As a lifelong fan of Frank Herbert’s Dune series, I was both excited and intrigued when I first saw the Harkonnens in “Dune: Prophecy.” Unlike their bald-headed, pale-skinned counterparts from the movie adaptations, these Harkonnens sported short brown hair and healthy flesh tones. Initially, I must admit, it took me a moment to recognize them as the same villainous race that has long opposed House Atreides.
In the premiere of “Dune: Prophecy” on HBO, which took place on November 17, 2024, viewers immediately observed a striking difference in the appearances of the iconic Harkonnens compared to the two cinematic adaptations. Instead of the distinctive bald heads and pale complexion that characterize Vladimir Harkonnen’s band of villains as portrayed in both David Lynch’s and Denis Villeneuve’s versions of Frank Herbert’s sci-fi masterpiece, the Harkonnens in the TV series have an element suggesting evolution.
To grasp the unique physical development of the Harkonnens, it’s crucial to realize that “Dune: Prophecy” serves as a precursor to the events shown in the 2021 “Dune” film. Therefore, the malevolent race perpetually at odds with House Atreides hails from a distant world unlike their portrayed origin in the movie adaptations. Here’s why the Harkonnens appear so distinctly different in “Dune: Prophecy”.
The Harkonnens’ Appearance in ‘Dune: Prophecy’
According to Brian Herbert’s novel “Great Schools of Dune,” the storyline of “Dune: Prophecy” unfolds 10,000 years prior to the events depicted in Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 film “Dune: Part 1.” This tale serves as an origin narrative where the Bene Gesserit order emerges, gains influence, and eventually seizes power. The storyline centers around Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen, portrayed by Emily Watson, and her sister, Reverend Mother Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams), as they establish a powerful socio-religious faction and defend against potential threats.
In the show Dune: Prophecy, we see both Valya and Tula, the Harkonnen sisters, at different stages of their lives – young and adult. Actress Jessica Barden portrays the younger Valya, while Emma Canning takes on the role of youthful Tula. Unlike the typical bald heads and pale skin associated with the Harkonnens, these characters initially appear with short brown hair and skin-toned complexions. This deviation from the usual Harkonnen features is deliberate, serving to reflect their geographical origins in the show’s origin story.
Who Are the Harkonnens in Dune?
In the Dune films, the Harkonnens are portrayed with bald heads and pale complexions. Led by the main adversary, Baron Vladimir Harkonnen (depicted by Stellan Skarsgård in the 2021 film), this wicked faction originates from Planet Geidi Prime. Their unique physical traits are a result of the environmental conditions on Geidi Prime and the scarcity of sunlight, which have been shaped through an extended evolutionary process over time.
In the story and screen adaptations, I’ve noticed that Geidi Prime is famed for its black sun, which strips away all colors, leaving only shades of black and white. In the series, Valya and Tula Harkonnen held power before Vladimir, gradually uniting their kind, increasing their numbers, and mobilizing them to stand against House Atreides. A whopping ten millennia prior to the Harkonnens’ colonization of Prime Geidi, their origin on Lankiveil provides an explanation for their distinct physical characteristics.
Why the Harkonnens Look Different in ‘Dune: Prophecy‘
In the premiere of “Dune: Prophecy,” titled “The Hidden Hand,” we learn that sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen originate from the water-based maritime planet of Lankiveil, which is situated within the Corrino Empire and characterized by cold temperatures. This explains the significant physical differences between the Harkonnens on Lankiveil and their descendants 10,000 years later on Prime Geidi.
On the alien world of Lankiveil, the Harkonnens took on the physical features that we recognize from the television series. Notably, Valya and Tula had short brown hair and a healthy, flesh-tone complexion. Although we’ve only seen the pilot episode so far, it is speculated that, as they spent the subsequent 10,000 years on another planet called Prime Geidi, the Harkonnens underwent evolution due to the distinct environmental conditions there, which likely led to changes in their physiology.
On planet Lankiveil, factors such as climate, atmosphere, sunlight exposure, temperature, and water availability contributed to the human-like appearance of the Harkonnens in the TV show. As the story progresses over 10,000 years in the movies, the Harkonnens evolved naturally into pale, bald antagonists who are visibly more menacing and formidable. This transformation isn’t a stylistic decision intended to confuse viewers, but rather an organic evolutionary change that took place between the movie and TV series timelines.
In a style reminiscent of traditional origin tales, Dune: Prophecy depicts how, due to environmental requirements, the Harkonnens adapted their physical traits over time. By detailing the emergence and development of House Atredies’ adversaries through a process similar to natural selection, the story presents the Harkonnens as beings adept at survival in the Darwinian sense – capable of migrating between planets, adapting to new environments, and altering their appearance according to necessity.
Dune: Prophecy is available to stream on Max.
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2024-11-20 01:31