The last Episode of Season 1 of Dune Prophecy came in with a solid closing, delivering an action packed episode that answered so many questions setting up an exciting future for the series that many thought it was a failure when it never was, although I have to admit its something else than the movies where there is more action into them. The High-Handed Enemy", last episode of season 1, I can say that this was exactly what I needed to see from this show, it ties up loose ends and reveals shocking truths about characters I have that love hate relationship like Javicco and Valya. Tensions at its highest levels at the Imperial Palace and the Sisterhood constantly fighting for power going back and forward but now the Emperor is backpedaling all for one women who was another pawn on this hole plan, Francesca. And it's this mix of intense action sequences that set out to be mind blowing with deeply emotional revelations about Desmond Hart's origins, Tula's maternal connection and the dark history that led Valya to power and this is what makes this finale special.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29580989/
- Platform: MAX
Even though this is a six episode season they really went all out with a two hour long episode, the thing is a hole damn movie, between incredible set design of the Imperial Palace to visual effects bringing another demonstration of Desmond’s burning powers, the production values were outstanding. The costume design is just as impressive especially in Sisterhood scenes where their outfits feel almost religious in their aesthetic and certainly functionally, but at the same time there is a certain menace aspect to it probably because Sisters very often have this deep look in the eyes behind their black veil.
The biggest surprise of the episode was the revelation about Desmond Hart's powers, the ability to burn people alive is a fear based virus implanted into him by Thinking Machines, at first I thought it was a more powerful being rather this still does not answer how he killed Kasha all across the planets. During Valya's vision we see Thinking Machines performing surgery on Desmond, removing his right eye and putting some electronic implants in that gave him these abilities. The thing that is really interesting is how this virus spreads, through fear and it can't be fought with force, something Tula had to teach Valya during their fight, she just had to let go her fears taking out any weapons from the virus. Desmond triggers the virus when he touches his right temple and has full control who it affects, we saw when he killed both Pruwett Richese and Sister Kasha at the same time but again Kasha was on a different planet, this power also means he's immune to the Sisterhood's Voice, which is probably just what the Thinking Machines wanted when they made this weapon although not a fact yet and might not be fully explain on season two, I think from now on is war and not that many flashbacks.
The political intrigue at the Imperial Palace was handled so well, with a very important scene that is when a chain of events unfolds when the Emperor found out he was manipulated by the Sisterhood through his meeting with Sister Valya, she did this to intentionally get arrested. Javicco ultimate sacrifice was suicide, is presented in the way the show shows him committing that act of true free will, makes a lot of sense to the series themes of control and manipulations. The Empress meanwhile continues to prove she’s been playing her own game all along and uses the chaos to potentially secure her influence, taking out Francesca just at the moment Javicco suicide and then call that the Emperor has been murder, most likely throwing under the bus the Sisterhood as they both, Javicco and Francesca lay in the ground dead, the Empress might call the Sisterhood was the one behind the murder.
It really felt like Valya world is falling apart around her but she still looks so calm because all she cares about is princess Ynez. It was all turned upside down at Walach IX when the Sisterhood felt Dorotea returning through Lila's body, when she fully took control she went after Valya right away and exposed her dark past to all the younger sisters that were murder by Valya and her followers by using the Voice, all because they were loyal to Dorotea. It seems that most of the Sisters where on Dorotea side and this is how Valya starts rebuilding the coalition from the ground up but will full grip of power. Lila / Dorotea emptied the water from the circular pond in the Sisterhood’s complex and showed the skeletons of all the sisters Valya and her supporters had killed upon taking power. It was a game changer, seeing how Valya, Tula, Francesca and Kasha had nearly cut down half of the sisters who wouldn't accept Valya as Mother Superior, with the worst part was finding out that Valya had used the Voice to force sisters to choose between loyalty or death, essentially to commit suicide if they wouldn’t follow her, it is now all broken the Sisterhood apart, younger sisters like Jen and Emeline trust Lila's face or rather Dorotea speaking through her more than they ever trusted Valya.
Even though there are quite a few cliffhangers at the end of the season, it all feels right to me. We have Valya, Princess Ynez and Keiran Atreides on Arrakis trying to find out who's behind Desmond's transformation, weird Valya working with an Atreides, probably Ynez will unite them but thats a hard one to achief. After Valya orchestrated a murder / suicide between Emperor Javicco and Sister Francesca, Empress Natalya has taken over at the Imperial Palace. There is also that emotional reunion with Tula, Desmond has both his mother Tula and Sister Theodosia imprisoned but how far will he go against Tula? big time conflict of interest between the Imperial, Sisterhood and been his mother. The Sisterhood itself is coming apart at the seams under the influence of Dorotea, who is using Lila's body to point out to everyone how brutal Valya was forced to become in order to rise to power, in Paul Atreides words "IM POINTING THE WAY!!. There is also Baron Harkonnen, who recorded Valya's conversation with the sisters Francesca and Theodosia with the glowing ball device Desmond, after all we are now 200% sure Desmond is using thinking machines, this makes me wonder if Prince Richese had to die as part of his plan, it now seems that is the case to start the conflict and gain Javicco confidence. I doubt season 2 will be full of complicated relationships and power struggles, but with more action scenes than season one but you never know what Valya have on her plans and what other kind of leverage she might have against the Empire.
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