Dune: The Prophecy” would simply love to be a sci-fi “Game of Thrones

Who controls the franchise, controls the world! Denis Villeneuve hadn’t even completed the first half of his two-part Dune adaptation before announcing plans for a TV show in 2019 – it was already clear that his spice world would be fertile ground for future IP harvesting. Frank Herbert’s sci-fi epic has been brought to the small screen before, but this new HBO series will build on Villeneuve’s vision and borrow from the 2012 novel The Brotherhood of Dune, written by Brian “Son of Frank” Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. It will be set several thousand years before the birth of the movie’s protagonist Paul Atreides, or sometimes the talent in question, “10,000 BC (before Shalamit).” The focus will be on the early days of the Bene Gesserit, that mysterious group of females who controlled the machinations of the Empire behind the scenes. There’s the promise of interstellar intrigue, plenty of backstabbing and literal stabbing, and plenty of trendy long headdresses. As far as pre-fodder goes, you could do worse.

Viewers will actually recognize the terrain when they see it sand dunes: Prophecy. which premieres on November 17, but not necessarily because of the source material or previous films that have been so successful. It mimics the size and grandeur of Villeneuve Dune-world, as well as heavy metals The look of the magazine cover and the brutal, futuristic production design of the movies; one character describes an Imperial planet by saying: “If you like barren landscapes and simplicity, you’ll be very happy,” a wise thought that doubles nicely as a mission statement for the show itself. But what prophecy What it’s really aiming for is less of a continuation of the cinematic epic and more of an imitation of a previous success. This doesn’t want to be Dune TV. Wants to be science fiction Game of Thrones.

If the idea is to accomplish this ambitious goal by showing people schemes in palaces, exchanges with feisty warriors, and the inevitable sex scenes in new groups, hoping that sandworms will be a decent enough replacement for dragons… well, good luck to them. Dune: Prophecy. It may be blessed with brand recognition, a great cast, an exceptional proof of concept honed in two blockbuster movies and a lot of fan goodwill. There’s still more than enough Dune in it to gently scratch the itch while waiting for a potential third installment. But whatever inherited and/or idiosyncratic elements it possesses are overshadowed by an overwhelming sense of the previously seen cable. It tries too hard to fill the has– But in space, it often forgets to serve its narrative duties in IP as it bends over backwards to please its corporate masters. Do you think the desert dwellers of Arrakis are thirsty? They don’t have any in this series.

At the very least, you’ll get a sneak peek at one of the most mysterious and eccentric cults in the series. After a Terminator– Like the preamble that establishes the “Great Machine War” and humanity’s eventual victory over (and banning of) AI technology, we meet the future head of Gesserit. As a young woman, Valia Harkonnen (Jessica Barden) finds her place among the newbies in what is then known as the Sisters. She’s ambitious, stubborn, and has a chip on her shoulder due to the fact that her family has been disgraced by the lies spread by – wait for it – the Atreides. Valya has also mastered the art of vocal manipulation that will one day become Bene Gesserit’s stock in trade, but right now it’s leading to her exile. Years later, she will return, and the elder Valya (Emily Watson) will take her rightful place as the matriarch of the Order. Her sister, Tula Harkonnen (Olivia Williams), also joins the group, and helps train the sisters to become “honest” – human lie detectors for the rich and powerful.

These magical fact-checkers come in handy for someone like Emperor Gavico Corino (Mark Strong), the supreme ruler of the galaxy. He and his wife Empress Natalia (Judy May) – who exudes some serious Lady Macbeth vibes from the jump – would have allowed their daughter Princess Yinz (Sarah Sophie Busnina) to join the Sisters. But Corino needs to protect his interests in Arrakis, where Fremen has been attacking his men. This means that a marriage between his family and one of the royal houses, specifically one with a fleet of ships, is necessary. Ynez must now become the prince’s shy bride as part of this brokerage swap. It doesn’t matter that the groom is only nine years old, it means she’ll have more time to herself while playing with toys. Yes!

This union is causing consternation among a lot of interested parties. Valya had hoped that Ynez joining the Sacred Order of Sisters would give the sisters some clout in the royal entourage. There is also concern among the revered matriarchs that the weddings will somehow lead to a catastrophic event known as “The Reckoning”. Meanwhile, Ynez’s sword master, Keiran Atreides (Chris Mason), realizes that their mutual attraction may be forbidden, especially now that she’s engaged, but that doesn’t stop him from looking at her with sticky eyes. As for Ynez’s brother, Prince Constantine (Josh Houston), he is uncomfortable with his sister but is more interested in indulging in off-world nightlife. Frank Herbert has long associated spice with hallucinogens. Apparently, there’s a great deal of cocaine and other club drugs floating around Dune-The verse.

Then a mysterious stranger appears in the mansion. His name is Desmond Hart (VikingsTravis Fimmel), who resembles Duncan Idaho played by Jason Momoa after a month of bending over. A former soldier stationed in Arrakis, he claims to have come face-to-face with a sandworm. The experience left him… changed. After several unexplained deaths, Hart offered to personally counsel the Emperor and helped create Valya persona non grata In court. Mother Superior smells a rat. Now she just has to launch a stealthy counterattack and solve these crimes before the mysterious prophecy of Armageddon destroys the universe.

There’s more, of course, including a brewing rebellion, some connections between monasteries, a subplot involving an error in the “Water of Life” ritual, some remaining “intelligent machines,” and sci-fi/fantasy. Skull trick. Alison Shapker’s latest exhibitor is a veteran. Pseudonym, Fringe and Westworld, You can see where each of these was drawn from in terms of multiple perspectival realities. Other than the distinctive combination of art deco and ancient Egyptian production design, this could be any of the franchises I’ve seen over the past 40 years. There’s also a retrospective scene in a forest from which she may have been plucked Lord of the Rings, or Wheel of Time, Or, yes, George R.R. Martin’s songs about fire and ice; don’t wonder if White Walkers or Ewoks might suddenly appear. The only major difference is that instead of placing the fate of the galaxy on the shoulders of a skinny young messiah. Dune: Prophecy It divides the responsibility to a group of powerful women who control their own destinies. Given the timing of the show’s airing, this alone will make this a much-needed tonic for many who need an escape from reality.

But that factor, combined with Watson’s committed and sexy character, pitted against the despised matriarch – the actor gives such a wonderful glow! – It’s not enough to shake the feeling that you’ve been here before, and that you’re in better hands. Herbert’s book became a key foundational text for too many other mundane epics to count. When Alejandro Jodorowsky tried to turn it into a movie in the mid-1970s, his strangely surreal concepts of portraying DuneCosmic architecture and complex heroes and villains still bleed into everything Star Wars for Alien. Don’t get too authoritative on everything, but much of what made Villeneuve’s reimagining seem revolutionary was not only his passion for the material, but how he brought Roger Dean’s high-level vision to the big screen.

Wisely. Dune: Prophecy It makes this vision a starting point – it knows a good cinematic universe when it sees it. But the fact that it only uses these elements to tell the same old and generic tale of warring houses and religious fanatics in new clothes means that after the jump, it simply falls apart. Until death Dune– Heads will roll as the show, at least in four of the six episodes presented to the press, remains entangled in its own mythology. Combined with the fact that the show seems to be chasing its own influences and serialized storytelling conventions rather than setting new standards for the genre, it’s a major disappointment. Fear can be a mind-killer. However, it’s a lot of familiarity and caution that drives risk into the hearts of franchisees.