DUNE: PROPHECY Season 1 Finale Explained Desmond Hart’s True Powers

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As a seasoned gamer and avid fan of the Dune universe, I’ve been hooked on the intrigue that unfolds in Dune: Prophecy. Desmond Hart, once an enigma with his mysterious “great power”, has now unveiled a more complex tale. His abilities aren’t merely the result of surviving a sandworm attack but rather, a sinister blend of technology and human manipulation.

Where did Desmond Hart’s extraordinary abilities originate? This was the most intriguing enigma throughout the first season of “Dune: Prophecy.” It wasn’t through surviving a sandworm attack on Arrakis, at least not predominantly. The season one finale of the show finally unveiled how Desmond Hart can kill people with his mind, but this revelation sparked an even greater query. It seems that some entity—either a being or technology—inserted advanced computer systems into him. This forbidden technology enables Desmond Hart to trigger a genetically engineered virus that could potentially wipe out humanity.

It’s uncertain whether Desmond Hart was truly swallowed by the beast Shai-Hulud on Arrakis. The scene suggested it did, but following “The High-Handed Enemy,” the events of that day remain unclear. However, what we do know is that after Hart survived his encounter with the sandworm, he was used as a pawn by thinking machines and potential human allies. Given his close proximity to Shai-Hulud and the possibility that enhanced abilities from the spice may have been conferred upon him due to this encounter, it’s plausible that he was chosen for this role as a weapon.

Following the departure of the sandworm, someone unknown employed thinking devices to extract Hart’s eye from his skull without completely removing it. Subsequently, they applied nanotechnology to his optic nerve. Although we are unsure how Hart can trigger this equipment, we know its function. He employs it to stimulate a genetically engineered virus hidden in the amygdala of individuals who remain unaware of their infection. These people carry a revised form of the Omnius Plague, a lethal virus that the thinking machines and a human collaborator used against mankind initially. The original strain targeted livers, as Mother Raquella (through Lila) detailed in episode five.

In a chilling twist, this new form of the amygdala triggers fear into becoming a mind-eroding force. The show didn’t disclose exactly how the virus transmits, but it appears that Hart acts as its initial carrier, both triggering and spreading it to others. His illness, as his mother Tula mentioned, could account for the burns and scars on his back. This also provides an explanation for how the virus reached Wallach IX and the Sisterhood, who all shared similar visions of the “eyes” following Desmond’s procedure. Upon arriving at the palace, Hart came into contact with Kasha on Selusa Secundus.

As fear intensifies within an individual, the virus appears to consume them from within. This was the method Desmond Hart used to kill his victims. It’s not that he has extraordinary powers; instead, it’s the sophisticated nanotechnology of the thinking machines that triggers the virus, creating the illusion that all of the actions were solely carried out by Hart.

Neither Reverend Mother Kasha nor Sister Nazir, despite their training, were able to ward off the infection. Despite knowing exactly what was required, Sister Nazir fell victim to the deadly virus. It wasn’t until Tula instructed Valya that any sister from the Sisterhood discovered a way to vanquish the virus. Valya had to allow the fear to overwhelm her instead of truly experiencing it.

But just because the highly-trained Valya was able to do that doesn’t mean humanity is not in existential danger from this virus. Especially when not even the Reverend Mother Superior knows who is responsible for making and spreading it. She could not see who owned and operated the thinking machines that put the nanotech in Desmond.

Is it possible that intelligent machines managed to survive the massive conflict known as the Great War undetected by humans? Regarding the Ixians, they are a human faction dealing in clandestine technology; was it one of them whom Keiran Atreides transacted with during season one?

Could it be possible that the Tlulaxa, a notorious group known as Dune: Prophecy, were involved in the creation of the original Omnius Scourge? This group is infamous for their past collaborations with robots, having once assisted in the manufacture of the virus used against humanity. The same Tlulaxa are also responsible for transforming Sister Theodosia into a Face Dancer.

A collaborative effort involving people and machines harnessed forbidden technology to transform a soldier into a lethal weapon, armed with both physical might and a terrifying virus. This formidable duo was then released upon the Sisterhood, the Landsraad, and all of humanity. The identity behind this act remains unclear – it could be a person or possibly an entity beyond our comprehension. This enigma is far greater than understanding how Desmond Hart obtained his extraordinary power in the first place. Only Valya Harkonnen may have the knowledge to solve this mystery.

Note from the Editor: The film “Dune: Prophecy” is produced by Legendary Entertainment. TopMob is a branch under the umbrella company, Legendary Digital Networks.

Mikey Walsh serves as a staff writer at TopMob. It’s highly unlikely that he’s a covert tool of the machines. You can keep up with him on Bluesky at @burgermike or wherever Targaryen kings are being ranked.

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2024-12-23 06:32