The High-Handed Enemy is the sixth and final episode of the first season of Dune: Prophecy. It premiered on December 22, 2024 on HBO and MAX. It was written by Elizabeth Padden and Suzanne Wrubel and directed by Anna Foerster.
Premise[]
As Tula contends with his true identity, Valya's maneuvering leads her into an epic confrontation with an increasingly powerful Desmond.
Synopsis[]
Tula struggles with the ancestors' voices, which taunt her over abandoning her child.
Young Kasha, Tula, and Francesca watch Dorotea and Valya fight over Raquella's wishes and then watch Valya use The Voice to get Dorotea to kill herself. They run to Valya and ask what they should do. Valya reminds them it's Sisterhood Above All, but Tula wants them to act as if they were never there. Francesca knows there's no use doing that because the others will read them. Kasha says they must speak the truth. Valya says Dorotea ended her life by her own hand. Francesca and Kasha add statements that are technically true. When Valya asks Tula, Tula pauses and then runs away. Kasha tells Valya to go after her, that they'll take care of Dorotea's body.
Valya finds Tula retching and asks if she's okay. Then she says she had no voice because Dorotea was going to destroy everything that Raquella built. Tula tells Valya she's pregnant. Valya realizes it's Orry's baby and asks if he forced himself on her. Tula says it wasn't like that. Valya asks if she wants to keep the baby. Tula thinks she does. Valya promises to support her and says they'll raise the baby together. Tula asks about the Order policy of separating children from their mothers. Valya says they can do whatever they want when she's Mother Superior. She told Tula she'd protect her if Tula followed her to Wallach IX. This is their family now and their home. Sisters above all.
Nazir wasn't expecting this kind of breakthrough. Tula says they're missing something. They don't know why the same visions appear in all the nightmares. Nazir doesn't understand the timing because it seems the lesions in Kasha's brain multiplied over several days. She survived with the virus active in her system. But at the Landsraad, the victims died within minutes. Tula says Kasha was always exceptional. Her family was slaughtered by Butlerians when she was only a child. She once told Tula she had the ability to live in the face of fear. Nazir realizes the virus is feeding off fear. It begins a chain reaction that leads to the body attacking itself. It's a bioweapon. But she wants to know who would have done this to Desmond because she doesn't think a soldier bioengineered it. It's more likely he's the viruses first victim. Tula wants to help him. The good news is it's a physical contagion so that can transmute it like Raquella did it. They can make an antiviral, generate a cure. It's the same process Raquella used on the Rossak poisoning. The only difference is the target. Tula says she'll do it. She's had the nightmares, so she knows she's exposed. Nazir tells her it's dangerous. With her medical training, she's qualified to take on the task and she's had the nightmare, too. She can do it.
Tula consoles Nazir and helps her through the first stage, which is isolating the foreign agents. Nazir starts the transmutation. Nazir says something's wrong because it's adapting too quickly. Tula says she's triggered a response and the virus is no longer dormant. She tells Nazir to focus on her training and adapt her responses. It works and Nazir is able to transmute it. After a moment, Tula warns Nazir that it's replicating again and coming back stronger. Nazir sees the monster of Arrakis. She sees eyes watching someone. Tula asks who is watching. Nazir thinks she can fight it but then say she can't because it's not human. She starts screaming as her skin burns. Tula slumps to the floor and cries.
The soldiers slam Keiran into a wall as Desmond watches, He asks how long the Sisterhood has been collaborating with the insurgents. Keiren says he doesn't know what Desmond's talking about. Desmond doesn't believe him. Keiran says his father used to tell him a bedtime story every night about a monster who lived among his people when he was a child. One day, on a hunt, it turned against them and killed them all. He made sure Keiran knew never to trust a Harkonnen. Desmond says he can avenge his family name by testifying at the Landsraad. Keiran says he has not love for the Sisterhood or the Harkonnens, but he hates Desmond and everything Javicco stands for. The soldiers slam him into the wall again.
Natalya catches Ynez trying to break Keiran out. Natalya reminds Ynez that Keiran tried to kill them, but Ynez defends that he couldn't go through with it. Natalya doesn't believe it, but Ynez knows it's true. Javicco has lost his way. Natalya once said she wanted Ynez to come to her. Ynez is there now, asking her to listen and help. Natalya asks what she would want her to do. Ynez wants her to let Keiran go and send him off the planet. She doesn't need to see him again, but wants his life spared. Natalya wishes Ynez had come to her sooner. She has the guards restrain Ynez. She wanted to teach Ynez about power and hopes this will serve as a lesson.
