40/48
Two Harkonnen sisters battle forces that threaten the future of humanity and found a legendary 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 Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson’s Great Schools of Dune trilogy. A prequel to the original Dune, it tells how the Rossak sisterhood evolved into the Bene Gesserit. The case that Valya Harkonnen uses the voice for is from an event called “Mentats of Dune.” The three books intertwine the development of the Sisterhood, the Mentati, the Navigators, and the Suk Doctors. Mentioned in AniMat’s Crazy Cartoon Cast: The New Normal (2020). I wanted to keep it short and to the point, but felt compelled to expand on my thoughts. So here goes. There was a time when the writers knew how to weave exposition into the narrative without it feeling forced and contrived. I understand that it’s the first episode, but do they have to explain everything like it’s not common knowledge? Watson (Valya), Mark Strong (Emperor), Travis Fimmel (Hart), and Sarah-Sofie Boussnina (Princess) all give good performances. It seems like the show is in good hands. The other characters didn’t interest me. They move the story forward, but they’re forgettable. I guess we’ll see how that plays out. I had a hard time focusing on the first episode. It seemed to be part of a whole that couldn’t be divided. I’ll wait the entire season before continuing with more episodes. They did a wonderful 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.