The True Power of Lady Jessica | Dune Lore

[@NerdCookies]

Thank you for watching this video! If you enjoy my content, please consider supporting me on Patreon: www.patreon.com/nerdcookies

[@klyanadkmorr]

Great work by whomever using ALL the theatrical Jessica's in the graphics

[@Steventrafford]

When ever I have to use a example of a powerful female characters, none come to mind faster than Jessica. Character is epic.

[@jordantucker9799]

Ellen Ripley comes to my mine.

[@erikbjelke4411]

@@jordantucker9799 Ripley is a great example of an "everyman," or "everywoman." Just some random working stiff who, in an impossible circumstance, learns she has a spine of sold steel and ice water in her veins, keeping a cool and level head (for the most part) and surviving when everyone else failed. Jessica is Ellen Ripley realizing that this power within her can be tapped, trained, honed, and hardened to turn her into one of the most formidable people in the universe. The Bene Gesserit, and humanity as a whole in Dune, have taken to exploring the limits of human potential, what we are capable of with proper training, discipline, and will focused towards a singular goal. 20,000 years of evolution, give or take, plays a role, but the computer mind abilities of the mentat, the speed and almost supernatural awareness of a Bene Gesserit, the extreme fighting ability of the Sardaukar, Fremen, and Ginaz swordmasters. . . all are things that have their roots, according to Herbert, in what we as human beings are today.

[@jordantucker9799]

@@erikbjelke4411 Well either way, if Ripley was in the Duneverse and part of the Sisterhood she would be a formable Reverend Mother.

[@mcmarkmarkson7115]

Sarah Conner as well

[@Steventrafford]

@@mcmarkmarkson7115 I’ll raise you Ripley😜🤙‼️

[@charleshamilton9274]

To me, the very life of every Bene Gesserit must have been a form of living hell. Imagine the absolute mastery of every cell, every biological process, every muscle. A triumph. Yet, a slave to the genetic legacy/curse of every reverend mother in your bloodline. Christ, it’s like having an enormous haunted attic you carry every moment, awake or asleep. I would have suspected an enormously high rate of insanity in the BG even with advanced training. Still, the delicious dichotomy of the BG and their complete control of the organic is a perfect response to the Butlerian Jihad. “Take your hand from the box, young human, and look at it.”

[@elizabethjansen2684]

It is touched on at Jessica on kaftan up to Paul's birth. The emperors wife anirul was shown going unstable

[@davidboivin7996]

Previous actresses have done great jobs portraying Lady Jessica. Rebecca Ferguson has literally brought the book version to life. There are numerous scenes of her that were left out of Dune Part One. Hoping there will be an extended cut in the future.

[@michaelallen434]

Jessica is like a great martial artist, in control of mind, body and spirit. She's a well rounded character because if she were perfect,she wouldn't be compelling or believable. Great job as always!

[@julieannsarabia]

Agreed, she's elite even in the sisterhood. I relate the most to her, moreso because of how defiant she is. Especially against the institution of the Bene Gesserit.

[@davidlewis8814]

“Well behaved women seldom make history.” - the bumper sticker that inspired Herbert

[@per-c8229]

One of the things that stand more to me was when Paul killed Jamis and everyone was hyped him up it was Lady Jessica who thought imperative to bring his son back to earth and make him understand that he HAS taken a live, the fact that live was important and to fully explore de consequences of that, love how much of her upbringing and instincts kicked in and I think that if she hasn't done that Paul might have gone to a more violent path that he went 'cause he was been entangled in that way of worshiping till his mother intervene, such a shame that wasn't in the movie

[@legi0n47x]

I thought it really came through how important Paul is to her. She would die for him, as many mothers would.

[@bryanutility9609]

She betrayed the sisterhood & manipulated the Freemen putting family first. That’s true nobility.

[@theturquoisedream9244]

Yay! Dune Cookies!!🤩🤩🤩

[@michaeltape8282]

The characters are almost the stuff of scripture, in the sense that they are portrayed by enough different versions that defining the clear conceptual edges can be difficult. Thanks again :)

[@danelamoreaux4166]

I can't get enough Nerd Cookies. Great video as always to you and your team.

[@marknovak6498]

Lady Jessica was able to use her training to be more than the pawn she was created to be.

[@hucklebuck411]

Jessica is one of the many complex characters in the Dune saga that displays the writing genius of Frank Herbert. I am always split between liking and respecting the character of Jessica but yet disliking certain aspects of her character. She definitely loved Duke Leto, but was she protecting Paul out of motherly love or because as a Bene Gesserit she saw his potential as the Kwisatz Haderach? She went through the "water of life" agony not seeming to care what it would do to her unborn child, since it was more important to cement her and Paul's position within the Fremen sietch. Then, knowing what had happened to Alia, she abandons her to return to Caladan without even attempting to use her Bene Gesserit training to try and help her daughter. To me she is a changed person once Duke Leto was killed and the Bene Gesserit side of her then became the more dominant.

