24/17
The two Harkonnen sisters fight against forces that threaten the future of humanity and founded a legendary sect that became known as the Bene Gesserit. Check out our list of renewals and cancellations to see if your favorite show has been picked up. This series uses material from the Great Schools of Dune trilogy by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. A prequel to the original Dune, it tells how the Rossak Order became the Bene Gesserit. The incident of Valya Harkonnen using her voice comes from an event called “Mentats of Dune.” All three books intertwine in the development of the Sisterhood, Mentats, Navigators, and Suckers. It references the crazy cast of the AniMat: The New Normal (2020) cartoons. The first episode of “The Dune Prophecy,” HBO Max’s new foray into the world of Frank Herbert, unfortunately feels dull and uninspired. Despite its ambitious source material, the episode struggles to capture the magic and depth that made Dune so beloved. The most obvious problem is the cutting. The pacing is maddeningly slow, the scenes rushed, and they lack the space needed to create tension and atmosphere. In an attempt to cram too much story into one hour, the episode becomes a disjointed flurry of uninterrupted dialogue that sacrifices narrative flow and engagement. Moments that should feel significant are undercut by rushed jump cuts that leave little room for emotional or thematic resonance. Visually, Dune Prophecy suffers from continuing the drab, industrial aesthetic of recent Dune adaptations. The stage and costumes feel sterile and drab, failing to evoke the complex, experiential sense of Herbert’s universe. This lack of visual and atmospheric variety diminishes the sense of wonder and otherworldliness that Dune requires. Perhaps most disappointing is the lack of effective worldbuilding. While the episode focuses heavily on expository dialogue while establishing the plot, it neglects to establish the world itself. The complex political and cultural dynamics that define Dune feel shallow and lack atmospheric “vibes”; it leaves the environment empty and uninteresting. Ultimately, The Dune Prophecies struggles to find a balance between exposition and immersion, resulting in an episode that feels more like a rushed recap than a compelling introduction to the series. Without significant changes in pace, adjustments, and world-building, it risks losing the essence of what makes Dune such a rich and enduring story.