Dune: Prophecy - The Entire First Season - 4K Ultra HD Review

      Dune: Prophecy – The Complete First Season, 2024.

      Directed by Anna Foerster, John Cameron, and Richard J. Lewis.

      Starring Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Travis Fimmel, Jodhi May, Sarah-Sofie Boussnina, Chloe Lea, Chris Mason, Shalom Brune-Franklin, Mark Strong, Jade Anouka, Edward Davis, Josh Heuston, Faoileann Cunningham, Aoife Hinds, and Mark Addy.

      SYNOPSIS:

      The first six episodes of Dune: Prophecy are released in 4K Ultra HD, accompanied by an impressive array of bonus features. Highly recommended for those who enjoyed the show, as I did.

      It’s truly an exciting era for fans of science fiction and fantasy. While what I’m about to say could apply to any film or TV genre, science fiction and fantasy have historically been filled with narratives that are challenging to fit into a feature film and unlikely to receive a TV series adaptation in the past.

      Thanks to streaming platforms, HBO Max can now present the six-episode Dune: Prophecy, inspired by Frank Herbert’s extensive, iconic universe but not taken from a single book. Set 10,000 years prior to the events depicted in Denis Villeneuve's two Dune films, the series investigates the beginnings of the influential, enigmatic Sisterhood that would come to be known as the Bene Gesserit.

      The main protagonists are sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen, who stem from a family that would ultimately be labeled as "villains" in the broader Dune narrative. Valya is the Mother Superior of the order, portrayed by Emily Watson in present-day scenes and by Jessica Barden as a younger version. Meanwhile, Tula, the Reverend Mother, is played by Olivia Williams in the present and Emma Canning as her younger self.

      Throughout the six episodes, viewers witness the early days of the Sisterhood and how its members influence the current Emperor, Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong), and his family. The Sisterhood has their own secretive agendas, and, naturally, the desert planet Arrakis, also known as Dune, factors into these power dynamics.

      The plot is set in motion by the arrival of a mysterious soldier, Desmond Hart (Travis Kimmel), whose ability to incite self-immolation among people raises alarms for all power players. Valya finds herself at the heart of this intrigue, navigating the politics of both the Sisterhood and the Harkonnen family. This type of Machiavellian storytelling is what I wish the Star Wars prequels had adopted. (And, indeed, the exceptional series Andor is another instance of this.)

      Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment has released the first season of Dune: Prophecy across three 4K Ultra HD discs. While digital copies of the episodes are not included, there is a substantial amount of bonus content available.

      The extras begin on disc one with "Entering the Dune Universe" and "Houses Divided," a pair of featurettes totaling around six minutes. These pieces should provide good foundational knowledge of Dune; if you haven't yet seen the show or need a refresher, watching these before diving into the episodes is advisable.

      Disc one concludes with "Inside the Episode" featurettes that analyze the first two episodes, with similar segments continuing on the other two discs for the remaining four episodes. I believe they are the same featurettes that aired after each episode late last year, though I can't be certain.

      On disc two, there's "Truth or Lie," a six-minute featurette split into two segments, Imperium and Sisterhood, featuring the cast and crew playing a game where they answer questions about Dune. "Expanding the Universe" discusses the storytelling choices made for this installment.

      Finally, the third disc includes "Behind the Veil," a comprehensive 35-minute overview of the first season's production, along with "Building Worlds," a 13-minute feature that explores the series’ production design in detail.

      I initially had low expectations for the bonus features included in this release, as they often tend to be minimal for television series, but I was pleasantly surprised by the content offered here. Well done.

      Brad Cook