Ahsoka, “Dreams and Madness”, Review!

Ahsoka’s episode 7, “Dreams and Madness”, has a great beginning and Ahsoka fighting to get to Ezra and Sabine! Re:cap - “Far, Far Away”; Ahsoka is traveling with Huyang via the Purrgil. On Peridea, Sabine encounters the Great Mothers and taken to a cell. The Star Destroyer Chimaera appears and the legions of Night Troopers are led by Captain Enoch. Then, she faces an old enemy, Grand Admiral Thrawn, and he honors the agreemnt made by Baylan. Sabine is given her weapons and sent on a Howler to find Ezra. Thrawn sends Baylan and Shin to end the reunion. She defeats bandits in red armor and then finds the small, turtle-like Noti. They take her to their village; metal, pod-like huts. 

There we finally have the reunion of Ezra Bridger! At the fortress, Grand Admiral Thrawn meets with the Great Mothers. He is told by them that a Jedi is arriving riding the “travelers.” Thrawn suspects it is Ahsoka Tano which Morgan says is impossible. He asks Morgan for everything known about Ahsoka. Then, he orders any star whale to be destroyed. Thrawn asks the Great Mothers for their “dark magic”! This episode has a strange title since the story is set in the world of Peridea. There was a Studio Ghibli documentary entitled Kingdom of Dreams and Madness (2014). Part seven is directed by Geeta Vasant Patel. She directed “The Lord of the Tides” (2022) episode of House of the Dragon. Dave Filoni is the writer. 

Haunting music opens to a Sentate chamber on Coruscant. Hera stands before them; headed by Chancellor Mothma, on her left is Admiral Ackbar and Senator Xiono who is leading the court martial for some reason, and on her right is Senator Mawood (who was present at her fleet request), and Nien Nunb, now with whiskers and red general pips! Xiono says General Syndulla ignored a direct order and she corrects him saying that she ignored him. Admiral Ackbar turns to look at him with a “You burnt” look! Chancellor Mothma says Hera’s action showed that there was an “incident” on Seatos. Captain Teva walks up as Xiono says the report is like a fairy tale. So there are fairies in the Star Wars universe? He doesn’t agree with Hera using the term, Imperial Remnant. 

This makes Captain Teva stand up and bring up the Mandalore battle. Xiono calls Gideon a warlord and not a moff? Senator Xiono is very aggrssive in condeming General Syndulla. Xiono influenced by Thrawn’s plan or operatives? “Thou dost protest too much.” Chancellor Mothma is silent. He demands a court martial. They are interrupted by the voice of a familiar protocol droid! Chancellor Mothma allows in See-Threepio (Anthony Daniels). Threepio announces he is there for Senator Leia Organa. He presents a data transcript that confirms that Leia had authorized the mission to Seatos. It is great that we have Daniels back, but the absence of Leia at the mission authorization doesn’t make sense, she would have approved it in the first place. Also, he says Leia did not know of Xiono’s vote against it. 

Xiono is angry at evidence from a “mere droid” which upsets Chopper in the audience. Threepio reminds him that Leia is leader of the Defense Council. What committee is Xiono on that has so much influence and why is there no other support from senators? The actor who is physically portraying Threepio is not the same as Daniels, his head is held back when Threepio usually talks straight to speakers. Chancellor Mothma finishes the trial asking if Senator Xiono wants to continue. She speaks with Hera in an aside and asks about Thrawn. Hera says, “We have to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.” We hear the sinister note of a flute and drums. The Purrgil are moving through hyperspace. Ahsoka is practicing her forms with her lightsabers. The hologram of Anakin Skywalker, in his black chest armor, mentions the Clone Wars with the threat of General Grievous, Asaaj Ventress, and Count Dooku. 

Huyang walks in. He tells her to trust herself and says, “I know you can do this Ahsoka.” She bows to him and he does so in return. Ahsoka says that Anakin made twenty recordings for her and this was the last one. A nice touch to how much Anakin trusted Ahsoka before he left her. Huyang says that the purrgils are nearing their destination. Ahsoka puts the holo recording in a case in her weapons locker. At the cockpit, Ahsoka states that their objective is to find Sabine. Huyang says that is “direct and to the point.” Ahsoka says it’s her style! He is uncertain if the star whales have taken to the system or planet as Sabine. Huyang says the odds are finding her are too high, Ahsoka chides him for mentioning it, they have a great rapport. When did Ahsoka find Huyang and how long have they had this working relationship? I think this will be in supplemental material. I’m for hoping a novel by E.K. Johnston! 

