As a seasoned observer of human dramas, I must say that the tapestry of intrigue unfolding in this Dune: Prophecy series is nothing short of mesmerizing. The characters, each with their own secrets and motivations, are as complex and layered as the ancient spice itself.
Before diving back into “In Blood, Truth,” the penultimate episode of the concise first season of Dune: Prophecy, it’s worth pondering the last statement: “Let us eradicate these witches from the Imperium forever.” The witches referred to are undeniably the Bene Gesserit, a secretive female order with significant influence over the strings of the Dune universe. This line is spoken by a character who has previously played a minor role to another known for performing despicable acts. Taken individually, it may seem like a conversation between two villains. However, on Dune: Prophecy, everyone seems to have a hidden motivation, and the seemingly virtuous characters may simply be yet to reveal their darker intentions.
Is it more accurate to say that these characters aren’t clearly defined as good or bad? After five episodes, Dune: Prophecy hasn’t established any clear-cut sympathetic figures or drawn a distinct line between right and wrong, even a blurry one. This isn’t a criticism, but rather an observation that aligns with the world created in Frank Herbert’s books and Dune: Prophecy’s other source of inspiration, Game of Thrones. So far, it appears less like a series with a moral stance and more like an ongoing examination of how perception shapes our ability to distinguish the just from the unjust. The fact that one of the kindest characters we’ve met, Tula, is also responsible for killing an apparently innocent family, including a man who loved her, speaks volumes.
Peering into the vast tapestry of Dune’s fictional history, I find myself contemplating the intriguing paradox that even within this universe, change seems elusive despite the passage of millennia. The prequel series, Dune: Prophecy, unfolds 10,000 years before the main saga, a time when the Bene Gesserit are not only thriving but are on the brink of executing a plan that spans an entire epoch.
To begin anew: “In ‘Blood, Truth’, we find ourselves at the start of the story, where Emperor Corrino declares the formation of a powerful new regiment as a reaction to the thwarted assassination attempt from the previous episode. This unit serves as their version of the Department of Homeland Security, with Desmond appointed as its head by the Emperor. The interaction between the two showcases their relationship effectively. While Corrino projects an image of a firm leader justifying his decision, it’s evident he is merely following Desmond’s orders, as their conversation later confirms. The soldier from Arrakis struggles to hide his amusement, while Ynez struggles to conceal her disdain before rushing off for a heartfelt chat with Constantine. In this meeting, Constantine reveals that beneath his playboy persona lies a young man yearning for his father’s approval.
The character Francesca (Tabu), whom we haven’t seen before, unexpectedly appears in the story. She was once deeply connected to Emperor Corrino, as Empress Natalya’s reaction suggests even prior to further explanation of their relationship. It seems that Francesca has come solely for one purpose: to meet her son, Constantine. The revelation of Kasha’s death upsets her greatly, particularly because she feels Valya should have informed her about it. After hearing her concerns, she is told the situation was too volatile to disclose such information and that Corrino’s rejection of a new Truthsayer and his alliance with Desmond has placed the entire Sisterhood in danger, which deeply distresses Francesca.
In a forthcoming encounter between Francesca and Constantine, she openly discusses her Bene Gesserit work and his role in their larger scheme. Essentially, he’s there to safeguard Ynez, who they believe will help them attain genuine power. This isn’t a comforting, nurturing embrace, but perhaps he can acknowledge the frankness (even though, as we’ll discover later, “frankness” might not be entirely accurate).
At the Bene Gesserit headquarters, Sister Avila struggles to maintain the attention of her acolytes, as most are troubled by recurring nightmares except for Jen. It’s Jen who bravely voices her concerns, only to be silenced abruptly by Tula. However, Tula seems angry, but in reality, she requires Jen’s assistance and a promise of secrecy as she discloses some startling information: (1) Lila has been resurrected, yet (2) her mind is somewhat disordered, and it’s uncertain if she still retains her original identity. In fact, the Agony and her subsequent death and revival have given her a host of foremothers, who are proving to be quite challenging. With Jen keeping an eye on Lila, Tula departs to address other issues.
In the ensuing events, Harrow Harkonen endeavors to meet with the newly crowned Desmond, aiming to regain the Emperor’s good graces following the previous episode’s incidents. To grab Desmond’s attention, he manipulatively implicates Valya in a scheme, which proves effective. Curious about any ties between the rebellion and the Bene Gesserit, Desmond promises an unnamed reward for such information. Additionally, he offers a generous amount of spice, sparking Desmond’s interest and guiding him towards an underground market that could potentially reveal the insurgents’ whereabouts and their allies. This move benefits Harrow’s case, but acquiring solid proof of Valya’s deceit would be even more advantageous.
