TV Review: ‘Dune: Prophecy’ Episode 3 Leans Heavily Into Fantasy
by Frank Martin
The timeline of Dune: Prophecy was a problem from the very beginning. It was always difficult to imagine a civilization remaining so stagnant in terms of political houses, culture, and technology for ten thousand years. This week’s episode shines a bit of light on the situation as it focused on a side of this universe not previously seen. Although the change in setting makes a bit more sense given the timeline, it’s a stark and jarring contrast from the previous two episodes as it leans into traditional fantasy territory — which is confusing given the story’s foundation in science fiction.
Although this installment deals with the present, it’s primarily a flashback to when Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson/Jessica Barden) was still in training to be a Bene Gesserit. She has a much more stern stance than the rest of her family, angry that their influence had been destroyed by the Atreides family during the Machine War. She has tremendous sway over her sister Tula (Emma Canning), who infiltrated the Atreides and poisoned an entire branch of their clan. Meanwhile, Valya catches the eye of Mother Superior (Cathy Tyson) despite having reservations about fully committing herself to the Sisterhood. The hour ends back in the present, where Valya has returned to her family, presumably seeking their help dealing with the current threat.
The first two episodes were very similar in style and setting to the recent Dune films, but this is a sudden transition into something more akin to Game of Thrones. At this point, the Harkonnens and the Atreides don’t appear to be as strong as they will become during the time of the films. They are still smaller houses, and so it makes sense to see them have lesser beginnings before becoming the powerhouses they will be in the distant future. Still, seeing people living in the woods and ride horses is very reminiscent of traditional fantasy. It’s still still fun to watch the politics at play even if the show appears to be aesthetically and stylistically all over the map. That said, it can be a little distracting from its fun plot and characters.
Dune: Prophecy streams Sundays on Max.
