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!

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.

It was nice to watch something again from the "Dune" universe and I think it was a good idea. The show is good and high quality. But honestly it was not like I expected. I was waiting for something different, hard to explain. Even if it was not what I expected, the quality is clear. Acting, atmosphere, effects, everything is good. The show is a bit boring. I am a person who can watch slow movies easily, but even for me it was too slow. The story felt a little boring. Acting performances were great. Only Chloe Lea looked weaker among the other amazing actors and actresses, and that made her less believable, but everyone else was great.

It feels like something is missing in the show. One of these missing parts is music. One of the best things in "Dune" movies was Hans Zimmer's amazing music. Here, the music was weak and not memorable. I also did not like the opening theme, it could be more iconic.

I almost felt forced to watch it, just to understand the "Dune" universe better. The topics are a bit confusing, but anyway, it is still clearly high quality.

I've been looking forward to Dune: Prophecy ever since I first heard about it. Then I saw the trailers and my excitement grew even more. Well, after seeing it I can say that it without a doubt lived up to my expectations. Your expectations have to be realistic though, if you're expecting something as perfect as the Dennis Villenueve directed films then you're going to be disappointed, but if you go into it just expecting a perfectly paced, fascinating series that will keep you thoroughly invested every episode then you'll love it. The world building that takes place and the attention to every detail is as good as it gets for a tv show. This series is best watched binged because I can promise when you finish an episode you can't wait to start the next. You're not going to want to wait a week between episodes, it's that good.

Dune: Prophecy is an okay series that delivers solid performances and impressive visuals, offering useful context to the Dune cinematic universe. As a prequel, it enriches the lore and sets the stage for the political and religious dynamics of the Bene Gesserit.

But despite its strengths, something feels missing. The show struggles to fully hook you. Emotional engagement is low, and aside from Tula, who stands out with depth and presence, the rest of the characters fall into forgettable, formulaic roles. The world is grand, but the storytelling doesn't quite rise to meet its potential.

If there's a future season, there's hope the series can grow into something more gripping. For now, it's visually rich but narratively underwhelming. Worth a watch for Dune fans, but don't expect to be swept away.