Feyd-Rautha: The Best Thing About Dune Part Two

You Fought Well Atreides

Arguably the biggest movie of 2024, Dune Part Two took the cinematic world by storm. From the political landscape of the known universe to the Giant sandworms of Arakkis, there’s so much to love about it. Loved by critics and audiences alike, it’s no surprise that we’re delving deeper into the Duneverse with another sequel.

In a sea of great characters and amazing acting performances, one stood out above the rest, Feyd-Rautha Harkkonen. The primary Antagonist to Timothee Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, Austin Butler’s character portrayal warrants praise. Without a doubt, Feyd-Rautha was the best thing about one of the biggest cinematic masterpieces in recent years.

Who Is Feyd-Rautha?

Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen is the heir apparent (na-Baron) to House Harkonnen and Geidi Prime. The younger of Baron Vladimir’s two nephews, Feyd is heavily favored by his uncle, and beloved by his people. Unlike his uncle and brother (Rabban), Feyd isn’t motivated by greed, favoring honor in his quest for power.

What Makes Feyd-Rautha Such A Great Villian?

From the moment we are introduced to this character, it's clear we are meant to hate him. Unfortunately, Feyd-Rautha is still lovable, using some of his hateful traits to get audiences to love him.

Psychotic

“He’s Psychotic”... Princess Irulan describes Feyd with one simple word, and he lives up to the billing. With a Harem of cannibals whom he feeds the flesh of his victims. Feyd even kills some of his men to satiate this need. In his introductory scene in the movie, we see him murder two innocent attendants, simply because he wants to test his new blades.

Upon arriving at Arrakis, Feyd instantly challenges his brother, threatening to kill him, and injuring him in the process. By placing Rabban in his place, Feyd endears himself to the audience, with the ‘beast Rabban’ being one of the most hated characters.

Tactical

“Old fashion Artillery, genius”... Feyd-Rautha receives high praise from the Baron for his tactics in ‘liberating the north’ and restoring spruce production. By abandoning traditional war tactics, he forces the Fremen to flee the north and head south, something Rabban has failed to achieve. Even the Mahdi (Paul Atreides) himself has to join the rest of the Fremen in exile and embrace his visions before he can face Feyd.

In his fight with Lanville in the Arena on Geidi Prime, we see further evidence of Feyd’s tactics. He lulls his opponent into a false sense of security, teasing victory, before killing them. Feyd is also able to deduce the movement of the Fremen without any outside information, further demonstrating his tactical knowledge.

Fighting Ability

“May thy knife chip and shatter”.... Feyd famously echoes the Fremen's battle cry back to Paul before their epic showdown. From the moment we are introduced to Feyd-Rautha, it is clear he is a proper warrior and a deadly one too. We first witness his skills in the arena when he faces Lanville and then again when he dispatches his brother with ease. While his fight scenes in the movie are limited, it's clear he is one of the deadliest fighters in the Imperium. The Emperor himself selects Feyd as his champion and he pushes Paul to the brink, stabbing him twice before ultimately losing.

Bravery

“I’m Here Atreides, I need a blade”... Feyd-Rautha responds to Paul’s challenge to the Emperor and steps up to a trial by combat for the fate of the universe. He also proves defiant even when addressing the Baron, threatening to drown him whilst in the presence of guards. One thing everyone can agree on is that Feyd is one of the bravest characters in the movie, which earns him the adoration of the audience.

After the liberation of the North, he volunteers to go on the ground to face any Fremen resistance, against the advice of his officers. He even steps up to a Fremen captive without fear. In his battle against Lanville, Feyd turns off his shield and meets his opponent on a level footing with no care for his safety. While some may call him mad, he certainly displays bravery in every situation.

Conclusion

Every movie is only as good as its villain and with one as awesome as Feyd, it’s no surprise that Dune Part Two is such a great movie. Austin Butler’s portrayal of Feyd-Rautha Harkkonen stands out in a movie with many actors and characters. Despite his position as the primary antagonist, fans can’t help but admire and even love Feyd-Rautha. It’s fair to say that this character heavily improves the movie and helps it surpass the expectations set by its prequel.