'Dune: Prophecy' review: The Bene Gesserit shine in this sci-fi showstopper

2024 has been a banner year for witches on TV, from The Acolyte's Brendok Force users to Agatha All Along's doomed coven. Now, Dune: Prophecy is here to close us out with a look at some of science fiction's greatest witchy figures: the Bene Gesserit from Frank Herbert's Dune.

With their near-supernatural control over their minds and bodies, the Bene Gesserit Sisters are a force to be reckoned with, and one of the most iconic elements of the Dune universe. Traditionally, though, they operate in the shadows, manipulating the politics of the Imperium with a firm touch. That they manage to make such an impact from the fringes in both the original Dune novels and the films speak volumes to their influence. So it should come as no surprise that they shine in the direct spotlight that Dune: Prophecy casts on them. Not only does the show deepen our understanding of the Bene Gesserit, — it also throws us into a meticulously wrought sci-fi world that finds the perfect balance between the palace intrigue and cosmic strangeness that make up Dune's bread and butter.

What is Dune: Prophecy about?

Inspired by Sisterhood of Dune by Brian Herbert (Frank Herbert's son) and Kevin J. Anderon, Dune: Prophecy kicks off over 10,000 years before Paul Atreides was born. That means the Imperium — the galactic empire of noble houses — we see in the show is fairly different from what we've come to know from both Frank Herbert's original novels and David Lynch and Denis Villeneuve's films. (And while familiar names like Atreides, Harkonnen, and Corrino do pop up, they aren't quite the families you're used to.) At this point in time, the Imperium is still reeling from the Butlerian Jihad, a war against "thinking machines" that rendered all artificial intelligence forbidden.

Since then, new forms of power have risen to fill the vacuum left by thinking machines. Among them are the Bene Gesserit — known for now simply as "the Sisterhood" — who have yet to grow into the force they are in Dune. These Sisters still wield great influence, serving the Great Houses as Truthsayers. However, abilities like the controlling Voice have yet to become the norm, and the breeding project to create the Kwistatz Haderach is not in motion.

Leading the Sisterhood is Mother Superior Valya Harkonnen (Emily Watson), who is determined to use her status to push the boundaries of what it means to be human. She also wishes to increase the Sisterhood's power in the Imperium, conspiring with her sister Tula (Olivia Williams) to put a Sister on the throne. What prompted all this scheming? A prophecy from the Sisterhood's founder Mother Raquella (Cathy Tyson), who foresaw the coming of a terrible tyrant who would bring the Sisterhood to its knees.

However, after a brutal attack racks the Sisterhood, Valya finds herself faced with a daunting question. Could all her work to improve the Sisterhood's standing in the Imperium be bringing about the very destruction Mother Raquella warned her of?

Dune: Prophecy is dense, but deliciously epic

Valya's preoccupations with prophecy are only one branch of Dune: Prophecy's sprawling narrative. Elsewhere, Emperor Javicco Corrino (Mark Strong) struggles to keep control over the planet Arrakis. (In Dune, there are some things even 10,000 years can't change.) He also welcomes the charismatic, Sisterhood-hating soldier Desmond Hart (Travis Fimmel) into his inner circle, causing friction with Valya and his daughter Ynez (Sarah-Sofie Boussnina), who hopes to one day be a Sister herself.

Meanwhile, the young acolytes of the Sisterhood undergo rigorous physical and mental training. Some, like the slippery Sister Jen (Faoileann Cunningham), question the Sisterhood's control over its members. Others, like Sister Theodosia (Jade Anouka) or Sister Lila (Chloe Lea), remain fiercely loyal, even if that means pushing themselves past their limits. But do they make these choices of their own free will? Or are they just pawns of prophecy?

These many intertwining stories are a lot to take in, especially when paired with the deep, strange lore of Dune. Plus, a veritable exposition bomb in the show's first 10 minutes is enough to make it seem like Dune: Prophecy is only accessible for hardcore Dune lovers.

Yet once you get past those initial exposition-heavy scenes (and yes, they are a lot), Dune: Prophecy unfurls into a deliciously varied sci-fi epic with a little something for everyone. If you love political machinations, you'll be blessed with scene after scene of scheming and negotiations. (Truly, this is the closest TV has gotten to the idea of "Game of Thrones...in space!") If you want more insight into what goes into becoming a Sister, brace yourself for the rigorous training acolytes undergo, which feels like Dune's take on the "magic school" trope. And of course, if you're looking for some of Dune's wonderful sci-fi weirdness (we're talking about a series where someone becomes a worm, after all), you're in luck. Dune: Prophecy makes a meal of the Sisters' many strange visions, in some cases even eclipsing Villeneuve's interpretations of the Bene Gesserit's internal powers. Plus, we get the occasional visit from the almighty sandworm, whose appearances never feel like gratuitous Dune Easter eggs but rather a key part of the story to come.

With so much juicy story to unpack, it's almost easy to overlook Dune: Prophecy's greatest flaws. Again, its first few minutes are a barrage of narrative bullet points that barely give you time to sink into the show's world. Elsewhere, the occasional clunky sexposition scene can feel like a dated stereotype about what a 2010s-era HBO sex scene should look like.

Overall, though, showrunner Alison Schapker (Westworld, Lost) deftly navigates the minefields that come with adapting anything related to Dune. Following its early sprint to get us up to speed on all things Sisterhood, Dune: Prophecy steps back from lore overload and instead focuses on the characters — most of them women — who make it tick. Dune as a series is full of complex women, with some, like Chani, gaining far more nuance and agency in Villeneuve's films. But to see the Sisterhood take center stage in Dune: Prophecy is to add more depth to the women who will tread in their footsteps thousands of years down the line — especially since we know how their plans will one day turn out.

It's a treat, too, to wind back the clock on the worlds of Dune, as Dune: Prophecy delivers some of the most stunning sets and costumes on TV this year. Between the sumptuous halls of Emperor Corrino's palace, the austere library of the Sisterhood, and the hazy pleasures of a spice den, each environment is nothing short of awe-inspiring. As harsh as the Imperium can be, there's something alluring about it, too — just as the power the Sisterhood wields can be a double-edged sword. You'll want it, you'll fear it, but above all, you'll just need to keep watching it.

Dune: Prophecy premieres Nov. 17 at 9 p.m. ET on HBO and Max.