Dune: Prophecy kicked off to some rocky terrain in its premiere episode, but finds a smooth road in the second episode.
Episode 2, "Two Wolves", immediately follows the gruesome double homicide at the end of last week's premiere episode, "The Hidden Hand". Mother Superior Valya brings her acolyte Sister Theodosia to the Imperial House to help intervene. To make matters more complicated Emperor Corrino knows exactly what transpired because the culprit himself told him, putting him in a major dilemma not knowing whether he has a new threat or potential asset.
While Mother Valya is away with Sister Theodosia, Mother Tula is tasked with enlisting the young Sister for a mission to secure vital mission to gain critical information, however, it may result in a fatality nothing can prepare her for.
If you read my last review, you would know how much I found the first episode to be a mixed bag due to issues with pacing and lack of cohesion. I am glad I did not see many of those problems this time. "Two Wolves" is much more streamlined with better synergy among the characters so it did not feel like three different series smooshed together. The ways the characters deal with the fallout of the double homicide each brings a piece of a puzzle meticulously crafted by the writers. At this point, Dune: Prophecy is truly a space conspiracy thriller that has me on the edge of my seat, I hope to see the rest of the season maintain this momentum.
The thread holding everything together is Travis Fimmel's Desmond Hart. He is the Devil whispering in Emperor Corrino's ear. He is a master manipulator and a murderer who does not need to lift a finger to take a life. Every single character is terrified of the threat he poses, even if some may not know it yet. Hart commits heinous acts in The Emperor's name, though it's clear as the clearest glass you can imagine, that he serves no one, but himself. Despite his crimes, he managed to weasel through the Imperial House's inner circle. While the Emperor and his wife are fooled by Hart, Valya sees right through him as he sees through her.
Travis Fimmel and Emily Watson make the budding rivalry between Valya Harkonnen and Desmond Hart feel like two forces of nature colliding. I don't think I need further convincing that Fimmel is the perfect actor to antagonize Emily Watson's character. He wields a sharp tongue, intimidating presence, and supernatural confidence in his ability to lure anyone to him, but Valya Harkonnen isn't anyone, she's Emily Watson. She's a powerhouse giving an acting master class in all her scenes. Her energy combats that of Fimmel like they're automatically playing chess with each other whenever they share the room.
Tula is seen fighting the same battle at home except her mission is more personal with higher stakes. Horrifically, her worst fears come to pass in ways no one could imagine, leaving her with blood on her hands. Imagine taking a ride on Disney World's Tower of Terror, the elevator plummets but never rises back up. That is Tula's arc metaphorically speaking, except she's the one who puts someone on the elevator. Tula being the more nurturing Harkonnen sister makes this blow to the heart all the more devastating. Olivia Williams makes sure to take viewers with her along for this depressing ride from apprehension to regret.
Mother Tula might have also triggered an insurgence as the shadows of her fatal mistake lurked seeds of anarchy beginning to sprout as every sister witnessed that tragedy. Now distrust is festering among their young hearts, some may believe it is time for new leadership to emerge, foreshadowing history repeating itself.
The scenes excluding the aforementioned characters in no way hinder the episode's narrative, but succeed in building tension and intrigue, complimenting the plot through the lens of the supporting characters. This connective tissue should have been present since the first episode so I'm relieved to see it now. I trust the remaining episodes will continue to be consistent with synchronization.
Dune: Prophecy's second episode is hypnotic, tragic, and a leap in quality from the first episode. There was never a disjointed moment and everyone's role made sense. I sing my praises once again for Emily Watson, Travis Fimmel, and Olivia Williams who carried the episode across the finish line with groundbreaking performances. I look forward to seeing episode 3 next week.
RATING: 4/5
About Dune: Prophecy
Premiere Date: November 17th, 2024
Episode Count: 6
Executive Producer / Showrunner: Alison Schapker
Inspired by: Sisterhood of Dune, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
Executive Producers: Diane Ademu-John, Anna Foerster, Jordan Goldberg, Mark Tobey, John Cameron, Matthew King, Scott Z. Burns, Jon Spaihts, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert
Production: Warner Bros. and Legendary Television
Distribution: Warner Bros.
Cast: Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Mark Strong, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, Chloe Lea, Jade Anouka, Faoileann Cunningham, Edward Davis, Aoife Hinds, Chris Mason, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Jihae, Tabu, Charithra Chandran, Jessica Barden, Emma Canning, and Yerin Ha.
Synopsis: From the expansive universe of Dune, created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, DUNE: PROPHECY follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit.
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