39/40
Two Harkonnen sisters battle forces that threaten the future of humanity and establish the legendary sect that will 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 Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s Great Schools of Dune trilogy. A prequel to the original Dune, it tells the story of how the Sisterhood of Rossak evolved into the Bene Gesserit. The incident with Valya Harkonnen using her voice is from one of the so-called ‘Mentats of Dune’. All three books weave together the development of the Sisterhood, the Mentats, the Navigators, and the Suk Doctors. Referenced in AniMat’s Crazy Cartoon Cast: The New Normal (2020). I wanted to keep this short and to the point, but I felt compelled to expand on my thoughts. So here goes. There was a time when writers knew how to weave exposition into narrative without it feeling forced and contrived. I understand it’s the first episode, but they have to explain everything as if it’s not common knowledge. Watson (Valya), Mark Strong (Emperor), Travis Fimmel (Hart), and Sarah-Sofie Boussnina (Princess) all gave good performances. I feel like the show is in good hands. The rest of the characters left me disinterested. They move the story along, but are forgettable. I guess we’ll see how it evolves. I found it hard to stay focused in the first episode. It felt like it was part of a whole that couldn’t be broken down. I’ll wait for the full season before bingeing any more episodes. They did a wonderful job with the visuals. The CGI is top-notch, the costumes are flawless, the tone of Villeneuve’s vision is maintained and expanded upon. The art department should get an award for how beautiful it is.