Review of the series «Dune: Prophecy»

The series «Dune: The» Prophecy was released on November 17, 2024 on HBO. It is a prequel to Denis Villeneuve’s films, set 10,000 years before the events of Frank Herbert’s main novel. The plot focuses on the rise of the secretive female order of the Bene Gesserit, which plays a key role in the political intrigues of the «Dune» universe. This is not just another adaptation of his book, but an attempt to expand the universe and explore the events that preceded the main novels. But does the series manage to become a worthy addition to the legendary franchise?

Pluses:

strong acting, especially from Emily Watson and Mark Strong; deep themes about faith, power and morality; atmospheric sets and costumes that perfectly capture the spirit of the universe; great music that keeps the mood and atmosphere alive

Minuses:

uneven narrative pacing due to frequent flashbacks; limited budget, which affects the scale of battle scenes; some storylines remain underdeveloped

7/10

Rating
ITC.ua

Genre drama, fiction
Directors Anna Forster, et al.
Starring Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Jodie May, Sarah-Sophie Bussnina, Mark Strong, and others
Premiere November 17, 2024

The events of the first season of Dune: The Prophecy» take place thousands of years before the events of the main novel and focus on political intrigue and the formation of houses in the «Dune» universe. The central character is a prophetess played by Emily Watson. From the very beginning, her character demonstrates determination and clarity in her actions, but with each episode we see how her prophecies and great responsibility turn her into a strong woman who is forced to make difficult choices. She believes in the sacred mission and in her decisions.

The series does not try to repeat stories from books, but offers a new interpretation, immersing in earlier events of the universe. Intrigue, manipulation, and difficult moral choices all add depth to the story, but sometimes it seems that some lines could have been developed more. Although the series has interesting concepts, moments of slowdown due to the large number of flashbacks sometimes interfere with the plot dynamics.

Visually, the series follows the aesthetics of the «Dune» universe, but with some differences. The scenery and costumes create an atmosphere that perfectly reflects the period of the formation of the lords and the initial stages of the formation of the culture of this universe. The details of the costumes and interiors give the series a real sense of depth, but the scale and grandeur of this world is not as tangible due to the limitations of the television format.

Particularly noteworthy are the moments when the series shows large political meetings and rituals. The scenery surrounding the characters in these scenes is really impressive. However, the battle scenes sometimes seem theatrical and lose their epic character, as was the case in Vilnev’s paintings.

Emily Watson, who played the role of the main prophetess, successfully copes with the most important role of the series. Her character is strong and determined from the very beginning, but her inner transformation, which we see with each episode, adds depth and complexity to the image. The actress conveys perfectly the emotional state of the heroine, who is constantly struggling with her beliefs and her role in this vast universe.

Mark Strong is also worth mentioning, as he fits perfectly into his character, adding extra charisma to the story. The rest of the cast also performs their roles at a high level, although not all the characters have the same depth as the main ones.

The show focuses on the interplay between faith, power and personal responsibility, and explores how prophecy can be inspiring but also a trap. The themes raised are thought-provoking, although some plot developments seem predictable.