Two Wolves

The second episode is strong and focuses primarily on events in Emperor Javicco Corrino's palace. Part of the episode feels like a murder investigation from a police drama, providing background on what happened in the first episode. It also reveals that nearly everyone in this series harbors more or less questionable intentions, pulling us deeper into a world of political chicanery. I've never been a fan of that sort of thing, but it's clear that scheming and diverse personal motivations are crucial here. The good part is that much of this is made explicit, so we don't have to guess at the characters' motivations and intentions as the story moves forward. The sisterhood also rides in, reinforcing the idea that they're central to the series, but they bring some troubling news for Valya and her plans. I suspect later episodes will build on the tensions established here.

Most of us read Dune when we were young, and remained appreciative fans into adulthood. Why deny young fans of today this fascinating expansion of the recent exceptional Dune movies by shoehorning sex and nudity into it.

Good storytelling need not resort to such cheap and gratuitous distractions, as evidenced by the best HBO productions, including From the Earth to the Moon, Band of Brothers, The Last of Us, Chernobyl, The Penguin, and others (not to mention the many others from other premium and streaming services).

Dune is dense and complex and interesting all on its own, without the need for cheap titillation targeted at a demographic lacking the intellect to understand and appreciate Dune to begin with. Don't bring the rest of us down to serve their disinterested and easily distracted tastes. It's the worst kind of pandering and diminishes the entire show.

Here's my Dune Prophecy hot-take of the week: While Villeneuve's Water of Life scene serves its purpose in the film well, I think the Spice Agony portrayed in the show is much better.

It gets far weirder and scarier, feels bigger and captures the concept from the books better.

Dune Prophecy episode 2 is better than the last in every way. Visually the series is impressive. The political plot has improved a lot. Desmond remains an attractive mystery, and the brotherhood's artistic license is brilliant.

It may sap the dramatic stakes from the series and this, coupled with extraneous subplots, makes the show slow-going so far, but Dune: Prophecy seems to still have some tricks up its sleeve which could make for an exciting season.

Some scenes felt really short for me in this episode, with the taste of a low budget production. Also, the characters felt flat. The history is somewhat interesting, but needs to improve the acting and production. I really don't really enjoy the nuancés of the vikings guy character, he looks like SPACIAL VIKING. Also, the Atreides guy is also really limited in his role. I just don't feel the depth of a big HBO production on this series until now. The whole thing sounds like a really good idea but, for now, is not delivering the kind of atmosphere expected from such a high profile production like this one.

Episode 2 is much better than episode 1, it's obvious. Yes GOT is the template although it's closer to Amazon's Wheel Of Time with the women coven and female fighters intrigues. The biggest issue as mentioned before is some of the mediocre cast. The teen drama vibe is completely at odds with DUNE. Travis Fimmel is the best character and should be the lead and heart of the show. Very different from the movie but brings a rugged dark desert vibe much needed. The club scenes are a disaster, so contemporary in tone with actual EDM that takes you out of the sci-fi element. I would accept it in a campier, less serious show but here it sticks out like a sore David Guetta thumb. What the show really needs is compelling female characters, the one thing GOT absolutely nailed .