Warning: There are spoilers ahead for Dune: Prophecy season 1, episode 4, “Twice Born.”
Dune: Prophecy actor Mark Addy compares Evgeny Harkonnen's death to the end of his Game of Thrones character, King Robert Baratheon. Despite ruling the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros, Robert infamously dies after being gored by a wild boar while drunkenly hunting the creature. As for Addy Dune: Prophecy character, Evgeny is the uncle of Valya (Emily Watson) and Tula (Olivia Williams) Harkonnen and blames Valya for being the source of the family's misfortune and their inability to regain their former glory. Evgeny dies on the floor after Valya refuses to give her uncle the medicine.
When speaking with Screen speechTatiana Hullender, Addy explains that she believes both Evgeny and Robert deserve “inglorious deaths”. He discusses how Robert is more remorseful at the end of his life, with the character reflecting on how he could have been a better king and father, while Evgeny is more focused on his hatred for Valya. Despite these different emotions, Addy sees Robert and Evgeny as “two sides of the same coin.” Check out Addy's comments below:
Ooh, damn. They are almost two sides of the same coin. They are yin and yang. I think Robert probably regretted it more, because Evgeny simply hated Valya. That was his overriding emotion, I think, at the end. They both died inglorious deaths, and they both deserved it, to be fair.
What this means for Dune: Prophecy
Mark Addy's performance strengthens Dune: Prophecy
Evgeny's death is one of the best parts of Dune: Prophecy episode 4. Valya is in the process of executing ambitious plans that will affect the Empire for thousands of years, but none of it is as compelling as her more personal confrontation with her uncle. Despite all the power she gained through the Brotherhood, Valya is still hurt by the way Evgeny and almost all of the Harkonnen turned their backs on her. Valya is vulnerable when she confronts her uncle, whose palpable hatred seems to be doing more to keep him alive than his medicine.
Seeing Valya allow her uncle to die helplessly on the floor is a chilling moment, it's the most emotionally resonant moment of episode 4. Addy's performance elevates a character that could have been forgettable in the hands of another actor and makes it believable that the Harkonnen family's hateful attitude towards Valya could still grip her all these years later. The only disappointing element of this is that Addy's time in Dune: Prophecy'The story has apparently come to an end.
He makes Evgeny and Robert fascinating to watch
Addy has a keen understanding of her Dune: Prophecy and Game of Thrones characters. In just four episodes, he handed over one of Dune best prequel performances. In Game of Throneshe makes Robert arguably more attractive than in George R.R. Martin's source material, especially during a reflective scene between Robert and Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey). Despite being only in Game of Thrones Season 1, Addy still gives one of the show's most memorable performances in the series finale. Dune: Prophecy and Game of Thrones benefits greatly from Addy's performance.