Spoilers are ahead for the end of Dune: Part Two.
Summary
ThroughoutDune: Part Two, Chani (Zendaya) is skeptical of Paul Atreides' (Timothée Chalamet) supposed destiny, leading viewers to wonder why Chani is so opposed to Paul leading the Fremen. Prior to the events ofDune: Part One’s ending, Paul and his mother, the Bene Gesserit agent Lady Jessica (Rebecca Ferguson), flee deep into Arrakis' desert to escape the Harkonnen forces. Surrounded byDune’s vision-inducing spice, melange, Paul foresees a universe-wide holy war being waged in his name by the Fremen. Soon enough,Paul and Lady Jessica take refuge with a band of Fremenled by Stilgar (Javier Bardem).
Although Stilgar welcomes Paul and Lady Jessica, Jamis (Babs Olusanmokun), a younger Fremen warrior, challenges Paul to a ritualistic knife fight. After Paul wins, the Fremen accept him into their ranks, though some are more skeptical than others, especially since Lady Jessica is a member of the Bene Gesserit order. As part of theBene Gesserit plan to birthDune’s Kwisatz Haderach,they sewed the seeds for the Fremen belief in the Lisan al Gaib — an off-world messiahwho would lead the Fremen to reclaim Arrakis. Ultimately, Chani grows closer to Paul, while remaining wary of his destiny.
Chani Believes In Fremen Self-Determination
Chani Calls Out Dune 2’s White Savior Plotline
Chani’s opposition to Paul becoming the prophesied Lisan al Gaib is a confluence of many things, but chief among them is her dedication to Fremen self-determination. While the older generations of Fremen, including Stilgar, are portrayed as ultra-religious, Chani and the younger Fremen are skeptics, realizing that the Lisan al Gaib story was heavily influenced by the Bene Gesserit’s Missionaria Protectiva. Lady Jessica, a newly minted Reverend Mother, suggests that the Bene Gesserit were merely preparing the Fremen for the arrival of The One, but,clearly, the Bene Gesserit superstitions have insidious and colonialist underpinnings.
Dune 2 positions Chani as a voice against Paul’s white savior fate.
The very idea that the Fremen need an outsider — and, moreover, an off-world savior — to lead them is an insulting prospect to Chani and her peers.Chani rightly believes that the Fremen should be led by one of their own people, and that the larger Fremen society should be free to choose its own future without an external force’s interference. For Chani, following an outsider-turned-liberator or living with Imperial settlers shouldn’t be the only options for the Fremen. Unlike the source material,Dune 2positions Chani as a voice against Paul’s white savior fate.
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Chani Is Skeptical Of The Fremen Prophecy
The Younger Generation Of Fremen Reject The Bene Gesserit-Planted Messiah Story
Not only are the younger Fremen like Chani more resistant to an outsider leading — or even joining — them, but they aren’t as easily seduced by the Bene Gesserit-planted messiah story. When Paul and Lady Jessica are first brought to Sietch Tabr, many of the Fremen accuse them of being spies with Imperial ties. Stilgar, however, sees signs of the Lasan al Gaib prophecy everywhere. According to the teachings,a mother and son from the “Outer World” are destined to bring prosperity to Arrakis. To further prove the prophecy’s supposed merits, Lady Jessica drinksDune’s Water of Life.
Paul earns Chani’s respect by declaring that he merely wants to fight alongside the Fremen…
By transmuting the poisonous drug, Lady Jessica becomes a Reverend Mother, inheriting the memories of her ancestors and, to Stilgar’s excitement, installing herself as Fremen religious leader of sorts. Between Reverend Mother Jessica’s growing sway and Paul’s promising attributes as a warrior and leader, many of the Fremen support Stilgar’s beliefs. Still, Chani and her friend, Shishakli (Souheila Yacoub), remain firm in their convictions, suggestingthe Bene Gesserit fabricated the prophecy to manipulate the Fremen. As a result, Paul earns Chani’s respect by declaring that he merely wants to fight alongside the Fremen, as opposed to leading them.
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Chani Recognizes That Paul Is Dangerous
There’s no denying thatDune 2settles a 59-year-old debateby revealing Paul Atreides to be a tragic figure and, in many ways, a villain — not a hero. Unlike David Lynch’s 1984 adaptation, Denis Villeneuve’sDunemovies understand thatFrank Herbert, the author ofDune, was using his sci-fi epic as a critique of “chosen one” narratives. Throughout the film, Paul is plagued by visions of his potential future. Fearful of the Fremen’s growing religious fervor, Paul initially refuses to take any steps toward becoming the Lisan al Gaib, and Chani supports him.
Chani tries to stop him from drinking the Water of Life, but Paul chooses power.
In fact, as Paul and Chani grow closer romantically, Paul confides in her that he’s afraid of what others want him to become. Determined to keep his head down, Paul focuses on becoming a respected Fremen warrior. Unfortunately, Paul can’t side-step destiny. After the Harkonnen forces, led by Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen (Austin Butler), devastate Sietch Tabr,Paul agrees to finally journey south and join the Fremen fundamentalists, who believe most strongly in the prophecy. Knowing Paul’s initial fears about becoming the Lisan al Gaib, Chani tries to stop him from drinking the Water of Life, but Paul chooses power.
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Chani Is Afraid To Lose Paul
Dune 2 Complicates Chani’s Character & Her Romance With Paul
After drinking the Water of Life and gaining prescience — a clairvoyance across space and time — Paul sees the Fremen’s path to victory against the Harkonnen forces and the Emperor’s Sardaukar warriors. During a Fremen war council, Paul convinces his greatest Fremen skeptics to follow him, declares himself the Lisan al Gaib, and prepares to lead an assault on Arrakeen. While Paul galvanizes the crowd, Chani looks tearful and angry. Paul’s willingness to embrace the messiah role is a moral betrayal, butPaul’s actions also mean Chani will lose the person she loves to his terrifying, villainous potential.
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Chani Wants To Be With Paul But She Can’t Condone A Holy War In His Name
After executing Baron Harkonnen (Stellan Skarsgård), Paul captures Emperor Shaddam IV (Christopher Walken), the Padishah Emperor of the Known Universe and head of House Corrino, and his allies. To Chani’s dismay, Paul challenges Shaddam for the Imperial throne and demands to be wed to the emperor’s daughter, Princess Irulan (Florence Pugh). After Paul kills Feyd-Rautha, Shaddam’s stand-in, in ritualistic knife combat, the head of House Corrino surrenders to the Lisan al Gaib, thoughDune’s Great Houses and factionsrefuse to accept Paul as emperor. As a result,Paul and the Fremen’s holy war beginsatDune 2’s ending.
Chani knows full well that she’s lost the person she loves — and that his decisions are about to unleash a bloody conquest.
Refusing to bow to Paul,Chani leaves at the end ofDune 2on a sandworm. She’s largely the only Fremen warrior who isn’t swept up in the religious fervor and excitement of Arrakis' liberation — and for good reason. Given what Paul shared about his visions, Chani knows full well that she’s lost the person she loves — and that his decisions are about to unleash a bloody conquest. Ultimately, Chani rejects Paul’sDune 2destiny because she believes in Fremen self-determination and rejects the Bene Gesserit’s manipulations. Even after everything,Chani doesn’t want to lose Paul.
Dune: Part Twostreams on Max and is available to rent or buy via select VOD platforms.
Dune: Part Two
Dune: Part Two continues the epic saga of Paul Atreides as he allies with Chani and the Fremen. Pursuing retribution for his family’s devastation, Paul grapples with a significant decision impacting his personal desires and the universe’s future, attempting to avert a dire destiny that only he anticipates.
