Implemented in 2019, therefore before the colossal success of the cinematic version of Dune carried out by Denis VilleneuveHBO's new “prestige” series now finds itself in a sort of gray area, which seems to cost it the success its producers hoped for. A “double gray zone”, even because, on the one hand, we are in an aesthetic very far from that of the films of Villeneuve (not taking place on Arrakis, what's more, no sandy deserts on the screen, but icy planets and palaces which are even more so…), and on the other hand its scenario is not even taken from 'a book of Frank Herbert ! So there's no point in expecting fan service here, and as a result, we don't see fans flocking in their thousands to watch the series. Diane Ademu-John et Alison Schapkerwhich goes unnoticed to say the least… It should be noted, however, that Denis Villleneuve was himself involved in the original project, which reflected his personal fascination with the Bene Gesserit, but the amount of work required to make his films led him to jump ship quite early…
The scenario of Dune – Prophecy (originally titled Dune – Sisterhood) is therefore an adaptation of the novel The Community of Sisters of Brian Herbert (Frank's son) and Kevin J. Andersonand recounts the rise in power, several thousand years before the events recounted in Duneof the Bene Gesserit sect. The story focuses on the trajectory of two Harkonnen sisters, Valya and Tula, since their youth, and also recounts in a certain way the accession to power of the Harkonnens, and the sources of the unquenchable hatred between this house and that of the Atreides .
The problem with such a “prequel” – and this was perhaps one of the concerns of the original book, which we have not read – is that we find there both elements consistent with the mythology of Duneand others that we have difficulty connecting with what we know about this universe. The initial reference to a near-terminal war between human beings and “machines” (hello, Terminator et Matrix !) which led to the total ban on “thinking machines”, helps explain the technologically “basic” aspect of the world of Dune – where it is the spiritual and the power of the human spirit which have become tools. Conversely, the magical, almost divine role of the “sandworm” of Arrakis is difficult to reconcile with the vision that we have now established of these superb monsters, serving as mounts for the Fremen!
But the problem with the series, in fact, is that it is a rather disparate assembly of elements of varying quality. To simplify, let's say that everything that is directly related to the diabolical machinations of Valya and the power games of the “community of sisters”, but also the elements of Valya and Tula's youth, is exciting: the stage presence and the emotional strength that emanates Emily Watson et Olivia Williams allow each of the scenes where they are on screen to be stimulating, to fully justify the existence of the series. For the rest, we are much less enthusiastic: the general casting is relatively mediocre, the worst was reached with the interpretation of Travis Fimmel (well-liked by viewers, we know, for Vikings !), which offers a game of caricatured histrionics, literally unbearable. While the center of Dune – Prophecy is, or at least should be, the fierce duel between these two evil beings that are Valya (Watson) et Desmond Hart (Fimmel), it is difficult not to side with Valya in the face of the pathetic clowning of Fimmel !
As for the palace intrigues surrounding the Emperor (Mark Strongwho never finds the measure of his role), they are too abstract and complicated for us to want to be interested in them: there is even a moment – terrible – when we realize that we are not so far from the “political” nonsense imagined by Lucas in the first trilogy of Star Wars… This shows how little credit we give them. At this stage, the last episode of an hour and a quarter, accumulating revelations, twists and radical reversals of situation, is the perfect demonstration of everything that does not work in Dune – Prophecy : serious writing flaws, and too unequal casting.
Will there be a sequel to this first season? Nothing is less certain. And it's not certain that many people want to see it…
[Critique écrite en 2024]
https://www.benzinemag.net/2024/12/25/max-dune-prophecy-aussi-loin-de-villeneuve-que-dherbert/
