Dune: Prophecy Recap: Ancient History

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As a long-time fan of the Dune universe and someone who has followed the intricate web of politics, power, and prophecy that Frank Herbert weaved so skillfully, I must say that the latest episode of Dune: The Sisterhood left me both enthralled and slightly disappointed.

Over the course of many centuries, between the events depicted in “Dune: Prophecy” and the rise of Paul Atreides in “Dune,” we can expect that the Harkonnens will not just amass power to become the malevolent empire of the Great Houses, but they will physically embody the wickedness that led them there. In both films, Baron Harkonnen stands out as the antagonist, a monstrous figure who wields galactic power cruelly and heartlessly, almost like an abscess of human suffering. “Dune: Prophecy” seems to suggest that Valya and Tula Harkonnen mark the beginning of the family’s downward spiral. A mission initially intended to restore the Harkonnen name, tarnished by history, has evolved into a desperate struggle for power, fueled by lies and deceit from both sisters, which threatens their original objective.

In my perspective, it seems Valya bears a significant responsibility for the events unfolding, as her deep-seated grudge led her to join the Bene Gesserit, following the heartbreaking loss of her brother. Yet, one might question Mother Superior Raquella’s role in this, as she channeled Valya’s anger and psychic abilities, revealing secrets not shared with other acolytes.

In the captivating narrative of “Twice Born,” I’ve found myself delving deeper into the lives of these acolytes, uncovering intriguing aspects about each one and their collective identity. The ordeal Lila faced with the Agony was a brush with death, but her encounter with Dorotea has far-reaching effects that extend beyond her.

In the episode, an important sequence unfolds where Tula’s meditation session with the acolytes is one of the key events. Prior to this, there’s a significant moment when Tula spreads a falsehood about Dorotea committing suicide following Raquella’s death. Emeline, using her Truth Sense, questions this claim, which Tula notices and angrily rebukes. However, Emeline’s actions set the stage for what follows. The story then shifts to a scene where all the acolytes are instructed by Tula to draw their dream experiences. She claims this is a secure method to gain insight into their dreams. During the simultaneous drawing exercise, Tula struggles to maintain control as the individual visions converge into a single image of eyes surrounded by darkness.

As a film enthusiast, I find Tula’s inability to manage the unsettling circumstances central to this episode, for it binds her fate with Valya’s, who is persistently attempting to undermine the enigmatic and formidable Desmond Hart’s influence. Last week, their clash resulted in Valya being expelled from Emperor Corrino’s domain, and she fears that other Great Houses may follow suit, ousting the Truthsayers and diminishing the Bene Gesserit’s power. To counter this, Valya endeavors to strengthen House Harkonnen by bestowing a Truthsayer upon them and leveraging her political connections to secure Harrow Harkonnen a position on the High Council in the Landsraad, a body that prides itself on preventing tyranny, injustice, and war. To achieve this goal, Harrow must pass a trial by demanding an official investigation into Pruwet Richese’s demise, a move Valya believes will expose Desmond’s wrongdoing.

Despite what Valya perceives, there are covert schemes unfolding that she’s not fully aware of. A rogue faction has acquired an illicit drone on the black market with the intention of deploying it in Corrino’s royal courtroom, but their actions, backed by the cunning swordsman Keiran Atreides, are thwarted in a grand spectacle before everyone at the Landsraad. Valya is privy to this scheme as well and aims to regain Corrino’s trust by foiling it, but Desmond takes charge of the situation ahead of her. He employs his psychic powers, which he previously used to burn Pruwet and Kasha, against the plotters in a gruesome public demonstration. Given that Corrino has just been saved from an assassination attempt, this display dispels any doubts he may have harbored about Desmond’s motives. The fact that Desmond sustains severe injuries while performing this magic only strengthens his bond with Corrino, making Valya’s situation even more challenging.

In the novel “Twice Born,” the Harkonnen sisters’ lack of solutions raises a thought-provoking question about their authority as heads of the Bene Gesserit, a faction known for its self-reliance and power. Tula faces the challenge of reining in the acolytes again – a task complicated by Lila waking up inside the Anirul device – while Valya must devise a new strategy against Desmond, one that involves Sister Theodora employing risky abilities that Valya had vowed not to unleash. The last time Valya resorted to this emergency measure with an acolyte, she forced Lila to undergo the Agony prematurely. Now, it seems Theodora is inviting disaster.

Kwisatz Haderachs

So far, Princess Ynez’s actions haven’t significantly contributed to the storyline, but her argument with Desmond during brunch did provide an unexpected chuckle. It’s challenging to take her accusations (“Are we now dining with assassins?”) seriously, considering the entire family seems to be relishing what appears to be a lavish spread reminiscent of a tropical resort like Sandals.

It’s best to extinguish a fire before an idiot strikes a match, not when your home is already ablaze. Desmond is urging Corrino to take decisive action, but it remains unclear just how loyal he is to the Emperor.

It’s extremely unlikely, but theoretically possible, that Pruwet was burnt alive by his toy, with the probability being approximately 1 in 2.5 million. In other words, it might just be a remote possibility.

• In the gathering at Landraad, the phrase “kanly” is mentioned casually and is likely to be discussed further. Essentially, a “kanly” refers to a formal feud or vendetta between powerful houses in Dune’s world. It’s an important term to know for those who watched the 1984 movie version of Dune, as it was included on the helpful list of terms provided prior to viewing.

Emeline challenging Tula over their shared wrongdoings might just be imagined, yet it hints at the deep remorse Tula harbors regarding her actions and the hidden truths she shares with her sister. Among them, Tula appears to be the more thoughtful one, as far as such qualities matter.

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2024-12-09 07:56