**Rewritten Article:**
**Season 1 of *Dune: Prophecy* Wraps Up with a Pulse-Pounding Conclusion Full of Surprises and New Enigmas**
In its inaugural season, *Dune: Prophecy* has skillfully intertwined complex interstellar politics with the fantastical elements of sci-fi. From visions that foretell the future to magnificent sandworms, the series has crafted an enthralling story. The first season’s final episode, “The High-Handed Enemy,” weaves together various plot lines, addressing significant inquiries while paving the way for even deeper enigmas in Season 2.
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### **The Stunning Revelation of Tula Harkonnen’s Link to Desmond Hart**
One of the most astonishing surprises in the finale is delivered through flashbacks that reveal the reality of Desmond Hart’s (Travis Fimmel) lineage. Episode 5 exposed Desmond’s profound animosity towards the Sisterhood, triggered by his mother’s desertion, who was part of the organization. In the finale, it’s disclosed that his mother is indeed Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams in the current timeline, Emma Canning in the past), and his father was Orry Atreides (Milo Callaghan), whom Tula murdered.
In a flashback, Tula opens up to her sister Valya (Emily Watson in the current timeline, Jessica Barden in the past) about her pregnancy. Valya endorses her choice to keep the child, particularly after reviewing Mother Superior Raquella’s (Cathy Tyson) breeding index, which forecasts extraordinary potential for a child born of the Atreides and Harkonnen lineages. Nonetheless, Tula becomes apprehensive about Valya’s ambitions to mold her son into a formidable figure. Behind closed doors, she switches her newborn with a stillborn, wishing to grant him a chance at a life untainted by the Sisterhood’s sway. Unfortunately, her scheme backfires as Desmond’s journey leads him back to the Sisterhood—now driven by revenge.
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### **Valya’s Ruthless Ascension to Power and the Turmoil on Wallach IX**
The finale dives deeper into Valya’s bloody rise to authority within the Sisterhood. After eliminating Sister Dorotea (Camilla Beeput), Valya, Tula, Kasha (Yerin Ha), and Francesca (Charithra Chandran) confront Dorotea’s followers, presenting them with a dire ultimatum: obey Valya or meet their end. When the Sisters falter, Valya and her associates employ the Voice to coerce them, resulting in a harrowing scene where the majority of the Sisters take their own lives. Only Sister Avila (Barbara Marten) aligns with Valya.
In the present, Sister Lila (Chloe Lea), who has become unstable after experiencing the Agony, channels her ancestor Raquella to unveil the dark truths about the Sisterhood’s violent beginnings. Lila-in-the-form-of-Raquella uncovers the mass grave of Dorotea’s followers, exposing the Sisterhood’s legacy of bloodshed to its contemporary followers. She then leads them to destroy Raquella’s thinking machine, Anirul, possibly obliterating the breeding index. Disillusioned and furious, the followers are now ready to tear down everything Valya and Tula have constructed—though the fallout of their actions will linger until Season 2.
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### **Salusa Secundus Plunges into Crisis**
While turmoil brews on Wallach IX, Salusa Secundus grapples with its conflict. Empress Natalya (Jodhi May) detains her daughter Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) for attempting to liberate Kieran Atreides (Chris Mason) from bondage. Valya steps in, orchestrating a bold escape for Ynez and Kieran with the assistance of Sister Theodosia (Jade Anouka), who utilizes her advanced Tleilaxu shapeshifting capabilities. However, Theodosia is shot and captured by Desmond, setting the stage for a more profound examination of her role as a Face Dancer in Season 2.
Simultaneously, Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong) uncovers the Sisterhood’s manipulation of his existence, including the orchestration behind his marriage to Natalya. When Valya dispatches Sister Francesca (Tabu) to eliminate him, Javicco takes his own life to regain control of his destiny. In a shocking development, Natalya slays Francesca with the poisoned gom jabbar needle, solidifying her grip on power. Nevertheless, with Javicco’s son Constantine (Josh Heuston) in command of the fleet, a struggle for dominance over the Imperium looms in Season 2.
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### **The Omnius Plague and the Influence of Fear**
The finale also tackles the enigmatic Omnius Plague, responsible for the deaths of Kasha, Pruwet Richese (Charlie Hodson-Prior), and others.