Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Dune: Prophecy.Dune: Prophecymade a staggering revelation about one of the show’s characters being a child born from the union of a Harkonnen and an Atreides. This twist came afterDune: Part Tworevealed that Lady Jessica is the daughter of the evil Baron Harkonnen, making her son Paul a member of House Harkonnen as well. The complicated war between these two Great Houses has been at the forefront of severalDunebooks, and the fact that both families produced another child inDune: Prophecy’s cast of charactersreasserts the impact they have had on the franchise’s world.
The mix of the Harkonnen and Atreides bloodlines has led to pivotal plot points in theDunefranchise’s timeline. Having been born to both families, Paul Atreides had the genetics to become the Bene Gesserits' long-awaited messiah, the Kwisatz Haderach. Meanwhile, the Harkonnen/Atreides child inDune: Prophecyhas been portrayed as a formidable threat to their order, as this villainous character has sought to bring peace to the Imperium by ridding it of the Bene Gesserit’s influence no matter the cost.
Dune: Prophecy Reveals Another Powerful Product Of The Atreides/Harkonnen Bloodline
The Two Great Houses Created A Figure Similar To Paul
The villain Desmond Hart has been a figure of great mystery since his debut inDune: Prophecy. However, the fifth episode of theDuneprequel series revealedDesmond Hart’s true identityas the secret child of a Harkonnen and an Atreides. Desmond displays a more direct link to both royal bloodlines than Paul, ashe seems to be the son of Tula Harkonnen and Orry Atreides. Like Paul, Desmond presents himself as a powerful figure and a prophet gifted with superhuman powers.
Why The Harkonnens' Homeworld In Dune: Prophecy Isn’t Giedi Prime, The Black & White Planet From Dune 2
House Harkonnen has a different home planet in Dune: Prophecy than they do in Denis Villeneuve’s movies. Here’s what we know about them.
While Paul’s powers were the product of the Bene Gesserit’s 10,000-year-long breeding program, Desmond’s powers are presented as the result of an unexpected miracle.After appearing to have survived being consumed by the sandworm Shai-Hulud on Arrakis, Desmond returns to House Corrino, claiming to have received supernatural powers from it. He displays such strength as he burns people alive with just his thoughts. Though it’s unclear if his abilities are legitimate, Desmond’s powers could make him just as strong, if not stronger, than Paul.
Why Mixing Together Houses Atreides & Harkonnen Is So Powerful
These Great Houses Carry A Great Power Unlocked Through Their Union
The Bene Gesserit spent centuries of genetic planning to produce the Kwisatz Haderach,who’s born with the ability to see both the past and the futureand destined to guide humanity as Emperor of the Known Universe. Combining the Harkonnen and Atreides bloodlines after so many years was supposed to accomplish this. SinceDune: Prophecytakes place 10,000 years beforeDune, it’s unclear if the Harkonnen and Atreides genes have been developed enough to give Desmond the powers Paul has wielded.
Dune: Prophecy All But Confirms The Biggest Desmond Hart Theory Isn’t True
Before it was revealed that Desmond Hart is a Harkonnen and Atreides in Dune: Prophecy, many thought he might be an artificially created clone.
Additionally, the revelation that Paul and Jessica were Harkonnens inDune: Part Twoemphasized how they were no different from their ancestral enemy. Similar to the Baron and his family,they had also taken over Arrakis and enslaved the Fremen with lies to assert their authority and slaughter countless people. ThoughDune: Prophecyshows the early days of the Harkonnens' feud with House Atreides, the fact that these two Great Houses produced a child together had the potential to unite these warring families. However, based on their ongoing war in Denis Villeneuve’sDunefilms, that peace never sees the light of day. Nevertheless, Desmond mirrors Paul by using his supposed gifts to bring about death and destruction in a quest for vengeance against those who wronged him.
Though Paul displayed godlike abilities thanks to the genes he inherited from both Great Houses, Desmond showed in the series that he could be an even greater threat to the Bene Gesserit and the Known Universe than the Kwisatz Haderach.
It’s too soon to say exactly how Desmond’s Harkonnen and Atreides genes have empowered him after his encounter with Shai-Hulud. Nevertheless,Dune: Prophecyshows once again how destructive and unpredictable the Harkonnen and Atreides bloodlines can be, especially when they converge. Though Paul displayed godlike abilities thanks to the genes he inherited from both Great Houses, Desmond showed in the series that he could be an even greater threat to the Bene Gesserit and the Known Universe than the Kwisatz Haderach.
