Dune: Prophecy is the latest entry in the renaissance of the beloved space opera, set 10,000 years before the events of Denis Villeneuve's first Dune film. The series is loosely based on Sisterhood of Dune, reimagining the origins of the Bene Gesserit, an elite sisterhood of warriors and witches who train day and night to hone the Voice, the unnatural force to bend others to their will.
Sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen, played by Emily Watson and Olivia Williams respectively, lead the series as our flawed protagonists, willing to do anything to preserve their own.
After seeing one episode, I will not compare this series to its theatrical predecessors except cinematography. Before we go further, please be advised that this review may contain mild spoilers, so proceed accordingly.
Dune: Prophecy boasts an excellent cast, beautiful designs for costumes and sets, and an interesting story with moments of shock and awe, but unfortunately it takes way too much time to get there. As for the cinematography as mentioned earlier, it does not reach the bar set by Villeneuve's Dune films.
The series first introduces Valya, quickly revealing that she is the first one to acquire The Voice's power, carrying Mother Superior's will. After that, she and her sisters conspired to put one of their own on the throne. Decades later we follow them leading the Sisterhood while meeting Princess Ynez Corrino (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina), heir to the Golden Lion Throne, and her royal family led by Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong). As for the primary antagonist, that seems to be Travis Fimmel's Desmond Hart, a master manipulator and murderer after his interests.
Despite the drop in cinematography, I like Prophecy's aesthetic. The culture and atmosphere stay true to the films and lore crafted by the original author Frank Herbert. Having such an ancient civilization in the backdrop of a futuristic dystopia can present a challenge in showcasing Art based in contrasting environments, yet Dennis Villeneuve mind-blowingly lives up to the challenge in his movies. So naturally, this series had some big shoes to fill, which it did.
Prophecy had all the ingredients to make a fantastic first impression, but it could have benefited from more time in the oven, especially in writing, which is not bad by any means, but unfocused. You will find how easy it is to forget who the primary protagonists are when you watch the first episode. The writers juggled too many character arcs all at once with odd pacing, making the episode feel disjointed, and not allowing much time to invest in any of the characters, which is especially a shame for Valya, the true protagonist.
Valya is a great warrior and leader who will do anything for her sisterhood. Emily Watson is remarkable playing her with stoicism and quiet confidence, carrying each she is in as she should. The same can be said for her sister Tula, Olivia Williams is an amazing actress who complimented Watson wonderfully. Those two lead this show with interesting plot details and motivations, a younger generation of sisters with a looming evil presence while the Corrino Empire is embroiled in their royal family drama that is not all that interesting to be quite honest with you.
To further put things into perspective, the premiere episode feels like a mix between a Sci-Fi drama, a political thriller, a horror, and a CW show with no sense of direction until the last ten minutes when the antagonist's plot goes into motion, leading to what should tie everything and everyone closer together. Though I am mixed on Dune: Prophecy, I look forward to what the remaining episodes have to offer. Hopefully, they live up to my expectations.
RATING: 3/5
About Dune: Prophecy
Premiere Date: November 17th, 2024
Episodes: 6 episodes
Executive Producer / Showrunner: Alison Schapker
Inspired by: Sisterhood of Dune, written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson.
Executive Producers: Diane Ademu-John, Anna Foerster, Jordan Goldberg, Mark Tobey, John Cameron, Matthew King, Scott Z. Burns, Jon Spaihts, Brian Herbert, Byron Merritt and Kim Herbert
Production: Warner Bros. and Legendary Television
Distribution: Warner Bros.
Cast: Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Mark Strong, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Josh Heuston, Chloe Lea, Jade Anouka, Faoileann Cunningham, Edward Davis, Aoife Hinds, Chris Mason, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Jihae, Tabu, Charithra Chandran, Jessica Barden, Emma Canning, and Yerin Ha.
Synopsis: From the expansive universe of Dune, created by acclaimed author Frank Herbert, and 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atreides, DUNE: PROPHECY follows two Harkonnen sisters as they combat forces that threaten the future of humankind and establish the fabled sect that will become known as the Bene Gesserit.
Comments