WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Dune: Prophecy episode 1.
Dune: Prophecythe HBO prequel series set ten thousand years before Denis Villeneuve Dune films, premiered its first episode and has already left viewers with many mysteries to consider. Led by Emily Watson and Olivia Williams (who play Valya and Tula Harkonnen respectively), the show follows the origins of the Bene Gesserit and how their rise intertwines with House Corrino’s rule of the Empire. Episode 1 revealed how Valya took control of the Brotherhood (which will eventually become the Bene Gesserit) in flashbacks, while her fellow Reverend Mother Kasha (Jihae) predicts the destruction of her carefully laid plans in the present.
Kasha serves as Emperor Javicco Corrino’s Truelord in Dune: Prophecy episode 1, where she is trusted to offer advice and help lead Princess Ynez into the Sisterhood and her eventual role as Empress (meant to prevent a terrible event the show calls “Tiran-Arafel”). But the arrival of Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel) appears to change that fate, and Kasha suffers a nightmare that suggests Ynez’s coronation will be the Brotherhood’s undoing. Once his warning is rejected by Valya that Demond uses the powers he gained from a recent encounter with a Sandworm to burn alive Ynez’s suitors, the young Pruwet Richese, and Kasha herself.
TelaRant interviewed Jihae to discuss the events of Dune: Prophecy episode 1, “The Hidden Hand”, including her character’s untimely death, courtesy of Desmond Hart. The actress shared her interpretation of Mother Kasha’s vision, as well as how the Reverend Mother functions both within the court of Emperor Javicco Corrino and within the walls of the Brotherhood.
The bonds of brotherhood run deep in the dunes: prophecy
Valyra, Tula and Kasha are “similar to the Jungian archetype of the Triple Goddess: the young Maiden who goes to the underworld, the Mother and the Wise Crone”.
Screen Rant: We can see Kasha using Brotherhood hand gestures up close to communicate. How did you learn them on set, and was there an alphabet to draw, so to speak, or were you just given specific ones?
Jihae: A whole sign language was created, which we rehearsed before filming that scene. There was extensive prep work for all the sisters, and we really came together in that way. It was really wonderful, actually.
Screen Rant: Speaking of the Brotherhood’s bond, we see how Valya shocks them with Mother Raquella’s death in the flashbacks. Do you think Kasha agrees with Valya’s vision or does she think Dorotea had the right idea by sticking to the original principles?
Jihae: I think Kasha ended up aligning herself with the two sisters. I know that Frank Herbert was very fond of Jungian archetypes, and the way he saw the three Elder Sisters, or the three Reverend Mothers, was similar to the Jungian archetype of the Triple Goddess: the young Maiden who goes to the underworld, the Mother, and the wise Old Woman.
I think I personally believe that she hesitated and wondered, but all those young sisters at that time and that age were just learning to have these supernatural powers. They were learning from the original Reverend Mother, and that was her last wish, so I think she definitely sided with that and ended up aligning with that vision and that purpose.
Jihae unravels Kasha’s dark vision in Dune: Prophecy Episode 1
“With her gifts, she’s having these dreams and her ancestors are talking to her, but her sisters don’t hear her.”
Screen Rant: There’s a really sweet moment between Kasha and Ynez where she says goodbye and emphasizes Ynez’s importance in the grand scheme of things. But how important is she personally to Kasha?
Jihae: There was a story that the showrunner told about how Kasha discovered Inez when she was a little captive girl who had been held captive, and they discussed that, but I think there’s also a kind of mother-daughter bond between them that’s more deeper than what Inez has with her own mother.
I think when Kasha first had that nightmare, her initial instinct was to make sure Inez was okay. Leaving her post, which she wasn’t supposed to do, and rushing out at night to talk to Mother Superior came out of her maternal instinct to make sure Ynez would be okay. In fact, she did not interpret this as the prophecy itself.
Screen Rant: What would you say was Kasha’s interpretation of the nightmare she had? How was this explained to you and what do you think she is seeing?
Jihae: She definitely sees a darkness coming to the Brotherhood, and she fears it is directly caused by the plan to put Ynez on the throne. Since Ynez was in her nightmare, she probably believes this is what will happen.
The original Mother Superior, many years ago, said, “This is the sign, this is the burning truth, and you will see it.” Kasha is a Truth-Revealer and the most talented of all the Truth-Revealers in the Brotherhood. This is why she is the right-hand man of the Emperor of the known universe. But at home, she is an unheard prophetess. With her gifts, she’s having these dreams and her ancestors are talking to her, but her sisters don’t hear her.
I think she interpreted the dream as something that will definitely happen and that is harmful to the Brotherhood. There will be some carnage and she suspects it will be Ynez. But, as you will later discover, it is not.
Screen Rant: What do you think makes the Emperor so willing to attack the Bene Gesserit, given that he once had such a close relationship with Kasha?
Jihae: I think the Emperor is clearly someone who can be molded. Kasha is the puppet master through Mother Superior, and I think the way I saw this character was that he is someone who can be easily manipulated. He is someone who is afraid of losing his place and is therefore influenced.
I mean, he has deep trust in the Brotherhood and in Kasha, and that’s why he made all his decisions a certain way. But when she is not there, evil enters and drives him away.
More about Dune: Prophecy Season 1
From the vast universe of Dune, created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreides, DUNE: PROPHECY follows two Harkonnen sisters as they battle forces that threaten the future of humanity and establish the legendary sect that will become known as Bene Gesserit. DUNE: PROPHECY is inspired by the novel SISTERHOOD OF DUNE, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
Check out our others Dune: Prophecy interviews here: