HBO’sDune: Prophecydebuts to a lukewarm audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. The prequel series toDenis Villeneuve’sDunemoviespremiered its first episode on November 17. Set ten thousand years prior to Paul Atreides' birth, the show follows two Harkonnen sisters as they grow the Sisterhood of the Bene Gesserit in its vulnerable early days.
Generated from more than 100 reviews onRotten Tomatoes,Dune: Prophecyopens with a decent, but not glowing, audience score of 66%at the time of writing.This is lower than the critical score, which sits at 75% from 48 reviews. This score could change as more people watch the show.Viewers have praised Emily Watson’s performance as Valya Harkonnenand its intriguing plot, but some also find the series failing to match the tone and the epic setting in Villeneuve’s sci-fi movies.
What This Means For Dune: Prophecy
One of the reasons thatDunefans might not agree with the series is its decision about the “thinking machine.” AuthorFrank Herbert described the Butlerian Jihad as more of a movement than a war.His son, Brian Herbert, who wrote the prequel book series thatProphecyis based on, offered a different account of the Jihad.Dune: Prophecypicked the version where humans succeed inthe war against the “thinking machine"and based the entire show on it, which may alienate some die-hardDunebook lovers.
House Corrino & Salusa Secundus In Dune: Prophecy Explained & How It Sets Up The Future Of Emperor Shaddam For Dune 3
The origins of House Corrino are established in Dune: Prophecy and extend to the rise of Paul Atreidies over Emperor Shaddam IV in Dune: Part Two.
Dune: Prophecyshows promise as a new seriesby receiving more than 100 audience reviews in less than two days since the premiere.Episode 1 tells the story ofthe early Bene Gesseritfrom a dual timeline, tracing the footsteps of both young and adult Valya Harkonnen, who is tasked to do everything to preserve the Sisterhood. The premiere is heavy on set-up, and it could be that, as it progresses with its story,Dune: Prophecywill win over viewers. It features a number of compelling elements, indicating it could improve from here.
Our Take On Dune: Prophecy’s Initial Reception
The Prequel Series Has Its Charm
As a television series,Dune: Prophecyisn’t the same as a blockbuster movie. It’s true that the series has a different pace and feel than the movies. It takes its time telling the full story, but the plot is also more complicated. Instead of showing the beginning, middle, and ending of a single event, the prequel series sees the past, the present, and the future intertwined while depicting several moving forces with their own intentions and schemes.
Since its release, many have compared theprequel series toGame of Thrones.Screen Rant’s review ofDune: Prophecyalso sees the show with a high score, with Graeme Guttmann giving it seven out of 10 stars. While it’s not exactly the same as the movies, the series has shown its own charm with plenty to look forward to in the rest of the season.
Dune: Prophecy
Cast
Set in the universe of Frank Herbert’s Dune series, Dune: Prophecy, a sci-fi epic, follows the political and spiritual struggles on the desert planet of Arrakis. As factions vie for control of the prized spice melange, a prophesied hero emerges, challenging the balance of power and the fate of the galaxy.
