[Ed. note: This post contains spoilers for the end of Dune: Prophecy episode 1.]
In our world, most Dune lore is thought. Whereas Dune, as a narrative, is rooted in selecting aside the messy intricacies of propaganda and prophecy, we — as readers and watchers of the Dune franchise — roughly know what the world incorporates (give or take a brand new entry right here or there).
However then this motherfucker named Desmond Hart walks into Dune: Prophecy and every little thing modifications.
Desmond, performed by Travis Fimmel, is a little bit of an enigma on this planet of Dune: Prophecy: He’s come from Arrakis, the place he claims his crew was attacked by the emperor’s enemies in an effort to hurt his standing. He’s invited to remain, though the emperor’s truthsayer is aware of he’s mendacity — she sees him on the spice-filled deserts of Arrakis staring down an enormous sandworm, although we don’t know rather more about her imaginative and prescient. He saunters across the palace and, in the end, burns a child utilizing solely his thoughts. In our world, such pyrokinesis isn’t a recognized aspect in Dune’s mythos, making Desmond a really curious specimen certainly.
Like all issues Prophecy, it’s protected to say his telekinetic powers are an extension of the e-book’s lore, fairly than one thing truly present in them. Which all units up the largest mysteries of Prophecy after only a single episode: Who’s he, how did he get these powers, and the way will his life discover its place among the many annals of historical past? With Dune coming 10,000 years after the occasions right here, what would possibly Desmond be right here to introduce to the on-screen lore of the franchise?
This early there’s a couple of other ways we may take it — so right here’s a few of our greatest guesses as to what Desmond could be right here to do (and, in the end, what that may imply he’s able to).
He’s the beginning of the Sardaukar
Picture: Warner Media
A desert-trained warrior who was not born into court docket life however whose expertise and prowess earn the respect of these of upper rank, with a traditional human particular person title? Possibly somewhat too regular?
That’s your Duncan Idaho sort, my good friend. A personality who started life as Home Atreides’ swordmaster ultimately turned one thing of a mascot for wider Dune canon. Regardless of what number of instances Idaho dies, Brian Herbert retains discovering methods to carry him again and put him on the heart of galactic considerations once more (often by way of cloning).
Which is simply to say: When you’re doing a Dune story, you gotta have a Duncan Idaho. However what’s Desmond Hart truly doing on this story? I haven’t a clue, but when I needed to take a rip of the bong and guess one thing, it will be this:
Dune: Prophecy has promised us the rise of the Bene Gesserit order, however there are many different pillars of Dune’s setting which are as but unformed in its time interval. And because the present is admittedly leaning into the other of expectations — rooting for the Harkonnens, making the Atreides kinda shifty — what if as a substitute Duncan Idaho befriending the Fremen, Desmond Hart winds up turning into a pivotal determine within the creation of the Emperor’s notorious Sardaukar military? —Susana Polo
He’s the Kwisatz Haderach (sorta)
Picture: Warner Bros.
Only one episode in, this present already appears very taken with offering the origin story for among the most necessary tenets of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. With that in thoughts, I’m going to throw out a wild card thought on Desmond: Possibly he’s the proto-Kwisatz Haderach.
Not that he’s the actual factor, and even what the Bene Gesserit would ultimately evolve the idea into, however fairly that he’s the primary inkling the Sisterhood has {that a} male may acquire magical powers from unusual interactions with Shai-Hulud.
Possibly no matter occurs in Dune: Prophecy will lead the Bene Gesserit to resolve that pursuing a Desmond Hart of their very own, one which’s been completely and selectively bred in order that they might have most management over him, could be a mission value pursuing. On prime of that, perhaps the thought of Desmond as a robust supernatural power may assist encourage the Sisterhood to create the Missionaria Protectiva, too, giving them the thought to plant the seeds of supernatural perception all through the universe, together with on Arrakis itself. —Austen Goslin
Picture: Sony Footage
Hear, my equation’s easy. Desmond Hart spent some essential time on Arrakis. Arrakis, famously, is stuffed with desert. Deserts, famously, are scorching. And so is no matter cursed hearth magic Desmond used on that poor little one. Desert is scorching + hearth is scorching = Desmond’s utilizing desert energy. It’s simply simple arithmetic. —Pete Volk
