Episode Five: “In Blood, Truth”
The curious case of Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel) is finally revealed in episode five of “Dune: Prophecy” (2024). As it turns out, he is the son of Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams) and Orry Atreides (Milo Callaghan), making him a genetic weapon to destroy the Sisterhood of Truthsayers from within.
The reveal fuels Hart’s ambition and ruthless pursuit of power and further makes the Sisterhood even more divided. As someone may guess, Tula is aware of Hart’s lineage and fears who will discover her secret.
The best way to describe this episode is how every character’s motivations are either put to a halt or are completely disrupted by the actions of another. The Imperium and the Sisterhood are close to being in complete shambles based on the amount of chaos and intense action that occurs in this second-to-last episode.
The action sequences are thrilling and amazing to look at, but the episode’s character development and plot twists intrigue the audience. All of this in episode five will for sure culminate in a satisfying season one finale.
Episode Six: “The High-Handed Enemy”
The ending of “Dune: Prophecy” will leave many true fans dying to see what happens in Season 2, which HBO greenlit just a few days after the show concluded its first season. Desmond Hart still is in a hungry pursuit of power, leading him to eliminate any threats to him. The Sisterhood has now almost collapsed in on itself, and their very existence is in question.
Like most other television shows, “Dune: Prophecy” has its fair share of cliffhangers. There are many new unlikely alliances involving Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson) and her sister Tula with characters the audience wouldn’t expect they would be with.
There’s a lot to admire about the show. It’s got a packed cast of well-known actors and actresses, the look and design of the show is spot on with director Denis Villeneuve’s two “Dune” films and there are some legitimate scenes of great action and character drama that hit deep.
But what “Dune: Prophecy" does like other HBO shows, such as “Game of Thrones” (2011–2019), is feature way too many characters and plot lines that either go nowhere or have unsatisfying conclusions. “Dune: Prophecy” would have worked better if it focused more on a handful of characters than the ones provided in the final cut.
Still, “Dune: Prophecy” offers enough spectacle and interest in a world many are becoming more connected with. The first full season is available to stream on Max.
Rating 3/5
