Fan Reactions to the Dune: Prophecy Premiere

Dune fans could not be more excited as the universe expands in the new HBO series, Dune: Prophecy! The show premiered last night and we have you covered with all the best fan reactions!

Dune: Prophecy premiered last night on HBO and Max and fans are left wanting more! Dune: Prophecy is based on the novel Sisterhood of the Dune, and takes place 10,000 years before the birth of Paul Atreides. Dune: Prophecy will explain the origins of the rivalry between House Atreides and House Harkonnen that we have come to know from the Dune movies. Dune: Prophecy chronicles the journey of Harkonnen sisters, Valya (Emily Watson) and Tula (Olivia Williams), as they found the Bene Gesserit and fight to defend humanity against the thinking machines.

The Visuals

Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and Dune: Part Two set the bar high when it came to stunning visuals, but Dune: Prophecy’s premiere proved it could contend with the films on the small screen! Fans were delighted to see breathtaking new landscapes brought to life in Alison Schapker’s Dune: Prophecy! 

Valya Using the Voice

Valya begins her ascension to power in the Bene Gesserit sisterhood with a shocking betrayal. Valya uses the iconic Voice power for the first time to command the presumptive new leader of the sisterhood, Sister Dorotea, to end her own life. It was quite a way to open the premiere, but young Valya’s actions cemented her as a stone-cold character, who will do anything it takes for the Bene Gesserit sisterhood to gain control of the Imperial Throne, even killing one of their own.

Sisterhood Above All

A big draw for Dune: Prophecy was that it would detail the origins of the mysterious and powerful Bene Gesserit sisterhood. When Valya said “Sisterhood above all!” fans loved it! Fans are loving the female-forward casting and the power of sisterhood in Dune: Prophecy! 

The Club Scene

Another element of Dune: Prophecy that fans are loving is the worldbuilding! Not only are we meeting new characters and learning more backstory, but we are also treated to new locations and sides to society! Princess Ynez Corrino (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina) and her brother Constantine (Josh Heuston) go to the futuristic Division club for one last night of fun before her marriage. Surely, nothing will go wrong there! Fans enjoyed the futuristic club scene and deeper look into the world of Dune! 

That Final Twist!

Desmond Hart, played by Travis Fimmel, who you may recognize from Vikings, felt mysterious from his first appearance in this episode. Desmond inexplicably escaped death as one of House Carrino’s seemingly most loyal soldiers. When Emperor Carrino (Mark Strong) laments that he wishes his daughter’s marriage to the young Prince Pruwet Richese wouldn’t go through to Desmond, he takes matters into his own hands. “The Hidden Hand” opens with Valya discovering the Voice, but it ends with Desmond using a mysterious new power we have never seen before in the Dune universe. Desmond finds Prince Pruwet alone in the palace and tells him he is a “sacrifice” in a war against the Bene Gesserit, who he thinks has become too powerful. Desmond then uses some power to burn not only Prince Pruwet from the inside out, but Emperor Carrino’s own trusted Bene Gesserit Truthsayer, Mother Kasha, who is worlds away. 

The first episode leaves us with so many questions! What are Desmond’s powers? How will the Bene Gesserit respond? Can Desmond be stopped?

If you are a fan of Dune: Prophecy, the show will be airing new episodes weekly on Sundays at 9:00 PM EST on HBO and they premiere simultaneously on Max! Get ready for an epic ride!