The tone: Set 10,000 years before the arrival of Paul Atreides and the events described in the Dune movie franchise, Dune: Prophecy It takes us back to the beginning, almost. HBO's new sci-fi show, premiering Sunday, November 17, centers on Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson), the mother superior of the nascent Bene Gesserit, the mysterious and powerful brotherhood that runs an empire from the shadows.
sister sister: The tradition of Dune is extensive and can be quite confusing to those who have not delved into Frank Herbert's books (and remains confusing to some of those who have done like this); Dune: Prophecy is specifically based on the novel Dune Brotherhoodwhich was co-written by Frank Herbert's son, Brian, and Kevin J. Anderson. The story takes place shortly after humanity has barely triumphed in a war against the rebel “thinking machines,” and Harkonnen isn't the only surname fans of Denis Villeneuve's films might recognize: the Harkonnens were betrayed by the clan. Atreides in the final days of the war, portrayed as deserters and cowards, and condemned to exist on a desolate planet frozen in the emerging society.
That's where Valya and Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams) come into play. The two sisters are linked by blood, but have divided goals when it comes to their path forward: Valya is driven by rage and a desire for revenge against the Atreides, while Tula is a more patient figure within their growing order. , dedicated to young people. acolytes training on the planet Wallach IX.
Dune: Prophecy (HBO)
But it's Valya who has somewhat ruthlessly ascended to a leadership role, serving the Emperor (Mark Strong) while navigating an alliance via marriage for her daughter, sisterhood wannabe Nez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina), while managing the collecting spices from afar with his wife (Jodhi May) and his charming son, Prince Constantine (Josh Hueston). But when a mysterious member of the Emperor's army arrives on Arrakis speaking of the divine and disrupts the flow, Valya and her followers are called upon to intervene.
Our plans are measured in centuries: Now, that may seem like a lot of exposition, and it is. The good news for anyone who may feel overwhelmed by the number of characters in play will probably be relieved to know that Dune: Prophecy is remarkably visually appealing, with the warring houses delivering an energy reminiscent of a show like game of Thrones. The enormous cast is electric, and once the narrative overcomes the challenge of establishing the immense number of names, titles, rules, and motivations involved, the series quickly hits its stride.
Dune: Prophecy (HBO)
10,000 years is For a long time, this writer, at first, found herself a little distracted by the idea that the dominant houses and surnames would not change over the course of 100 long centuries. It's a little hard to believe… Until we remember that this is exactly the purpose of the group that will eventually be known as the Bene Gesserit, who control the lineages, plan the lineages, and put plans in motion as far in advance as possible.
Let the spice Flow: In general, the strength of the whole is one of the most attractive aspects of Dune: Prophecyand there is no weak link between them. There's considerable strength in the Harkonnen sisters' younger counterparts, played by Jessica Barden and Emma Canning, while Chris Mason confidently lays the foundation for the Atreides line as a clever swordmaster called Keiran.
The acolyte training camp offers one of the richest environments on the show, and overall it's a pleasure to be in this world but have the story be driven almost entirely by women. A standout of the younger generation of Sisters is Chloe Lea as Lila, a particularly talented apprentice whose power becomes especially important to the future of the Sisterhood.
Dune: Prophecy (HBO)
These episodes are long and rich in detail, and most of the time that doesn't seem like a hindrance. Four of the season's six episodes were released to critics, and tension steadily builds throughout. The motives are carefully revealed; Deceptive figures are unmasked. The story is not told in a linear fashion, with Episode 3 becoming entangled in the youth of the Harkonnen sisters; While the seeds of the Harkonnens' eventual outright evil nature are visible, it's not unlike the sympathy afforded to a figure like Anakin Skywalker in the prequel films to another space saga.
The verdict: Even if very few creatives can deliver visuals like Denis Villeneuve, fans of recent film installations will enjoy the extensive world-building and detailed, impeccably designed scenes here in Dune: Prophecy. Additionally, fans of the books will likely be pleased with the approach to the source material, which remains notoriously difficult to adapt.
Then there's the demographic that hasn't seen the movies and can't be made to care about the books, but who just love a great sci-fi epic, and that's the group of people I'd be most excited to see on the show. . a try. Filmed in Hungary and Jordan, Dune: Prophecy makes great use of extensive locales, offering a refreshing respite from CGI-heavy shows that never feel authentic. Here, things feel real, from the gambling to the warmly lit hallways and even the mysterious power of the Brotherhood. Buckle up, friends: we'll be back to the stars.
Where to look: Dune: Prophecy premieres on HBO and Max on November 19. Start with Max here.
Trailer:
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