Francesca cuddles with Javicco in a bed. She says she's going to miss it now that Constantine has gone to be with his fleet and she has no reason to stay. Javicco asks if that was her only reason to come. She says it's not the only one. She gets up to leave. He tries to stop her, but she says she has business in Zimia and they can't all stay in bed all day. He wants her to stay on Salusa and promises to find a place for her in the palace. She can stay as long as she wants. She says she can't because she has reasons for leaving. Javicco says Natalya knows about them and would be relieved to end the charade. He's tired of being patient. He wants Francesca to tell Valya he wants to speak with her. He leans in to kiss when the an opening door interrupts them. It's a guard who has news about Ynez. Javicco asks what he means.
Valya is shocked when Francesca tells her Ynez has been arrested for attempting to free Keiran. Valya says they have to act quickly because being in the cell puts Ynez at risk. Francesca says they can exploit that. She tells Valya that Javicco wants to see her. Valya says no, Javicco's reign is over. Francesca says their plan is working. Her imprint holds and he wants to give her Natalya's mantle. Valya reminds her that Javicco can't divorce without damaging the coalition. It'll put the Imperium on the course toward war. Francesca says she can get him to release Ynez. Valya says Javicco no longer has the right to live out his reign in peace. She tells Theodosia they're going to free Ynez and get her to safety outside the city until her coronation is assured. But there's something they're not seeing. They need to change tactics. Francesca reminds Valya that Javicco is her son's father. Valya reminds her that she knew this day could come.
Kasha, Francesca, Tula, and Valya look up at the breeding program. Kasha, Tula, Francesca are shocked to see it's a thinking machine. Tula thinks it's dangerous, but Valya says it's a tool that can be used to better humanity and Anirul is quarantined from all other technology. Tula isn't sure that's possible, but Valya says it's Raquella's vision. Valya has Anirul search their genetic databank for the match they need. Anirul pulls up Javicco, the prince, as the father. Then she brings up Natalya as the mother. A daughter born to them would have all the traits they need. Kasha asks how they ensure she joins the Sisterhood before taking the throne. Valya says they'll put their finest Truthsayer by Javicco's side, meaning Kasha. Francesca says Natalya is still a child and Javicco isn't the emperor yet. Valya says they'll send someone to keep Javicco occupied until Natalya is ready, imprinting on him. Valya says his daughter will be their empress. This is how they put a Sister on the throne. Tula says Dorotea's disciples will try to destroy it, which is why they can never know. Valya sends Francesca and Kasha out so she can speak to Tula alone. Once they're alone, Valya has Anirul pull up the genetics of Tula's baby. The Harkonnens and Atreides have never intersected before. Tula's child has incredible potential. Anirul predicts that he could shape the trajectory of worlds. They can guide him together. Her child is destined for great things.
Tula tells Anirul about the virus that Nazir detected. If Tula can figure out how Desmond triggers the attack, she can disarm him. Anirul suggests eliminating Tula's son to prevent future attacks. Tula says her son wasn't born a weapon. He was made into one. She tells Anirul she'll go to him.
Emeline overhears Avila talking to someone about Valya's abrupt departure and hides.
Lila wakes up to Jen taking deep breaths. Lila has restraints on her arms and she fights them. She asks Jen if it's necessary and Jen says it's for her safety. She promises it'll be over soon. Lila asks her to loosen the restraints. She was trapped in the tank and now she's bound like a criminal. Jen loosens them and Lila injects her with a sedative.
Javicco asks Desmond who gave him permission to arrest Ynez. Desmond says it's between him and Natalya and Natalya found her trying to free Keiran and is trying to protect the Imperium. Javicco says he's sending Natalya on a tour of goodwill. With Arrakis soon in hand, they'll need reinforce their ties to other allied worlds. Natalya has connections. Desmond knows it's really just a cover so Javicco can spend more time with Francesca. Javicco says she's more than a mistress. Desmond reminds him that a Sister from Francesca's Order plotted Javicco's murder. He found Mikaela's robe among the spice. Javicco knows the proof of that went up in flames. Desmond is only offering the truth as he sees it. The Sisters are stoking rebellion. Javicco says he and Valya have had their differences, but their bond goes back decades. He appreciates Desmond, but Desmond isn't his only advisor. Desmond realizes Javicco's going to bring the Sisterhood back into the palace.
