Highly anticipated by science fiction fans, the series Dune : Prophecy has been broadcast on the Max streaming platform since Monday November 18. Inspired by the universe Dunecreated by Frank Herbert and adapted for the cinema by Denis Villeneuve, the series is based on the novel The Community of Sisterspublished by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson in 2012. And for good reason, set 10,000 years before the events of the films, the fiction revisits the beginnings of the order of the Bene Gesserit, made up of women who increased their senses tenfold to become the advisors of the greatest houses of the Imperium. But what does the mysterious mean then?Prophecy” contained in the title of the program?
What is the prophecy of the series? Dune : Prophecy ?
When wondering what prophecy the title of the series refers to, there are several answers. None of Frank Herbert's books, nor his son's, is titled like this. We must therefore look into the narrative framework of the series. And for this game, episodes 1 and 2 already provide explanations. In the first minutes of episode 1, we follow the death of Raquella, the very first Reverend Mother of the order of Sisters. On her deathbed, she calls Valya Harkonnen (Jessica Barden) to convey a vision: Valya then sees a succession of images and events unfold which lead to the destruction of their order. Here we witness the first prophecy, that of the inevitable fall of the Bene Gesserit and that which Valya will make it her mission to prevent throughout her life. But this is to underestimate the universe of Dune than to think that we will stop there. As a reminder, even the origin story of Dunethat of Paul Atreides, is based on a prophecy according to which the Fremen would see the arrival of their long-awaited Messiah, Lisan al Gaib.
Dune Prophecy : episode 2 reveals another prophecy that could evoke Paul Atreides
The series could just as easily have been titled “Dune: Prophecies” because, from episode 2, we understand that Raquella's vision is not the only prophecy that we will be confronted with. At the end of this episode, a young Sister, Lila (Chloe Lea), is injected with the poison that is supposed to make her reborn as a Reverend Mother. Lila then faces a long, horrifying vision in which former Sisters appear to her, having become a sort of ghost. She then faces Raquella who tells her: “The key to the reckoning is one born twice. Once in blood, once in spice. […] A revenant full of scars. A weapon born of war on a path too short“(The key to judgment is someone born twice. Once in blood, once in spice. […] A ghost covered in scars. A weapon born of war on a path too short.) A phrase that Lila repeats out loud to the Sisters during her trance before suddenly dying.
If at first glance, this prophecy irremediably refers to Desmond Hart, since he survived the attack of a sandworm on Arrakis, emerged armed with new powers, his face is scarred and he already announced as a formidable adversary for the Sisters, there could be a double meaning. The phrase could also refer to Paul Atreides himself since in his time, 10,000 years later, we know that the Bene Gesserit order is still standing but feels threatened by the aura of Paul Atreides since his rebirth in Lisan al Gaib on Arrakis, where he flourished among the Fremen and the spice. A rebirth which can also fit with the statement spoken by Lila.
