In the climactic finale of HBO's Dune: Prophecy, titled "The High-Handed Enemy," the intricate threads of power, betrayal, and destiny converge, unraveling the fates of the central characters and setting the stage for a tumultuous future. As the sands of Wallach IX shift beneath the Sisterhood's feet, the Corrino dynasty on Salusa Secundus crumbles, and the identity of the enigmatic Desmond Hart is finally revealed.
The episode commences with the revelation of Desmond Hart's true lineage, a fusion of the rival Harkonnen and Atreides bloodlines. The genetic archive on Wallach IX, a repository of the Sisterhood's secrets, confirms what had been suspected: Desmond is the offspring of Tula Harkonnen and Orry Atreides, a fact that Tula had concealed from her sister Valya and the world. This discovery not only explains Desmond's exceptional abilities but also his deep-seated animosity towards the Sisterhood, fueled by a childhood filled with stories of a mother who abandoned him for the Sisterhood's cause.
As Tula grapples with the consequences of her past, the Sisterhood faces a leadership crisis. Dorotea, Raquella's granddaughter, whose death was orchestrated by Valya, returns in spirit through the body of the acolyte Lila. Dorotea's vengeful spirit exposes Valya's past atrocities and her manipulation of the Sisterhood, rallying the Sisters against the Harkonnen sisters. In a dramatic turn, the genetic archive, the Sisterhood's most potent weapon, is destroyed, leaving them vulnerable and divided.
On Salusa Secundus, the Corrino family's internal strife reaches a breaking point. Empress Natalya, driven by her thirst for power, aligns with Desmond Hart and imprisons her daughter Ynez, who attempts to free her lover Keiran Atreides. Emperor Javicco, realizing his mistakes and the betrayal surrounding him, seeks Valya's aid, only to be met with scorn. Valya, no longer needing Javicco's validation, abandons him to his fate, focusing instead on her plan to rescue Ynez and install her as the new empress.
In a tragic twist, Javicco, overwhelmed by the realization that his life has been a series of the Sisterhood's decisions, takes his own life with a knife, while Francesca, unable to bear the loss, is killed by Natalya with the poisoned needle meant for Javicco. Their deaths mark the end of an era, leaving the Imperium in chaos and the Sisterhood's influence in question.
As the season concludes, Valya, now without her sister Tula's support and with Francesca and Kasha deceased, stands alone. She accompanies Ynez and Keiran to Arrakis, where she intends to proclaim Ynez as the new empress, a move that will reshape the political landscape of the Imperium. Meanwhile, Desmond, though injured, recovers and orders Tula's arrest, leaving Valya without her last ally. The revelation of a third faction, possibly the Bene Tlelilax, suggests that the war for control over the galaxy is far from over.
"The High-Handed Enemy" closes the first chapter of Dune: Prophecy with a resounding impact, leaving the fates of its characters entwined and uncertain. The Sisterhood's power is diminished, the Corrino dynasty lies in ruins, and the identity of the main antagonist is revealed, setting the stage for a second season that promises to delve deeper into the politics of the Imperium and the machinations of the Sisterhood. As the dust settles on the season's explosive finale, the stage is set for a new dawn in the Dune universe, where old alliances will be tested, and new rivalries will emerge.