27/18
Two Harkonnen sisters fight against forces threatening the future of humanity and found a fabled sect known as the Bene Gesserit. Whether they’re exploring the stars, escaping a dystopia, or making the world a better place, these women are what science fiction is all about. This series uses material from the Great Schools of Dune trilogy by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. A prequel to the original Dune, it tells the story of how the Sisterhood of Rossak evolved into the Bene Gesserit. The episode where Valya Harkonnen voices is from an event called “Mentats of Dune.” All three books intertwine with the development of the Sisterhood, the Mentatis, the Navigators, and the Suk Doctors. Referenced in AniMati’s Crazy Cartoon Cast: The New Normal (2020). I wanted to keep it short and sweet, but I felt compelled to expand on my thoughts. So here it goes. There was a time when the writers knew how to weave the show into a narrative without it feeling forced and contrived. I understand that it’s the first episode, but do they have to spell out everything as if it’s not common knowledge? Watson (Valya), Mark Strong (Emperor), Travis Fimmel (Hart), and Sarah-Sofie Boussnina (Princess) give good performances. It feels like the show is in good hands. The other characters didn’t interest me. They move the story along, but are forgettable. I guess we’ll see how it develops. I had a hard time staying focused on the first episode. It felt like it was part of a larger whole that couldn’t be separated. I’ll wait until the entire season before I continue with more episodes. They did a fantastic job with the visuals. The CGI is high quality, the costumes are perfect, the tone of Villeneuve’s vision is maintained and expanded upon. The art department should win awards for how beautiful it looks.
