Dune: Prophecy Episode 3 Review
The third episode of ‘Dune: Prophecy’ flashes back to the past, showing a revenge story play out from with Valya Harkonnen and her sister Tula. What this story shows, and how it can be applied to the present, is of course Tula’s grief from last week about the Agony, as she’s faced at lot of it in her past. Valya has less to do in the present, though she’s now gone to meet with her uncle, though currently the reasons are unclear. The episode helped to show the formative years of both women, though the absence of the Corrino Court is definitely felt.
Starting off in the present, Valya meets with several Sisters to discuss the fact that they’ve been kicked out of the Royal Palace. It’s thrown their plans into complete disarray, and Valya needs to work on what to do. Eventually, she lands on visiting some old family, though for what purpose is unknown so far. Tula is grieving over the death of the child who underwent the Agony in the previous episode, and is working through her grief with another, older, Sister. Olivia Williams is once again a standout, with her sorrow coming through despite her stocism. At the end of this episode, while Tula seemingly lets go of her grief, it’s revealed she’s actually planning to revive the girl.
In the past, the audience gets to see what drove both women to the positions they’re in. Back on their cold home planet, it’s plain to see that Valya has tensions with her mother and father. She’s told her ambitions to strike out at House Atreides are too much, and she needs to quieten her voice. Her brother, Griffin, is the only one that goes after her, it’s clear the two share a bond. Jessica Barden, the young Valya, puts a lot of venom and hatred into her role.
When Griffin dies, Valya blames the Atreides, though her family don’t condone her will for revenge. She’s sent to the Sisterhood, where her commitment wavers, though is picked up by the Mother Superior. It’s only when this commitment wavers again with the Agony is Valya temporarily rejected, as it’s clear Valya has put House Harkonnen above all. It’s still the case in the present, but she’s learnt to hide it. During her development at the Sisterhood, the wedge that forms between the two factions becomes bigger and bigger, and Valya develops the power of the Voice, something that she will use later on.
Tula on the other hand is the one that takes action against the Atreides. In the woods (which just look like woods on Earth, and not anything suggesting it’s otherworldly) she displays her bond with a young Atreides boy, who she murders along with nearly everyone else. It’s a surprising feat of violence, something completely unexpected. Emma Canning, the younger actress for Tula, has a strong look of innocence, which helps bring this surprise. It of course has repercussions back home, with everyone now rejecting Valya and Tula, forcing them both join the Sisterhood.
While this episode did help explain the backstory of the two leads with two strong actresses, it’s not clear yet how it serves their present. It felt like some overindulgence for lore. The absence of Corrino’s Court is felt throughout the episode. Their politics are interesting, especially as Desmond Hart is making moves to secure his position at the expense of the Sisterhood. In a short, six episode season, it feels like episodes that flashback aren’t the best use of the runtime, and that’s something that is noticeable.
