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Jihae, an accomplished actress and singer, embodies the formidable Reverend Mother Kasha in HBO’s “Dune: Prophecy.” As the Emperor’s Truthsayer, Kasha wields significant influence within the Imperium, her pronouncements carrying the weight of undeniable truth. Yet, her loyalties are torn between her obligations to the royal family and her dedication to the Sisterhood. A conflict that fuels her character’s intricate journey.

In our interview with Jihae, who plays Reverend Mother Kasha in the TV show “Dune: Prophecy,” she discusses her attraction to the role, her preparation, and the challenges of filming during a strike. She also delves into the dynamics of the sisterhood, particularly the relationship between Kasha and Valya, and hints at some unexpected twists and turns in the show’s plot.

Shocking twist for Reverend Mother Kasha in HBO’s “Dune: Prophecy”

In the series premiere, Kasha’s unwavering commitment to the Sisterhood is evident. She actively participates in the Sisterhood’s covert schemes, using her position as Truthsayer to manipulate events and protect their interests. Her cunning and strategic mind is on full display as she navigates the treacherous political landscape of the Imperium.

Kasha’s loyalty to the Sisterhood clashes with her deep ties to the royal family, creating a fascinating internal conflict. Her bond with Emperor Corrino goes beyond mere confidante and advisor. This entanglement forces Kasha to make difficult choices with far-reaching consequences.

From the outset, Kasha forges a close bond with two Harkonnen sisters, key figures in humanity’s future. Kasha’s journey takes an unexpected turn towards the end of the first episode with her unforeseen death. This shocking event leaves a void in both the Sisterhood and the Imperium, highlighting the dangers of the world and underscoring Kasha’s significant impact.

Jihae, on the Appeal of Playing Reverend Mother Kasha

Jihae’s portrayal of Reverend Mother Kasha brings depth and complexity to this intriguing character. As the series progresses, Kasha’s legacy will undoubtedly shape future events, and viewers can anticipate further surprises in “Dune: Prophecy”.

“I found Kasha to be the most gifted truth-sayer within the sisterhood, which is why she’s the right hand of the emperor of the known universe. And while her alliance and allegiance to the sisterhood and the cause for the sisterhood is number one, she does have this maternal feeling towards the Princess and cares for her.”

Jihae’s draws parallels with her 2011 rock opera, a collaboration with John Patrick Shanley based on the Persephone myth and the Triple Goddess archetype. She’s captivated by the story’s focus on a sisterhood of powerful women, led by Persephone, Demeter, and Hecate, who nurture and train young acolytes, much like the Sisterhood.

This resonates deeply with her experience filming “Dune: Prophecy,” where she sees a powerful parallel in the Bene Gesserit sisterhood. The Bene Gesserit, with their intricate rituals and unwavering commitment to their mission, echo the strength and mentorship depicted in Jihae’s rock opera. It’s as if she’s found a real-world embodiment of the themes she explored on stage, further amplifying her appreciation for the story’s beauty and inspiration.

“I’m a big fan of Carl Jung. I have a lot of his books, and I know that Frank Herbert was really big on the Jungian archetypes, and, of course, like, do you need to get sold on a story about women that rule the world? You know, I was like, yes. Yes, please. So I really dug in that way. Back in 2011 did a rock opera with John Patrick Shanley based on my third album. The storyline that we focused on was based on Persephone. And if you look at the Triple Goddess archetype, it’s Persephone and her mother, Demeter, and Hecate. Persephone goes to the underworld. So here’s this three revered mothers helming this sisterhood, training young acolytes to become these supernatural, powerful women. It’s such a beautiful, wonderful story.”

Preparing for the role

Jihae dove headfirst into preparing for her role in Dune. Undergoing intense training reminiscent of the acolyte rituals depicted in the show’s first episode. She raved about the experience, emphasizing how much fun it was. It forged a strong bond between the actresses.

