WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Dune: Prophecy season 1.
There are several major questions that HBO’s upcomingDune: Prophecyseason 2 must answer following theDune: Prophecyseason 1 finale.Dune: Prophecyis a six-part series based on the 2012 novelSisterhood of Dune, written by originalDuneauthor Frank Herbert’s son, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson. The story takes place more than10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreidies, which is chronicled in Denis Villeneuve’sDune(2020) andDune: Part Two(2024). Emily Watson leads thecast ofDune: Prophecyas Mother Reverend Superior Valya Harkonnen along with Olivia Williams as her sister, Tula Harkonnen.
The season 1 finaleset up several major events inDune: Prophecyseason 2while also proving howDenis Villeneuve pulled off a miracle with his twoDunefilms. HBO announced therenewal ofDune: Prophecyseason 2just days after the release of the season 1 finale, which is proof of the series' popularity on their streaming platform MAX. Even thoughDune: Prophecydoes a lot to set up the world, characters, and story dynamics in its short six-episode first season, it hardly concluded anything by the season 1 finale.Dune: Prophecyseason 2is poised to dive straight into the continuing action andshould theoretically be even better than its predecessor if it answers some crucial questions.
She hopes to find who implanted Desmond with Thinking Machine tech
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Dune: Prophecyseason 1 ends with Valya arriving on Arrakis with Princess Ynez and Keiran Atreides after escaping the grasp of Desmond Hart. The vast majority ofDune: Part OneandDune: Part Twotake place on Arrakis, which has become an iconic home of both Paul Atreides and the franchise at large. Part of Valya’s endgame plan with Francesca and Emperor Javicco was to get Constantine to oversee spice production on Arrakis.
It’s unclear at this stage exactly why that is but now that Valya is on Arrakis, it appears that Constantine will show up on the Dune planet sometime in season 2. There’s also the possibility that whoever implanted the Thinking Machine technology in Desmond Hart is on Arrakis, since that’s where he came from at the start ofDune: Prophecyseason 1. Valya’s focus should be on finding out who is behind Desmond Hart’s ascension and the Thinking Machine implants on Arrakis.
This gave Desmond the power to burn people alive through a fear-spreading virus
The biggest unanswered question at the end ofDune: Prophecyseason 1 is who implanted Desmond with the Thinking Machine technology and why. Valya had a vision from Desmond’s perspective that showed the surgical procedure taking place, which involved fluorescent blue implants being inserted into Desmond’s right eye socket. This is what gave Desmond the fear-spreading virus that allowed him to burn people alive. There is still a great deal to learn about Desmond’s powers and what his purpose is, which will require Valya and the audience to discover who is behind the operation on Arrakis.
Desmond may find a way to forgive Tula for abandoning him as a child
Tula discovers that the son she had with Orry Atreides grew up to become Desmond Hart. As shown in theDune: Prophecyseason 1 finale, Tula gave her child away soon after it was born. Through Anirul, Tula figures out that Desmond is her biological son after testing his DNA. They finally reunite at the end ofDune: Prophecyseason 1 but it is not a warm welcome from Desmond, who has his own mother arrested. In time, Desmond could form a bond with Tula, whom he presumably has many questions for. The biggest intrigue with their dynamic in season 2 will be whether they form an alliance, one that could pose a threat to Valya.
He is next in line but Desmond has all the power
Prince Constantine Corrino doesn’t have much of a role in theDune: Prophecyseason 1 finale and has yet to establish himself as a true player in this game of power and deceit. Through Francesca’s help based on Valya’s plan, Constantine was appointed to oversee spice production on Arrakis, which means that he is more than likely to appear on the Dune planet and reunite with his sister there.
Discovering where Constantine’s loyalties lie in season 2 will be interesting to see unfold. He theoretically could be next in line to become Emperor after his father although it appears that Desmond Hart carries more power than him after he and Natalya have bonded and colluded together. There is also Valya Harkonnen’s plan to place Princess Ynez on the Imperial throne, which could be thwarted by Ynez’s own mother Natalya, who had Ynez arrested in theDune: Prophecyseason 1 finale for trying to free Keiran Atreides from suspension.
