In instalment four ofDune : Prophecy , “ Twice wear , ” palace intrigue reaches tense new heights as compete plots are hatch around a meeting of the Great Houses — andspooky sandworm guy cable Desmond Hart , propelled by Travis Fimmel ’s scenery - raven performance , continues to dazzle and/or horrify , depending on whose side you ’re on .
Meanwhile , back on Wallach IX , the Sisterhood is at a crisis pointin Valya ’s absence seizure , with nightmares disrupting the hallowed pursuit of truth - telling on multiple horrendous grade .
We begin with a speech sound , a rhythmicthunkthatDunemovie fans will recognize assomething one might hearon Arrakis . Pious acolyte Sister Emeline gasps awake from a bad pipe dream , but we soon realize she’sstill in the bad ambition . fortuitously , Jen rouse her before Emeline ’s able to bring a tongue to her own throat . “ It was just a dream , ” Jen says reassuringly , but we can tell there ’s more going on here than regular quondam Nox terror .
Desmond the disruptor. © Attila Szvacsek/HBO
At House Harkonnen , Valya ’s family reunification is going as awkwardly as you ’d expect . Her aging Uncle Evgeny derision and distrust her , but her ambitious nephew Harrow is more unresolved to teamwork .
Uncle Evgeny brings up Prewet Richese ’s death — the rumor he was murdered is all everyone ’s talking about . Valya use that to steer the conversation as she start out position her new scheme : it ’s time , she announces , for House Harkonnen to lastly have their own Truthsayer . Of naturally there ’s an ulterior motive here , but Valya frames it as a way for Harrow to arrive at some respectability . ( Whale fur will only get you so far . ) “ Let me show your worth by ensuring you a seat at the High Council , ” she says , dangling a carrot Harrow ’s been dying to chomp into .
While the youthful man ponders this chance , we cut over to the imperial family — now including the seedy Desmond Hart — sharing an refined breakfast . Princess Ynez is none too thrilled to see him at the board , and now that her ordered marriage has been scurry , she ’s set out to recognise something is very rotten in her Padre ’s firm … and by wing , the Imperium itself .
© Attila Szvacsek/HBO
She brings up the rumor that Prewet was murdered — everybody really is talking about it!—and declares herself quick to manoeuvre to Wallach IX and get get going on her Sisterhood training .
It ’s a no from mommy and daddy , though : “ We need you here to show a united front , ” the Emperor recount her . She replies that the menage wo n’t be united as long as Desmond ( who fully admits to killing Prewet ; the kid was caught with a “ thinking auto , ” after all ! ) is exerting so much influence , and flounces off .
Speaking of Wallach IX , there is much worked up agitation afoot as Emeline describes her dream to Tula and the elderly Sister Avila . “ There arestoriesabout Mother Dorotea , ” Emeline pronounce , pushing Tula ’s briery boundaries . But it ’s not just Emeline who ’s in distress ; “ all of the acolyte ” were own similar incubus , Jen tells Tula , though she herself did n’t have one .
© Attila Szvacsek/HBO
As the Landsraad — the meeting of all voice of the Great Houses — kicks off , elsewhere in the palace Emperor Corrino comes decent out and ask Desmond if he ’s the one spreading the rumor that Prewet was murdered . “ I would never apply the true statement against you , ” Desmond respond . “ Though I surmise there areothersthat would . ”
He means the Sisterhood , of course , and floats the idea that the Emperor should complain all the Truthsayers out of the Landsraad . The Emperor points out that if he did that , “ I might as well foretell I have something to conceal . ” He worries , though , that the rumour will be provide ammunition for those on the High Council who think he ’s a weak leader .
“ No one can take your powerfulness off from you unless you rent them . This is a time to be bold , ” is Desmond ’s advice . “ Show them the man that you are … utilise me . ” The Emperor hesitates . He ’s not ready for that , at least not yet .
© Attila Szvacsek/HBO
At this point in “ Twice deliver , ” we have three parties who are perfectly focussed on the next result they want , and the Emperor , who is too well influenced and not half the leader he cogitate he is , is n’t one of them .
Instead , the stage on the trigon are Desmond , Valya , and the rebels — whose numbers let in castle spy Keiran Atriedes .
The rebel are desire to level the equipoise of great power and rent the spice menstruate beyond the clutch of the ace - rich , and have an almost endearingly straightforward programme in mind : they ’ll launch a laggard outfit with a bomb into the crapper way , right when the Emperor is call the High Council .
© Attila Szvacsek/HBO
Yes , it involve using forbidden engineering science , and yes , Keiran ’s compaction Princess Ynez might become collateral damage . But it ’ll pass over out a lot of villain and send a command message , all in one swoop ! What could perchance go ill-timed ?
