Dune: Prophecy arguably reached its highest level up to now on the finish of Episode 2, “Two Wolves,” so it is a disgrace that the present instantly backtracks and spends a lot time up to now as a substitute of transferring ahead. The plot does progress a bit of bit following the tense assembly between Valya and Desmond Hart within the earlier episode, with Emperor Corrino subsequently banishing the Sisterhood. We leap forwards and backwards between the current day and roughly 30 years in the past, following Valya and Tula’s machinations throughout every time interval.
As normal with Dune at its weakest moments, Episode 3, or “Sisterhood Above All,” suffers from what may very well be referred to as the exposition paradox. There’s an excessive amount of exposition to be well-paced and constantly entertaining, however there’s not sufficient exposition for emotional and dramatic moments to really feel earned. The time is taken to introduce a personality, however not sufficient time so that you can emotionally spend money on them. As an example, we barely see any of Valya and Tula’s brother till he has a dialog with Valya; the very subsequent scene is his funeral. We’re supposed to know how his demise impacted the course of Tula and Valya’s lives, however it feels low cost. This occurs steadily.
Nonetheless, the world-building, manufacturing design, and juicy reveals preserve the episode afloat, and the present additional develops Valya and Tula. If it is not obvious by now, it is these literal sisters (in contrast and contrasted with the Sisterhood) who’re the primary characters of this present, so Episode 3 is unquestionably essential in rounding out their characters forward of the season’s second half.
Younger Valya Harkonnen Plots Her Revenge
Dune: Prophecy Episode 3: Sisterhood Above All
Following a tragedy, younger Tula worries about being accepted regardless of her household identify, whereas a skeptical Valya struggles with the choice to take the vow of Sisterhood.
- Episode Quantity
- 3
- Season
- Dune: Prophecy – Season 1
- Runtime
- 1h
- Director(s)
- Richard J. Lewis
- Author(s)
- Jordan Goldberg
- Launch Date
- December 1, 2024
- The performances are particularly good right here, and Valya and Tula are fleshed out in attention-grabbing methods.
- The manufacturing design and world-building are wonderful as normal.
- Suffers from an excessive amount of exposition, however not sufficient to make us care about some characters.
- Episode 3 accommodates data that ought to’ve been in Episode 1 and kills the pacing of the sequence.
“Sisterhood Above All” begins with Valya leaving Home Corrino, humiliated by Desmond in a means she hasn’t been in years; in the meantime, Tula is coping with the demise of younger acolyte Lila, who could not survive the Agony. Each of these items take the sisters again to the previous, remembering moments of demise and humiliation of their youth. We’re taken again three many years to the wintry, wasted world of Lankiviel, the place the Harkonnens have been banished. The manufacturing is gorgeous right here, with overhead photographs of snowy seashores affected by the corpses of whales being lower up by fishermen.
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Valya and Tula eat with their household, and the Harkonnen’s previous is hinted at — they are saying their ancestor is a warfare hero who tried to cease a genocide, however that the lies of Vorian Atreides had him labeled a coward and the household banished to Lankiviel. The backstory that is not absolutely defined is that Vorian Atreides and Abulurd Harkonnen, as soon as comrades, turned divided over the bloody Battle of Corrin throughout the Butlerian Jihad in opposition to the considering machines. Vorian selected a path that might kill hundreds of thousands, akin to Hiroshima, and Abulurd defied orders. He was labeled a coward as such, resulting in the Harkonnen-Atreides feud. The Harkonnens thus undergo with out honor on Lankiviel, whereas the Atreides are revered warriors that serve the Empire.
Valya’s household has resigned themselves to this destiny, however she hasn’t. “I do not wish to simply endure. This complacency is a illness. If we do not act now it’s going to infect all of us and all who come after us,” she says. Her hateful mom scorns her, telling her brother, Griffin, “She’s a wolf, and when you’re not cautious, she is going to devour you.” Now we all know who the “wolves” are within the Episode 2 title, “The Two Wolves.” Although when you thought the second wolf was Desmond Hart, chances are you’ll be unsuitable, as this episode additionally particulars Tula’s journey.
Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves
Whereas Valya trains on the Sisterhood, way more defiant and indignant than another Sister, we see Tula embed herself in a big Atreides group. She develops a passionate relationship with Orry Atreides, a younger ancestor of Vorian, and, underneath Valya’s orders, kills him (and apparently has his household killed, or kills them herself; it is not likely defined).
We see simply how vicious Tula may be right here. She retains Orry distracted in a bit of home; they make love, he proposes, and he or she even tells him that she’s a Harkonnen. Regardless of all that, he nonetheless needs to be together with her and needs to finish the feud between their households. Nonetheless, Tula stabs him with a toxic syringe as he gazes upon the lifeless corpses of different Atreides. Once more, although, we have solely had a few scenes with the man, so there is not a lot drama or emotion right here. It is extra like narrative whiplash, with Dune: Prophecy speeding via this plot level to get it over with; we go from his intercourse scene to his demise scene again to again.
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Within the Sisterhood, Valya grows nearer and nearer to Mom Superior Raquel, a lot to Dorotea’s chagrin. We all know from Episode 1 that Valya will kill Dorotea and take over the Sisterhood, however right here we see extra of the 2 paths the group might’ve gone after Raquel’s demise. Valya wonders whether or not the Truthsayers ought to at all times disclose the reality, as it is a highly effective instrument which may very well be used for evil by the Homes they work for. However, as Dorotea responds, who ought to decide how one can use the reality? That is in some ways the crux of Dune.
A.I. and the Dillema of Energy in ‘Dune’
Again within the current, Valya makes a shock, bitter go to to her Harkonnen family. Nowadays, they’re in a lavish high-rise, a lot better than the freezing Lankiviel), and Valya appears to be on the lookout for some type of alliance or political help. She meets her nephew and uncle, who has that trademark sickly Harkonnen look and floats round on a chair.
In the meantime, Tula sneaks off to the key underground of the Sisterhood the place the breeding index is situated, however we notice the sisters are hiding way more than that. Lila’s braindead physique lies in a glass chamber, and Tula instructs a pc voice to maintain her alive. Blue lights flicker throughout the underground partitions, and we notice the complete factor is a considering machine, and that Tula and Valya are utilizing A.I.
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That is an enormous and thrilling second that speaks to the primary themes of Dune. The fixed ironic tragedies of the franchise come from individuals who attempt to change the world to their whims and find yourself designing their very own undoing. We see this with the creation of considering machines, with the Sisterhood after which Bene Gesseret, and in the end with Paul Atreides. That is, in any case, the dilemma of energy.
Energy shapes what it controls; folks in energy are accountable for how they alter their area within the picture of their ideology. In a democracy or a republic, that ideology is voted in or out, and energy is given via illustration. In Dune, there are a number of factions, every of them with fascist tendencies, all competing for energy. Even rebellions can succumb to central energy. This was the painful state of affairs of Paul Atreides. He needed to be with the Fremen, however the Fremen needed a pacesetter. We have seen this play out in current elections round our world, with folks selecting strongmen with fascist tendencies. Like religion in a messiah, it is simpler to give up your individual company in favor of a strong chief who can form issues for you.
Episode 3 Offers Good Data on the Incorrect Time
“Sisterhood Above All” is a messy episode of tv that does not propel Dune: Prophecy almost sufficient. The exposition paradox is robust right here, and we spend loads of time with folks and scenes that really feel considerably lifeless and compulsory. Nonetheless, it generously fleshes out Tula and Valya, even when it is on the expense of leisure worth. Jessica Barden is superb as a younger Valya, whereas we get to see a shocking vary from Emma Canning, who provides younger Tula a complexity we didnt notice she had. And Olivia Williams stays quietly wonderful because the older Tula, one of many present’s delights.
It appears like a lot of this episode might’ve been added to the pilot of Dune: Prophecy to make an prolonged premiere. That may’ve labored higher, because the first episode accommodates many tangential narrative moments to what occurs in Episode 3. As an alternative, Dune: Prophecy steps too laborious on the brakes after a wonderful second episode, giving us the exposition we should always’ve already had. It is good to know, higher late than by no means, however it kills the pacing. Here is hoping the second half of the sequence stays propulsive and does not look again. You may stream Dune: Prophecy on Max via the hyperlink beneath.
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