Politics is brutal

Politician supreme: Valya Harkonnen (played by Emily Watson) schemes her way to power after her family loses a war, displaying moves that many an Earth politician might want to emulate. -- Legendary Entertainment/HBO

Once again the twisty politics in 'Dune: Prophecy' sends the columnist down a rabbit hole as characters and plot points bring local manoeuvres to mind.

“WHEN I’m Mother Superior, we can do whatever we want,” acolyte Valya Harkonnen tells her sister, Tula, who is pregnant.