Well … as we learned previously , Valya has a Sister on the inside who keeps her up to date on what the rebel are planning . But or else of interpose to stop the onslaught , Valya ’s grand plan is to attend the Emperor ’s speech in her newly asserted role as House Harkonnen ’s Truthsayer ( tidily catch around that whole “ banned from the castle ” thing ) . That agency , she can swoop up in and save the Emperor from the rebels ’ “ thinking car ” bomb calorimeter in the gouge of sentence , in front of all the bigwigs from all the Great Houses . That ’ll be just the thing to get her back in his good graces , she count on .
But Theodosia is pragmatic . “ What honorable is that if Desmond Hart still live ? ” she require . Valya says she still does n’t realise enough about Desmond and his powers . With metre , she tell , she ’ll know enough about his weaknesses to impinge on against him .
© Attila Szvacsek/HBO
Of of course , it ’ll first take some maneuvering to get the 2nd - train House Harkonnen invited to the High Council . Valya and Theodosia tip into the voicelessness net of Sisters , cause them to convince the heads of their respective theater that the rumor Prewet was murdered — perhaps even by the power - abusing Emperor , perhaps even involving a conspiracy and a back - up!—has some meritoriousness .
Enough men take the lure to resolve an inquest is necessary , but they ask someone at the Landsraad to agitate for a conventional investigation . Someone who ’s so heroic to be included they ’ll agree to be the point person for this uncomely task . Someone like … Baron Harkonnen .
With Harrow ( reluctantly ) onboard , Valya ’s once again got what she thinks is an airtight programme in motion . She ’s certain she ’s poise to beat back a wedge between Desmond Hart and the Emperor , and will soon see her status restore . Certainof it !
© Attila Szvacsek/HBO
While we mull all the manner that ’s not going to happen , we return to Wallach IX to see what Tula is proceed to do about the nightmare irruption . Her plan is to gather all the afflicted acolyte , hypnotize them ( with the assistance of spiciness ) , and do a little guided meditation mix with a kind of automatic writing exercise .
All of the young women lead off to feverishly sketch out their sight . At first the pictures are different , and then , monovular icon emerge . “ Perhaps it ’s not a dream , ” Tula tell Avila , who disapproves of this experimentation . “ It ’s a message ! ” Things get even more frightening when Tula has hassle pulling the young women out of their trance - similar state of matter . And , in fact , she ca n’t : they awaken out of fear , after they all scribble the same morose void mark by a span of blank eyes . “ The tally is here ! ” Emeline declare .
Later , Tula and Avila appear through the drawings , lingering on the last one . “ Whatever this is , it calls forward a panic so crippling that the brain screams to save itself , ” Tula say of the haunting image . “ It could be the incubus is a sign of what ’s to follow ! ” They disagree over what to do next ; Tula ’s POV is that they should keep this quiet . undecomposed to avoid spreading awe
© Attila Szvacsek/HBO
Back in the palace , the Empress is the next to compensate Desmond a visit . We ’ve already realized she is n’t always work in concert with her married man , and she ’s got a little present for Desmond : purple surveillance files , identifying “ machine dealers trading in illegal engineering . ” Though Corrino told Desmond to stand down , his wife is all about taking action . Desmond figures out that she ’s who start the rumour about Prewet ’s murder , and he takes it to heart when she says sometimes all the Emperor needs is “ that little energy . ”
This rendezvous give Desmond a vast vantage over his foes . While everyone prepare for their respective big showdowns at the High Council , we know very well that Desmond now has the tools to take down the freedom fighter — and rip the carpet out from Valya in the operation .
And , by the fashion , there ’s now an additional would - be pandemonium - maker in the intermixture : Ynez , who ’s decided her only course of action is to confront her forefather in public — in front of the High Council , no less — over Desmond ’s sinister rising slope to power . When she recite Keiran about her big thought , he cautions her , enigmatically , as they drool over each other : “ Chaos can strike at any moment . ” ( He also confirms something from last week : his father was the only subsister of Tula ’s Atreides butchery . )
© Attila Szvacsek/HBO
Then , a crucial conversation between Valya and Theodosia ; the latter is wondering exactly why the Mother Superior dragged her along on the journey to the regal homeworld , especially since she ’s no longer needed as Ynez ’s novel Sisterhood pal . “ Youknow why , ” Valya say , and Theodosia looks shocked . Seems the acolyte has a extra power we have n’t seen her employment yet — a mysterious thing shesworeshe’d never utilise again , though that apparently is about to modify .
But before we instruct what that means , it ’s time for the High Council , and a tense beat clock begins . There are a lot of potential scenarios in frolic , including one involving a great expectant explosion .
Baron Harkonnen gets a chance to fumble through his demand for an inquest into Prewet ’s death — back up by Ynez , who burst into the way to erect accusations against the Imperial house , and Desmond Hart in particular . But before Keiran ’s pal can launch the turkey , Desmond takes control .
Guards drag in a trio of rebels , Keiran ’s cohort in the terror plot , and Desmond delivers a theatrical soliloquy in which he swagger around in front of the assembled noble , speaking of the peril he faced on Arrakis … include the wondrous Shai - Hulud . He admits to shoot down Prewet , but it declares it was n’t murder . It was anexecution , justified because the tike had a toy that used “ proscribe machine technology . ”
Then , oh beloved , he pulls the rebels ’ own thinking automobile — the bomb - carrying drone — from his pocket , and enjoin everyone in the room how near they came to being do themselves . ( He stomps on the lagger for good standard , and even behind her thick humeral veil , we can see Valya is sicken by once again being bested by this shifty soldier . )
Oh , but he ’s not even skinny to finished . Desmond likens the Emperor to Shai - Hulud — a drawing card who can chase away the predators in their midst — and say there ’ll be no mercy for anyone caught using political machine applied science .
“ On your fiat , your loftiness , ” he asks , and Corrino nods . In the next second , the captured greyback , plus a Great House leader who show up off his own pocket - sized machine in an earlier scenery , start to squirm and scream as they burn internally , just like Prewet did . ( Keiran is spared for whatever reason . )
As Desmond is puke his while , his mind ’s optic shifts to Arrakis and we learn that thunk - thunk strait from the beginning of the episode ; yep , it ’s a thumper , cite a sandworm , which roars across the horizon . Exactly like the acolyte ’ shared nightmare , his visual sensation cease with a ignominious screen and two glowing oculus , endorse by a mechanical - sounding series of low - pitched beeps .
The human action takes a physical price on him . We can see he ’s bleed through his coat , and he entrust a smear of roue on the railing when he pauses to glower at Valya on his way out .
When they ’re alone afterward , the Emperor tells Desmond he ca n’t “ do that again”—at first it seems he stand for “ vote out a bunch of people using magic in public , ” but he ’s refer to the pain that Desmond himself is now feel after using his force .
Back at House Harkonnen , Uncle Evgeny cackles with delight at Harrow ’s renewed frustration . “ I tell you , boy , you ’d find nothing but misery fall out her . She care nothing for this house , only herself . ” Valya gives Theodosia the summation of what find , and she ’s already formulate her next architectural plan . Now that they have a sample of Desmond ’s blood line , they can pry into his genetics and , hopefully , learn more about where he issue forth from .
On Wallach IX , Emeline gathers in mystery with a group of other acolytes . She talk of Mother Dorotea , and translate from her textual matter : “ There are no true statement concealed that will not be disclosed , or Trygve Halvden Lie hidden that will not be made known . ”
deeply in the mystical computer way , Tula posture next to Lila ’s spice coffin and begs her to wake up . “ I believe you are the winder to this counting . Youmustbe the one twice - born . ”
Emeline suddenly enters , full of accusations against “ you , ” but from the context we can assume she have in mind both Harkonnen baby . She call out the murders of Mother Dorotea , and Orry and the other Atreides . It ’s these sins that have bring in the count upon them , she says — and then she threaten “ to speak the truth to the whole of the Imperium . You wo n’t be capable to silence me like you silenced Dorotea . ”
But ca n’t she ? Tula jumps up , chases after Emeline , and in cold blood slash her pharynx , evoking Dorotea ’s death and putting a twist on the girlfriend ’s own incubus . But it ’s a vision , another atrocious vision . At that instant , Lila bust back to life . She ’s confused … but she ’s back , with spicery - enhanced profane eyes .
At House Harkonnen , Valya and Evgeny have it out one last time . They argue over who ’s more important to the category , and he accuses her of causing Griffin ’s expiry and twisting Tula into doing her bidding . “ You are a black hole in this family , ” he wheeze , before fall out of his hoverchair and grasp for the inhaler that Valya sustain just out of his reaching .
As Evgeny lies motionless on the storey , probably all in , the camera lingers on Griffin ’s portraiture before Griffin … looking exactly as he does in the painting … enters . How can this be ? But as he speaks , we begin to realize all is not what it seems .
This is Theo ’s limited power . “ I ’ll do whatever it is you involve me to do , ” the acolyte call . “ Everyone create their own choices , admit me . ” As Theo begins to metamorphose back into herself , we can hear the hurting the process causes — not unlike what happens to Desmond when he uses his own power .
How will this shape - tilt broker into Valya ’s next architectural plan ? There are just two more episodes ofDune : Prophecyto go … and nobody ’s even say the words “ Bene Gesserit ” yet .
New episodes ofDune : Prophecyarrive Sundays on HBO and Max .
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