It’s no overstatement to claim that *Dune: Part Two* left me utterly amazed. With its breathtaking sandworms and Austin Butler’s unsettling take on Feyd-Rautha, the film swiftly established itself as one of my top cinematic experiences of the year. Nevertheless, even the most cherished films can face criticism, and there’s one particular scene that struck me as lacking: Lady Jessica’s (Rebecca Ferguson) Spice Agony.
### What is the Spice Agony ritual?
The Spice Agony is a crucial Bene Gesserit rite where a Sister consumes the Water of Life, a spice-laden poison derived from young sandworms. After years of rigorous training, a Sister can chemically alter the poison within her system, making it safe. The reward for enduring this trial is tremendous: she gains access to her genetic memory, unlocking the accumulated knowledge and experiences of her predecessors, and rises to the status of Reverend Mother. However, failure results in death.
In *Dune: Part Two*, Jessica undergoes the Spice Agony to take the place of the ailing Fremen Reverend Mother. Complicating the situation is her pregnancy, which means the Water of Life also alters her unborn daughter, Alia Atreides (Anya Taylor-Joy). This transformation endows Alia with a Reverend Mother-level consciousness and power while still in utero.
Frank Herbert’s novel vividly captures this surreal moment in a deeply reflective scene where Jessica and the Fremen’s Reverend Mother Ramallo connect mentally. The sequence is heavy with emotion as Jessica deals with the overwhelming tide of ancestral memories, the fear of Alia’s transformation, and the profound connection between the two Bene Gesserit women.
### How *Dune: Part Two* handles the Spice Agony
Regrettably, Denis Villeneuve’s *Dune: Part Two* does not fully honor this essential moment. The film depicts Jessica writhing in anguish as the vivid blue Water of Life flows through her and her unborn child. The Reverend Mother gasps in shock upon realizing Jessica’s pregnancy, but the scene lacks the richness and nuance of its source material. The element of memory-sharing is scarcely addressed, and the intriguing depths of Jessica’s experience are largely neglected.
While it’s understandable that certain aspects needed to be simplified during adaptation, this reduction weakens the impact of what should have been one of the film’s most riveting segments. Instead, the Spice Agony feels like an afterthought, a lost chance to explore Jessica’s emotional and psychological journey.
### *Dune: Prophecy* delivers a more terrifying and immersive Spice Agony
Introducing *Dune: Prophecy*, HBO’s prequel series that delves into the origins of the Bene Gesserit order. In the second episode of the show, young acolyte Sister Lila (Chloe Lea) experiences the Spice Agony in a desperate attempt to access ancestral insights that could save the Sisters from looming catastrophe. While Lila’s circumstances differ from Jessica’s, the two scenes are thematically connected as portrayals of the same ritual. Frankly, *Dune: Prophecy*’s interpretation surpasses that of *Dune: Part Two*.
The sequence opens with a visual reference to Villeneuve’s film, showing the Water of Life mixing with Lila’s blood. Yet from this point, the show explores far more bizarre and disturbing realms. Lila finds herself in a cavernous environment filled with faceless Sisters, a haunting embodiment of her ancestral memory. Among them, she comes across her grandmother, Sister Dorotea (Camilla Beeput), who provides cryptic warnings about a looming reckoning. Dorotea also shares the memory of her own demise, revealing how young Valya Harkonnen (Jessica Barden) used the Voice to kill her. This moment mirrors Jessica’s experience of receiving Ramallo’s memories in Herbert’s novel, but *Dune: Prophecy* elevates it further.
The show amplifies the sheer terror of the Agony. The faceless Sisters move grotesquely, some lurching toward Lila while others scuttle along the walls and ceilings. They ultimately swarm her, attacking her like frenzied zombies. The scene is overwhelming, both for Lila and the audience, capturing the life-and-death stakes of the ritual in a visceral and chilling manner.
### Where *Dune: Part Two* falls short
While *Dune: Part Two* does feature the added element of Alia’s presence, this shift in focus comes at the cost of Jessica’s journey. The Spice Agony is a crucial moment for Jessica, yet her physical and emotional experience is eclipsed by the emphasis on Alia. In contrast, *Dune: Prophecy* maintains the focus firmly on Lila, immersing viewers in her harrowing ordeal every moment.