[@RidleyJones]

Yeah seriously, she is equal parts awe inspiring, frustrating, and relatable. Very very hard to pull off.

[@meredithr9824]

She is a lot like her father, at the end of the day.

[@User_Un_Friendly]

Nerd Cookies rocks! 🎉. It's easy to overlook Jessica, given the well written parts given to Gurney, Thufir, Duncan, and others. And of course Paul and Alia. But Jessica was always a favorite, due to her quiet, unwavering Will. 🫡

[@CaesiusX]

I always found the character of *_Lady Jessica_* to be very intriguing, and I respected her power and place in the Dune universe. But I now find her even more impressive as you provide a litany of her accomplishments and talents all in one video focused solely on her. 😎👍

[@shanenolan5625]

I liked the part she tracked the freman to deduce siechh tabar as if it was prophecy. ( when she just observed it on a map, and took a gamble)

[@CybershamanX]

What a wonderfully thorough and yet tender exploration of Jessica's amazing abilities. Thank you so much for sharing! 😀☮️

[@alexedi]

i had hoped and prayed for that thufir/jessica scene to FINALLY make it to the screen. and it really wouldn`t have been all that difficult, production-wise, it was just a two-hander theater piece. but alas... loved the movie though, my ”dunie” nitpickings aside :).

[@MrStinker4]

It's been a long time since I've read it - doesn't she make him sit using the voice?

[@Jared_Wignall]

Enjoying the Dune videos you’re making. Keep up the great work!

[@danbeasley6135]

Another superb sci-fi break NC, many thanks! I did enjoy the Herbert/Anderson novel Sisterhood of Dune, a fascinating read.

[@Shan_Dalamani]

"Alia" has the stress on the first syllable. Jessica was a neglectful mother to Alia.

[@renuvatio9986]

To me Lady Jessica was a good Tactician like her father. She played the audience and let them come up with ideas and conclusions with only a few words that to me was her strength I personally loved Lady Jessica's character and felt sorry about Alia, but could have the not divulging of her pregnancy have been a thing that Frank Herbert wanted to impress upon us as by not being honest even something small could turn into as a major mistake

[@elizabethjansen2684]

But Jessica didn't fully know what the fremen ritual and the BG didn't explain what becoming a reverend mother entailed to it's acolytes.

[@shanenolan5625]

And she is considered a failure by the sisterhood. But also a great teacher. ( because of that perhaps) I think she had a small school in her castle on caladan. . In later life .

[@Nicole-nd3yj]

i freaking love lady jessica's character, even though shes got an ominous vibe after the worm poison ritual. rebecca ferguson killed it!

[@jennifersanni3248]

I love her character, but feel that she failed her children. Her decisions turned them into vulnerable freaks, even though they were both powerful. She abandoned them for 18 years(?), only coming back to see if Alia had descended into abomination, as well as maybe her grandchildren. These years feel like a black hole to me. They should have been written into the book.

[@MaharionPendragon]

In the vein of powerful Bene Gesserits, I'd love for your take on Darwi Ordrade, Taraza & Shwangyu!

[@bdso9593]

Great video. Let's hope the new Dune film doesn't make her so weepy again. The woman cried way too much for being such a powerful character.

[@PersonalityMalfunction]

Agree 100%. For someone trained to conseal her true intentions and capabilities, Villeneuve's Jessica allowed her every emotion to completely rule her outward presentation.

[@koushikghosh7789]

No it's not u ar stupid if u think so what she express as sorrow and emotions when she is alone or with Paul which make complete sense not infornt of enemy or difficult situation

[@nicokrasnow1851]

Jessica is my favorite female character in all fiction. Closely followed by Virginia au Augustus from Red Rising for the same reasons.

[@michaelparker4457]

Standing on the shoulders of Jennifer Laurence , of course 😏

[@shanenolan5625]

Thanks Elaine

[@dzod]

The Fremen are the toughest people in the known universe. Stilgar is the toughest of all the Fremen. Jessica kicked his ass. You gotta be pretty damn special to pull that off. Combat is just but one of her many special abilities.

[@TillionTirrion]

Gosh, no wonder I am so happily a Cookie Monster. One of your best from my limited point of view.

[@tjm11015]

She is my favorite character in all of the books, her and the god emperor are two of the best characters in all of literature.

[@jessestreet2549]

i read Dune as a young man. i suspect i should reread it as an older one.

[@PersonalityMalfunction]

I first read Dune in 1982 when I realised my local library had yards and yards of science fiction books. I have re-read the first book several times in my life at progressively older point of view. I think that is what sets Dune up there with the truly great literature- it provides fantastic new emotions every time. In my youth I identified with Paul, in my 30's with Duke Leto, but now in my 50's I actually find myself agreeing a lot with the emperor!

[@shanenolan5625]

Now you have witnessed the steal underneath the benegesserit glove. . ( tufir )

[@nfboogaard]

I could listen for hours. Please narrate the books so I can 😁

[@PersonalityMalfunction]

Hey, that's a great idea! Please, Need Cookies, read a few chapters for us!

