दून: द सिस्टरहुड

The universe of this saga was unknown to me. Last year, I tried watching the movie that came out. Honestly, I wanted to get into this world, but the movie failed to captivate me. I attempted to watch it twice and gave up both times because I found it boring and felt like I was missing an introduction.

So, when I saw the series was released, I decided to give it another chance-especially because of Ragnar, Travis Fimmel. I can't be objective when he's involved since he's my favorite actor. And honestly, I found the series very good. It drew me into the universe, and I think it has a lot of potential to keep growing.

If I had to be completely objective with my score, it might be a 6 or 7. But since I see so much potential and factor in Ragnar's presence, I'm giving it an 8. I look forward to continuing and finally diving into this world.

I believe the series format and the way it was approached make it much more accessible for viewers unfamiliar with the saga. This allows for a more enjoyable experience while watching.

First of all, when talking about this series, you have to know that it is not for everyone.

If Villeneuve's films seemed boring to you, this series is not for you; if they seemed slow to you, this series is not for you; if you expect to see a lot of action and effects in battles, in short, this series is not for you.

However, if the lore of Dune makes you curious and/or fascinates you, if you like the palace intrigues of GOT set in a distant future and if you like Travis Fimmel playing Ragnar (again like in Raised by Wolves), this series is definitely for you.

Perhaps a series that nobody asked for but that greatly enriches this universe and makes us think that perhaps there is more future after Dennis Villeneuve.

Dune: Prophecy introduces us to a prequel set 10 thousand years before Paul Atreides and everything we saw in the cinema.

We are 30 years after the Butlerian Jihad and the events of Dune, the Machine Crusade. It is a point where the Bene Gesserit have just begun their large-scale genetic plan and program in search of creating that super-being that would be the Kwisatz Haderach through hybridization and connections of couples with potential.

We have several points of view that are interesting, the Bene Gesserit referred to, the intrigues of Emperor Corrino, the plan of the rebels led by Keiran Atreides.

Although, as I said, the series is slow, it takes its time to develop characters: we understand the motivation of Mother Valya and Tula Harkkonen, we understand Emperor Corrino and how he was manipulated. We are even able to understand Desmond Hart and how he manages to survive the Shai-Hulud.

We have the right and necessary dose of flashbacks, the fights, although few, are well choreographed and credible in the style of the movies.

Clearly, some questions have been answered and many more remain, which I hope will be addressed in the next season.

Great bet by HBO, let's hope they continue down this path and become even more massive in later seasons. I don't think they will become the new television phenomenon like GOT was, but it does have a lot of potential to be a period series.

All of my knowledge of Dune comes from the two recent movies, both of which are amazing. With that out of the way, one thing that is missing from the TV show, which both films have, is a good score or at least good use of a good score. I feel like the score or music of the films was used in such a way to emphasize the larger-than-life characterization of the Dune world or universe, so to speak. We are talking about a species that spans the universe in space after all. On the other hand, the score is barely perceptible in the TV show. This does ensure we able to hear the dialogue clearly, but also makes the TV show feel claustrophobic in spite of some of its sets or settings in comparison and therefore out-of-character. Without this, the TV show feels much less epic and engaging than the movies, unfortuantely. I am hoping they will fix this in upcoming seasons.

I wanted to be brief and to the point, but felt compelled to expand my thoughts. So here it goes. There was a time when writers knew how to weave exposition into narrative without it feeling forced and contrived. I get that it's a first episode, but do they have to spell everything out like they aren't common knowledge.

Watson(Valya), Mark Strong(Emperor), Travis Fimmel(Hart) and Sarah-Sofie Boussnina(Princess) deliver good performances. I feel like the show is in good hands. The rest of the characters left me uninterested. They move the story but are forgettable. I guess we'll see how it evolves.

I found it hard to stay focused on the first episode. It seemed to be part of a whole that can't be divided. I will wait for the full season before consuming more episodes.

They did a marvelous job on the visuals. The CGI is high quality, the costumes are perfect, the tone from Villeneuve's vision is maintained and expanded from. The art dept should get awards for how beautiful it looks.

DOUR. So dour. Everyone glowering intensely at everyone else. Characters absolutely crippled by the artificial "weight" of how "important" what they are doing is. How do we know it's important? Because the characters state their aspirations right away, and what they aspire to is the way things are in the present of the movies. Wow. Profound. I wonder if it's going to work out in the end??? Remember Game of Thrones? Realistic people doing their best in the horrifying world, trying to find some semblance of meaning, purpose, maybe love? Joking and chiding each other like real human beings do? Remember characters being believable people? Why does every premium show have to be completely humorless and rigid? We get it, the implications are vast. We get it, setting up the world of Dune is "important." Look, I'm a huge fan of the material and the new movies. But even in those they chide each other. "Stilgar is from the south. You didn't notice his accent?" They freaking relax for two minutes! You can't expect me to tighten up and stay rigid for the entire series. There has to be a rhythm to it! Ups and downs. Intensity and levity. Inhale, exhale. Life!