Face Dancers are a creation of one other group talked about in Dune: Prophecy, the Bene Tleilax, the patriarchal society that practices genetic engineering. These practices led to the creation of Face Dancers, asexual and servile shapeshifters who carry out a wide range of capabilities inside the Imperium. Usually, the Face Dancers present types of leisure for residents within the Imperium, however they will additionally function spies and assassins.
The truth is, that’s how Face Dancers are launched in Dune Messiah. Selecting up 12 years after the tip of Dune, Messiah offers with a conspiracy focusing on Emperor Paul Atreides, whose Fremen Jihad has intensified his enemies’ anger in opposition to him. That conspiracy contains anticipated members, together with Irulan, Paul’s authorized spouse and daughter of the earlier emperor, and Bene Gesserit Reverend Mom Gaius Helen Mohiam, in addition to Scytale the Face Dancer.
As has been commented many instances since its preliminary look in Galaxy Journal in 1969, Dune Messiah is a a lot knottier guide than Dune. Not solely did Herbert make Paul a way more unlikable character in Messiah, a part of his objective to underscore a distrust of charismatic leaders, however a lot of the motion occurs off the web page, with extra of the guide’s consideration dedicated to palace intrigue and secret plots, not not like Dune: Prophecy.
Nevertheless, Scytale brings some dynamism to the storyline. The guide opens with Scytale assassinating a Fremen chief after which sneaking into Paul’s court docket within the guise of a trusted determine. It’s no surprise that David Lynch counted Scytale as one of many components that almost all intrigued him about adapting Dune Messiah for Dune II. The truth is, he already started seeding that half in his tackle Dune, as the subsequent film would have revealed that Baron Harkonnen’s physician (performed by Leonardo Cimino) was Scytale in disguise.
Provided that it takes place 10,000 years earlier than Dune Messiah, it’s exhausting to attract too many connections between the guide and Dune: Prophecy. Nevertheless, the looks of a Face Dancer among the many acolytes does shore up one of many present’s main theories. Just like the Bene Gesserit, the Bene Tleilax haven’t reached their full energy but, and thus they don’t fairly have the identical rivalry with the Sisters as they’ll develop. Nevertheless, they do have their very own targets, and aren’t above giving their creations as presents to enemies to strengthen their positions.
The truth is, that’s most likely what’s occurring with Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel), who could also be twice born as a result of he’s a ghola created by the Bene Tleilax. He could possibly be working for Emperor Javicco (Mark Sturdy) as a part of a Tleilaxu plot to realize energy, one thing the Emperor’s too dense to appreciate.
