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it’s all about

Plot

Two Harkonnen sisters battle the forces that threaten the future of humanity and found the legendary sect that would become known as the Bene Gesserit.. Whether they’re exploring the stars, escaping dystopias, or making the world a better place, these women are what science fiction is all about. This series uses material from the Great Schools of Dune trilogy by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. A prequel to the original Dune, it tells how the Sisterhood of Rossak evolved into the Bene Gesserit.

The most glaring problem is the editing

The incident with Valya Harkonnen using the voice is from one called “Mentats of Dune”. All three books interweave the development of the Sisterhood, Mentats, Navigators, and Suk Doctors.. Referenced in AniMat's Crazy Cartoon Cast: The New Normal (2020). The first episode of Dune Prophecy, HBO Max’s new foray into the world of Frank Herbert’s universe, unfortunately feels dull and uninspired. Despite its ambitious source material, the episode struggles to capture the charm and depth that make Dune so beloved.

Visually, Dune Prophecy suffers from a continuation of the gray, industrial aesthetic seen in recent Dune adaptations

The pacing is wild, with scenes feeling rushed and lacking the breathing space needed to develop tension or atmosphere. In their effort to cram too much story into a single hour, the episode becomes a chaotic barrage of non-stop dialogue, sacrificing narrative flow and engagement. Moments that should have felt significant are undermined by rushed cuts, leaving little room for emotional or thematic resonance. The set and costume design seem sterile and monotonous, failing to evoke the complicated feeling experienced in Herbert’s universe. This lack of visual and atmospheric variety diminishes the sense of wonder and alien grandeur that Dune demands.

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Perhaps the most disappointing aspect is the lack of effective world building. While the episode focuses heavily on expositional dialogue to set up the plot, it neglects to establish the world itself. The complicated political and cultural dynamics that define Dune feel shallow and the atmospheric “vibes” absent; it leaves the setting empty and unengaging. Ultimately, Dune Prophecy struggles to strike a balance between exposition and immersion, resulting in an episode that feels more like a rushed recap than a compelling introduction to the series. Without significant tweaks to pacing, editing and world-building, it risks losing the essence of what makes Dune such a rich and enduring story.

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