Dune 2, starring Rebecca Ferguson, is a masterful work of storytelling. Adapted from Frank Herbert’s book of the same name, the film is a faithful adaptation, and the final product is stunning, to say the least.
Denis Villeneuve recreated the best parts of the book to absolute perfection. From character development to the cinematography, every aspect of the film proved Villeneuve’s genius. He expertly crafted the intrigue that Herbert had written in his masterpiece. His eye for detail is excellent, and it translated onto the screen remarkably well.
The film has several excellent moments, and the Bene Gesserit sisters have been the subject of interest since the first film came out. However, the ending of the second installment hinted at something rather big that many might have overlooked.
Dune 2 hints at a possible explanation for Rebecca Ferguson’s character
Dune 2 picks up where the first film ended, in the middle of the desert on Arrakis, with Paul Atreides and Lady Jessica being led to Sietch Tabr by the Fremen. The film chronicles the fall of House Harkonnen and the rise of Paul as Maud’dib as he sets the Fremen on the path of waging a Holy War in his name.
Timothée Chalamet aptly plays Paul, as does Rebecca Ferguson, who plays his mother, Lady Jessica, the cunning Bene Gesserit sister. Jessica played an instrumental role in shaping Paul’s future as the Kwisatz Haderach. In doing so, she changed the course of the galaxy.
Jessica is an important character in the film. While it gave a crucial answer about her father being Vladimir Harkonnen, the villain of the story, it also raised the question: who is Jessica’s mother?
A new theory suggests that the film does provide a potential answer about her complete parentage, as one particular scene stands out. After she becomes the Reverend Mother of the Fremen, she comes face-to-face with Reverend Mother Gaius Helen Mohiam. The two were seemingly able to communicate telepathically, but the sisterhood does not possess the power of telepathy. So, how did she do it?
When Jessica became the Reverend Mother, she was able to access the memories of the Reverend Mothers who came before her. She unlocked her female ancestors’ voices by drinking the Water of Life, which allowed her to communicate with her past female relatives. This means that Mohiam and Jessica are related genetically somehow.
Moreover, Mohiam confessed to Princess Irulan and Lady Margot that she was a maternal figure. This means that she also played a part in breeding the Kwisatz Haderach.
What is the Water of Life, that allowed Jessica to become the Reverend Mother?
The Water of Life makes its appearance in the second installment of the series. It plays a very important role, and it affects the future of the galaxy.
The Water directly affects three people: Paul, Jessica, and Jessica’s unborn child. Indirectly, it affects the fate of millions, since it allows Paul to unlock the memories of his male ancestors, an ability that only the Kwisatz Haderach can possess without dying.
So what exactly is this Water of Life? It is a concentrated dose of melange, the spice that laces the sands of Arrakis. The Fremen extract it from a young sandworm and is lethal to humans.
Only a Reverend Mother can neutralize the toxin present in the Water with an enzyme in her saliva. This is also important because it reaffirms faith in the Reverend Mother. Once its toxicity has been neutralized, it becomes safe for the tribe to consume.
Even though the Water is no longer harmful to humans, it still affects the minds of those who drink it. It heightens perception, allowing the tribe to strengthen their bond.
Denis Villeneuve brought to life some of the most chilling scenes surrounding the sisterhood and the Fremen. However, he also left the door open for further exploration in future movies.