One particularly memorable exercise paired Jihae with Chloe Lea (who plays Lila). With their eyes closed, they were tasked with following each other through an imaginary landscape. The astonishing result? When they opened their eyes, they found themselves mirroring each other’s movements, a spontaneous synchronization that neither had planned. Jihae was blown away, calling it an incredibly cool experience that highlighted their deep connection.

“They actually had us go through some really fun training, and it was really bonding. And yeah, it was beautiful. All the girls got together, and we… and we trained a lot. So the first time round, we had these two women. They’re performance artists, and they were helping us learn esoteric stuff. And one of the things that we did was we close our eyes, we get teamed up into two people, we close our eyes, and we imagine that we’re following each other. I was teamed up with Chloe. And when we opened up our eyes, they were like, oh my God. We’re like, what? What happened? And so apparently, we were just kind of doing our own stuff, like intuitively trying to follow each other but doing our stuff. And at one point, I started mirroring Chloe.”

The Impact of Sisterhood

The four sisters, bound by their shared history, beliefs, and purpose, formed a unique and complex dynamic. Their sisterhood, though forged in love and loyalty, was not without its challenges.

Valya, the eldest and most assertive, often took a leadership role, sometimes dismissing Kasha’s concerns and demanding blind obedience from Tula. This hierarchical dynamic, while effective in achieving their goals, could create tension and resentment.

“I think Valya Harkonnen is definitely the leader in which you see… you see how power corrupts, but also, in order for a leader to lead, there’s a certain level of egotism required. You know, that’s a fine line. For leadership, you need humility, self-confidence, self-reliance, and all these things. So it’s an interesting example of how power corrupts people with the best intentions.”

A Mysterious Encounter with Desmond

Jihae opened up about a pivotal scene involving her character and Desmond (Travis Fimmel), a seemingly ordinary soldier who returned from Arrakis. While initially appearing unremarkable, Desmond soon reveals a hidden depth that piques Kasha’s astute senses.

Jihae describes the interaction, recalling Kasha’s probing question and Desmond’s truthful response. Despite his honesty, Kasha is left with an unsettling feeling as he departs. “Something’s not quite right,” Jihae explains, capturing Kasha’s intuition. “She can’t put her finger on it.”

Jihae vividly portrays the intensity of their exchange: “When she looks into his eyes, she can’t look away. It wasn’t until the Emperor said something that she was able to disconnect.” This captivating moment highlights Kasha’s struggle to decipher the enigmatic aura surrounding Desmond.

“There was… there is definitely something that she felt, but she couldn’t… she couldn’t. She had all these whispers, but she couldn’t figure out what it was. Something was covering it.”

A Troubling Secret

Interestingly, upon returning to the sisterhood, Kasha remains silent about her unsettling encounter with Desmond. She expresses a general sense of unease but fails to articulate the specific source of her apprehension. This omission raises questions about Kasha’s motives. Is she simply unable to identify the root of her concern, or is a deeper fear preventing her from vocalizing her suspicions? Jihae offers her perspective:

“I think Kasha’s goal was, ‘I need to stop this wedding to make sure that the princess is not killed.’ Because at this point, I think her immediate goals were so specific that she didn’t bother dealing with something that she didn’t know what it was.”

This insight suggests that Kasha’s laser focus on preventing the princess’s assassination may have overshadowed her concerns about Desmond. The urgency of her mission may have led her to prioritize the immediate threat, leaving the mystery of Desmond unresolved.

Lingering Questions

Jihae’s thoughtful analysis leaves audiences pondering the implications of Kasha’s encounter with Desmond. What secrets does he hold? Will Kasha eventually uncover the truth about his enigmatic nature? And how will this revelation impact the unfolding events in “Dune: Prophecy”?

As the anticipation builds for the new episodes, one thing remains certain: Jihae’s portrayal of Reverend Mother Kasha was filled with intrigue and complexity. The HBO Original Drama Series debuted November 17th on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. With new episodes released weekly.