As a die-hard fan of the original Dune novels, I must admit that my excitement for the upcoming series “Dune: Prophecy” is through the roof! Having grown up with Herbert’s intricate world-building and complex characters, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia mixed with anticipation.


Once again, we find ourselves immersed in the realm of Dune, similar to Princess Jasmine being trapped within Jafar’s enormous hourglass, sinking in sand. On November 17, HBO will unveil its newest risky investment based on intellectual property, Dune: Prophecy. This new series is stepping into the shoes of its previous high-stakes IP venture, The Penguin, and carrying on the prequel duties akin to this summer’s big-budget IP gamble House of the Dragon. Could it be that HBO’s prime Sunday evening slot is aiming for a “we’ve acquired an exotic menagerie” theme with its assortment of dragons, birds, and worms?

In “Dune: Prophecy,” a prequel to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and Dune: Part Two, we delve into the early days of the Bene Gesserit, an order of space-witches that later advises the Corrino Empire’s Emperor and its aristocratic families. However, their true intention is a closely guarded secret: they aim to influence who should rule. The six-episode series, derived from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s 2012 novel Sisterhood of Dune, reveals the reasons behind the Bene Gesserit’s actions that eventually lead to Paul Atreides’s rise in the Dune films. Emily Watson portrays Valya Harkonnen, a Reverend Mother who has led the sisterhood for over three decades and molded it according to her vision of subtle manipulation through complex matchmaking schemes among the powerful elite. Her goal is to breed an emperor under their control. Yet, as she seeks to increase her influence in the Imperium, she encounters a mysterious figure from Arrakis, Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel), who possesses powers that could potentially jeopardize the sisterhood. The series offers insights into Valya’s intentions, which are somewhat unclear in Dune: Prophecy.

Immersing oneself into the intricate universe of ‘Dune: Prophecy’ might be a challenge for those unfamiliar with Frank Herbert’s works or the extensive franchise he built. If you don’t have the time to watch both ‘Dune’ and ‘Dune: Part Two’, or if reading Herbert’s novels is out of reach before Sunday night, fear not! Here are five essential facts to keep in mind as ‘Dune: Prophecy’ premieres.

1.
Spice, spice, baby

In essence, Herbert’s Dune can be seen as a symbolic portrayal of the struggles between America and Britain over oil, with spice serving as a stand-in for petroleum and gasoline. This precious substance, resembling a glittering burnt-orange powder and possessing a cinnamon aroma, is the only resource produced on Arrakis. Prolonged contact with it turns the native Fremen’s eyes blue, and on this planet, spice is utilized in daily food, goods, and explosives. Across the cosmos, spice has come to symbolize wealth and prosperity, but its most prized use is as a drug by the Spacing Guild; it grants their Navigators a form of foresight that enables them to plot interstellar travel. Given the constant movement between planets in this universe, demand for spice is immense. The family controlling Arrakis and its spice production becomes one of the richest and most admired dynasties within the Imperium, yet they are also continually targeted by the Fremen, who have long sought to liberate their homeland from foreign rule.

Spices significantly influence the world’s economic strife and political power plays. Interestingly, a unique ritual in the fictional universe of Dune involves the Water of Life – a narcotic derived from sandworm bile, which thrives in spice-laden sand. In this ceremony, members of a community consume this poison, fostering unity and camaraderie. As Paul’s partner Chani puts it, “When we partake in the Water, we connect – all of us. We share.

2.
Atreides vs. Harkonnen

In the opening of “Dune”, the ruthless House Harkonnen, known for their cruelty, have ruled Arrakis for many years, demonstrating their strong alliance with the Emperor Shaddam Corrino IV of the Imperium (portrayed in “Dune: Part Two” by Christopher Walken). As stated by Josh Brolin’s character Gurney Halleck in Denis Villeneuve’s initial film, “For eighty years, Arrakis was under House Harkonnen… Can you fathom the riches?… They aren’t human; they’re brutal.” This suggests that their violent and grotesque nature (such as Baron Harkonnen’s enormous physique and their creatures resembling spiders) might be a result of the immense wealth they’ve accumulated over generations. House Atreides, where our protagonist Paul (Timothee Chalamet) originates, possesses righteousness and goodness that sets them at odds with the Harkonnens due to their contrasting brutality.