However, it remains unclear which character is manipulating whom. Later on, we discover that Harrow was following instructions devised by Valya. Despite not having any deep affection for his aunt, Harrow agrees to support her strategy aimed at regaining the Emperor’s favor. The ultimate goal is to restore the Harkonnens to a position of significant power, something they haven’t held in generations.
Desmond swiftly takes action against rebels, suspected rebels, and their usual haunts where they indulge in spice. Skipping past Swordmaster Keiran and allegedly tormenting a smuggler (thankfully, this is done off-screen), Desmond and his armed group storm into the imperial city’s most popular club. Given that he may have reason to suspect, if not definitely should, that Keiran warned Mikaela about her cover being exposed, it seems Desmond doesn’t anticipate that Mikaela has planted explosives in the club. As Desmond’s men begin wrecking the place, Desmond engages Mikaela in a deep discussion concerning how she balances her Fremen identity with serving the empire that oppresses Arakkis. However, before Mikaela can fully address this complex question, she and Keiran escape as the club explodes.
Outside, Keiran experiences a personal epiphany. He realizes that the knife she carries indicates she belongs to the Bene Gesserit. Following a nerve-wracking encounter with Valya, Valya sends her back to the Bene Gesserit safehouse on Dune, leaving it unclear whether Keiran should trust Valya or find safety there. Meanwhile, Keiran manages to survive the explosion but not the palace drama. Upon returning to the palace, he crosses paths with Constantine and ends up being detained for his part in the foiled assassination attempt. This turn of events is disadvantageous for Keiran but beneficial for Constantine, who gains the title of fleet commander, as his mother had wished. It’s also a setback for Ynez, who shares a significant glance with her mother. She has feelings for Keiran — if that term is appropriate — but her attempt to harm his family may have jeopardized their connection. Visiting him in prison, she demands the truth from him, using the Bene Gesserit method of interrogation. Yes, he values her enough to abandon his role in the plot. However, he still holds onto the fundamental beliefs of the rebellion. The exchange between them hints at Ynez’s uncertainty about her position now.
It doesn’t take much time for Jen and Tula to notice that Lila, who seems to have calmed down, isn’t actually addressing Lila herself. Instead, they both sense that Lila has been taken over by the spirit of Lila’s grandmother, Raquella. This spirit uses the opportunity after death as a chance to return to work in the lab.
What happened to Kasha bears a resemblance to the “Omnius Plague,” a thinking machine-designed disease Raquella encountered during the war. Lila/Raquella concludes that the Sisterhood’s current problems, including the nightmares troubling the acolytes, can be traced to an engineered virus. She’s so excited to share this news that she barely notices an understandably shocked Sister Avila, who’s not sure she approves of this development. (The word “abomination” gets thrown about.)
Perhaps it’s Desmond who is the true enigma, as Tula scrutinizes the genetic sample Valya provided with the aid of a prohibited thinking device, she finds herself in a bit of a quandary. As the episode concludes, scenes interweave: Tula discovering Desmond seems to possess both Atreides and Harkonnen DNA, Corrino sharing an intimate moment with Francesca, and Desmond confiding in Natalya about his past. Natalya, filled with animosity towards the Bene Gesserit, voices her disdain for their interference in her life. Tula sheds tears over the test results as Desmond recounts his troubled upbringing among scavengers, and later he and Natalya share a passionate kiss. In that moment, Natalya vows to purge the Imperium of these witches.
Once again, the question of who is manipulating who at this moment is tough to ignore. In an episode that’s revealed unexpected allegiances and tangled loyalties, is this an instance of Desmond, once again, using the emotions of others to his advantage? Is Natalya emerging as a secret mastermind? You can put those questions next to others like, “Will we ever be able to tell when Lila is really Lila?” “What does Ynez want, and how does she plan to get it?” and “Will anyone ever take Harrow aside and talk frankly about his tragic haircut?” Dune: Prophecy has one more episode to reveal any of those answers this season. But expect them to be joined by even more questions. Like the Sisterhood, the series seems to be playing the long game.
Kwisatz Haderachs
Natalya says, ‘That uniform suits you perfectly,’ Desmond.” Neither the Corrinos nor their spouses try to disguise their admiration for others.
Mikaela cautions Kieran, “Never assume you can truly become the person you’re portraying,” a line that seems to echo one of the series’ central themes, reminiscent of Tula almost falling into the same trap. However, when Kieran steps out of his role, who is he then? We don’t necessarily know yet.
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2024-12-16 06:54