Emeline tells the acolytes they must band together in faith. They are shocked when Lila walks in and asks why they're meeting in secret. She wants to know where the rest of them are. Emeline tells her the reckoning Raquella predicted has come to the Sisterhood and people are scared. She asks how Lila is there and Lila says she found a way back. She asks where Valya is. She's not pleased to learn Valya's Mother Superior. She asks to speak to Sister Esther-Cano. She demands that they find her and bring her to her immediately. Then she asks for others who aren't there. Emeline has been reading about them, the Butlerian sisters who disbanded after Dorotea's suicide. She's been working to revive their tradition. Lila says it wasn't suicide.
Jen fights against the restraints Lila has put her in. She takes a few deep breaths, then is able to pull her hands out, dislocating her thumbs to do so. She reduces them
Emeline watches as Lila accesses things she shouldn't be able to. She takes out files, the logs of the Mentat Sisters. She needs to find the records of her faithful. Jen walks in and Lila tells her she'll learn her place. Jen doesn't have time to explain, but they need to contain Lila. Emeline says Jen's just as bad as Valya and Tula with her secrets. Jen says Tula saved Lila's life, but her ancestors have made her unstable. She's not herself. Emeline realizes she's Dorotea. All the Sisters who were loyal to her are gone. They've been erased, which must have been done by Valya.
Valya says they need to get Ynez to safety. The most efficient way in is to be escorted directly to the suspensor cells. Francesca asks how she plans to do that and she says she's going to get arrested.
Valya tells a guard that Javicco has called for her.
Theodosia will ensure she can escape. Francesca doesn't think an acolyte is up to that, but Valya says Theodosia is unique.
Francesca welcomes Theodosia into the palace for a visit.
Valya explains that Theodosia was bred by Tlulaxan geneticists as an experiment. Valya is the reason she's alive because she gave her sanctuary when she had nowhere else to go.
Francesca takes Theodosia somewhere and tells her she won't be disturbed there. Theodosia transforms herself.
Francesca asks about Javicco. Valya gives her a needle coated in meta-cyanide. It'll be quick and painless. Francesca says Sisterhood Above All and leaves.
Javicco goes to talk to Natalya, who knows he's angry about Ynez. He says she shouldn't have had her arrested without consulting him. She says he's going to send her away and couldn't even tell her himself. Javicco says she'll be heard by millions. She refuses to go, but he says she will do as she's commanded. She says that won't be possible. Desmond comes up behind her as she says it's time to let clearer heads prevail. Javicco feels betrayed by Desmond. Javicco realizes Ynez was right. Natalya says the nobles won't hear about this. The house is still his. He'll wear the crown and act as if he has the power. But going forward, her counsel will not be ignored.
A guard tells Javicco Valya is there to see him.
Javicco goes to Valya, who is sitting on his throne. She says she should have done this years ago, clarifying their positions. Javicco needs her help. He never should have trusted Desmond. He and Natalya want to make Javicco their puppet. If she can get rid of him, they can go back to how things were. Valya says Javicco will never be free. He's a weak man. He's always been weak and just traded one puppetmaster for another. They've been shaping his path since before he was born. They've manipulated his whole life, his whole rule. Javicco doesn't believe her, but she keeps listing all the things they've done. She says they really want Ynez on the throne. His time is coming to an end. Javicco orders her arrested. The guards hesitate, so he repeats the order. The guards take her away.
Emeline and Jen follow Dorotea, who leads them to the site of her death. As she walks up the steps, she's overwhelmed by the memory of her death. When she snaps out of it, she tells them the Harkonnens have lied to them about the history of the school. The Order was grown on blood-soaked roots. It's time they learned the truth. She takes a tooth and breaks open a grate. It starts a waterfall off a cliff.
