Genevieve O’Reilly) seems more lenient towards her, Senator Xiono (Nelson Lee) won’t stand for any slander directed towards him or the New Republic.

However, C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) unexpectedly arrives and gives Mothma a drive that “confirms” Senator Leia Organa sent Hera on the mission, exonerating her of any charges. Did I expect to see C-3PO in this episode, let alone in this series? Absolutely not. But his appearance made sense since Carrie Fisher is no longer with us. Plus, it added some fun humor to the hearing as Xiono calls him (and inadvertently Chopper), a “mere droid.” The two get rather heated at this declaration. This entire scene could’ve been completely unwarranted, but it felt like a fun nod to the expanded universe instead. It harkened back to one of the franchise’s most famous quotes: “A surprise to be sure, but a welcomed one.”

The rest of the episode centers on Ahsoka Tano (Rosario Dawson) finally arriving on Peridea and reuniting with Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo) and Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi). However, the reunion cuts itself short, as Grand Admiral Thrawn (Lars Mikkelsen) has set a trap for the Purrgils, leading Ahsoka and Huyang (David Tennant) to a debris field. On the planet, Sabine and Ezra have to face off against Baylan Skoll (Ray Stevenson) and Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno), though the former decides to part ways with her apprentice, revealing a hidden agenda that will likely be answered in the finale.

But once Ahsoka lands on the planet, she faces off against Skoll again, though he disappears by the time the episode ends. Thrawn also notices it, wondering where he might be. This is a wild theory, but he may find himself against him next week, attempting to stop his invasion before it reaches the galaxy. Of course, this will all prove futile because Thrawn is the Mando-verse’s big bad. There’s no way the finale ends on a “positive” note.

On the other hand, Sabine and Ezra face off against Hati, and those who want to see Ezra with a lightsaber again will be disappointed, as he strictly uses the force. But it makes for some great comedic banter, and we get to see round 3 of Shin v. Wren. Though there was no winner, round 4 is bound to happen next week, and it seems she has started to directly show some conflict in her eyes. Ahsoka tells her she can help, but Hati flees once Thrawn withdraws his stormtroopers.

The core action setpiece is beautifully shot and executed, with Geeta Vasant Patel helming this week’s episode and giving fans some truly satisfying moments while holding back on some of the finale’s bigger and more emotional moments. Still, the reunion between Ahsoka, Sabine, and Ezra doesn’t disappoint, and all signs point to a hopefully entertaining finale that will at least try to conclude this chapter of the Mando-verse instead of being incessant set-ups.

So, yes, I enjoyed this week’s episode of Ahsoka, and I hope that next week’s will conclude the series with a bang and not a whimper. This isn’t solely a Star Wars problem, but most Disney+ finales have been relatively lukewarm, to say the least, or straight-up bad. But after Secret Invasion’s historically awful final episode, there’s only one way for Ahsoka to go, but up. Here’s hoping Dave Filoni can stick the landing and deliver an episode to remember.

The seventh episode of Ahsoka is now streaming on Disney+.