After three episodes of plotting in the shadows, Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson) finally makes her first big move midway through "Twice Born," the fourth episode of Dune: Prophecy. A montage shows Truthsayers in Valya's hire whispering suggestions to a trio of heads of the great Houses. The Truthsayers suggest to the heads that Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong) assassinated Pruwet Richese (Charlie Hodson-Prior). When the heads all express their worry that investigating the claim will bring unwanted attention to their respective Houses, the Truthsayers encourage them to promote an ambitious minor House to their number and make that newcomer launch the investigation. The House in question? Harkonnen.

Without question, the scene looks great. Director Richard J. Lewis blocks the conversations well and the costume work by Bojana Nikitovic remains fantastic. It's always striking to see the black clad members of the Sisterhood leaning toward the ornately costumed House heads.

At the same time, the plan is thuddingly obvious. Even suspending disbelief to allow for the compressed nature of a story like this, Valya Harkonnen's hand in elevating her House to a prominent position and then making it the obvious fall guy for a move against the Emperor is anything but hidden.