2024 was a big year for the “Dune” franchise between a hit sequel in March and a foray into television in December with the HBO series “Dune: Prophecy." The series unveils the origins of the Bene Gesserit, a mysterious sisterhood with magical powers.
The show stars Emily Watson as Valya Harkonnen, the shady leader of the Bene Gesserit. Alison Schapker serves as the showrunner. "Dune: Prophecy" was inspired by the 2012 novel “Sisterhood of Dune” by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. The series has already been renewed for a second season.
Highs
The show has big shoes to fill with the exceptional "Dune" movies when it comes to quality. In regards to acting, "Dune: Prophecy" has a strong cast that is up to the task. The Bene Gesserit in particular all give a heavy weight to their performances. In the recent "Dune" films, although the Bene Gesserit play an important role, they are not very complex with the exception of Lady Jessica. This series offers a well-balanced portrayal, making the Bene Gesserit a sisterhood with nuanced bonds, while still dark and mysterious.
The special effects are also well done. Although computer-generated imagery elements are seldom used in the series, when they do come on screen, they are well-rendered and do not stick out against the actual sets or props. As a matter of fact, the CGI is the only part of the show that looks good.
Lows
The show is set 10,000 years before the films. However, this is not clear given everything looks the same. There are no changes in fashion, architecture or culture. This weakens the lore of “Dune” as it simply is not believable that nothing would change in 10,000 years. To put this into perspective, that is roughly twice as long as recorded human history. Moreover, not only does it feel like recent “Dune” history, but it also never feels like an intergalactic society. Lacking anything truly alien, the show would not have been changed by being simply set on earth.
The only visual difference from the "Dune" movies is the gray, lifeless cinematography and lack of grand spectacle, turning the “Dune” universe into an agonizingly dull, ugly place. Nearly every frame of the show is utterly lifeless, seemingly allergic to eye-catching colors, striking shapes, or evocative camera angles.
As if being an eyesore were not enough, the show is simply boring. The pacing is far too slow and jumps amongst too many characters, and although the acting is all well done, the storylines do not stand out or connect well. At only six episodes, it does not have enough time to tell such a sprawling story or justify it. The “Dune” movies are slow-paced too, but they have clear forward momentum towards a unified story with a focus on cementing the characters and world building. By contrast, "Dune: Prophecy" is slow-paced in how it is meandering.
Verdict
There was potential with the setting of “Dune: Prophecy” with some clear talent for acting and special effects. The second season could tap into these strengths and fix the show, but it would require writing and filming it in an entirely different way. The cinematography is utterly painful, the world building is weak, and the writing is lackluster.
It comes off less as “Dune” and more like “Game of Thrones.” Being like the latter is not a bad thing, but it is an unoriginal thing, as well as something of which many shows in the past few years have fallen short. “Dune: Prophecy” joins with the likes of shows such as “The Rings of Power” and “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2024), series that attempt to recreate “Game of Thrones” but lose sight of what makes their source material good.
Rating: 3 out of 10
Frank Remski is a film and theater reviewer for The Eastern Echo. He is majoring in media studies and journalism and minoring in public relations. He has worked for The Echo since summer of 2023 and has written both news stories and opinion pieces.
