Summary
Dune: Prophecyhas the potential to rewrite our collective understanding of theDuneuniverse, potentially making it one of the most exciting entries since Frank Herbert’s original stories. Theprequel show, starring Emily Watson and Mark Strong, explores the origins of the Bene Gesserit sect – one ofDune’s most enigmatic, powerful, and important forces. Considering how central the Bene Gesserit are toDune, seeing their origins unearthed is potentially fascinating. However, as potent as this narrative potentially is, another storyline fromDunehistory would make for an even more revelatory prequel.
Part of the power ofDunecomes from the richness of its universe. Thanks to Frank Herbert’s writing, it’s clear that Paul Atreides' story is just one chapter in a huge cosmic history that has been unfolding for millennia.Dune: Prophecy, with its exploration ofthe Bene Gesserit’s foundation, is another installment with major implications for the franchise. But whileDune: Prophecydeals with a particular aspect ofDunelore, another untold episode strikes at the heart of why the world of Paul Atreides is as strange and mystical as it is. That story is the so-called Butlerian Jihad.
Dune: Prophecy Season 1 - Everything You Need To Know
Dune: Prophecy is a spinoff series from the popular movie franchise and this is everything you need to know about the show’s first season.
It’s The Essence Of The Dune Universe
There are loads of bizarre and idiosyncratic aspects ofDune’s lore – including the Bene Gesserit and their seemingly magical powers. And yet, while the cult constitutes a fascinating presence that deserves to have its story told, they are not as influential on the broaderDunenarrative as the Butlerian Jihad.
WhereasDune: Prophecytakes place 10,000 years before Paul Atreides' birth, the Butlerian Jihad delves even furtherback in history on theDunetimeline.The story begins approximately 1000 years beforeDune: Prophecy, with the birth of a powerful and sinister form of AI – a machine known as Omnius. Over time, Omnius conquered multiple planets and subjugated humans to its will, spawning an entire race of subordinate computer machines. After centuries of enslavement, humanity eventually rose up, fighting their oppressors in a war known as the “Great Conflict” – or, Butlerian Jihad.
It was only in the aftermath of the Butlerian Jihad, approximately in the year 88 B.G (Before Guild), that the Bene Gesserit were created. While it’s possible that the conflict will be mentioned inDune: Prophecy,the war between man and machine is central to everything thatDune: Prophecy’s story will discuss. With such profound implications for the whole of humanity, a prequel starting with the Butlerian Jihad would arguably be even more intriguing thanDune: Prophecy’s Bene Gesserit focus.
It Connects To Everything
WhileDune: Prophecycan explore the origins of Paul Atreides' story, as well as features such as the Bene Gesserit’s mysterious “voice” power, a Butlerian Jihad prequel would explore all aspects ofDune’s world. For example, the war between humanity and machines explainswhy there are no computers inDune, with society instead revolving around mentats.This is perhaps the key detail that separatesDunefrom many other sci-fi epics, and is a strange feature for anyone unfamiliar with wider franchise lore.
In essence, everything inDune’s story can, to some extent, be traced back to this hitherto unexplored chapter.
The Butlerian Jihad also explains other important features ofDune’s environment. For instance,Reverend Mother Gaius Mohiam’s test of Paul with the Gom Jabbarand her subsequent acknowledgment of his humanity is actually a legacy of the Butlerian Jihad. The aftermath of the Butlerian Jihad is also central to the organization of human society, with the fallout leading directly to the establishment of the Spacing Guild, and then to the Golden Lion throne and the great houses themselves. In essence, everything inDune’s story can, to some extent, be traced back to this hitherto unexplored chapter.
Dune Has Already Done A Great Job With Bene Gesserit Lore
They Are Not As Mysterious As Other Aspects Of The Story
There’s no doubt thatDune: Prophecycan greatly enhanceDune’s story. It may even feature aspects of the Butlerian Jihad, since canonically, the foundation of the Bene Gesserit occurs not long after the conflict. However, while the Butlerian Jihad has never been portrayed on film and was hardly acknowledged at all in Villeneuve’s movies,the Bene Gesserit has already been given a much more fulsome explanation.
Over the course of Villeneuve’s two movies,the Bene Gesserit’s breeding program, their unique skills, and their exalted (and reviled) position in society have all been explored. Their seductive nature means that any series promising to shine more light on the cult can be compelling, but the fact is that there are many more areas ofDune’s universe that warrant more detailed exposition. Almost nothing aboutDuneis straightforward. Yet, ahead ofDune: Prophecy, the Bene Gesserit are arguably among the most well-explained aspects of the story.
