Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Dune: Prophecy episode 2!Dune: Prophecy episode 2, titled "Two Wolves", sees Valya Harkonnen and her Brotherhood suffer some pretty severe setbacks on the way to becoming the feared Bene Gesserit of Dune tradition. The HBO prequel show is based on the 2012 novel by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson Dune Brotherhoodwhich reveals the origins of the Bene Gesserit and is set 10,000 years before the timeline of Denis Villeneuve's film. Before the series begins, House Harkonnen has fallen from grace following the Machine War, but Valya and her biological sister Tula have accumulated power within the Brotherhood.
Much of Valya's power and long-held plans come courtesy of the Voice, an ability she has honed since her youth, but which comes back to bite her doubly in the final moments of Dune: Prophecy episode 2. First, the Voice has no effect on her new enemy Desmond Hart, making him a much greater threat than previously anticipated and allowing him to wrest control of Emperor Corrino from her. Secondly, when young acolyte Lila passes through the Agony to reconnect with her ancestors, the vengeful spirit of Valya's first victim, Dorotea, comes to take her daughter from the Sisterhood.
The Brotherhood now finds itself with reduced influence and in a state of panic following the murder of Mother Reverend Kasha and the tragic passing of Sister Lila, and TelaRant interviewed actors Aoife Hinds and Faoileann Cunningham about how the Bene Gesserit will deal with these events.
Hinds plays Sister Emeline, who strongly believes in the beauty of martyrdom, while Cunningham plays Sister Jen, who has a much more cynical approach to what the Sisterhood can do for her. The pair discussed how their stories led to their perspectives and teased how Lila's fate and the threat of Desmond Hart will affect them. Dune: Prophecy season 1.
Dune: Prophecy Episode 2 begins with the brotherhood reeling from Kasha's death
“They’re already in a little bit of an unstable place in terms of how they feel about being there and what’s next.”
Screen Rant: The Sisterhood really goes through a rollercoaster of emotions in episode 2. To start, can each of you discuss how you feel about Kasha's potential murder? How does this dark view of the Brotherhood affect your actions after this episode?
Aoife Hinds: I think they've been through that. They saw this Truth Revealer, Reverend Mother Kasha, arrive and then witnessed her very traumatic burning from within. So they're struggling with that and what that means, and they all have differing opinions on what that might mean.
And then suddenly Theodosia says, “No, that was murder.” I think that within the Brotherhood they feel safe. They think that because these women are so powerful and have these powers, no one can put them within the walls of the Brotherhood. Obviously, Theodosia's words completely uprooted any feeling of security they thought they had.
So they're already in a bit of a shaky place in terms of how they feel about being there and what's next. It's very, very impactful.
Faoileann Cunningham: I think it's interesting because in this moment that we're talking about, I remember [as Sister Jen] being like, "Damn, I wasn't fast enough." Obviously, we're incredibly competitive, so I remember thinking, “I was falling asleep thinking about this. How does Theodosia know this?” Sitting in the library that day, I needed to go out immediately and find out what was going on.
Jen only thinks about triple time. I don't think she sleeps very well and probably has insomnia because I think she's trying to do everything. But it's definitely a shock, and I think it's clear that it's important for her to be able to protect herself, to be perceived as strong, and to know that she is strong. So the suggestion that someone came into the Brotherhood and did something like that... It's something she has to consider.
In fact, I think it puts a lot more pressure on her to get what she needs from the Sisterhood at a much faster pace and to get better at it much faster. Because she doesn't want to outsource her power to anyone.
Sister Emeline and Sister Jen Approach Their Dune Situations: Prophecy Differently
“Even though they start out with opposing views…they are in this together.”
Screen Rant: Sister Emeline mentions her family's role in the Battle of Corrin. Can you explain how this story shaped Emeline's view of the Sisterhood?
Aoife Hinds: Yes, I think she's extremely proud of where she comes from. She is incredibly proud that her family was martyrs and actually contributed to ending the Machine War. This is something she wants to protect at all costs.
I think she grew up with this very religious and spiritual belief that she wants to share, and that she believes people can only benefit from. Some may see her as a missionary of sorts, and this has completely shaped how she perceives the world and how she perceives herself. She has an incredible sense of purpose, which I think comes with that. So where she comes from is extremely important to her.
Screen Rant: You each seem to have a good connection with Lila, as she asks you both for advice, but you are also very close to each other. Will we see more of this dynamic as the season progresses?
Faoileann Cunningham: What becomes very apparent very quickly, I think, is that things are changing or unraveling in the Fellowship. I think we're the group of students that are there at that exact moment, so there's not really an option to leave.
I think this alone connects us, in a physical sense, to the place where we are staying. It definitely fluctuates, but I think we definitely have the same questions that we ask together.
Aoife Hinds: I think we definitely have the same questions. Even though they start out with opposing views and are an unlikely pair, they are in this together and need to come together. With this, they gradually gain more curiosity about the other person's view of things. So yeah, we'll see more.
This has been one of my favorite things about playing. Faoileann and I are really close so it was really lovely to portray and see where it takes us. Ultimately we will see, but there is something that is a very real threat. There is a very big threat to both of them, and this will also bring them together.
Lila's Agony at the End of the Dune: Prophecy Episode 2 Has Lasting Effects
“It’s like a game of chess, where we wait for the other person to make a very clear move.”
Screen Rant: The two of you are together watching Lila's fate unfold in that horrible moment. Do you listen to what she says, and does having witnessed this affect your outlook on episode 3? What can each of you say about your reactions?
Faoileann Cunningham: I think there's something really interesting to me; there is a sudden moment when you can see that we connect physically. But there is something very individualistic about all of this, and regardless of what we believe, I think we only believe what we think we know about the world.
It's more about how they're actually dealing with their own reaction to what happens and the shock of seeing the other person [react]. Plus, I think there's a lot of competition and being a threat to each other also means keeping your enemies close. It's not that they're necessarily enemies, it's all at stake, but I think they're both very intelligent in very different ways.
I think it's much more about how they move forward. And it's like a game of chess, where we wait for the other person to make a very clear move or say something very clear... And that doesn't happen.
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.
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