[@paulclinton2326]

Great video

[@abstractnonsense3253]

One of the best characters ever created.

[@miguelruiz8183]

Cooks I have a question? Why in the move did the reverend mother tell Paul after observing him that He had more than one birth right.

[@lucagiovanetti9870]

I disagree with those who criticize Rebecca Ferguson's performance in Dune part 1. I think she displayed a number of powerful emotions that show the vulnerability of a women who was taught to act strong but fails because of the heavy burden she has to carry. Her performance shows the contraddictions of her character and a more human side. Even Jessica has to go through the ordeal of her 'own' gom jabbar, which means going through various stages of deep suffering. In the second half of the film, she acts more tough, as if she has accepted her son's destiny and 'what doesn't kill you can only make you stronger!' This is something only a very few people noticed. In the second half she stops weeping, as if the ordeal is over and she's more focused on her son's destiny and her own with the fremen. I'm quite sure we'll see a much stronger Jessica in part 2!

[@wolfgangcomacho]

awesome video .. when can we start seeing 40k Cookies?

[@NerdCookies]

I have to read A LOT to be confident enough for a 40k video lol

[@tarkajedi3331]

Brilliant !!!

[@daduzadude1547]

I personally feel the latest film depiction of her did her an injustice. In the books she comes across as an incredibly strong woman, but in the film it seemed she was to emotional

[@michaelpipkin9942]

How did I miss this video by a day??? My presience is wavering....

[@creativewriter3887]

I always found Jessica to be a selfish opportunist doing anything and everything first for love of her duke, then of survival for her son. She purposely chose to have a son and then capitalized on the framework of the Bene Gesserit and the "messy-antics" prophesies of both the BG and the fremen to make it about her son. Then to secure the rank of Holy Mother and all that went with it, she underwent the spice agony; rendering her daughter to open consciousness. Then after the Jihad and Paul being made emperor, she abandons Alia and then wonders why she slipped into Abomination; returning ONLY when her grandkids become powerful enough to be guided by her hand. How she dismisses her own daughter for the sake of her grandkids and how she didn't really have any time for Alia is tragic. She may have been a power BG but she failed as a mother to Alia. That's the problem with the xian version of messiah/savior.. there's more bloodshed than ever and it's never for salvation but rather enslavement and making Mother Manipulator some sort of paragon of virtue and value.

[@Davepool-hs7vr]

If it wasn’t Lady Jessica, Paul may have become the God Emperor.

[@champisthebunny6003]

In the 2020 version, Jessica showed her strength by crying buckets on a water world. Later, she changed it up by crying buckets on a desert world. Which is a lot harder to do. The natives took this as sign of respect and greatness, but, not that she was just emo or anything like that. She didnt cry buckets in space, b/c DV didnt show anyone anything choherant relating to actual space travel either. But, if he had, Jessica would have cried buckets in space too. [Spoiler Alert] In part 2, Jessica is going to bawl and cry a lot. Thank goodness we still have the novels and this dreadful 'remake'.....

[@Wolf10media]

I must read or audio listen to Dune again before the next part comes out.

[@brotherkellymatthewbarnes8882]

Controversial statement: I like the prequels and inbetweenquels of the Dune Novels.

[@VASABOY]

loved it

[@sid2112]

Good stuff for a second watch.

[@MrBDB001]

Love Dune but I like the portrait of Lynch's Lady Jessica far more than this emotionaly shaken version. I have a very strong vision of the power, grace and control of the BJ women. I find the new version weak.

[@meep9873]

The character that inspired Obiwan Kenobi

[@empressoftheknownuniverse]

Just open up Chapter House: Dune to page 434. Bev was his template for Jessica. 💓😓

[@f3n1xplat3ad0]

The biggest plot hole in this saga is Jessica not conceiving a daughter soon after having Paul. Mohian had to conceive Jessica shortly after the failure of her first daughter.

[@Shan_Dalamani]

LOL. Mohiam was not Jessica's mother. Frank Herbert made that clear in Children of Dune.

[@ThompPL1]

"Terrible Purpose" . . .

[@TheHartonGroup]

I liked her right until she abandoned her daughter and went back to Calidan. If she hadn’t done that Alia might not have succumbed to abomination.

[@Snowypeak-e3n]

Bene gesserit is based on real life history. Hinduism has a history of sisterhood of yoginis, with exactly same powers and mission.

[@FoxWolfWorld]

Jessica was such a psychopath

[@imabott7053]

Rebecca Ferguson SUCKS as the Lady Jessica. To be fair Duncan , Thufir, Liet, Paul, and Channi were also terrible casts in my opinion. I think part 2 will fall flat.

[@kcvriess]

Content so fascinating. Voice intonation so annoying.

[@cozminr]

Anyone else think Oscar Isaac was too short to play Leto?

[@Luciferhelidon]

Also Rebecca Ferguson is my mommy