Dune: Prophecy's fifth episode is not quite the "calm before the storm". Instead, it is the slow turbulence to the inevitable collapse of The Sisterhood and Imperial House.
In episode 5, "In Blood, Truth," the Sisterhood is more vulnerable than ever following the acolytes' shared nightmarish vision. Corrino's allyship with Desmond Hart is at an all-time high after he publicly reveals how dangerous his weapon in Desmond Hart is, once again leaving The Emperor with the remarkably false impression of having the upper hand.
I must say this is not the best episode. For a penultimate episode, I was expecting more stakes and tension. Some of the momentum from the previous episodes was lost but regained along the way. The acting is up to par as always and there's an intriguing story, however, it takes more time than it should to unfold. Once it does we get to the good stuff, bad stuff for the Sisterhood and Imperial House, but good stuff for viewers nonetheless.
Valya and Tula continue doing everything they can to find out who Desmond is so they can put a stop to him once and for all. Interestingly, Valya and Tula aren't exactly Dune: Prophecy's heroes. Yes, they are the series's protagonists but remember everything they do is for the Sisterhood's preservation, this is why Valya's position in the Imperial House is crucial, that's how they insert one of their own in the long run. Desmond is a wall standing in the way of their political interests. Don't think for one second that Desmond is the true hero of the story, his motivations and actions are much worse.
Watching Valya and Tula's song and dance with Desmond never gets old, I wished to see some more of it. Dune: Prophecy's penultimate episode spends a sizeable amount of time allotted to the supporting cast. While this benefits characters like Emperor Corrino's son Constantine, it slightly distracts from the plot's urgency. There's nothing wrong with giving supporting players time to shine, but as I have stated multiple times before, this is Dune Prophecy's penultimate episode. There is only one episode left for the season, now is not the time to focus so heavily on the supporting characters.
The Sisterhood is the saving grace among them. That may not be the best choice of words given the nature of their arc but onward we go. To say they were feeling uneasy would be an understatement. The acolytes shared a vision of impending doom when their trust in their mothers is already withering away while some of them have political aspirations and questions about their lineage. Their fear, distrust, and ambition combine to peak suspense putting half of everything in place for the fallout we will witness in next week's finale.
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The Sisterhood, Valya, Tula, and Desmond carry the episode with all of their drama and intrigue, fighting off the story from drowning in water infested by characters who do not need much screen time at this point before the final episode of the season. As slightly disappointed as I am, the episode still succeeds as an appetizer for the season finale of Dune: Prophecy.
RATING: 3.5/5
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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