The first episode sees Valya Harkonnen gain control of the Sisterhood to carry out the goals of the first Mother Superior by using the Voice to force Dorotea to kill herself. Throughout the episode, audiences are introduced to a political plot surrounding House Corrino and the Emperor (Mark Strong). In order to strengthen his military standing, he agrees to a marriage alliance with House Richese. However, the end of the episode sees Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel) kill the young Richese heir, preventing the planned marriage.
Why & How Desmond Hart Killed Pruwet Richese In Episode 1’s Ending
Desmond Hart Is Working Against The Sisterhood
Dune : Prophecy episode 1 introduces Desmond Hart, an original character to the series. He’s a soldier who survived the recent Fremen attacks on Arrakis, though he arrives on Selusa Secundus claiming that it wasn’t the Fremen who attacked his forces, but rather allies of the Imperium. There’s not much revealed in this initial scene, but Desmond exchanges an antagonizing glance with Kasha, the Emperor’s Truthsayer, hinting at his plans. In the episode’s ending, Desmond Hart tries to win over the trust of Emperor Corrino, suggesting that House Richese is one of many enemies targeting him.
He also claims that he’s been ” given a great power ,” which he seems to then use to kill Pruwet, causing the boy’s skin to burn without touching him.
The Emperor suggests that he’d like to be freed from the wedding, which Desmond takes seriously. He finds the young Pruwet Richese, who says he was woken up by a bad dream. Desmond tells Pruwet that there’s a war being waged by an enemy who’s made themselves indispensable, referring to the Sisterhood. He also claims that he’s been “given a great power,” which he seems to then use to kill Pruwet, causing the boy’s skin to burn without touching him. The exact nature of his power isn’t clear yet, but Desmond’s plan is to thwart the efforts of the Sisterhood.
What Happened With The Sandworm That Emperor Corrino Sees On Arrakis
Desmond Hart Somehow Survived A Sandworm On Arrakis
Emperor Corrino, like Pruwet Richese, is woken from a bad dream in the middle of the night. He then goes into a room where a chip with holographic footage has been left out for him, presumably by Desmond. Emperor Corrino watches the scene that Desmond previously describes where, for some miraculous reason, Desmond Hart is the sole survivor of an attack and then is crushed by a giant sandworm. Somehow, Desmond survived this and resurfaced with a newfound power and sense of purpose.
The scene displayed is very similar to Mother Superior’s vision at the start of the episode, which saw a giant sandworm crushing a building on Arrakis before showing burning skin and blood. Desmond Hart seems to be directly tied to her vision as some representative of the existential threat that the Mother Superior warned Valya against.
Valya’s Plan For The Sisterhood Explained
Valya Seeks To Plant A Sister On The Imperium Throne
Valya Harkonnen is driven by the treatment of House Harkonnen following the Butlerian Jihad, where House Harkonnen were dubbed as cowards and traitors. Therefore, she joined the Sisterhood and became loyal to the first Mother Superior. The Mother Superior had dying dreams of the end of the world, “Tiran-Arafel,” at the hands of a corrupt tyrant. She believed that in order to prevent it, the Sisterhood would have to genetically breed ideal leaders and plant a Sister on the Imperium throne. Valya Harkonnen is intent on carrying out this mission at whatever cost.
Valya seems to believe Ynez can be the planted Sister ruler who can prevent Tiran-Arafel.
Princess Ynez is set to travel to Wallach IX and train with the Sisterhood. Valya and Tula are in the process of selecting one of their students to guide Ynez upon her arrival. Since the Emperor has no trueborn sons, Ynez’s child will be the heir to the throne, so the Sisterhood plans on roping Ynez into their control through whichever Sister they select to guide her. Valya seems to believe Ynez can be the planted Sister ruler who can prevent Tiran-Arafel.
Reverend Mother Kasha’s Vision Explained
Kasha Prophesies Valya’s Plan Going Wrong
It should first be noted that Kasha was one of the girls who plotted with Valya Harkonnen in the flashbacks, so she’s a Sister who’s aware of Valya’s plan and has been placed by the Emperor’s side to spread the Sisterhood’s influence. After meeting with Desmond Hart, she has a vision that shares similar qualities to Mother Superior’s dying vision at the start of the episode: blood and sandworms. In her case, she sees Princess Ynez, who’s about to be married, seemingly dying and accusing Kasha of her involvement in her peril.
Kasha then travels to Wallach IX to meet with Valya and Tula Harkonnen, suggesting that Princess Ynez might not be the ideal candidate that they’re looking for. She warns Valya that planting Ynez on the throne as a Sister may cause the devastation that she hopes to prevent. Valya, believing that the previous Mother Superior chose her for a specific purpose, is set in her ways and intends for the marriage to proceed as she planned. Valya later suggests that they remove Kasha from the Emperor’s side, as she no longer trusts that their ideals align.
What Valya Harkonnen’s “I See, Mother” Line Means
Valya Isn’t Turning Back From Her Plan
One of the final moments in Dune: Prophecy’s opening episode sees Kasha burning in the same way Pruwet Richese did, causing her death. This reminds Valya of Mother Superior’s message, where she said she would be the one to see “the burning truth“ and know what to do with it. The scene likely reaffirms to Valya that she’s right in her path and must continue to lead the Sisterhood to the extremes that she has intended. How Kasha died is unclear, but it seems to be connected with Desmond Hart killing Pruwet Richese.
Why Thinking Machines Are Banned In Dune’s Universe
Humans Fought Against Thinking Machines In The Butlerian Jihad
The Thinking Machines are a form of artificial intelligence in the Dune universe that were prominent prior to Dune: Prophecy. At some point, humanity became dependent on the Thinking Machines, which began to grow too powerful. Humans were forced to go to war with them in an event called the Butlerian Jihad, and the effects of this war lasted for thousands of years to come. Thinking Machines were banned, and by the point of Dune, “Thou shalt not make a machine in the likeness of a human mind” is a well-known commandment.
Thinking Machines were introduced in Frank Herbert’s original Dune novels and are the main subjects of Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s Legends of Dune book trilogy.
Why House Corrino Is Forced Into A Marriage Alliance
House Corrino’s Influence On Arrakis Is Slipping And They Need Military Aid
Audiences are introduced to Emperor Corrino as he brokers an alliance with House Richese, who promise him warships in return for a marriage between nine-year-old Pruwet Richese and Princess Ynez. Emperor Corrino has inherited the Imperium after a line of wartime emperors, and he isn’t the most forceful, aggressive leader by any means. He rules in a time of fragile peace, with the marriage to his wife, Empress Natalya, having united the Imperium to be what it is at the start of the series.
Duke Richese offers House Corrino a fleet of warships to aid in the gathering of spice on Arrakis. As in the films, Arrakis is the most important planet in the universe due to the ultra-powerful substance that can be harvested there. Also, similarly to the movies, the Imperium is having trouble with spice production due to the interference of the Fremen. This leads Emperor Javicco Corrino to make an undignified arrangement with House Richese in Dune: Prophecy, as he desperately needs their military support.
