Dune: Prophecy explores the roots of the Bene Gesserit's dark plan to control the galaxy.Image: HBO
review
The new Dune series, based on Denis Villeneuve's films, starts airing on the Sky Show this week. However, it happened 10,000 years before the legend of Timothée Chalamet. Is there anything this series can do? Our review.
Sainath Bovay / watson.ch/fr
After the success of the film, which grossed millions at the box office, the Dune saga is now coming to television screens. “Dune” is a monument to science fiction literature born from the imagination of writer Frank Herbert.
The series is divided into six volumes, the first of which was published in 1965. It has been adapted numerous times, including a 1984 adaptation by David Lynch and most recently a two-film adaptation in 2021 by Denis Villeneuve.
Since the third installment of “Dune” won't be released until the end of 2026, Warner Bros. has found a way to satisfy our frustrations: a prequel on our TV screens, namely from HBO, the famous channel that also produced “Game of Thrones” Charge. An obvious reference seems to have been a major source of inspiration, as the series had similar ambitions on screen.
The new TV adaptation moves away from the epic narrative of Denis Villeneuve's film to focus more on political intrigue and secret power struggles. These narrative choices are reminiscent of another successful HBO series launched this year: House of the Dragon.
The Making of Dune
Those who have seen both parts of Dune will remember the admiration for the Bene Gesserit. This is a matriarchal social order composed entirely of women, and people such as Paul Atreides' mother in the movie also belong to this social order. Endowed with certain supernatural powers, they have exercised political and religious influence in the empire for thousands of years. They manipulate the bloodlines of the major ruling families. In doing so, they pursue the goal of one day creating a creature with far above average insight that can serve their interests. In the movie, this creature, the famous “Kwisatz Haderach,” is none other than Paul Atreides, played by Timothée Chalamet.
Dune: Prophecy takes place 10,000 years before Paul Atreides and returns to the roots of the Bene Gesserit's dark plan to control the galaxy. The series is adapted from the novel Sisterhood of Dune (2012) by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. The extended families who play roles in the film, such as the Harkonnens or the Atreides, are all present in the film. This technology seems to stand still in time, retaining the unique charm of the “Dune” universe.
Sisters Valia (Emily Watson) and Tura Harkonnen (Olivia Williams) are the leaders of the Bene Gesserit Order.Image: HBO
The show invites us to follow the rise of the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood through sisters Valya (Emily Watson) and Tura Harkonnen (Olivia Williams), Both women have experienced misfortune. Her ambition has brought her to the top of the organization that secretly manipulates the major families. The first episode takes us into the world of Emperor Corino (played by Mark Strong), whose family is the ancestor of the Atreides. Out of self-doubt, he had to marry his own daughter to solidify his position in the empire. This episode sets the stage for the universe, and surprisingly, its ending is reminiscent of the Game of Thrones pilot.
The wedding dress of Princess Inez Corino (played by Sarah Sophie Busnina) is a testament to the meticulousness of the costumes.Image: HBO
A start full of potential
However, one could accuse the series of wanting to stay too close to its cinematic formula at times, despite being 10,000 years removed from the movies. Although the gray environment takes on a completely different hue than the two suns on Arrakis. Some of the characters are a bit cartoonish, like the Latin version of Timothée Chalamet as Constantin Corino (played by Joshua Huston). He is the son of the Emperor and the distant ancestor of Paul Atreides. Travis Fimmel plays a bearded, burly soldier who closely resembles Jason Momoa's character in “Dune: Part One,” giving the entire movie a parody feel.
Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel), a veteran from the planet Arrakis, is the most mysterious and interesting character in the series.Image: HBO
“Dune: Prophecy” is a high-quality production from HBO. The costumes and sets are impressive and aesthetically similar to the visual beauty of Denis Villeneuve's films. While the series seems to be taking its time and isn't quite ready to let the dogs loose, one can only hope that the sequels can keep up with the pace of the films. “Dune: Prophecy” is definitely a show you can't miss at the end of the year.
The first episode of Dune: Prophecy was released on November 18 on the Sky Show. There will be a new episode every Monday.
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