Valya, Tula, Francesca, and Kasha interrupt a meeting of Dorotea's disciples. Valya says she and Dorotea didn't always agree, but they were Sisters. It pains her that Dorotea took her own life. One of the disciples says Dorotea would never leave them. The others agree. Valya says they must be united for the Order to survive. Another disciple says Valya's no Mother Superior. Francesca says Valya has a vision for them. Valya says anyone who won't follow her forward can follow Dorotea's example. She uses The Voice to order them to choose. As disciples start to slit their own necks, Kasha, Francesca, and Tula also order it. When it's done, only Avila remains and she tells them she'll follow them. Valya tells her they haven't have this get out. Avila agrees.
Javicco goes to Francesca. He tells her it's time she moved on to her next assignment. Valya told him everything. She thinks his rule is almost over. He asks Francesca why that is. Francesca pulls out the needle and says it was Valya's plan, not hers.
Ynez calls out to Keiran. He wakes up and tells her she shouldn't be there. Valya uses The Voice to demand her own release. The guard releases her and she has him hold out his sword, which she uses to stab him. Then she frees Ynez while Theodosia, who has transformed into Ynez, kills the other guards. Valya explains that Theodosia will take Ynez's place until they can set things right. Ynez won't leave without Keiran.
Natalya tells Desmond if they can convince the Great Houses that the Sisterhood was behind the blood to assassinate the High Council, they'll authorize retaliation. And the Sisterhood will have nowhere to hide. A trooper comes in and informs them that Valya has been arrested. Desmond says to send out the alarm and lock down the palace.
Valya reminds Theodosia she's taking a great risk. An alarm starts sounding as Valya says she won't be able to protect Theodosia. Theodosia says that's why Valya brought her there. She'll buy them time. Valya leads Ynez and Keiran out. Keiran grabs a sword from the guard's chest on his way and wishes Theodosia luck. He uses the sword to fight several more guards as they exit. Valya says Theodosia left a suspensor car behind the palace. Ynez knows a shortcut.
Desmond arrives at the suspensor cell and send the guards to find the prisoners. A dying guard grabs Desmond's leg as he goes to leave and starts to tell him what Valya said. When Desmond leans down to hear him, the guard stabs him and says Sisterhood above all. Desmond punches the guard, who is actually Theodosia, pulls out the knife, and tells a trooper to get Theodosia into suspension.
Javicco calls for his guards. He pulls out a knife and orders Francesca to stay away. She tells him to give her the knife. She knows he can't kill her. He asks about the plan, if the needle is poisoned. She says it's Valya's plan. They can find a way through this together. Javicco asks how he knows that's not just what Valya wants. It's strange to realize you've never been free. He can control this, though. He stabs himself with the knife. Francesca gasps and holds him.
Valya, Ynez, and Keiran enter the suspensor car. They need to get to the space port and quickly because they'll start grounding ships. Keiran takes off and they're soon followed by guards.
Francesca begs Javicco to stay with her. Natalya comes up behind her and stabs Francesca with the same needle. Javicco grabs Natalya's dress and she pulls it out of his hand. She steps over his arm and then yells that the Emperor has been killed.
Dorotea tells the Sisters she has come to them to unearth the truth. She shows them the remains of the faith, thrown into a mass grave. Emeline, Jen, and Avila are all disturbed. Dorotea says Valya murdered them. Jen tells Avila they need to tell Tula about this. Avila tells her Tula isn't there. She hands the tool to Dorotea, who says the Sisterhood has lost its way. She won't be silenced again. In the name of all the fallen, she'll return them to their righteous path. The Sisters follow her. She breaks open a grate and leads them into the storeroom, where they see Anirul. Dorotea takes the tool and breaks Anirul.
Tula is haunted by a baby crying.
Tula holds her baby. She says he's special and deserves the chance to find his own path, not any of those laid out for him, including hers. She's giving him that gift. She tells him to be free and asks Francesca if he will be loved. Francesca tells Tula he will. He'll go to an itinerant laborer who had a stillbirth. She has love and the means to travel far away. Tula kisses baby Desmond and hands him to Francesca, who leaves with him. She's left with the stillborn baby to pass off as her own.
Harrow watches a video of himself coming home and looking for Valya. He sucks the memory into a marble. He replays many memories from the marble.
