Dune: Prophecy episode 1 “The Hidden Hand” introduces Emily Watson’s Valya Harkonnen, a fierce and calculated leader, and her biological sister, Tula Harkonnen. Together, they oversee the development of highly qualified young women who learn to become sisters of the Bene Gesserit. The beginning of Dune: Prophecy also reveals how Valya came to power in the very earliest days of the Bene Gesserit, which involved using the supernatural power of Voice to kill Dorotea, the biological granddaughter of the Reverend Mother Superior, Raquella. Dorotea had a moral vision for the Bene Gesserit but Valya had something else in mind.
Valya Killed Dorotea To Become The Reverend Mother Superior After Raquella’s Death
Dorotea stood in the way of Mother Reverend Superior Raquella’s vision for the future
Valya Harkonnen killed Reverend Mother Dorotea, played by Camilla Beeput, in a flashback scene in Dune: Prophecy episode 1. Following the death of the first Reverend Mother Superior Raquella Berto-Anirul, Valya sought to gain control over the Bene Gesserit but Dorotea stood in her way. Although Dorotea is the granddaughter of Raquella, Raquella called for Valya on her deathbed, which stunned Dorotea. Raquella was a hero during the wars against the machines and was the first person to train Sisters of the Bene Gesserit to become Truthsayers. This led to the Bene Gesserit becoming powerful tools for all of the Great Houses and allowed Raquella to govern the future.
Mother Reverend Raquella was also the one who originated the plan to breed strong leaders. After amassing a vast genetic archive, she began to use it to foster ideal royal unions and instill rulers that would be easily controlled by the Bene Gesserit. Valya was the only one of the Sisters who shared Raquella’s vision of the future, which is why Raquella trusted her the most, even above her own granddaughter. Raquella told Valya that she would be the one to see “the burning truth.” After Raquella’s death, Valya wanted to instate one of the Sisters to become Empress. Dorotea would not allow it so Valya felt the need to kill her and become the Reverend Mother Superior as a result.
Valya’s Plan To Protect Bloodlines Explained
Valya’s plan revolves around Princess Ynez
Valya had made it her life’s mission to protect the bloodlines that she had orchestrated in order for the Bene Gesserit to maintain Imperial control. Early on in Dune: Prophecy episode 1, Valya predicts that a female empress will rise to power 30 years before the main narrative of the series takes place. Raquella had warned Valya of an impending reckoning referred to as Tiran-Arafel, which the Sisters recognized as “a holy judgment brought on by a tyrant.” In order to prevent that from happening, Valya plans to put one of the Bene Gesserit on the throne, which arrives in the form of Princess Ynez, the daughter of Emperor Javicco Corrino and Empress Natalya.
Princess Ynez is admitted into the Bene Gesserit’s training program, where she is meant to be treated as any other student. This will make her the first Bene Gesserit Sister to become Empress, which is according to Valya’s master plan. Princess Ynez enters an arranged marriage with the young Prince of House Richese in exchange for elite spice excavators that the Emperor can use on Arrakis. Princess Ynez is the key to Bene Gesserit’s plan to come to fruition and prevent the Tiran Arafel from happening. Her Corrino bloodline will be protected and controlled by the Bene Gesserit for thousands of years.
What “The Reckoning” Is In Dune: Prophecy & How Valya Plans To Prevent It
Valya tries to prevent a holy judgment day
The Reckoning or Tiran Arafel would essentially be the end of a peaceful galactic order in Dune: Prophecy. By training Princess Ynez, she will thwart The Reckoning from happening against the threat of a judgment day type of scenario, which would spell disaster. However, the unexpected arrival of Desmond Hart has certainly thrown a wrench in Valya’s grand plan considering how Dune: Prophecy episode 1 ends. This may open the door for Princess Ynez to be married to someone else and allow Iron Arafel to actually happen despite Valya’s efforts to prevent it in Dune: Prophecy.
