Is this the right time to be handed a new world to obsess over—to escape into—with generational struggles, righteous fanaticism, political maneuvering, and shocking twists and turns in the corridors of power? It couldn’t be us. The universe of Dune: Prophecy arrives fully formed in “The Hidden Hand”, the first of six episodes that bounce the story of all Dune the films go back 10,000 years, shortly after humanity defeated its thinking machine oppressors. While the films of Denis Villeneuve And David Lynch were based on the original by Frank Herbert Dune novel, Prophecy draws from Brotherhood of Dunepart of the prequels written by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson. And although we are still in the age of emperors ruling a planetary imperium and great houses with names you will recognize – Harkonnen, Atreides – it is the mediators of truth within the Brotherhood who exercise the true influence in the galaxy. “What contains the most truth?” asks Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson). “History? Or a prophecy? Before they became known as the Bene Gesserit, Valya led the Brotherhood’s ongoing project to write the former to realize the latter.

Watson plays Valya in the present, as she leads the Brotherhood and its efforts to manage and manipulate the levers of galactic power. (Olvia Williams also stars as Valya’s sister, Reverend Mother Tula.) But in the past, Jessica Barden plays Valya, where she is a headstrong sidekick and favorite of Raquella Berto-Anirul (Cathy Tyson), the mother original superior. Raquella brought Valya to participate in the Brotherhood’s most sensitive initiative, which uses forbidden thinking machine technology to cultivate a vast genetic library. The DNA, cared for and selected by the Brotherhood, aimed to create more sensible leaders for humanity. And more flexible. Is this playing God? Maybe. But someone has to temper the inevitable greed of those in power.

Valya is a true believer. In Raquella, and the heightened powers of perception of Sisterhood’s esteemed founder. But also on Raquella’s deathbed, prophesying, which only fuels her fervor. Visions of Shai-Hulud, the great sandworms of Arrakis and the coveted red spice dust, dancing like embers of flame. “It’s happening!” Raquella cries as she dies. “Tiran-Arafel!” » These premonitions of an Imperium-wide reckoning inform Valya’s thinking about a more aggressive posture for the Brotherhood. They will use the breeding index and their rigorous mental and physical training program to put one of their own on the throne. And if Reverend Mother Dorotea (Camilla Beeput) wants to hinder that plan for the future, well, Valya Harkonnen will use The Voice to force Dorotea to put a blade to her throat.

The Voice, Arrakis, the sandworms, and always with that axiom “The spice must flow” – there are familiar signifiers in the Dune: Prophecy universe. But with this series, HBO also seems to be mining its own genetic archives. Because even if it is anchored in the Herbertian tradition, Prophecy is also structured quite similarly to those heavy hitters of traditional television, Game of Thrones And Dragon House. Like in Salusa Secundus, where Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong) and Empress Natalia (Jodhi May) attempt to navigate a politically advantageous arranged marriage, uniting their daughter Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) with a nine-year-old prince of House Richese, builder of warships required by the Emperor. But Ynez will also study as an acolyte under Valya and the Brotherhood on Wallach IX, drawing on the powers taught at home by Reverend Mother Kasha (Jihae), the truth-teller of House Corrino. And while Ynez’s half-brother, Constantine (Josh Heuston), is mischief-making for his bastard son, a handsome guy, Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel) also arrives on Salusa Secundus. A soldier of the Imperium on Arrakis, Desmond brings a warning to the Emperor regarding the rebel forces that threaten his rule. And trouble. Lots of problems.

Yeah, don’t get too attached to Pruwet (Charlie Hodson-Prior), Princess Nez’s fiancée, because Desmond uses what appear to be powers gifted to him by a sandworm to burn out the little prince’s mind Richese. Additionally, Desmond crosses a star expanse to also assassinate Kasha, who was visiting the Brotherhood on Wallach IX. With a trembling gleam in his eyes, he pledged these violent acts to defend the Imperium. Privately, Javicco expressed doubts about the marriage and, according to Desmond, Kasha had a negative influence on the emperor. But they are also a means of directly obtaining favors from the throne. “There is a war hidden in plain sight,” Desmond told Pruwet just before setting him on fire from the inside. “He came here to think for us.” In Dune: ProphecyIt is already clear that Desmond’s unstable and bloodthirsty fanaticism will be at odds with Valya Harkonnen’s secret genetic project and personal goals.

That’s not to say Valya isn’t afraid of Desmond Hart. She holds within her generations of sisterhood power. We’re excited to have Valya fighting, as Emily Watson brings a lot of reserve and stature to the role. And Prophecy is full of people who add gravitas to all these proceedings, from powerful Reverend Mothers and young female acolytes eager for a changing world, to a royal family beset by division and worried about its own place in the story. The universe of Dune: Prophecy manifests the worst impulses of our own society: cowardly greed, rank classism, jealousy, lustful impulses, and humanity’s formidable capacity to wield our ultimate weapon – lies.

Grains of Dune: Prophecy Episode 1:

• It is true that during their engagement ceremony, Ynez was fed by her fiancé of nine years with the seeds of a ceremonial fertility fruit. But that doesn’t mean it’s not time to party. Dune: Prophecy shows its horny side when Princess Ynez and her half-brother Constantine take a luxurious Lyft Off to the red light district of Salusa Secundus, doing hits of pink space cocaine the whole ride. Once at the club, Ynez takes an aphrodisiac with Chris Mason’s Keiran Atreides – yes, Atreides – who is the sword master on the throne, his personal combat trainer, and maybe a few other things. It’s a bit like many other shows: having a romantic relationship with a princess is sure to cause entanglements.

• Like Desmond Hart in Dune: ProphecyTravis Fimmel sticks with the crazy future society space extremist vibe he brought to Raised by wolvesanother ambitious and epic sci-fi series from HBO that was unfortunately swallowed whole by the sandworms of early cancellation.

• And given that, with the Fraternity, Prophecy tells the story of the emergence of one of the greatest schools in the galaxy, it’s fitting that the series’ stunning sci-fi visuals respect the influence of the Spacing Guild, the organization that in the Dune the universe controls the space-folded interstellar pathways traveled by Navigator helm spacecraft.

Johnny Loftus (@glennganges) is a free-lance freelance writer and editor in Chicagoland. Her work has been published in The Village Voice, All Music Guide, Pitchfork Media and Nicki Swift.