Dune: Prophecy serves as a prequel to the Dune duology of films directed by Dennis Villeneuve. Dune: Prophecy takes place roughly 10,000 years before the events of Dune transpire and in effect presents the seeds that would later go on to flourish in the film.
The TV show is deeply embedded in the mythology and the world of the source material and takes place on the dusty planet of Arrakis. Among the other characters on the Max show, Sister Theodosia or Theo is a young and ambitious acolyte who was recently revealed to have a surprising ability.
The most recent episode of Dune: Prophecy revealed that Theo might be a Face Dancer. According to Dune lore, Face Dancers are shapeshifters who can assume anyone's physical identity and align their movements and voice in such a way that they virtually have no distinction from the identity they assume.
All in all, Face Dancers lack individuality in themselves. This was made apparent when Theo surprisingly transformed into Valya's dead cousin Griffin. She did this in order to ease some of her suffering and guilt surrounding her cousin's death many years ago.
Dune: Prophecy is adapted from the 2012 novel Sisterhood of Dune. The novel was written by Brian Herbert, Frank Herbert's son, in association with Kevin J. Anderson.
Dune: Prophecy character Theo's details revealed
The fourth episode of Dune: Prophecy revealed several details about the character of Theo in ways that have the potential to add another interesting layer to the overall narrative.
As the story goes, Valya has always blamed Vorian Atreides for the death of her brother Griffin, who she believes was murdered by Atreides decades ago. To top it all, Evgeny Harkonnen confronted Valya about Griffin's death, adding to her guilt surrounding the loss of her cousin.
Almost suddenly, as if to ease Valya's suffering, Theo displayed her remarkable superhuman qualities by shapeshifting and transforming into Griffin. This happened in a dream-like moment after Valya had collapsed. Following a profound embrace and emotional exchange, Griffin's face morphed and Valya thanked Theo, thus revealing that the latter is a Face Dancer.
Apart from her shapeshifting abilities, Theo is a dedicated pupil of the sisterhood and is loyal to her clan. She doesn't think much of her special powers and when Valya calls it a gift, she is quick to disagree. However, it can be said that Theo's shapeshifting powers are a useful asset to Valya who is on her way to wield them and secure the control of the Sisterhood on the Imperium. Theo's official character description reads:
"A talented and ambitious acolyte who harbors a dangerous secret about her past, Sister Theodosia is deeply loyal to the Sisterhood, which once gave her sanctuary in a time of need.”
Who are the Face Dancers from Dune: Prophecy?
Original Dune author Frank Herbert first introduced the Face Dancers in Dune: Messiah. Dune Wiki defines them as:
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"Face Dancers were a sterile race of metamorphic transhumans engineered by the Bene Tleilax. (The Bene Tleilax are) a group of secretive, genetically altered humans who inhabited Tleilax, the sole planet of the star Thalim."
The Bene Tleilax are highly accomplished engineers who excelled in genetic engineering. It is probable that they engineered the Face Dancer and Theo is one of many. This would explain the brilliance of Theo as one of the most knowledgeable members of the Sisterhood.
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