Dune: Prophecy Review – Exploring Power and Zealotry in the HBO Series

Denis Villeneuve’s first Dune film faced significant risk. He had no certainty of making a sequel. This uncertainty could lead to an incomplete story or a distorted narrative. The Dune saga examines how powerful figures can lead societies astray. At the end of Dune: Part One, Timothée Chalamet’s character, Paul Atreides, is portrayed as a potential savior. This depiction overlooks the totalitarian outcomes that follow. The comparison to a film depicting Hitler as a reformer in the 1930s is striking, especially since Paul Atreides himself acknowledges his harsh actions in Dune Messiah.

The upcoming HBO series, Dune: Prophecy, takes place a century after humanity’s conflict with intelligent machines. Paul Atreides’ birth is still far off, but the Bene Gesserit sisterhood is already orchestrating plans for future power. Led by Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson), their focus is on genetic research to manipulate future rulers. However, given that Harkonnen’s family is an enemy of House Atreides, their plans may not succeed as intended. A long timeline also allows many errors and unforeseen consequences.

Unlike the aspiring ideals seen in the main Dune films, the characters in Prophecy lack high intentions. Valya and Tula (Olivia Williams), who co-leads the sisterhood, prioritize their own interests over the order’s future. A significant scene showcases a young Valya demanding that a rival harm herself to secure power. While technology that could think independently is deemed forbidden, the Bene Gesserit’s genetic plans are too vital to abandon. Valya is relentless and will go to any lengths to restore the Harkonnens’ influence.

The struggle against the Bene Gesserit’s extreme beliefs mirrors another form of fanaticism. On Salusa Secundus, Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong) plans his daughter’s wedding to secure alliances and enhance military power. His plans, however, are disrupted by Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel), a soldier who gains supernatural abilities after an encounter with a massive sandworm. Desmond, traumatized yet empowered, exhibits fervent loyalty to the emperor while holding deep-seated enmity toward intelligent machines.

Dune: Prophecy has faced challenges leading to its release, including changes in showrunners and the removal of its original subtitle, The Sisterhood. Despite its themes of intrigue and conflict among powerful women, the series attempts to emulate Game of Thrones—with varying success. One notable scene presents an unnecessary and gratuitous moment meant to provoke intrigue without significantly forwarding the plot. The show’s limited six-episode season is insufficient for the rich character development it hints at. Although it introduces various members of the sisterhood, the focus quickly shifts toward Valya’s and Desmond’s rivalry. Presently, the story hints at future developments, but they fail to integrate into an overarching narrative.

This fixation on power dynamics limits the perspective of Dune: Prophecy. The absence of ordinary individuals affected by these power plays diminishes the gravity of the characters’ schemes. When both sides chase power without just cause, their distinctions blur. The series raises questions about morality, powerhouse struggles, and the far-reaching stillness of ambition. Only time will tell if Dune: Prophecy can evolve and offer a richer story that resonates beyond its current factions.