43/42
Two Harkonnen sisters battle forces that threaten the future of humanity and found a fabled sect that would become known as the Bene Gesserit. Check out our list of renewals and cancellations to see if your favorite show was a success. This series draws on material from Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s The Great Schools of Dune trilogy. The original Dune backstory tells the story of how the Rossaku sisters evolved into the Bene Gesserit. The example where Valya Harkonnen uses her voice comes from the “Mentats of Dune” event. All three books deal with the development of the sisters, Mentats, Navigators, and Brush Doctors. Called back to AniMat’s Crazy Cartoon Cast: The New Normal (2020). The first episode of Dune Prophecy, HBO Max’s new exploration of the world of Frank Herbert’s universe, unfortunately feels dull and uninspired. Despite its ambitious source material, the episode struggles to capture the charm and depth that makes Dune so beloved. The most glaring issue is the editing. The pacing is frantic, the scenes feel rushed, and they lack the breath needed to create tension or atmosphere. They try to cram too much story into a single hour, and the episode becomes a chaotic, constant barrage of dialogue that sacrifices narrative flow and engagement. Moments that should have felt significant are punctuated by rushed jump cuts, leaving little room for emotional or thematic resonance. Visually, Dune Prophecy suffers from a continuation of the drab industrial aesthetic seen in recent Dune adaptations. The set and costume design feel sterile and bland, failing to evoke the complex, vivid atmosphere of Herbert’s universe. This lack of visual and atmospheric variety diminishes the sense of wonder and alien grandeur that Dune demands. Perhaps the disappointment is the lack of effective worldbuilding. While the episode focuses heavily on expository dialogue to establish the plot, it neglects to build the world itself. The complex political and cultural dynamics that define Dune feel shallow, and there’s a lack of atmospheric “vibe,” leaving the setting empty and uninviting. Ultimately, Dune Prophecy struggles to strike 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 to the pacing, editing, and worldbuilding, it risks losing the essence of what makes Dune such a rich and enduring story.