[This story contains major spoilers from the Dune: Prophecy season finale.]
The hierarchy of the Dune universe simply modified.
No, the Rock was nowhere to be discovered on the season finale of HBO’s Dune: Prophecy. As an alternative, it’s a unique rock taking middle stage: Arrakis, the desert planet on the coronary heart of Frank Herbert’s novels on which the present relies.
Whereas referenced all through its first six-episode season, Dune: Prophecy prevented truly bringing Arrakis to life onscreen, save for some transient (however vital) holographic flashes. Now, the total factor is effectively and absolutely on show, because of the ultimate scene of the finale. The spicy world of Arraks is formally on the map, and stands prepared for exploration within the not too long ago introduced season two.
In a press convention final week, Dune: Prophecy showrunner Alison Schapker mentioned the change in surroundings was selected after “a season of Arrakis sort of exerting its pull from afar, and whether or not that’s within the economics of spice, commerce or the psychological elements of those visions and nightmares which can be form of imagery of Arrakis and Desmond’s previous seeping into everybody’s consciousness.
“[We’ll actually go] and put boots on the bottom at this extremely overdetermined and form of nearly mythic Dune area that we all know very effectively, however we form of saved it at distance the entire season,” Schapker added in regards to the alternative.
Schapker references Desmond Hart, Travis Fimmel’s intense imperial loyalist, and a sworn enemy of the growing Bene Gesserit, who displays a literal and figurative fiery energy all through season one. Hart’s powers come no less than partially because of his time spent on Arrakis, the place he was swallowed entire by a sand worm, solely to emerge with new talents. Now, Mom Superior Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson) has touched down on Arrakis to be taught extra about Hart’s roots.
“I feel it’s very important that Valya’s again there,” Schapker mentioned. “She’s again sort of on the origin level of Desmond, the place he emerged with a narrative and a fantasy: ‘I’m from Arrakis, and I used to be swallowed by a worm and I survived after my entire regiment was killed.’ All I’d say is, I feel Valya is there … to seek out out much more, provided that she is again the place Desmond form of emerged as an adversary. And [it will] be attention-grabbing to see what she finds on the market.”
Emily Watson and Sarah-Sofie Boussnina within the Dune: Prophecy finale.
HBO
However Desmond’s not simply Valya’s adversary; he’s additionally her nephew. Within the penultimate episode, Dune: Prophecy revealed Desmond is the product of a love affair between an Atreides and Valya’s Harkonnen sister Tula, performed by Olivia Williams. Homes Atreides and Harkonnen are sworn enemies by the point Denis Villenueve’s movies discover the story of Timothee Chalamet’s Paul Atreides — who, spoiler alert, is additionally half-Harkonnen.
Does that imply Desmond’s a selected one 10,000 years forward of Paul’s time? That’s a query Valya hopes to reply, with some acquainted faces in tow: Keiran Atreides and Princess Ynez, performed by Chris Mason and Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, respectively.
“The Atreides have been there, however he’s perhaps been right here as soon as earlier than, again when he was coaching or one thing,” Mason advised The Hollywood Reporter about what he hopes for from Keiran’s story in season two. “It’s actually thrilling to see the place that goes now.”
Among the many attainable instructions a second season would possibly take just isn’t solely entering into the lore of Arrakis, but additionally tackling a burgeoning civil struggle inside Valya’s sisterhood, in addition to fallout from the assassination of the emperor (performed by Mark Sturdy).
How will Valya, Keiran and Ynez take care of all of these lethal developments? We’ll have to attend some time but for the solutions. However on the very least, we all know the solutions are coming in season two.
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Dune: Prophecy is now streaming on Max.