Dune: Prophecy's cast, Desmond Hart has been one of the biggest question marks in HBO's prequel TV series, as he's an original character to the show with original powers. Episode 5's ending finally revealed that Desmond was the son of Tula and Orry Atreides, and episode 6 examined how and why he was separated from his mother after being born.
Dune: Prophecy's season 1 ending saw Desmond Hart and Valya Harkonnen going head-to-head before Tula intervened, allowing herself a moment with her fully-grown son. They share a warm embrace for the first time, but the moment is cut short by Desmond's troops arriving, and he arrests her on the spot, setting up a narrative for season 2, which HBO recently confirmed as being in development. There's a lot to take away from this interaction, given what the audience knows compared to what the character knows.
Desmond Hart Had No Choice But To Have Tula Arrested
Desmond Has Come Too Far To Turn Back So Quickly
Desmond Hart spent the entirety of Dune: Prophecy season 1 establishing his influence over Emperor Javicco and the Imperium, making himself an invaluable asset. For him to suddenly turn his back on all of that after one embrace with his long-lost mother would be an insane turn of events. The audience knows from flashbacks why Tula sent Desmond away as a baby, but Desmond himself still has no idea and believes it to be a selfish act by the Sisterhood. While his judgment of the Sisterhood isn't entirely wrong, he doesn't yet understand Tula individually.
Arresting her is an intelligent way for him to keep her close while also maintaining the reputation he's spent the entire season developing.
Politically, Desmond Hart has aligned himself with Empress Natalya. In the wake of Javicco's death, Natalya will likely seize control of the Imperium with Desmond's help, and he wouldn't have much ground to stand on if he suddenly brought one of the sisters, who's also his mother, along with him. Arresting her is an intelligent way for him to keep her close while also maintaining the reputation he's spent the entire season developing.
How Dune: Prophecy's Desmond Reveal Impacts Valya & Tula's Relationship Addressed By Stars & Showrunner
Dune: Prophecy cast and showrunner talk about the massive Desmond Hart reveal at the end of the six-episode season and how it affects Tula and Valya.
What Tula's Arrest Means For Dune: Prophecy Season 2
Desmond May Come Around On Tula Eventually
While Desmond has been cold and calculating throughout Dune: Prophecy season 1, his embrace with Tula demonstrates that there's some innate part of him that wants to be loved by his mother. He may have arrested her, but season 2 will likely see him visiting her in the prison in the Imperial Palace, growing more connected with her. It's possible that Desmond could find his way to ing Tula once he realizes how human she is and how much she actually loves him.
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.
- Cast
- Emily Watson, Jade Anouka, Chris Mason, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, Chloe Lea, Josh Heuston, Edward Davis, Tabu, Yerin Ha
- Franchise(s)
- Dune
