The deep dive into the history and culture of the Bene Gesserit is the best hook the series has to offer to longtime “Dune” fans and newcomers alike, offering a glimpse behind the curtain of one of the most important mysteries. most fascinating of the original novel. Led by Vayla Harkonnen (Emily Watson) and her sister Tula (Olivia Williams), the Gesserit have dedicated themselves to manipulating bloodlines in pursuit of an ideal of preventing an apocalypse – the irony being that their efforts (especially those of Vayla) can inadvertently lead to the exact outcome they gave their lives to avoid.

It’s not a bad setup for a prequel, and Watson makes the most of it, giving Vayla the fixed passion of the true fanatic while providing occasional insight into humanity that makes her decisions all the more tragic. The most effective element of the series, at least in the four episodes presented to critics, is the constant tension of watching smart, determined people continue to commit to bad causes, even if it’s unclear exactly what causes could be better. The series gives us enough time to understand what drives Vayla (and her sister) to do the unthinkable, including multiple flashbacks showing a history of rage and an inability to compromise, a need to achieve the impossible that is both self-defeating and easy. sympathize with.

This, in a post-“Game of Thrones“This is what prestige drama has become: powerful individuals in exotic settings driven to commit unthinkable acts. And yes, despite its nominal origins in science fiction, “Dune: Prophecy” is determined to capture some of the glory of its more fantasy-focused predecessor. (Mark Addy, the hapless Robert Baratheon in “Thrones,” is even present, in case anyone doubts the new series’ bona fides.) The dominant presence of the Bene Gesserit helps ensure that “Prophecy” allows for more roles for women as victims or villains, however, and the more focused narrative helps keep events more directly related, while still allowing for an epic scale.

The biggest problem is one that seemingly plagues all prequels: the fact that no matter how far back in the past the story can go, the imagination can only stretch so far. Once again, there’s conflict between the Harkonnen and Atreides families (the new thing here being that the Harkonnens get more screen time), and once again, everyone is obsessed with who controls Arrakis and his spice omnipotent. There’s a nod to a war between humans and machines that ended with all “thinking machines” being banned from the universe, but while the additional faction is welcome to muddy the waters, the show can’t help but regularly point out that no one involved was involved. the forgotten sandworms or the possible arrival of Maud’Dib.

Sleek, well-acted and confidently produced, “Prophecy” should scratch the itch of “Dune” fans looking for more content. Yet it is impossible to shake the feeling that all this has been done before and will be done again. While there are surprises in the first four episodes, there are no real shockers, as the series settles into a comfortable pace with little variation from the past. A collection of gripping individual scenes and a grab-bag of dysfunctional family life and cosmic terrors don’t necessarily add up to a whole greater than the sum of their parts. But there’s something to be said for the reliable skill on display here, and enthusiasts of the genre should be intrigued. Anyone looking for a new iteration on a familiar wireframe would do well to check this one out.

DUNE: PROPHECY

Starring: Emily Watson, Olivia Williams, Mark Strong

On HBO