Support NeoGAF

[RJMacready73]

Well, I tried.

Dull, pointless, prequel shit that feels like it desperately wants to be Game Of Thrones, while also bizarrely reminding me of the weird lesbian cult in The Acolyte.

The fact it basically glosses right over The Butlerian Jihad at the beginning is especially irritating, as that really does look like something much more interesting than grumpy women in black talk at each other. I can already see the patriarchy smashing going into overdrive.

Ack FFS

 

[Mossybrew]

I only lasted 20 minutes of that episode and was bored out of my mind. Might give it another shot at some point or ... maybe not.

 

[March Climber]

Very slow burn for episode 1.

Things didn’t begin to click nor be put in motion until the very end and the last 15ish minutes made me curious to see where this goes.

 

[Revolutionary]

Rings of Power: Dune Edition

 

[Big Baller]

Rings of Power: Dune Edition

 

[DeafTourette]

Very slow burn for episode 1.

Things didn’t begin to click nor be put in motion until the very end and the last 15ish minutes made me curious to see where this goes.

Agreed. The burn is slow... That 3rd act was the BEST part of the episode. You see who some of the REAL players are and what they're about... It sets up the coming conflict and the surprises as well. I didn't see those deaths coming!

 

[Revolutionary]

To be fair, it's only been one episode, but I was reminded a LOT of RoP while watching this show. Beautiful visuals but shoddy writing and messy direction.

Having said that, I know virtually knowing about Dune outside of the movies so maybe actual Dune fans would enjoy it more? But judging from some of the posts here, that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[March Climber]

Having said that, I know virtually knowing about Dune outside of the movies so maybe actual Dune fans would enjoy it more? But judging from some of the posts here, that doesn't seem to be the case.

To be certain, check back in a few weeks when all of the people pre-firing/pre-judging have left the thread.

 

[Revolutionary]

To be certain, check back in a few weeks when all of the people pre-firing/pre-judging have left the thread.

Pre-judging? We just watched the pilot! The pilot is literally how they sell shows to networks, because it gives them a good idea of what to expect from the show and whether its worth investing in.

 

[IntentionalPun]

Pretty boring. The blind chick from Red Dragon is hardly good enough to carry a show as lead, and what they showed of the Princess felt like bad YA material.

Visually a mix of stunning and boring as well.

 

[March Climber]

Pre-judging? We just watched the pilot! The pilot is literally how they sell shows to networks, because it gives them a good idea of what to expect from the show and whether its worth investing in.

There have been good shows with bad pilots and bad shows with good pilots.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

 

[IntentionalPun]

The thing is the Bene Jezerit or whatever are some of the cooler parts of the Dune movies (never read the books.)

But they are just boring at the start of this. Barely any power and there is no sort of dark ethereal presence to them. It’s just chicks in dark clothing wearing a veil sometimes who can tell when someone is lying.

Obviously there are new powers that are going to show up and more “thinking machines” and the people in control of them to battle against, but they gotta get their fast to make the show interesting IMO.

 

[FunkMiller]

To be certain, check back in a few weeks when all of the people pre-firing/pre-judging have left the thread.

Literally watched the pilot… probably before anybody else around here. It’s fine if you liked it, but it’s perfectly valid to form a negative opinion after an episode also.

 

[March Climber]

Literally watched the pilot… probably before anybody else around here. It’s fine if you liked it, but it’s perfectly valid to form a negative opinion after an episode also.

Never said it isn't. It's just a better idea in general to weed out the people making quick drive by posts for quick likes and reactions(especially those who haven't even watched it), in favor of those actually making valid criticisms like yourself.

I think that's a fair recommendation in general for anyone curious.

 

[Jsisto]

Gotta be honest, I surprisingly kinda like it. Certainly has potential and the production values are very high. I don’t think it’s fair to lump it in with other “woke” series just because it’s female focused. I don’t feel like any agenda is being pushed on me. Let’s be honest, the Bene Gesserit were the original “space lesbians” long before that train wreck of a Star Wars series. This was always going to be unfairly compared to that regardless of whether it was good or not due to timing.

I’m not familiar with Brian Herbert’s work on the series, and I have no intention of digging into it, but I plan to watch and hopefully enjoy this for what it is. Seems to be pretty respectful to the overall Dune lore so far. Who knows, it could go off the rails, but what I’ve seen so far is quite promising.

 

[jason10mm]

I wonder if the lack of an obvious transwoman Bene Gesserit shows the writers have some restraint/care for the lore, its a line they are just unwilling to cross (yet), or it's an omission they will all have to apologize for

 

[jason10mm]

Gotta be honest, I surprisingly kinda like it. Certainly has potential and the production values are very high. I don’t think it’s fair to lump it in with other “woke” series just because it’s female focused. I don’t feel like any agenda is being pushed on me. Let’s be honest, the Bene Gesserit were the original “space lesbians” long before that train wreck of a Star Wars series. This was always going to be unfairly compared to that regardless of whether it was good or not due to timing.

