This review contains spoilers forDune: Prophecyepisode 4.
A montage shows Truthsayers in Valyas hire whispering suggestions to a trio of heads of the great Houses.
The House in question?
Without question, the scene looks great.
Director Richard J. Lewis blocks the conversations well and the costume work by Bojana Nikitovic remains fantastic.
Its always striking to see the black clad members of the Sisterhood leaning toward the ornately costumed House heads.
At the same time, the plan is thuddingly obvious.
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This problem has been present from the beginning ofDune: Prophecy.
Its not thatProphecycannot do anything other than exposition.
God is watching us, declares Sister Emeline (Aoife Hinds).
The recokoning is here.
Powerful as the moment is, Twice Born doesnt let the audience or the actors sit in it.
The conversation underscores the other major problem withProphecys plot-heavy approach.
How does he have these powers?
For that reason,Travis Fimmelproves to be the best part ofDune: Prophecy.
At the same time, Keiran Atreides (Chris Mason) plants his bombs to destroy the Great Houses.
Hart interrupts the proceedings and claims to deliver order.
It all comes with a monologue delivered with ridiculous theatricality by Fimmel.
His lilting voice, his pregnant pauses, his ostentatious poses all feel overly contrived.
At no point does Fimmel feel like a real person existing in the world.
Hes constantly showing audiences how hard hes acting.
And thats exactly what makes him so compelling.
Harts preening monologue and the spectacular execution that follows proves what Ive feared aboutDune: Prophecyfrom the beginning.
Its the exact opposite of what it tries to be.
Its a dumb show about people pretending to be smart.
Its an obvious show about people who say theyre playing three dimensional chess.
As Twice Born demonstrates, that contradiction can have its pleasures, especially with such strong visuals.
But the episode, and the series on the whole, feels undercooked.
Dune: Prophecy airs Sundays at 9 p.m.
ET on HBO and Max.
Rating:
2 out of 5
