After a few delays and a lot of backstage chatter, the science fiction prequel Dune: Prophecy has finally started. In the States even on the US premium channel HBO, which is considered the home base for highlights of the golden age of TV. But does the series do justice to the channel and its good sci-fi name?
We have four episodes of the in advance Prehistory about the mysterious order of the Bene Gesserit can see and tell you whether the format of the Kwisatz Haderach is among the series or whether it bothers us. Anyone who would like to see for themselves now has the opportunity to do so on the German pay-TV channel Sky.
Dune: Prophecy – that’s what the long-awaited sci-fi prequel is all about
In the new Dune series we find ourselves over 10,000 years before the desert planet events surrounding Paul Atreides – and yet we still try to orientate ourselves aesthetically on the successful films by Denis Villeneuve. In terms of design, this sci-fi world has always seemed pretty stuck, which applies not only to costumes and architecture, but also to spaceships and technical equipment. Only the glowing thinking machines seem appropriately out of place in flashbacks.
The galactic empire under Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong) has now renounced these computer-driven machines and instead relies on intellectual disciplines to solve problems. The masters of these mental machinations are the sisters of the order, which provides indispensable advisors to the noble houses. From the shadows, they guide the fates for the benefit of humanity.
Emily Watson and Olivia Williams are at the heart of the series as Vilya and Tula Harkonnen. But wait, the Harkonnens aren’t them Baddies from Dune? Nope. At this time, the future bald opponents are a disgraced noble house that suffers from an inferiority complex under the leadership of Evgeny Harkonnen (Mark Addy). To the surprise of many, the ambitious Vilya took over the leadership of the sisterhood and does not shy away from going to great lengths to achieve its goals. However, her allegiance lies with her sworn union, not her noble house.
Watson is actually the highlight of the series. She exudes authority and can come across as unpleasantly threatening – even without using the psychological power of the “voice” that she has developed, with which one can impose one’s own will on others. It’s also funny that Watson has such a role as a planner in a civilization-design series after her Chernobyl co-star Jared Harris was just seen in a very similar role in the sci-fi format Foundation from Apple TV+.
It’s not all that glitters: Dune remains rather mediocre in this series version
Much of what has to do directly with the Sisterhood and their mysterious plans on the planet Wallach IX is to a large extent just as Dune-typically esoteric as you would like it to be, and even makes more cinematic use of the concept of Dreams, visions and drug trips than Villeneuve dared to do in his two films. Unfortunately, the mystical focus of the franchise is lost in favor of a supposed supervillain threat in the form of Travis Fimmel and an apocalyptic calamity called The Reckoning, against whom the Order is the last line of defense. Greetings from Marvel.
The cast, setting and costumes always feel much less high-class when, for example, we switch to the imperial children in the imperial palace, to the rebels working undercover, or for flashbacks to the past of Vilya and Tula. Then all of a sudden we find ourselves in an annoying situation generic science fiction or fantasy serieswhich could also be found on the US channels The CW or Syfy. When it comes to Dune and especially HBO, we actually expect a little more.
Sex scenes that are as frequent as they are unbearably uninspired also try to fish for recognition and attention from the Game of Thrones audience, who are spoiled by naked skin – with monumental failure.
The script is not quite as elegant as one would expect from a prestige series, and the many revisions are definitely noticeable. Effortful exposition is delivered in direct mission statements, making the Convoluted story too complicated and too simple at the same time feels. The fact that there are a lot of interchangeable actors, especially among the young cast members, who can be easily confused doesn’t really help the whole thing in terms of penetrating the plot.
However, who cannot be confused with any other character is Desmond Hart, played by Vikings star Fimmel. He is the wide-eyed, crazy-talking supervillain of this Dune series who seems immune to the Sisterhood’s mental abilities. At least since he was supposedly swallowed by a sandworm and spit out again. At least something different than being bitten by a radioactive spider. Does he pose the great danger that was predicted for the Order as the devastating The Reckoning? Sisters, assemble!
Dune: Prophecy was definitely made from pieces of desert planet mythology, although Alison Schapker (Fringe) couldn’t have had an easy job as just the last in the showrunner muddle. But these pieces don’t come together in a particularly appealing way like Denis Villeneuve or even David Lynch. Expectations should therefore be lowered to the level of the mini-series from the early 2000s.
When and where can Dune: Prophecy be seen in Germany?
The first episode of Dune: Prophecy airs on Monday, December November 18, 2024 to the start. Sky Atlantic shows it from 8:15 p.m. and it is available online on streamer WOW. One episode can be seen for six weeks – either in the original English version or as a German dubbed version.
And if you want to hear a little more Dune: Prophecy…
Podcast: Is the Dune series worth it as a series extension of the sci-fi world?
Set in the same universe as Denis Villeneuve’s two Dune films, Dune: Prophecy takes place 10,000 years before Paul Atreides of the Bene Gesserit Order. But does the sci-fi story of sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen reach the same heights as the hit films?
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Whether sandworms, Travis Fimmel or Dune parallels: We will introduce you to the science fiction series Dune: Prophecy in more detail, talk about the lengthy production history and discuss strengths and weaknesses without spoilers.