Dune: Prophecy The first season uses the term “imprinting,” which may raise some questions for viewers. The world created by Frank Herbert Dune The books are extensive on their own, but with the additions of lore from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson's expanded novels, HBO's prequel series has plenty of material to draw from. Even so, the TV show expanded into Dune universe with new characters, powers and mysteries to be discovered by long-time book fans and beginners alike. Dune: Prophecy The Season 1 finale resolves some of these mysteries, but there are still no stones unturned.
The public became much more familiar with the Brotherhood, an earlier form of the Bene Gesserit, over time. Dune: Prophecy season 1. Valya Harkonnen is the Mother Superior of the Brotherhood, and her main objective is to continue Mother Superior Raquella's wishes by creating a manufactured reproduction plan. which will produce the ideal genetic offspring to become the rulers of the Empire. The idea may seem promising at first glance, but it requires significant intervention and manipulation of political and personal livelihood matters, with the Brotherhood scheming around Princess Ynez at this point in the timeline.
How dune printing works
Imprinting is a process of gaining loyalty through intimacy
Imprinting is a term that was first established in Frank Herbert's book. Heretics of Dunethe fifth novel in his original series. However, imprintable characters have been seen before this, including Margot Fenring, who appeared in 2024. Dune: Part Two. Imprinting is a specific ability that can be developed by members of the Bene Gesserit, or in Dune: Prophecy case, the Brotherhood, to utilize the woman's skills in seduction to establish stronger control over the target. This is often used on men in positions of substantial political power.
The Bene Gesserit are known for using their enhanced abilities to gain influence throughout the Empire. The Brotherhood in Dune: Prophecy has established control primarily through the True Ones, assisting noble houses in decision-making and tactics, though all are secretly working toward a common goal. With that in mind, imprinting is suggested in the show as a step towards gaining greater control, and Valya has Francesca use it on Emperor Javicco Corrinogiving her an alternative plan should Sister Kasha's influence waver in any way.
Essentially, what this means is that they are being intimate in such a way that the target's biology is altered to become loyal to the imprinter.
The specifics of imprinting are explained in the episode recap of Dune: Prophecy episode 5 for viewers watching on Max or HBO. Executive producer Alison Schapker states that imprinting is "where a sister can exert a kind of molecular influence on another person through intimacy." Essentially, what this means is that they are being intimate in such a way that the target's biology is altered to become loyal to the imprinter. This allows the Brotherhood to exert even more control over them than they would normally possess.
Can all Bene Gesserit members become printers?
Printing requires significant training
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Imprinting is not a skill that all members of the Bene Gesserit are capable of. In fact, very few of the characters mentioned in Dune universe are capable of this. Impression requires similar skill and training as Voice or other powers used by the organization. It goes beyond the ability to seduce the target and win them over with sex, instead use a specific scientific process to alter the target's bodily functions to become loyal to them. This is something that would require strenuous training.
Although it is not specified that Margot Fenring imprinted on Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Dune: Part Twoshe was another member of the Bene Gesserit capable of doing so. Lucilla was also a member of the Bene Gesserit in the printable books, and she was featured as a character in Frank Herbert's last two books. As for Dune: ProphecySister Francesca is the only character shown to be able to printwith Emperor Javicco Corrino being the only known target.
How the Brotherhood Dictated Who Would Become Emperor
The planned sisterhood for Princess Ynez to rule
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In Dune: Prophecy episode 6, Valya Harkonnen explains to Emperor Javicco that his entire existence has been dictated by the Brotherhood. They planned his birth before he was born, they planned his wedding to Natalya, and they planned his love affair with his sister Francesca. Valya planned Javicco's life and the lives of her children as part of her genetic improvement planand there is a specific reason for this. Mother Superior Raquella's plan, which Valya is carrying out, is to create the ideal emperor through a combination of genes, and her target is Princess Ynez.
Emperor Javicco's Corrino name and lineage were chosen, along with his marriage to Natalya, to create the ideal heir. The Brotherhood's plan is to have Princess Ynez train with their organization, attending school before ascending the throne, so that their influence is deeply rooted in the Empire. Not only would Ynez have been planted as empress by the Brotherhood, but she would also be one of their members, giving them complete control over the Known Universe. This is Valya's main goal in the TV series, as she will fulfill the organization's mission and increase her individual power.
Why did Valya need Francesca to use imprinting powers on Emperor Javicco Corrino
Valya needed Javicco to control the Empire
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Valya has a very specific use for Sister Francesca in Dune: Prophecywith some of them taking place before the events of the show and others during. Francesca imprinted on Javicco before the show startedand together they conceived Constantine Corrino. Francesca reveals to Constantine in episode 5 that the reason he was born, as all babies born by members of the Brotherhood have specific purposes, was to protect Princess Ynez. The Brotherhood created a bodyguard for their main heir candidate, but this goes wrong when Constantine arrests Keiran Atreides, upsetting Ynez.
Valya having her sister Kasha in Emperor Javicco's corner is important, and the emperor clearly trusts his Truth Teller, but his appreciation for Francesca goes even deeper than that. She controls him like no other, and the final two episodes show that she manages to briefly bring his loyalty back to the Brotherhood and away from Desmond Hart, despite having recently banished Valya Harkonnen from the palace. This influence is incredibly powerful. Although the plan failed, Francesca had the ability to influence the emperor in Dune: Prophecy even when he turned his back on the organization.