After four episodes of political drama and mystic powers because to be hones we still don't know where Desmond powers come from, Episode 5 brings everything together and is what I think is the best episode yet, that's the problem with good series that you think every other episode is the best one although got to say Prophecy did start a bit slow. The slow burning plot suddenly bursts into flames with major revelations about Desmond Hart’s true identity and who he really is and what he can do, but it all unfolds with the same calculated, methodical pace that makes this show so interesting for those who take the time to appreciate the art of political maneuvering, its like Valya has an answer to everyone but I think this time Tula play her dirty but it is still to be proven, this is just a theory.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29580967/
- Platform: MAX
Desmond is promoted to warlord on the Dune Universe its called Bashar and given command of an elite military unit in the opening of the episode in which Emperor Corrino performs the ceremony to show off and let know others he wont be tolerating any kind of treason. We start seeing the tension between the different power players increase, with the Emperor having a growing trust in Desmond and Princess Ynez clearly disagree with him, she knows the power her father is giving to basically an unknown who can stab them back at any time. To make this men; Emperor Corrino, world more complex we got Sister Francesca's arrival adding to the political landscape and her presence affect everyone, from young Constantine, to Empress Natalya, its funny how all of the sudden all eyes are on her. I got to admit Tabu is just gorgeous, if I was the emperor would totally loose it for her, mouth dripping.
There is a lot of juggling of story lines throughout this episode, but not at the expense of a single focus as everything stays interconnected, the most towards the end when blood lines come together. On one side we have the political drama in the Imperial Palace and on Wallach IX, the Sisterhood continues their investigation into Desmond’s origins and the mysterious virus that's seem to be affecting their acolytes although its not a virus, hey call it a virus, it has to be a power way farther to their comprehension, I have read online that this could be God Emperor from the future but I don't want to speculate or mention things that have not appear yet on the series, if HBO takes and stick the story to the books they can pull easy five season out of this but then it might be too expensive to keep it alive and all the same amount of pair of eye balls pointing at it. Some might find its pacing slow, but honestly that pace mimics the painfully slow schemes of the Bene Gesserit perfectly, everything perfectly calculated to the point of having the talent to generate plans over failed plans on the fly.
Desmond Hart continues to be a mystery and intriguing figure played by Travis Fimmel, especially in the scenes where he is working out rebel connections at the nightclub, trying to caught one that he could squeeze and make it sing the tunes he wants to listen. When he survives what should have been a devastating explosion in his confrontation with Mikaela in her nightclub, we see both his ruthlessness and his strange immunity to conventional attacks, not only he has powers beyond comprehension but he also is slick to be prepare for most of the outcomes. His new black uniform adds some menace to an already intimidating character and the way he carries himself in it, its like this time is on, I'm coming for you.
This episode is very much like early Game of Thrones, every conversation has multiple layers of meaning and outcomes like everything been said has certain value although it depends on whose hands it lands and alliances change like the wind, cant predict who is going to be your next enemy or friend. Desmond has now a firm grip of the Emperor through the use of mind control attack over his enemies that's all the Emperor cares about but I guess there is going to be shift of thought after Sister Francesca arrive, Valya wants to get the Sisters into his good side, a truth saying back into the Emperor Court and who would have a better oportunity than Francesca, Corrino melts for that women and is willing to do anything for her, its up to Francesca to show her true colors, is Francesca Sisterhood Above All?!
Going a bit deeper into the ending of the episode, learning that Desmond is both Atreides and Harkonnen from the last scene its possible that he is Tula's son with Orry Atreides, is fascinating and helps explain his deep seated hatred for the Sisterhood, he does "not know" who his mother is although all he knows is part of the Sisterhood but more questions comes in like who train him? or are his powers just a natural talent that he is just discovering?. This twist works especially well because it directly relates back to things we saw in those earlier episodes, the most to the emotionally heavy third episode which was all about Tula's past and how she murder a bunch of Atreides just to keep the same target in sight as Valya, make Harkonnen great again and abolish Atreides.
Once again there are cliffhangers but nothing that would make you mad about it but want more out of the series, the episode culminate in a perfect storm for this weekend finale, Desmond and Empress Natalya's alliance against the Sisterhood, in fact kiss and who knows what else, how Constantine gets promoted and then arrest Keiran after he found out about his plans, the scans that he had about the palace, and Tula's horrifying discovery of who Desmond really is, will she tell Valya? or hide it from her...AGAIN!!. Tula figure this out after she analyze his blood sample, Tula learns Desmond's heritage through the genetic testing and Olivia Williams; who plays Tula, gives a great performance without a word being spoken.
The acolytes still having dreams and they keep calling it a virus like the one used in humanity war against the thinking machine, this scene is so intriguing because it's another example of how the show handles genetic memory and knowledge of ancestors, and it's how we get this revelation, when Mother Superior Raquella Berto Anirul takes over Lila and start working on to identify the reason for the nightmares, Lila is becoming this key element to the series but its wild and not under control at the moment, I always keep asking myself when will Dorotea take over her body and make it seen its all ok, like the perfect camouflage to get Valya and Tula.
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