We continue on in the politics of the Imperium and sink back into the world of Dune. With the two Harkonnen sisters, Valya (Emily Watson) and Tula (Olivia Williams), we have to wonder how far their reach really goes. What will continue to come from the burning truth? And how is Desmond truly involved? For now, we go to the past to understand the Harkonnen daughters better.
1-3 Sisterhood Above All
We get some great flashbacks and an understanding of the Harkonnen girls. At the home world of Lankiveil, 
we see where the Harkonnen family has been banished to. People live on whale meat and trading whale fur. The sisters (Jessica Barden, Emma Canning) are not particularly close, but they both adore their older brother Griffin (Earl Cave). In fact, it was saving him from the icy water that unlocked Valya’s voice skills in the first place. But they want to clear the family name and get the Harkonnens back into good Imperium graces. Anything, really to make the Atreides family pay. But Griffin dies trying, and now what will the sisters do?
“She’s a wolf. And if you’re not careful, she’ll devour you.”
Back in the present day, the young acolytes begin having questions. And while Valya might be the Reverend Mother, no one should discount Tula. She’s got bite of her own, and when Valya steps away, she’s the one in charge. And getting the flashbacks in this episode and how it infuses with the present day was not only well done but showcases absolutely brilliant acting from the younger versions as well as the older. I’ve been an Olivia Williams fan for ages. Even Watson has crossed my path from time to time. But the younger two, being unknown to me, were an absolute treat. Both portrayed the complications in their characters well and provided an amazing basis for what the older actresses get to work with.
Flashing back to young Tula, we see her find love. She’s going with her boyfriend on his family hunt. She’ll get to meet everyone. She’s nervous, he’s excited. We watch her showcase some of her own animal and medicinal knowledge. She seems happy, flourishing even. But we see her empathetic heart and know that maybe she’s just a little different from her sister, Valya. She’s softer, where Valya seems harder. She even gets a proposal, and maybe we get to see a happy ending for one Harkonnen.
In the past, Valya and Dorotea (Camilla Beeput, pictured) clashed. Valya has no problem pushing back 
against Dorotea, even if she is Reverend Mother Raquella’s (Cathy Tyson) granddaughter. Valya is the last one in the test, proving she’s either wholly not committed or maybe entirely too committed. Raquella brings her in from the rain, and I’m wondering if Valya even fully swore herself to the sisterhood. Or did Raquella wave that in favor of finding someone who would stick to her and her vision? Games are being played with the Imperium, and they don’t even know it. But it was personal with Dorotea, and when Valya makes that choice, it is a grave one.
Back in Tula’s past, she’s spending the night with her love. The next morning is quiet, too quiet. And then the truth comes spilling out. He’s Atreides. She’s Harkonnen. And even if she loves him, this is a blood feud, and blood feuds only end one way. She killed them all. Turns out that the medicinal knowledge we saw was pretty useful, and she’s obliterated an entire wing of the Atreides family in one mead serving. One cousin escapes, someone who will be mentioned again in the future. But maybe Tula’s not softer than Valya. Maybe she’s just more subtle. And frankly, isn’t that scarier?
In Valya’s past, she refuses the Agony. The true test of a sister and her commitment to the sisterhood is to speak with her ancestors. Raquella tells Valya to go home, confront her demons, and either come back a true sister or don’t come back at all. Valya has a big choice to make. Can she move past her grudges? Or will she be chained to a blood feud forever?
But back in the present day, it’s acolyte Lila (Chloe Lea) who must go under now and seek communication with her ancestors. Most especially Raquella, who is her great, great grandmother? Or something like that. Tula is there with her, but in the end, Lila cannot get back out. But that doesn’t mean Tula is ready to let go. Lila is like a daughter to her, and Tula has already lost so much…
1-4 Twice Born
Acolyte Emeline (Aoife Hinds) has a disturbing dream. Sister Jen (Faoileann Cunningham) wakes from disturbed sleep only to see every single sister suffering in her sleep. Something is happening to the girls. 
Valya has her own concerns, first and foremost making herself the available truth-teller to the Harkonnen family. They’re working their way back into good graces, but for years, she’s denied them a sister. Now, they get her. Her uncle (Mark Addy) isn’t exactly thrilled, but her cousin Harrow (Edward Davis) is a tad easier to manipulate. Tread carefully, Valya. Just because they’re blood doesn’t mean they’re family.
Meanwhile, Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel) continues to insert himself into the Corrino family, much to Ynez’s (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) annoyance. She doesn’t trust him. Good! Don’t! Anyone who can burn someone from the inside is probably not someone you should trust. But the Imperial home is about to be absolutely buzzing as the Landsraad occurs. It is the gathering of the Noble houses to discuss matters. Valya is placing herself in an important position to manipulate what needs manipulating. Desmond is working to get the sisterhood removed everywhere and she must fight that with whatever means necessary.
But that isn’t the only bomb in need of diffusing. The rebels have been making inroads in the imperial home, preparing to place a bomb. This will all come together in the Landsraad, making the biggest splash they can. But what they don’t realize yet is that another alliance is forming to complicate their plans. The Empress (Jodhi May) is pissed. She leaked the boy’s death. I believe I had said it would be the Emperor’s downfall going against his wife. And now we begin to see the fruits of that choice. She thinks the Emperor is a coward. She wants the sisterhood eradicated from the Imperium. One of the things I find really amusing was her assertion that the sisterhood ruined everything she put together, and I’m like, babe. What did you put together? This entire game is being run by the sisterhood! You didn’t do anything they didn’t prompt you to do. Pairing up with Desmond at this point, yes. That is new and entirely you, but everything else was them. Don’t elevate your status here. I get that you’re empress, but like I said. They’ve BEEN running this game. You’re barely one of the pawns to them.
But Princess Ynez is also unwilling to be just a pawn. She still wants to be a sister, and when she discovers Keiran (Chris Mason, pictured), the weapons master’s dirty little secret, she agrees to help. Unsurprisingly, when women feel not in control of their own lives, they will find ways to rebel in whatever way they can. But he’s the one who walks away, trying to save her. But she’s determined and even asks her brother Constantine (Josh Heuston) to stand with her in defiance of their father (Mark Strong). But he chickens out the moment his father seems proud of him. In the end, the entire bomb plot fizzles, and Desmond is the one who makes a show of things.
Back to the sisterhood, Emeline has stepped into the shoes Dorotea left, and I have to wonder how this will all go down once Valya returns. Tula is having dreams of killing Emeline, which seems to be not good. Lila wakes up. Could she be the twice-born the prophecy spoke of? Tula is convinced. Meanwhile, Valya withholds her uncle’s medicine for reasons, and we finally understand Sister Theo’s (Jade Anouka) power and why it was so important for her to come with Valya. She gives Valya the release she needs. Valya is able to make peace with losing her brother and begins to move on. But what does that mean for the sisterhood? The Imperium? And herself?
