So, here we are at the precipice. The season finale of Dune: Prophecy looms, and after five episodes of whispers, prophecies, and enough cryptic pronouncements to choke a sandworm, things are about to go boom. “The High-Handed Enemy” sounds like a bad heavy metal band, but in this case, it’s the title of an episode that apparently features some long-awaited showdowns.
Valya Harkonnen, she of the ambition and the unsettling stare, has been manipulating events from the shadows all season. Finally, it seems someone’s about to call her on it. This week, she faces off against the formidable Desmond, and let’s just say this isn’t a friendly game of cards. Given the history of these two, the potential for fireworks is high. Very high.
Amidst the inevitable political maneuvering and backstabbing (because this is still the Dune universe), the question of Tula’s identity will take center stage. Is she who she claims to be? Or is there something more, something… prophetic about her origins? I’m not saying she’s going to pull a Paul Atreides and ride a sandworm, but don’t be surprised if a few jaws drop when her true nature is revealed.
For those unfamiliar with Dune: Prophecy, the show takes us back 10,000 years before Paul Atreides ever set foot on Arrakis. It’s a prequel, a deep dive into the origins of the Bene Gesserit, and, yes, a chance to watch the Harkonnen sisters do their thing long before Baron Harkonnen became the embodiment of space-faring villainy.
This finale also boasts an extended runtime of 85 minutes. That’s a lot of screen time to tie up loose ends, ignite new conflicts, and hopefully leave us wanting more. Consider this the appetizer for whatever Machiavellian plans the showrunners have cooked up for Season 2.
Dune: Prophecy’s season finale, “The High-Handed Enemy,” airs Sunday, December 22, 2024, at 9 PM on HBO.
