Warning: Spoilers for Dune: Prophecy
The latest prequel series in the massive Dune franchise details the origins of the Bene Gesserit and chronicles the early steps the secretive sisterhood took in steering the trajectory of the Imperium from the shadows. Unlike Denis Villeneuve’s films, Dune: Prophecy takes place in the worlds beyond Arrakis and its desert sands. In fact, there’s hardly a worm in sight. What the series does possess is an array of various villains, all vying for ultimate control and power. In the show’s first episode, viewers were introduced to Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel), who heartlessly used his “gift” to murder Lord Pruwet Richeseand (Charlie Hodson-Prior) and is believed to have done the same to Reverend Mother Kasha Jinjo (Jihae). As such, he’s clearly the primary villain of the series, or so viewers might have initially thought.
That being said, in a series where almost anyone may seem like a villain, it’s difficult to decipher exactly who viewers should be rooting for. As the show ventures deeper into its story, it’s abundantly clear the lines between villain and hero are increasingly blurred and no one is free from some sort of misdeed. However, those at the center of it all, Valya (Emily Watson/Jessica Barden) and Tula (Olivia Williams/Emma Canning) of House Harkonnen, are ultimately the ones to fear. Given what viewers have learned about the pair as the show has progressed, it would be hard to classify their actions as anything other than villainous. Desmond might have appeared out of nowhere and killed a young lord for reasons that have yet to be fully explained, but Valya and Tula have plenty to answer for as well. Hands down, Valya and Tula are the real villains in Dune: Prophecy.
- Release Date
- November 17, 2024
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi
- Cast
- Emily Watson , Olivia Williams , Jodhi May , Travis Fimmel , Mark Strong , Jade Anouka , Chris Mason , Sarah-Sofie Boussnina , Shalom Brune-Franklin , Faoileann Cunningham , Aoife Hinds , Chloe Lea , Josh Heuston , Edward Davis , Tabu , Yerin Ha
- Seasons
- 1
Who Is Desmond Hart?
Desmond Hart is a soldier of the Imperium who served 12 tours on Arrakis and received numerous commendations for his service. He appears in the series almost immediately and subsequently sets out to gain the trust of Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong). He has no admiration for the Sisterhood and actively seeks to rid their influence from the palace, a notion Empress Natalya (Jodhi May) clearly prefers. After a private conversation with Emperor Corrino in which he expressed his distain for his daughter’s impending wedding, Desmond takes it upon himself to murder Princess Ynez’s (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) betrothed and free the Emperor of the obligations the wedding requires.
Initially viewed as a traitor and a liability, the Emperor ultimately utilizes Desmond’s talents for his own personal gains. After witnessing via surveillance Desmond’s encounter with a sand worm on Arrakis, in which he’s eaten but somehow survives, the Emperor is unable to overlook the “gift” Desmond was given as a result. While it’s clear Desmond’s loyalties lie with the Imperium, it’s unclear what exactly that means in practice. He deeply despises the Sisterhood and what they stand for, but the reasons why have yet to be disclosed as well.
What Makes Valya and Tula so Dangerous?
The core of Dune: Prophecy and its narrative lie with Valya and Tula, who are each quickly revealing themselves to be the ultimate villains of the series. Valya’s harshness and wicked behavior was seen from the very beginning when she commanded Reverend Mother Dorotea (Camilla Beeput) to drive a knife into her own throat. Her ruthless ambition has always been present. Ever eager to restore her family’s name after it was tarnished by House Atreides, and they were ultimately banished, Valya stopped at nothing to enact vengeance. She was born with a chip on her shoulder and used that resentment to rise within the Sisterhood. What makes her even more dangerous is her belief that she knows more than anyone how the Imperium should operate and aims to use the influence of the Sisterhood to bend the Imperium to her will. More than anything, she wants to control it all.
Tula, on the other hand, is capable of anything, in part because everyone, except her sister, has always underestimated her. She certainly does her sister’s bidding, but she makes those choices freely. While it may seem to some that Valya has forced Tula down the path she currently follows, nothing could be farther from the truth. She might not devise the plans, but she certainly carries them out without question. She killed Orry Atreides (Milo Callaghan) and his entire clan as restitution for her brother’s death, and she did so without hesitation. Her eyes were filled with tears, but she did it, nonetheless. Unlike her sister, she’s certainly more emotional, but those emotions don’t hinder her actions. Because the pair are capable of anything and believe they know what’s best for both the Sisterhood and the Imperium, they are the real villains in the show.
How Do Valya and Tula Compare to Desmond?
Make no mistake, Desmond is a villain. However, he’s not the real villain of the series, especially given what viewers already know about the Dune universe. Rather, he and the sisters are two sides of the same coin. Each wants to influence the Emperor, but their motivations for doing so are wildly different. Vayla and Tula want ultimate control of the Imperium. They want to control the bloodlines of the Imperium and steer its future in the way they see fit, and they want to control the Sisterhood and how the organization will advance into the future. While Desmond’s motivations are a bit fussier, it’s clear his biggest goal is to rid the Imperium of the Sisterhood, although viewers have yet to understand exactly why.
Desmond’s actions are certainly villainous, but he isn’t manipulating the pieces on the proverbial chess board in the way Valya and Tula aim to do. When compared to the sisters, his ambitions are minuscule and ultimately short-lived. Valya and Tula are planning for generations ahead with the aid of technology now forbidden following the Machine Wars, while Desmond simply wants the Sisterhood gone. Unlike the sisters, he owns his actions outright and doesn’t seek to lie about what he hopes to achieve. While there is certainly more happening with Desmond than viewers have yet to discover, it’s unlikely he wants to control the Imperium in the way Valya and Tula seek to. At the end of the day, Valya and Tula are the real villains in Dune: Prophecy.
New episodes of Dune: Prophecy premiere every Sunday on HBO and stream on Max.