The first season of Dune: Prophecy told us the story of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. Beware of SPOILERS!
Prequel and spin-off of the film Dune by Denis Villeneuve, Dune: Prophecy is the HBO series based on the novel Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. The series took us 10 thousand years before the events involving Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet), telling us the fascinating world of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood through the eyes and stories of Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson and Jessica Barden) and her sister Tula (Olivia Williams and Emma Canning). The first is the second Mother Superior of the Sisterhood, as well as the director of the school on Wallach IX. The second is, instead, the Reverend Mother who teaches the art of combat and manipulation in the school.
Already renewed for a second season, the series created by Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker is available with its first season, exclusively on Sky and streaming on NOW, from November 18, 2024. Dune: Prophecy has given us some revelations, during its six episodes. From this point on, beware of spoilers!
How the first season of Dune: Prophecy ends – the origins of the Sisterhood and the virus
The finale of the first season of Dune: Prophecy saw, in the foreground, the final confrontation between Valya and Tula. Throughout the six episodes, we learned the story of the Harkonnen sisters on two timelines: the one in which they were young girls and the one in which they are now adults and leaders of the Sisterhood. We discover that Tula witnessed – together with other Sisters – the murder of Dorotea (Camilla Beeput) by Valya, who ordered the granddaughter of Raquella – founder of the Order – to kill herself.
Not only that, but we see how the young Valya had managed to eliminate all the other descendants, thanks to her enormous power. Either with her or against her. In what is the present, however, the Initiates discover the truth. Also in the present, then, Tula investigates the virus that feeds on the fears of those who come into contact with it, but Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel) manages, inexplicably, to control it. The latter is a soldier, who survived a mission on Arrakis and who tries to gain the favor of Emperor Javicco (Mark Strong). As for the virus, Tula is looking for a sort of "antiviral", but the experiment fails.
Desmond's Past, the child, and the final Clash
The biggest revelation is that of Desmond's past: this is, in fact, Tula's son. At the beginning of the episode, 1×06 The High-Handed Enemy, we see Tula reveal to Valya that she is pregnant. Her sister tells her that she can keep the child and that she will not allow the two to be separated. With Francesca's help, Tula decides, however, to protect her son, giving him freedom and giving him up for adoption with much pain. For Valya, in the present, it is a shock to discover that her grandson had not died at birth as she believed. Tula wanted to avoid a bloody fate for him.
Returning to Emperor Javicco, he is increasingly manipulated by those around him: by his wife Natalya-Arat (Jodhi May) and, in part, also by Francesca (Tabu), his lover and mother of Prince Constantine (Josh Heuston). The latter is part of the Order and must eliminate him, but the Sister does not dare to complete the task. In the end, Javicco commits suicide to make, at least once in his life, a decision of his own. Francesca is, instead, killed by Natalya.
Meanwhile, Princess Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) is arrested by her mother for being a rebel, but Valya manages to free her and her lover, Blademaster Keiran Atreides (Chris Mason). Meanwhile, the Sisters prepare for the showdown, while Mother Raquella returns in the body of Sister Lila (Chloe Lea). However, the latter is also possessed by Mother Dorothy who reveals – as mentioned before – Valya's past to the Initiates.
How the season one finale of Dune: Prophecy prepares for season two
We discover that Tula's fear has turned into a virus and Desmond has been infected by it. This virus is also torturing the sisters with nightmares, killing them and causing damage around the Empire. As mentioned, Desmond Hart is half Harkonnen and half Atredies, being the son of Orry (Milo Callaghan) and Tula. With this latest episode, it is clear how man takes on an increasingly crucial role. Certainly, he will be the true protagonist of the second season of Dune: Prophecy.
At the end of the episode, there is then an epic clash between Desmond and his “aunt”. Here, Tula’s intervention will be fundamental. The woman, in fact, reveals to him and his sister who she really is. Valya remains, in fact, shocked by the truth, while Desmond hugs his mother. We also discover that the man has been modified by the Thinking Machines, which leads to other questions. In any case, Desmond decides to have his mother arrested while Valya, with Princess Ynez, arrives in Arrakis. Here, the Mother Superior of the Sisterhood will most likely find herself fighting Natalya’s new Empire and trying to reconquer the Order…