What Happened To Lila & Her Mother In Dune: Prophecy Explained

WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Dune: Prophecy episode 2.

Episode 2 of the HBO prequel series Dune: Prophecy reveals what happened to Lila and her mother, Reverend Mother Dorotea. Dune: Prophecy is a six-part series based on the 2012 novel Sisterhood of Dune, which was written by original Dune author Frank Herbert’s son, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson. The story takes place more than 10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreidies, which is chronicled in Denis Villenueve’s Dune (2020) and Dune: Part Two (2024). Dune: Prophecy reveals the origins of the powerful shadow sisterhood known as the Bene Gesserit and how they manipulated the fate of humankind.

Dune: Prophecy episode 1 “The Hidden Hand” introduces Emily Watson’s Valya Harkonnen, a fierce and calculated leader, and her biological sister, Tula Harkonnen. Together, they oversee the development of highly qualified young women who learn to become sisters of the Bene Gesserit. The beginning of Dune: Prophecy also reveals how Valya came to power in the very earliest days of the Bene Gesserit, which involved using the supernatural power of Voice to kill Dorotea, the biological daughter of the Reverend Mother Superior, Raquella. Dorotea had a moral vision for the Bene Gesserit but Valya had something else in mind.

Sister Tula Claimed Lila’s Mother Had Died In Dune: Prophecy

Dorotea was murdered by Valya Harkonnen

As shown in Dune: Prophecy episode 2 “Two Wolves”, Sister Tula Harkonnen, the biological sister of Mother Reverend Superior Valya Harkoennen, has taken Lila under her wing as one of her most exceptional and promising pupils. Despite their closeness, Tula never revealed the true nature of Lila’s mother’s death, perhaps because she is unaware like the rest of the Sisterhood of the truth. Valya had used the Voice against Lila’s mother, Dorotea, to kill and silence her over differences in the vision of the Bene Gesserit. Dorotea was the daughter of the first Reverend Mother Superior, Raquella, and aimed to undo many of the principles that Raquella had established.

Lila knew of the significance of her ancestry but was not aware that Valya Harkonnen had essentially stolen the Mother Superior role from the rightful heir, Dorotea, by using the Voice to murder her. After the first two episodes of Dune: Prophecy, it has yet to be revealed just how much Tula knows about Valya’s original betrayal of Dorotea. Lila became possessed by Dorotea’s spirit during the Agony ceremony, who came seeking revenge against the Harkonnens for the life they stole from her. As a result, Dorotea takes their “hope” in the form of Lila, which ends up killing her and also reuniting her with her ancestral line.

Why Lila Was Raised By The Sisterhood

Tula took Lila winder her wing withing the Sisterhood

Lila was raised by the Sisterhood because she had no mother. She was aware that her grandmother was the powerful Raquella but was never told the truth about her mother Dorotea, as that would have completely destroyed her belief in Valya, Tula, and the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood. Tula basically raised Lila as her own but she is not her actual mother. A scene in which Lila had learned the truth about Valya killing her mother would have been tense and full of conflict. However, Lila is taken by Dorotea from the “other side” during the Agony ceremony and never has the chance to learn the truth and face the Harkoennen herself.

It is quite shocking that Dorotea chose to sacrifice her own child’s life in order to enact revenge on Valya Harkonnen. However, Dorotea took Lila to be with her ancestors, which is where Dorotea believes she belongs, out of the hands of the evil and manipulative Harkonnen leaders. Now that the Harkonnen have lost one of their pupils in the Sisterhood, the integrity of their school will likely be questioned and some of the other Sisters in training will want out. Dorotea taking Lila’s life protected her, in a way, from being controlled and used by the Harkonnen and may end up sparing her from the impending “Reckoning.”

What Lila Saw During The Agony Ritual In Dune: Prophecy

Lila was sent to an eerie otherworldly cave with her ancestors

During the Agony ceremony in Dune: Prophecy episode 2, Lila is welcomed by her grandmother Raquella and mother Dorotea. She was sent into a spiritual realm to extract information from Raquella about “The Reckoning” known as the Tiran Arafel so that the Sisterhood could better prepare. While Lila’s experience was eerie and frightening, seemingly lost and trapped in a dark and ominous cave, she was with all of her female ancestors who held otherworldly knowledge. Ultimately, the poison serum that Tula had made for Lila to initiate the Agony ritual ended up taking her life in Dune: Prophecy episode 2.

Set in the universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune series, this sci-fi epic follows the political and spiritual struggles on the desert planet of Arrakis. As factions vie for control of the prized spice melange, a prophesied hero emerges, challenging the balance of power and the fate of the galaxy.

Cast

Emily Watson , Olivia Williams , Jodhi May , Travis Fimmel , Mark Strong , Jade Anouka , Chris Mason , Sarah-Sofie Boussnina , Shalom Brune-Franklin , Faoileann Cunningham , Aoife Hinds , Chloe Lea , Josh Heuston , Edward Davis , Tabu , Yerin Ha

Character(s)

Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen , Reverend Mother Tula Harkonnen , Empress Natalya Arat , Desmond Hart , Emperor Javicco Corrino , Sister Theodosia , Keiran Atreides , Princess Ynez Corrino , Mikaela , Sister Jen , Sister Emeline , Sister Lila , Constantine Corrino , Harrow Harkonnen , Sister Francesca , Young Kasha

Release Date

November 17, 2024

Seasons

1

Writers

Diane Ademu-John , Kevin J. Anderson , Brian Herbert , Frank Herbert

Directors

Anna Foerster

Showrunner

Alison Schapker

Main Genre

Sci-Fi

Creator(s)

Diane Ademu-John , Alison Schapker

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