First reactions to the series «Dune: Prophecy» from HBO — like «Game of Thrones», but in space

On the eve of the debut of «Dune: The Prophecy» on HBO (in Ukraine, we are waiting for the broadcast on Megogo with Ukrainian dubbing), the first ratings and reviews of the series appeared on review aggregator sites.

Despite the fact that the rating on Rotten Tomatoes reached only 73% (at the time of writing), critics are not afraid to compare the series with another hit HBO project «Game of Thrones» in their reviews. But let’s talk about everything in order.

To make it clearer, «Dune: The Prophecy» — is essentially a prequel to the films of Denis Villeneuvewhich takes place in the same world (Arrakis and sandworms on site), but 10,000 years before the ascension of Paul Atrid. The narrative centers on the mystical order of the Bene Gesserit and the direct involvement of the Harkonnen sisters, with Emily Watson at their head, in its formation. In Villeneuve’s films, the group is depicted in its full power stage (it is a group of women who secretly rule by using the Voice to influence the will of others; from childhood they are taught to control every function of their bodies, they also have improved fighting skills and developed physiological perception — like Paul Atrid’s mother, Lady Jessica).

The idea of a prequel looks interesting in general, if you ignore the fact that the series has faced a lot of production difficulties from the very beginning with numerous changes of showrunners and actors (and even the names). In this case, a score of 70% can be considered quite decent, but let’s take a look at the comments of reputable publications:

• Chase Hutchinson, The Wrap: «The creators of the show have done a great job of making it accessible to everyone before the story begins to unfold. The series focuses on the dark joys that come from watching characters struggle for power as murder, betrayal, and rebellion lurk around every corner. All of this cuts to the heart of the material, much like Game of Thrones did when it was at its» peak.
• Daniel Finberg, Hollywood Reporter: «There is a strong feeling that someone has cut and pasted lines of dialogue from a Game of Thrones script and simply added the word “spices”… This series is dark and moody, and despite the size of some of the palaces and citadels, it often feels claustrophobic. The endless horizons and undulating dunes in the films are replaced by winding corridors, amazing catacombs, and smoky spice hookahs. But whatever the external design, there is a difference between “stunning” and “just well done”».
• Amy West, Games Radar: «The series “Dune: The Prophecy” has a strange sheen of grandeur, but is ultimately burdened by a large number of characters, overly complex world-building, and boring plots. With each episode, the feeling of an hour becomes much longer».
• Emlyn Travis, EW: «The series is centered on the skillful performances of the main sisters. Watson as Vali looks brave and unwavering, but it’s a pleasure to watch her face change when the Emperor turns his back on them and Bene Gesserit’s fate suddenly falls into rocky ground… Even though Villeneuve was not involved in the creation of the show, his influence is still felt. It’s a visual feast — every episode is filled with spectacular effects and gorgeous costumes».
• Ben Travers, Indie Wire: «Unlike the films, which have been praised for making Frank Herbert’s complex world-building relatively easy to understand, the «Dune» series does not find a way to integrate exposition easily. In addition to the voiceover, the scripts rely on repetition to emphasize confusing or important plot points, resulting in clunky dialog. The series replicates many of the subtle visual innovations from the movies, from worms slithering across the desert to body armor flashing during combat.
• Teresa Laxon, Collider: «Despite the fact that the series takes place in the same world as Dune, it is much closer to Game of Thrones than to Villeneuve’s films — and that’s a good thing. The series combines elements of horror and science fiction with court intrigue. Those who like mysteries — will love it, given the clues scattered throughout the show that will help you find answers to burning questions».
• Tyler Robertson, IGN: «The seams of the series are visible everywhere: the costumes are not of the best quality and the visual effects look cheaper than, for example, in Dragon’s Den or Penguin. At worst, Dune: The Prophecy” is a poor imitation of the effect achieved by the books and movies, but at its best, the series offers a new look at another era of Dune, allowing us to better appreciate the depth of the narrative in this franchise. There’s something to the series, and that something is occasionally impressive and exciting. However, much of the story seems a bit unfocused».

The series «Dune: The» Prophecy will debut on HBO on Sunday, November 17, while in Ukraine it will most likely be available on Monday on Megogo.