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Greetings Popversians, and welcome to Lore Corner! Each week, video producer Ashley V. Robinson and staff writer Grant DeArmitt are going to take you deep into the preexisting lore behind some of pop culture's most exciting adaptations, such as the epic, spacefaring universe of Dune: Prophecy. Happy diving!

We're still reeling from the explosive final episode of Dune: Prophecy, which aired on HBO December 22. In it, there were some new alliances, shocking betrayals, and of course, the long-awaited reveal of Demond Hart's true identity. Yes, the mysterious Desmond Hart, played by Vikings's Travis Fimmel, is a bit less of a mystery now, as viewers have at long last learned his shadowy origin.

It should go without saying that we're going to be stating, flat-out, what that shadowy origin is. So if you don't want it spoiled for you do not read any further. Go and watch the Dune: Prophecy season finale, then come back and find out the truth. Or, if you're alright with Popverse telling you about it instead of HBO (we're honored), proceed. 

Either way, don't get mad at us when we reveal to you...

Who is Desmond Hart in Dune: Prophecy?

Desmond Hart is the secret child of Tula Harkonnen and Orry Atreides. Tula, of course, is played in the 'present'[ by Olivia Williams and in flashbacks by Emma Canning. Orry Atreides is also only seen in flashbacks, played by Milo Callaghan for... er, a very brief stint. As you know having watched this far in the series, young Tula murdered Orry on the orders of the Bene Gesserit.

Also revealed in this episode is the shocking truth that Tula and Orrry's child, previously thought to be stillborn, was in fact the child of an itinerant worker. In order to cover up the fact that she and a member of the Atreides clan (more on that in a sec) had a baby, Tula switched the children, handing off future Desmond and claiming the deceased infant as her own.

Before we move on to the implications of Desmond's parentage, we should take a second to point out that Tula was truly acting on her child's best interests here, despite its cloak-and-dagger nature and the pain it caused her. Tula knew that the innocent child she held in her hands would only end up being a pawn in the Bene Gesserit's schemes, so she decided to give him a shot at a life free of them.

The fact that it didn't work out doesn't make her actions any less noble.

How does Desmond Hart's story connect to Paul Atreides in Dune?

Oh, shoot. Here I thought we'd only be spoiling stuff for Dune: Prophecy, but it turns out we're getting into Dune spoilers as well. So pause this article, I suppose, if you haven't seen Denis Villeneuve's Dune Parts One or Two, or if you haven't read Frank Herbert's Dune (which came out in 1965, but take your time).

Still here? Great. Fans familiar with either the Dune novel or books will no doubt find familiarity in the story of Desmond Hart, the tale of a powerful, charismatic warrior with both Harkonnen and Atreides blood in his veins. As you know, that description also fits one Paul Atreides to a T. This is where things get really interesting for Dune: Prophecy as an adaptation of Frank Herbert's works; even though it doesn't exactly break canon, per se, it does add a shocking twist in the midst of explaining it.

You might remember a parallel case from the Lore Corner edition in which we explained the Thinking Machines. We explained that no Bene Gesserit was said to make use of a Thinking Machine in the Dune novels, but that in Dune: Prophecy, we clearly see Tula Harkonnen doing just that. Similarly, Paul Atreides is often talked about as the first product of the Atreides and Harkonnen bloodlines, but now, Dune: Prophecy has added a big ol' asterisk to that statement.

That's why we like Tula, folks - even canon can't hold her back.

Will Desmond Hart be in Dune: Prophecy season 2?

As of this writing, we are just a few days removed from the official announcement that Dune: Prophecy has been renewed for a season 2 on HBO. At this point, it's difficult to say whether Desmond Hart will continue dealing with his parentage in a very Bene Gesserit way once that next batch of episodes roll around, especially considering that no production info has yet been announced.

However, the first season of the Dune prequel certainly does end on a pretty heartwrenching cliffhanger, with Desmond betraying his own mother and having Tula arrested. We here at Popverse struggle to see how that plot arc won't continue in the next season, if not be the thing most people are tuning in for. 

Remember, if Tula brought Desmond in to the world as a secret, there's no guarantee she won't take him out the same way.

All episodes of Dune: Prophecy season 1 are streaming on Max.

Face your fear, and permit it to pass over you and through you with our key guides to all things Dune:

• Dune: Part Two's ending explained,
• All the Dune sequels and TV show prequels that are planned
• Dune watch order
• Which Frank Herbert story Denis Villeneuve believes would make a great Dune: Part Three
• Movies to watch after you've finished Dune
• Sisterhood of Dune ending explained: Understanding the book that Dune: Prophecy was based on

After reading it all, turn to the inner eye to see its path.