Another installment of “Dune: Prophecy” just hit the screen, taking us on a journey far beyond what any of the Dune movies dared to explore. Forget the shock of the premiere episode where the youngest character met a grim fate; this time, the story dares to undermine one of Dune’s most intimidating forces, setting the stage over 10,000 years in the past.
If you’re familiar with “Dune” and its sequel, “Dune: Part Two,” you know that the arsenal is pretty lethal—poisonous fake teeth, laser beams, atomic bombs. Yet, The Voice, wielded by the Bene Gesserit, stands unparalleled. This commanding tool can manipulate individuals through a mere vocal modulation. We’ve seen Lady Jessica (played by Rebecca Ferguson) use it to force a soldier to turn on his ally and Chani (Zendaya) feed the seemingly lifeless Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) a strange concoction to revive him. But in “Dune: Prophecy,” Valya Harkonnen (Jessica Barden) is unveiled as the mastermind behind this powerful ability, first demonstrated when she manipulates Reverend Mother Dorotea (Camilla Beeput) to end her own life to protect the Sisterhood’s genetic records.
This recent episode presents something never before seen—an immunity to The Voice. In a tense moment, Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel) manages to resist Valya’s control, a feat previously thought impossible. The climax reveals his inner fire quite literally, as Valya tries to stabilize the Corrino family’s control after a series of unfortunate events, including the demise of Reverend Mother Kasha (Jihae), who was a close advisor to Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong).
In a private meeting intended for manipulation, Valya finds herself facing Hart rather than the Emperor. Her usual strategy—compelling others to self-destruct—seems to backfire spectacularly. She believes she has Hart ready to obey, but as she issues her final directive, she encounters an unprecedented resistance. Hart, not only survives but delivers a blistering retort: “I always wondered what your greatest fear would be. Now I have seen it. It’s not that no one will hear you. It’s that they’ll hear you and just won’t care.”
This scene isn’t just about one-upping a formidable foe. It adds depth to the lore by suggesting that the ancient sandworm, Shai-Hulud, predates The Voice itself. The sandworms are worshipped by the Fremen as near-divine creatures, and Dr. Liet-Kynes (Sharon Duncan-Brewster) emphasized their primacy in the first movie. Shai-Hulud’s essence is key to the Bene Gesserit’s power; their transition into Reverend Mothers involves consuming its deadly secretion known as the Water of Life. Thus, it’s poetic that only the power tied to Shai-Hulud could truly challenge the Bene Gesserit.
Hart, having been swallowed by a sandworm, seems to have emerged with powers that defy Bene Gesserit’s abilities. Despite his vow to eradicate the Bene Gesserit, we know from the films that they persist as a formidable force 10,000 years hence. “Dune: Prophecy” raises intriguing possibilities: could there be more individuals with powers linked to Shai-Hulud? How might the Bene Gesserit have evolved to withstand such threats over millennia?
“Dune: Prophecy” is undoubtedly setting the stage for a complete reimagining of the Dune universe, keeping us on our toes with its audacious narrative twists. Strap in for what promises to be a thrilling saga!