I’m not familiar with Brian Herbert’s work on the series, and I have no intention of digging into it, but I plan to watch and hopefully enjoy this for what it is. Seems to be pretty respectful to the overall Dune lore so far. Who knows, it could go off the rails, but what I’ve seen so far is quite promising.

They werent lesbians though. If anything they were "space prostitutes" has many of them were sent to seduce and be impregnated by "the right people" and then they would abort the fetus if it wasn't perfect for their genealogy plan.

 

[FunkMiller]

Gotta be honest, I surprisingly kinda like it. Certainly has potential and the production values are very high. I don’t think it’s fair to lump it in with other “woke” series just because it’s female focused. I don’t feel like any agenda is being pushed on me. Let’s be honest, the Bene Gesserit were the original “space lesbians” long before that train wreck of a Star Wars series. This was always going to be unfairly compared to that regardless of whether it was good or not due to timing.

I’m not familiar with Brian Herbert’s work on the series, and I have no intention of digging into it, but I plan to watch and hopefully enjoy this for what it is. Seems to be pretty respectful to the overall Dune lore so far. Who knows, it could go off the rails, but what I’ve seen so far is quite promising.

You're absolutely right to say that this has no similarities to that Star Wars trash in terms of it's storytelling. But I'll be honest, in this current climate, I did have to roll my eyes at another series around strong female characters being strong and female against a backdrop of the patriarchy.

Let's just say I think this series probably got greenlit on the back of current trends... more than it actually suffers from the insipid, lazy storytelling of Disney et al.

I still don't think it's a period of the Duneverse that is anywhere near as interesting, exciting or compelling as others, like the Butlerian Jihad.

It was probably chosen for other, more.... Hollywood reasons.

On Brian Herbert, his books are universally trash, unfortunately.

 

[Jsisto]

They werent lesbians though. If anything they were "space prostitutes" has many of them were sent to seduce and be impregnated by "the right people" and then they would abort the fetus if it wasn't perfect for their genealogy plan.

Oh I know. I didn’t mean that literally. Just pointing out that some are making that comparison.

You're absolutely right to say that this has no similarities to that Star Wars trash in terms of it's storytelling. But I'll be honest, in this current climate, I did have to roll my eyes at another series around strong female characters being strong and female against a backdrop of the patriarchy.

Let's just say I think this series probably got greenlit on the back of current trends... more than it actually suffers from the insipid, lazy storytelling of Disney et al.

I still don't think it's a period of the Duneverse that is anywhere near as interesting, exciting or compelling as others, like the Butlerian Jihad.

It was probably chosen for other, more.... Hollywood reasons.

On Brian Herbert, his books are universally trash, unfortunately.

I can relate. Anytime I watch something new like this I kind of have these little internal struggles trying to figure out if I’m the one being unfair and close minded or if it really is forcing an agenda into a piece of media that wasn’t about that. I had some of these moments while watching this. I’m really trying to be better about this but they haven’t exactly made it easy with all the slop we’ve been getting. At least we seem(?) to be turning that corner culturally.

So I absolutely am going to give this a chance. However, I’ll consider it an abject failure if we don’t see a single Guild Navigator.

 

[IntentionalPun]

Oh I know. I didn’t mean that literally. Just pointing out that some are making that comparison.

I can relate. Anytime I watch something new like this I kind of have these little internal struggles trying to figure out if I’m the one being unfair and close minded or if it really is forcing an agenda into a piece of media that wasn’t about that. I had some of these moments while watching this. I’m really trying to be better about this but they haven’t exactly made it easy with all the slop we’ve been getting. At least we seem(?) to be turning that corner culturally.

So I absolutely am going to give this a chance. However, I’ll consider it an abject failure if we don’t see a single Guild Navigator.

Well they managed to make the only intriguing character from Episode 1 a man (the totally not a Duncan Idaho rip off guy.)

He’s not even that great but at least the actor is good from Vikings.

For a show written by women the women characters just aren’t giving off a good impression to me. They managed to make the usually excellent Mark Strong dull as fuck lol

 

[Spyxos]

I was a bit curious about the series. Sure, it wouldn't come close to the movies, but it did look a lot like a telenovela at times. The ending was more interesting, but overall it was a very weak first episode.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

I was a bit curious about the series. Sure, it wouldn't come close to the movies, but it did look a lot like a telenovela at times.