Valya tells Keiran they can land in the fuel depot. Once they've landed, she leads them to a passage to the next terminal to avoid any checkpoints being set up. They watch the guards lands as Keiran asks if her contacts can get them off the planet. She says they can. They just need to get to his station, where he has access to a courier ship. He can smuggle them onto the heighliner. She points Ynez and Keiran in the right direction. She's going to slow the guards down and says she'll follow when she can. She trusts Keiran to get Ynez to safety. Desmond orders the guards to spread out. Valya uses the Voice to order the guards to stop and then to defend her. She tries to get them to kill Desmond, but they can't. She reminds him that he's seen her end and asks him to show her. He looks at her and after a few moments she collapses.
Valya walks through a snowy landscape. A voice calls her name, asking her for help. It's Griffin, calling for help, and she's suddenly young again. She finds the hole in the ice he fell through and uses The Voice to order him to swim.
Tula arrives to find the spaceport is on lockdown. She sees Keiran and Ynez trying to be discreet and follows them.
A guard tries to send Keiran and Ynez to the checkpoint, so Keiran kills him. More guards approach, so Ynez grabs the first guard's sword and together, they fight off the guards. Once the guards are all dead, they continue.
Tula finds Valya.
Valya pulls Griffin out of the water.
Tula tells Valya she can't fight it because it's a machine, not a human.
Valya tells him it's okay because she saved him. She hears Tula in the distance telling her to let go of her fears. Griffin looks up at Valya and tells her she killed him and all the rest of them. As she shakes him, Tula tells Valya not to do that.
Tula tells Valya she can't fight the battle with strength. The harder she fights, the faster she'll burn.
The ice cracks as Valya crawls across it.
Tula knows Valya's afraid and admits she is as well. But she has to let go of all the fear and pain. She can't run from it or hide it. It has to pass through her.
Valya stands on the ice as the storm swirls around her.
Valya says she sees the worm. Desmond breaths raggedly nearby. Tula tells her to let the worm come.
Shai-Hulud swallows Desmond.
Two eyes appear in the darkness. They converge to show a thinking machine. It injects something into Desmond's eye.
Valya gasps and tells Tula she saw what they did to Desmond. She couldn't make out a face, but they're using a thinking machine. They put one inside him. His eye is the virus and he is their weapon. She picks up a knife, but Tula uses The Voice to order her to stop. Then she tells Valya that Desmond is her son. She's given Valya everything, but she couldn't give Valya her baby. Valya realized Tula lied to her all this time. Tula says it was for his protection. Valya asks if Tula thinks she's a monster. Tula says all the carnage and deception was on her orders. But Tula could have broken Valya's hold on the Sisterhood at any time. She didn't because they're the same. They're two wolves, born to feed with no care for the cost. If her son had the potential Anirul promised, he deserved better than them. Valya says Tula has handed him to their enemies and there's a hidden hand grasping for control. They weren't the only ones to realize his potential. Whoever is behind this saw it and harnessed it. She wants Tula to let her end this now. Tula says Desmond is their victim. She begs Valya to let her save him. She can resolve the threat if Valya trusts her. Valya says she's not afraid anymore. The reckoning is upon them, stalking them from the darkness. If they want to fight in the shadows, she'll go to the shadows. She hands Tula a knife and says the decision is hers. She walks away, leaving Desmond and Tula alone. Tula goes to hold him, but he hits her hand away. He stands and allows her to hug him. She runs her finger over his eyebrow and remembers doing the same when was a newborn. When she pulls away, he tells the guards to arrest her.
Valya, Keiran, and Ynez arrive on Arrakis. Valya tells Ynez the path to their enemy starts here.
Cast[]
Gallery[]
Episode Stills[]
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| Dune: Prophecy | ||
|---|---|---|
| Episodes | Season 1 | 1 The Hidden Hand • 2 Two Wolves • 3 Sisterhood Above All • 4 Twice Born • 5 In Blood, Truth • 6 The High-Handed Enemy |
| Season 2 | tba | |
| Characters | Bene Gesserit | Valya Harkonnen • Tula Harkonnen • Kasha Jinjo • Francesca |
| House Corrino | Emperor Javicco • Empress Natalya • Princess Ynez • Constantine | |
| others | Desmond Hart • Keiran Atreides • browse more | |
| Cast | Emily Watson • Olivia Williams • Jihae • Tabu • Travis Fimmel • Mark Strong • Jodhi May • Sarah-Sofie Boussnina • Josh Heuston • Chris Mason • browse more | |
External Links[]
Watch The High-Handed Enemy on Max