The unexpected move by Corrino to transfer Arrakis from House Harkonnen to House Atreides stirs confusion – it’s only when we discover he intended this action as a provocation to ignite a war between the two houses, that things become clear. The Emperor’s plot to eradicate House Atreides, seen as a threat due to their virtuous nature and widespread support, goes awry when Paul, his mother Lady Jessica (portrayed by Rebecca Ferguson), Paul’s unborn sister Alia manage to evade the Harkonnens’ attack on Arrakis, adapt to life in the desert, and ultimately seek vengeance against both the Emperor and House Harkonnen. A significant detail: Lady Jessica was originally a member of House Harkonnen, which later causes tension between her and Paul as they uncover this secret in Dune: Part Two. The enmity between these families, rooted in centuries of animosity, casts a dark cloud over the entire Dune universe. Given that Dune: Prophecy features characters from both Houses Harkonnen and Atreides, expect this age-old rivalry to continue unfolding in this installment.

3.
The fall of the machine

We never heard the word “jihad” in Villeneuve’s films, which means we’re probably never going to hear the word in Dune: Prophecy, either; the series will likely rename this historical moment. But the Muslim context of this word, in particular how it defines a just war, was important to Herbert when he conceived of the Butlerian Jihad, a “crusade against computers, thinking machines, and conscious robots” led by the last free humans in order to reverse their species’s enslavement. As explained in Dune’s Terminology of the Imperium (a glossary that appeared at the end of the first novel), the Butlerian Jihad occurred more than 10,000 years before the events in Dune (lining it up right with the Dune: Prophecy timeline) and lasted nearly 100 years. The humans ultimately prevail in the conflict they also call the Great Revolt and outlaw these machines, creating various orders to take their place. The human computer Mentats, capable of high-level calculation and strategy, are assigned to each house, while the Guild Navigators use spice to determine paths through space.

Villeneuve’s films mainly focus on the aftermath of the uprising and its impact on the Imperium and its inhabitants, but it is crucial to grasp the fundamental rule that emerged following the end of the Butlerian Jihad: “No machine may be created in the image of a human mind.” The citizens of the Imperium are keen to avoid a recurrence of a Matrix-like scenario, given their past experiences. It’s quite understandable why they would feel this way.

4.
Religion in Dune is complicated

In Herbert’s book, religion plays a significant role, featuring characters who practice various futuristic versions of Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, and agnosticism. However, in Villeneuve’s films, religion is almost completely absent from the narrative. For instance, elements of Islam or Middle Eastern culture that are deeply embedded in Herbert’s novel as essential world-building elements, are scarcely present in Dune and Dune: Part Two.

In the fictional universe of Dune: Prophecy, the Bene Gesserit are significant figures during a captivating era of religious thought. They influence the long-term cultural impact of humanity’s distrust towards thinking machines and AI. However, their nature is debated; some perceive them as a religious order with questionable intentions, while others view them as a group of women who learn and train together. In Dune, Paul questions their motives, adding to this debate. Despite the series’ attempt to downplay Herbert’s notion that the Bene Gesserit’s symbolism, organization, and teaching methods are deeply religious, their practices such as using the Water of Life in the Spice Agony ceremony, which links their consciousness with ancestors within the order, carry an air of grandeur and ritualistic significance. This spiritual aura is likely to be emphasized on screen.

5.
The Bene Gesserit are, uh, geneticists

In a sprawling, multi-generational scheme that spans across eras, these space sorceresses are orchestrating a complex breeding program with the intention of placing the ideal ruler, known as the Kwisatz Haderach, on the Imperium throne and under their control. This extraordinary individual, who possesses abilities such as seeing into both the past and future, performing advanced mathematical and engineering calculations, and navigating space, will emerge from their carefully planned matrimonial unions. The Bene Gesserit strategically assign members of their order to advise various great houses, thereby organizing marriages between families and expanding their influence. Upon the birth of the Kwisatz Haderach, the sorceresses would have control over this powerful figure when they ascend to the throne. However, Paul Atreides (who is suspected to be that figure) disrupts their plans by resisting their manipulation, although 10,000 years ago, these influential figures were merely beginning their intricate genetic calculations and scheming to facilitate life’s evolution in a manner approved by the Bene Gesserit.

Read More

2024-11-15 02:54