So on par with Brian Herbert's work I see. The man is a hack, a great tragedy of Frank Herbert that didn't have his own Christopher Tolkien. Then again I don't think he left as much unfinished work as Tolkien did.

 

[Sardaukarama]

 

[Harkonnen]

Kyle is a treasure.

 

[Trilobit]

Saw the first episode and liked it. I don't expect it to be Dune books or movies quality, but maybe an interesting little scifi series.

 

[RoadHazard]

Got pretty interesting by the end, will watch the next episode.

But yeah, I also would have liked to see more of the Terminator war. Looked pretty cool.

 

[FunkMiller]

But yeah, I also would have liked to see more of the Terminator war. Looked pretty cool.

One thing that always annoys me is that Warhammer 40k always gets accused of ripping off Dune - despite the fact the the vast majority of stuff about The Butlerian Jihad was written by Brian Herbert AFTER 40k had established much of the detail of its own war against the Men Of Iron.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

One thing that always annoys me is that Warhammer 40k always gets accused of ripping off Dune - despite the fact the the vast majority of stuff about The Butlerian Jihad was written by Brian Herbert AFTER 40k had established much of the detail of its own war against the Men Of Iron.

 

[thefool]

Per the most important person that ever lived:

Humans had set those machines to usurp our sense of beauty, our necessary selfdom out of which we make living judgments. Naturally, the machines were destroyed

Do not fall over this terminator fanfic. Dune core story is about humanity staleness, a stagnation that eventually will lead to our end. That ties with how the butlerian jihad was envisioned to (try to) escape such inevitability.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Can’t wait to get to this, remember dune part 2 just game out this year I think the sky’s the limit for this franchise, this show could be a loss but I’m looking forward to shows like mad max, or god of war getting shows.

 

[March Climber]

If there are any loremasters here, I was wondering if you could spoilertag what the hell Desmond is and if a type like him potentially exists in the movie’s time period.

 

[IntentionalPun]

2nd episode was a lot better than the 1st.

 

[Trilobit]

If there are any loremasters here, I was wondering if you could spoilertag what the hell Desmond is and if a type like him potentially exists in the movie’s time period.

Not a loremaster, but I think

Spoiler

spice acts as a catalyst in humans to unlock "powers" and if the took a deep dive into a sandworm then he got spiced up real good. Like we're talking serious spontaneous mutation that would have killed anyone else, but he was that 0,1% bacteria that survived.

Just brainstorming.

 

[Tomeru]

2nd episode was a lot better than the 1st.

I thought 1st ep was great, so that is great news.

 

[Mossybrew]

So I came back 'round and finished the first two episodes, it's definitely growing on me once Travis Fimmel's character is introduced.

 

[Jsisto]

I still stand by that this is a promising series and I’m enjoying it so far, but man….does there really need to be at least one sex scene in every episode? Who is this for? Do they think Dune fans really care about this? Is it for the wider audience? Just feels way too Game of Thronesy. I can sense that character A is really into character B without seeing them fuck. Spend the budget on other things.

 

[rogr rogr]

I still stand by that this is a promising series and I’m enjoying it so far, but man….does there really need to be at least one sex scene in every episode? Who is this for? Do they think Dune fans really care about this? Is it for the wider audience? Just feels way too Game of Thronesy. I can sense that character A is really into character B without seeing them fuck. Spend the budget on other things.

It's a story about politics, and sex has always been a great persuasive tool.

Let them play.

 

[Hugare]

Watched the pilot

Second episode will make it or break it for me

 

[Ironbunny]

This was like watching paint dry. Without the bonus of getting high on odours. Watched two episodes and this is a hard pass now. Eww...

 

[Trilobit]

Latest episode was really good, I'm really starting to like it. The sound design in the shai-hulud scene was amazing and I got Dune movie vibes. I'm really eager to see where it leads and hopefully they can nail the ending.

 

[Forsete]

I couldn't finish the first episode because I fell asleep.

Might give it another shot depending on what others think.

 

[U n i o n 0015]

I liked the first episode but I'm struggling to get through episode 3 as I can see the onscreen budget decreasing with each episode. A bunch of people in brown rags talking in a forest doesn't look very alien or interesting to me.

 

[Jsisto]

I liked the first episode but I'm struggling to get through episode 3 as I can see the onscreen budget decreasing with each episode. A bunch of people in brown rags talking in a forest doesn't look very alien or interesting to me.

Yea that did kinda take me out of the experience a bit.

 

[Shubh_C63]

I may have to watch this again but I found the plot bit... convoluted. It has never been a problem to me but surprisingly i was forgetting names. Never read the books but absolutely loved the movie.

 

[IntentionalPun]

Yeah the stuff in the woods was terrible, it was just so distracting and then good lord they have Robert Baratheon to top it off lol