Dune: Prophecy

DOUR. So dour. Everyone glowering intensely at everyone else. Characters absolutely crippled by the artificial "weight" of how "important" what they are doing is. How do we know it's important? Because the characters state their aspirations right away, and what they aspire to is the way things are in the present of the movies. Wow. Profound. I wonder if it's going to work out in the end??? Remember Game of Thrones? Realistic people doing their best in the horrifying world, trying to find some semblance of meaning, purpose, maybe love? Joking and chiding each other like real human beings do? Remember characters being believable people? Why does every premium show have to be completely humorless and rigid? We get it, the implications are vast. We get it, setting up the world of Dune is "important." Look, I'm a huge fan of the material and the new movies. But even in those they chide each other. "Stilgar is from the south. You didn't notice his accent?" They freaking relax for two minutes! You can't expect me to tighten up and stay rigid for the entire series. There has to be a rhythm to it! Ups and downs. Intensity and levity. Inhale, exhale. Life!

I had seen and heard a few lukewarm reviews of this show so I didn't have high expectations coming in, and then was pleasantly surprised! It starts off a bit slow and I think I breathed a sigh of relief when Travis Fimmel entered the frame because I knew he would spice things up (no pun intended). But then the other characters/actors started to develop as well and by the third episode I was definitely into it and enjoying the narrative.

I wasn't sure about Emily Watson as one of the leads at first but grew to enjoy her performance, and the actress that plays the young version of her (Jessica Barden) does a great job as well.

It seems a bit odd that it's supposedly 10,000 years prior to the Dune movies and yet it's not all that different. They make a point of showing some precursor technology to things we've seen in Dune but overall the tech seems about the same, and so does the look and feel of the backdrops. Perhaps that's appropriate if there was never any AI to advance technology more fully but it seems more like 100 years before than 10K.

It's a fun prequel telling the story of the Bene Gesserit in their earlier years with a mystery antagonist. Worth the watch, looking forward to season 2!

There are a few important things to note about Dune: Prophecy. First, the series is set 10,000 years before the events of the Dune movies. We encounter familiar surnames and begin to understand the origins of many elements that become significant later. That said, the series also introduces some peculiarities that aren't addressed in the films-perhaps because they've been resolved by the time of those events and are no longer essential.

Second, this is a much darker story. While it shares the same slow, atmospheric pacing as the Dune films, it's far more saturated with conspiracies and shadowy power struggles. Although there are several key characters we follow, the central focus is on the Harkonnen sisters and their leadership of the Sisterhood. This is essentially their story, and it's a deeply grim one.

Third, by the time you reach the final episode of Season 1, it becomes clear just how many secrets are woven into the narrative-secrets that are revealed only gradually. Much of this unfolds through jumps back and forth in time. Several characters appear in both their younger and older forms, and the past and present are closely intertwined. Fortunately, the time-switching is handled well and never feels confusing.

Good production values, generally good acting, often nice to look at. I found the premise interesting.

Somehow the pacing and structure was off. I'm fairly sure it's about the script and direction rather than actors. The last episode of the first season was the worst in this regard. I also didn't particularly like some of the extended flashback sections - you'd get the point across with much less dwelling in the past.

Might or might not watch more. It's not an instant classic, but it's good background entertainment.

The first episode of Dune Prophecy, HBO Max's new foray into the world of Frank Herbert's universe, unfortunately feels drab and uninspired. Despite its ambitious source material, the episode struggles to capture the charm and depth that make Dune so beloved.

The most glaring issue is the editing. The pacing is wildly off, with scenes feeling rushed and lacking the breathing room necessary for tension or atmosphere to develop. In their effort to cram too much story into a single hour, the episode becomes a chaotic barrage of nonstop dialogue, sacrificing narrative flow and engagement. Moments that should have felt significant are undercut by hurried jump cuts, leaving little room for emotional or thematic resonance.

Visually, Dune Prophecy suffers from a continuation of the grey, industrial aesthetic seen in recent Dune adaptations. The set and costume design feel sterile and monotonous, failing to evoke the intricate, lived-in feel of Herbert's universe. This lack of visual and atmospheric variety diminishes the sense of wonder and alien grandeur that Dune demands.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect is the lack of effective world-building. While the episode focuses heavily on expositional dialogue to set up the plot, it neglects to establish the world itself. The intricate political and cultural dynamics that define Dune feel shallow, and the absence of atmospheric "vibes" leaves the setting hollow and unengaging.

In the end, Dune Prophecy struggles to strike a balance between exposition and immersion, resulting in an episode that feels more like a rushed summary than a compelling introduction to the series. Without significant adjustments to pacing, editing, and world-building, it risks losing the essence of what makes Dune such a rich and enduring story.