Dune: Prophecyepisode 5 introduces the concept of the Omnius Plague to television fans, and there’s more information to be obtained about it from the books. This era of theDunetimelineis prominently covered in the expanded novels by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. Their books are prequels to Frank Herbert’s original novels, withDune Sisterhoodbeing the basis for the HBO TV series.The Omnius Plague is an idea original to those expanded novels, though its purpose is rooted in ideas that originate from Frank Herbert’s classics.
Olivia Williams plays Tula Harkonnen inDune: Prophecy’scastand episode 5’s plot sees her working with an unlikely ally.Mother Superior Raquella Berto-Anirul was the leader of the Sisterhood who passed away in episode 1’s flashbacks, allowing Valya to take over. In episode 5, Raquella’s descendent, Sister Lila, channels her personality for a while, using her knowledge to aid Tula in understanding Sister Kasha’s mysterious fate from episode 1’s climax. Kasha was the Truthsayer to Emperor Javicco Corrino, who seemed to be killed by Desmond Hart simultaneously to him killing Pruwet Richese.
Sister Kasha’s Brain Showed Signs Of The Omnius Plague In Dune: Prophecy Episode 5
There’s A New Variant Of The Omnius Plague Going Around
Raquella enters the lab with Tula and Sister Jen and immediately begins studying a sample of Sister Kasha’s brainstem. She notes tissue damage that she’s seen before in the Butlerian Jihad and claims that it comes from the Omnius Plague. Raquella explains that the Thinking Machines manufactured a virus that would develop within a human being, “releasing an enzyme that infected the liver.” She states that she’s seeing the same enzyme in Kasha, thoughthis version has instead focused in Kasha’s “amygdala,” a part of the brain responsible for processing emotional responses such as fearor anxiety.
In this case, it seems that fear is literally the mind-killer.
Tula responds by stating that this area of the brain is where the damage began. Importantly,Raquella refers to this part of the brain as “the fear center,“and fear is a major element in theDuneworld. The Litany Against Fear is an iconic saying inFrank Herbert’sDunebooks, and it’s believed to have originated from the Bene Gesserit. Perhaps that means whatever killed Kasha stems from fear, and the litany will be created in response to the show’s events. In this case, it seems that fear is literally the mind-killer.
Afterward, Raquella states that what she’s seeing in Kasha’s brain is a virus, and it’salready begun spreading amongst the Sisterhood, causing their horrible nightmare dreams. Given that many of them have been seeing blue metallic eyes in those nightmares, it seems like the virus that’s spreading has been inorganically created by Thinking Machines, possibly envious of the Sisterhood for replacing their role in society. Those blue eyes could belong to the actual Omnius, the collection of AI who ruled the Thinking Machines.
What Is The Omnius Plague In Dune?
A Weaponized Disease Used In The Butlerian Jihad
Though it’s referred to as the Omnius Scourge in the novels, the plague worked similarly to how Raquella described it. It was a diseaseestablished by Omnius as a weapon to kill humans, which took form in the liver. The disease took form in two phases. The first phase resulted in weight loss, paranoia, yellowing eyes and skin, and more. The second was far more severe, with significant weight loss, crippling injuries through tendon damage, immensely high fevers, and eventual liver shutdowns that would kill the target.
Desmond Hart’s Real Identity In Dune: Prophecy Explained
Desmond Hart’s true identity and origins are explored at the end of Dune: Prophecy episode 5 “In Blood, Truth” which reveals his secret relatives.
The Omnius Plague inDune: Prophecyseems to be taking shape in a different form. This rendition seems to be forming in the brain, causing fear through nightmares. The Sisterhood is likely in the first stage of this new version of the virus, and the season finale should see things taking a turn for the worse as they progress to the next stage. Luckily, Raquella has some experience dealing with the Omnius Plague, but accessing her through Sister Lila isn’t going to be particularly reliable, as she’s not in control of herself.
How Mother Raquella Knows So Much About The Omnius Plague
Raquella Figured Out How To Contain The Original Plague
While inhabiting Sister Lila’s body, Mother Superior Raquella states that she’s seen similar tissue damage in the war, referring to the Butlerian Jihad. The virus was first unleashed in the final decades of the war, andRaquella was the first to notice that Spice Melange could be used to slow the spreading of the virus, sometimes even curing it. Notably, Tula used spice on the show to help restore Lila, hence her blue eyes in episode 5. The Sisterhood definitely has access to spice and could use it to defend themselves from the virus in episode 6.
In an event called the Rossak Epidemic, the Omnius Plague formed again on the planet Rossak. Raquella personally dealt with this matter, managing to create a fresh antidote when the Spice Melange didn’t work. Raquella has personal experience in dealing with this disease in multiple ways, so she’ll likely be instrumental in the Sisterhood’s cure in the season finale.Dune: Prophecyis weaving an original story with original elements, but almost all of it draws from the books in some capacity.
How Does The Omnius Plague Connect To Desmond Hart?
Desmond Hart Might Not Be As Against Thinking Machines As He Claims
Desmond Hart is the biggest mystery inDune: Prophecy, and though episode 5 revealed his origin and reason for his hatred against the Sisterhood, the cause of his powers still hasn’t been explained. Desmond Hart was swallowed up by a sandworm and popped back out with abilities that don’t exist in theDunebooks. However, if he’s responsible for killing Kasha, then her having the Omnius Plague is telling. Desmond Hart’s abilities could somehow have been gifted to him by Omnius,using him as a champion to take down the Sisterhood for the Thinking Machines.
Desmond Hart’s big moment in episode 4 saw him execute nobles for using Thinking Machines, but this was likely only to gain favor with Emperor Javicco. Desmond giving Harrow Harkonnen a Thinking Machine as a reward for information in episode 5 proves that he has no personal vendetta against AI and that it was all just showmanship. His plan inDune: Prophecycould be to dismantle the Sisterhood and then the Imperium in order to reinstate the Thinking Machines as the major power in the universe.
Dune: Prophecy
Set in the universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune series, Dune: Prophecy, a sci-fi epic, follows the political and spiritual struggles on the desert planet of Arrakis. As factions vie for control of the prized spice melange, a prophesied hero emerges, challenging the balance of power and the fate of the galaxy.
