Warning: Spoilers ahead
Episode 3: “Sisterhood Above All”
The third episode of HBO’s “Dune: Prophecy” doesn’t continue with the current plotline. Instead, it takes viewers to Valya and Tula Harkonnen’s pasts when they were much younger and weren’t members of the Sisterhood.
The episode details the origins of Valya and Tula and their family dynamics. Valya (Jessica Barden) seeks vengeance on the Atreides for killing her brother Griffin (Earl Cave), while Tula (Emma Canning) is conflicted whether or not she agrees with her sister.
Soon enough, Valya joins the Sisterhood and Tula begins dating Orry Atreides, keeping her Harkonnen identity secret. At first, Valya finds it difficult to put the Sisterhood first, but she doesn’t bend a knee to those who think she is weak or unworthy to join after talking with then Mother Superior Raquella (Cathy Tyson).
Tula’s relationship with Orry eventually crumbles after they sleep together one night because she has his entire family murdered. She then murders him, avenging her late brother. Valya makes her presence known with the Sisterhood, and Tula becomes one with it too. In the end, sisterhood both by blood and by spirit really came above all other things.
The show is absolutely beautiful with its visuals and set design. Never once does this show or the two “Dune” films feel like they are stealing from other science fiction epics. The “Dune” franchise is in its own separate universe.
The acting from both Barden and Canning is also stellar. It’s always commendable when a television show or film casts the appropriate actors and actresses to play younger versions of older characters. Both Valya and Tula in the past feel like a natural procession into how they are in the present storyline.
The directing of the episode itself is well done and flows naturally. There is no moment where it drags or a scene that goes on for too long.
The third episode provides some interesting context for who Valya and Tula are in the present and explains how and why they interact differently depending on who is around such as other members of the Harkonnen bloodline.
Episode 4: “Twice Born”
Episode 4 is where things get a little more spicier. In the current storyline, the relations between characters are shaken by their own egos and fear of what might come next. However, where this show is at its weakest is fleshing out all of its characters equally.
Although the final two episodes have not been covered yet, this show commits the unforgivable sin of not having enough time for everyone – even with each episode being close to an hour long.
The strongest of all the characters is still Valya (Emily Watson). Her goal remains to manipulate the Imperial bloodlines by placing one of the sisters in place of somebody else to heir the Emperor’s throne so that the prophecy Mother Superior Raquella envisioned does not come true.
Meanwhile, Keiran Atreides (Chris Mason) has been devising a plan to overtake the Imperium, but is afraid he’ll lose the one he loves the most: Emperor’s Javicco’s (Mark Strong) daughter, Princess Ynez-Arat (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina).
Keiran and others who follow him have the plan of using a thinking machine to provoke an uprising, but it has its risks because of the opposition from the likes of Valya.
Also, Tula (Olivia Williams) has the Sisterhood to conduct a test that results in them all drawing a rather horrifying and mysterious signal of what's to come.
Overall, this episode is jam-packed with a lot of information that definitely could go on for at least another page. Hopefully, as viewers approach episodes five and six, all of the characters will feel well-defined in who they are and their stories intersect in a satisfying season finale.