She seems to have won the loyalty of the Sisterhood in Valya’s absence
With Valya and Tula out of the picture at the end ofDune: Prophecyseason 1, the Sisterhood appears to have regained its rightful leader in Dorotea, who has emerged through her granddaughter Lila. In theDune: Prophecyseason 1 finale, Dorotea reveals the truth about Valya to the Sisterhood and quickly establishes her own following. Lila can also harness the presence of the original Mother Superior, Raquella, meaning that Valya may have a very difficult time gaining power over the Sisterhood ever again. Dorotea and the Sisterhood also discover the forbidden Thinking Machine technology that Valya and Tula have been hiding for their breeding index, which could spark a full-blown rebellion against the Harkonnen sisters.
Desmond has her arrested and may use her to his advantage
Dune: Prophecyleaves the fate of Theo, a supposed Face Dancer and loyal member of the sisterhood, ambiguous in the season 1 finale. Theo was shifted into Princess Ynez’s likeness when she and Valya arrived at the Imperial prison to free the real Ynez. Once the alarm went off, Theo offered to stay behind to buy Valya, Ynez, and Keiran time. Instead of staying morphed as Ynez’s decoy, she changes into an Imperial guard and stabs Desmond Hart. Hart, however, doesn’t kill her and instead has Theo arrested. It’s more than likely that Desmond will interrogate Theo inDune: Prophecyseason 2 and will try to extract information about Valya’s plan now that she has landed on the Dune planet.
He will likely turn it over to Desmond & Natalya or blackmail Valya with it
Lurking in the shadows of theDune: Prophecyseason 1 finale is Harrow Harkonnen, Valya’s ambitious nephew, who now has his own trick up his sleeve heading into season 2. Harrow has been gifted a piece of Thinking Machines technology – a glowing orb – that acts as a hidden recording device. It’s revealed in theDune: Prophecyfinale that Harrow secretly used the orb to record Valya’s conversation with Francesca and Theo about her plan to kill Emperor Corrino. Seeking his own glory, and knowing the dangers of Valya firsthand, Harrow will likely take this evidence to Empress Natalya and Desmond or could use it to blackmail Valya for political gain.
If so, what does this mean for Valya and the Sisterhood?
With Valya’s Thinking Machine breeding index now exposed, it could be taken down by Dorotea and the revolting Sisterhood. The season 1 finale shows Lila/Dorotea smashing the Thinking Machine Anirul, which is followed by the noise of the machine powering down. This would imply that Dorotea successfully destroyed Valya’s breeding index, which would cause massive problems for her vision of the Sisterhood and the “hidden hand” in the selection of royal lines. If Lila did destroy Anirul at the end ofDune: Prophecyseason 1, however, it may mean that she took herself out as well, since she is powered by the Thinking Machine technology after Tula resurrected her. More information will have to be revealed about Anirul in season 2 if it’s still operational.
Tula may have to choose between Desmond, the Sisterhood, and Valya
Tula will have a major decision to make if she is placed between Valya and Desmond, both of whom are her blood. She already has to make an enormous sacrifice by abandoning Desmond as a baby for Valya and the Sisterhood, a choice that she may not want to make again. This instantly makes Tula the most interesting character next to Desmond in Dune: Prophecy season 2, especially since she will likely be questioned by the Sisterhood as well about Anirul and Valya’s role in Dorotea’s death. Tula may discover that continuing to support Valya’s ambitions will be costly and could cost her everything, from her relationship with Desmond, her role in the Sisterhood, and potentially even her life.
Demond and Lila could both be the key to the Reckoning
The initial fear inDune: Prophecyseason 1 is the arrival of The Reckoning and who could ignite it. Raquella speaks through Lila during The Agony sequence inDune: Prophecyepisode 2. Raquella says, “The key to The Reckoning is one born twice. Once in blood, once in spice. A revenant full of scars. A weapon born of war on a path too short.” Raquella’s cautionary words all but point to Desmond Hartwho was essentially born again after getting eaten by the sandworm, returning with miraculous and lethal powers that have the power to bring on “The Reckoning” almost single-handedly.
Interestingly, however, Lila herself appears to have become another potential key to the Reckoning, since she theoretically fits Raquella’s description, having been born twice. Lila and Desmond are both genetically modified through Thinking Machine tech, which could make them fierce rivals inDune: Prophecyseason 2. Their confrontation could bring about a major conflict and war that may ultimately be considered to be The Reckoning inDune: Prophecyseason 2, especially if there’s a battle for control of the Imperium.
Dune: Prophecy
Cast
Set in the universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune series, Dune: Prophecy, a sci-fi epic, follows the political and spiritual struggles on the desert planet of Arrakis. As factions vie for control of the prized spice melange, a prophesied hero emerges, challenging the balance of power and the fate of the galaxy.
