Warning: This article includes significant spoilers for season 1 of Dune: Prophecy!
In the premiere season of Dune: Prophecy, a pivotal plot twist arises from Tula Harkonnen’s falsehood regarding her child. Set approximately 10,000 years before Paul Atreides’ rise, this HBO prequel explores the intricate dynamics of various factions and noble houses in their formative years. Long before the Bene Gesserit became an influential force, they were simply known as the Sisterhood, headed by Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen.
Portrayed by Olivia Williams and Emily Canning, Tula Harkonnen is depicted at various stages of her life, providing insight into her complex relationship with her sister, Valya. Tula remains dedicated to the Sisterhood and Valya’s ambitions, yet her internal conflicts shape her character throughout the season. Despite being involved in heinous acts, including a violent attack on House Atreides, Tula harbors less ambition than Valya, whose relentless pursuit of power drives their divergent paths. This ultimately compels Tula to conceal a significant secret from her sister.
HBO has confirmed that Dune: Prophecy will return for a second season, promising further exploration of its compelling narrative.
Tula’s Deception About Her Child
Tula’s Decision to Give Away Desmond
In season 1, Desmond Hart emerges as the central antagonist, yet the series subtly hints at a depth far beyond his initial portrayal. The climax of episode 5 unveils Desmond’s origins, with Tula utilizing the Sisterhood’s forbidden Thinking Machine technology to trace his genetic lineage back to the Harkonnen and Atreides families. Tula comes to the shocking realization that Desmond is her biological child, conceived with Orry Atreides prior to her commitment to the Sisterhood.
Desmond harbors the belief that Tula abandoned him, prioritizing her allegiance to the Sisterhood over their bond. However, episode 6 reveals that Tula, in a desperate bid to shield him, orchestrated his swap with another infant, enlisting Francesca’s assistance. She then informed Valya that her child had perished during childbirth. Valya’s sorrow stemmed not merely from grief but rather from the loss of a potential Harkonnen-Atreides hybrid with immense genetic possibilities necessary for the Sisterhood’s schemes—precisely what Tula sought to evade.
The Fate of Tula’s Son
Desmond’s Harrowing Journey
Desmond was placed into a different household right after birth. Tula believed she was providing him a chance at a warm and nurturing home, away from the treacherous political landscape of the Sisterhood. Unfortunately, reality did not align with her noble intentions. Desmond Hart endured a grim upbringing, fostering resentment towards the Sisterhood and his mother for abandoning him. He evolved into a tenacious survivor, completing twelve tours of duty on Arrakis, an almost impossible feat for most soldiers.
His military record includes a tragic first mission where he killed Pruwet Richese, inadvertently terminating their impending marriage and slaying Sister Kasha, a trusted ally of Valya.
In Desmond’s final mission, he was the only survivor of an attack orchestrated by the Sisterhood, destined to face a sandworm. Rescued by an unidentified figure, a Thinking Machine was implanted in his eye, fueling his longstanding animosity towards the Sisterhood. With his pain ignited further by recent betrayals, Desmond Hart became the ideal instrument for retribution against the Sisterhood’s machinations.
Tula’s Reasons for Keeping Her Son a Secret
Tula’s Desire to Protect Her Son
While Tula Harkonnen is fiercely loyal to Valya, having committed to the Sisterhood’s cause through the Voice’s ultimatum, she draws the line at certain moral boundaries. For instance, Sister Francesca’s refusal to execute Javicco Corrino despite Valya’s directives mirrors Tula’s choice to conceal her son. Her motivation lies in a fierce protectiveness—Tula is determined not to subject her son to the oppressive control exercised by Valya and the Sisterhood, knowing it would strip him of autonomy and a chance for a normal life.
Tula recognizes that, as Valya described to Javicco, the clutches of the Sisterhood run deep, with even the emperor lacking the ability to make independent decisions. Had Desmond remained with Tula, he would have likely suffered a similar fate as Javicco, never truly controlling his own destiny. Thus, while Tula’s allegiance to the Sisterhood remains unwavering, she firmly refuses to allow her son to endure the same fate of subjugation.
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