The first season of the series “Dune: Prophecy” has come to an end with the release of the sixth episode on the MAX platform. How does the first burst of episodes of the prequel to Denis Villeneuve's films end? Warning, spoilers.
Warning, spoilers. The following paragraphs reveal plot elements from the series finale episode “Dune: Prophecy”.
After six weeks of broadcast, Dune: Prophecy has just ended on the MAX platform. This science fiction series is adapted from the novel The Community of Sisters by Brian Herbert (the son of Frank Herbert, author of the original literary series Dune) and Kevin J. Anderson and supervised by Alison Schapker (Alias, Fringe).
The series is set in a future where humanity has traveled across the galaxy of a thousand planets. We follow a mysterious sorority called the Bene Gesserit which navigates between the political battles and the imbroglios of the Imperium, pursuing a very specific goal of its own which will bring its members to the enigmatic planet of Dune…
Understanding other issues of “Dune” with the series
Dune: Prophecy is a prequel series to the Dune film franchise, directed by Denis Villeneuve, which already includes two films, starred among others by Timothée Chalamet and Zendaya.
The series takes place 116 years after the Battle of Corrin which ended the reign and existence of the Thinking Machines who threatened to destroy humankind, and above all 10,148 years before the birth of Paul Atréides, played by Timothée Chalamet .
Dune: Prophecy chronicles the origins and plans of the Bene Gesserit, an organization composed exclusively of women who have exercised political and religious influence for centuries within the Imperium.
In the series, the Bene Gesserit is in its early stages, notably in its big project of manipulating the genetic lines of the great houses of the Imperium to give birth to the Kwisatz Haderach, who happens to be Paul Atreides in the films.
The sisters claim that he can see where they cannot see and that he would be able to have access to the memory of his ancestors but also to see the future. These abilities would make Paul a chosen one who could bring peace to the Known Universe.
In addition to these explanations and clarifications on the origins and motivations of the Bene Gesserit, the series tells the story of two sisters, Valya (Emily Watson) and Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams), as they fight the forces that threaten the future of humanity and established this legendary sect.
Comment se termine “Dune : Prophecy” ?
The sixth and final episode of Dune: Prophecy answers many questions about the Bene Gesserit and characters struggling with sisterhood. Thus, we discover that Tulla Harkonnen is the mother of Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel), born from her relationship with Orry Atreides (Milo Callaghan).
HBO
She passed him off as dead to her sister Valya, because she didn't want her to use him. Tulla wanted him to choose his destiny and live his life. He became a soldier who found himself trapped on Arrakis by the Sandworm and by a Thinking Machine that implanted a virus in his eye by an unknown enemy, which Valya discovers in a vision.
When Valya learns the truth, she wants to kill Desmond but Tulla stops her, because she thinks she can save her son and find an antidote to the virus. Tulla is arrested by the Imperium, now led by Empress Natalya (Jodhi May).
The latter killed the sister Francesca (Tabu), mistress of her husband Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong), who ended her life after Valya's revelations about the political manipulations carried out by the Bene Gesserit to rule their lives to everyone.
What future for the Bene Gesserit?
The Imperium is now in the hands of the Natalya – Desmond duo, whose plans we do not know, although it is certain that the Bene Gesserit will not be welcome.
Especially since a rebellion is underway within the sorority since Sister Lila (Chloe Lea) returned from the dead with the memories of all her ancestors, including her mother Sister Dorotea (Camilla Beeput) and her great-grandmother Mother Superior Raquella Berto-Anirul (Cathy Tyson), who founded the Bene Gesserit.
Lila will reveal the truth about the dark actions and plans of Valya and Tulla to the other Sisters of the Bene Gesserit and will destroy the Thinking Machine and the genetic plans that they have been carrying out for so many years.
HBO
For her part, Valya fled with Princess Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina), who turned against her parents the Emperor and Empress and whom she thought was the best way to stabilize the lineage, the control over Arrakis and the Spice.
Always determined to find the best possible leaders and to anticipate the prophecy of the advent of the tyrant capable of destroying everything in his path (who could well be the Paul Atreides of the films, as we will see in the third part), Valya surrenders on Arrakis with Princess Ynez, but also a certain Kieran Atreides (Chris Mason), who was Ynez's master-at-arms and, for a moment, her lover.
A season 2 ordered!
The Dune: Prophecy series ends with a wide shot of the planet Arrakis, where everything is at stake for control of the Imperium. But who will take it? Empress Natalya? Another house? The rebels? The Bene Gesserit? or Valya?
HBO
Good news: we will have answers to our questions since HBO has already renewed the series for a second season. This announcement was made on December 19 by showrunner Alison Schapker during a virtual press conference, via The Hollywood Reporter.
“We are very happy and grateful for the support of HBO, our partners at Legendary, and above all to be able to continue to work with these incredible people in front of and behind the camera and to continue to tell this story”she said.
According to HBO, the series is a success as they estimated that 15 million viewers worldwide watched the first episode on the MAX platform. And this announcement confirms the desire of the leaders to expand the Dune universe.
The “Dune: Prophecy” series is available on the MAX platform in France.