The Purrgils leave hyperspace, Huyang begins to scan, but is blocked. They are starting to be rocked and leave the Ultra Purrgil in a series of explosions! Huyang identifies the Imperial minefield. We haven’t seen space mines in Star Wars and in sci fi except in Galaxy Quest (1999). It batters the shuttle, but Ahsoka flies past the minefield. Nine fighters move in to engage the shuttle! Ahsoka dives the shuttle into the “debris field” of the Purrgil bones that ring Peridea. It is a chase like the asteroid battle over Geonosis in Attack of the Clones (2002). The dust and bone fragments are difficult to fly through and takes out one of the fighters. At the fortress, cargo is being loaded onto thd Chimaera. Captain Enoch, in hologram form, reports to Thrawn about the minefield by the star whales and a T-6 Jedi shuttle. 

Morgan presents Thrawn a datapad about information on Ahsoka. No reaction, but I sense a disturbance at the mention of General Anakin Skywalker. Thrawn gives the order to withdraw the fighters. Morgan wonders why let Ahsoka go and Thrawn says she may be unpredictable like her master. Similar to Thrawn in Star Wars: Rebels, he is a master strategist, but repeatedly lets his opponents go free, again and again. In Heir to the Empire, our heroes would barely escape and suffer defeat after defeat. I think Filoni needs the tactical mind of Timothy Zahn. Huyang reports that the fighters are pulling back from the dangers of flying in the debris field. Ahsoka lands on a large, Purrgil bone structure. Huyang wonders how they were found and Ahsoka knows that it was Thrawn. Huyang tries to scan for Sabine. 

On Peridea, the Noti pods hover across the fields like pill bugs. Ezra is still working on Sabine’s update about the defeat of the Empire in the Battle of Endor. Also, the New Republic, Hera is general, and Zeb is now training recruits. He is the missing part of the Ghost crew. Garazeb may show up in the next season. Sabine says she is the apprentice of Ahsoka. Baylan rides up to a ridge with Shin and the bandits. Thrawn meets with the Great Mothers and wants them to locate Ahsoka in the debris field. The sphere is released setting up the triangle around a map of the field. Morgan begins chanting. Tiny squid-like creatures drift like deep sea animals as Huyang finishes his scan. He can’t find Sabine. Ahsoka reaches out to Sabine through the Force calling her name. On board the Noti pod, Sabine says Ahsoka’s name. 

Ahsoka has found Sabine and then we switch to Klotho’s black eyes, disturbing, who has discovered Ahsoka’s location. The red triangle points to the coordinates. Thrawn has Captain Enoch blast the area! Ezra checks on Sabine who says she has a feeling. The shuttle is suddenly rocked by the Eye of Sion’s cannons! Thrawn knows that she is headed to Sabine and orders Enoch to bring in the fighters. The Noti halt the caravan and point to the distant Baylan and Shin. He tells his apprentice to contact Thrawn, kill Ezra and Sabine, and take her place in the new Empire. Baylan is taking a different path than his apprentice. Shin sends the coordinates to Thrawn and says a last lesson to her about impatience. The bandits head towards the Noti followed by Shin. Captain Enoch makes his report and Thrawn sends two gunships. Thrawn says to a Great Mother that Baylan will bring a victory. 

The bandits start to close on their Howlers. Strange, Ezra has a strong connection to animals through the Force and could have the Howlers throw off their riders. Sabine fires on them with her blasters. Ezra tells a Noti, “Yuka Yuka”, and the feller takes out a slingshot! I’m not certain exactly how Ezra and the Noti survived so long against the Night Troopers, the bandits, and the Howlers. A bandits uses an electrostaff to bring a pod down! Ezra has the Noti circle their pods in a sealed, defensive ring. Flying the shuttle, Ahsoka sees the ring of pods, as she weaves through the blasterfire. Shin strolls her Howler towards the pods. The bandit leader next to her orders his men on foot. Ahsoka tells Huyang that she is going to get to the ground as he flies the shuttle. As she readies to leave she tells Huyang he got the timing wrong last time! Ahsoka has Huyang drop the steps of the landing ramp to slide off as he pulls the shuttle away! 

She sees Baylan who dismounts his Howler. Baylan is not surprised and ignites his lightsaber. Ahsoka has her arms spread as she activates her lightsabers. Surrounded by the bandits, Sabine offers Ezra the lightsaber, but he refuses to take it. He says he only needs the Force. Ezra Force pushes a bandit while Sabine uses her blasters! Ezra fights in a martial arts style, I wonder if this is Teräs Käsi, this was made into a video game, Star Wars: Masters of Teräs Käsi (1997). It was known by Qi’ra from the 2018 Solo movie. Baylan duels with Ahsoka, but finds she is not so easily defeated as their first encounter. Shin, behind Ezra’s back, tries to slice him, but only gets the tips of his hair! Fairly cowardly attacking an unarmed opponent from behind. Sabine fights a bandits and then uses her lightsaber! Shin keeps swinging, dodged by Ezra, then Sabine knocks aside her blade with her lightsaber. Then, Shin turns to see the gunships. Ahsoka part seven begins with an interesting beginning with the cameos, the second part has action, but without the surprises of the previous episodes! 

Three Lightsabers out of Five! 

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