The first installment of HBO’s “Dune” prequel series suggests there is a “burning truth” very few are capable of seeing. It may be too hot to handle.

Editor's note: The below recap contains spoilers for Dune: Prophecy Episode 1.

Dune: Prophecy season one, episode one, will be ready to watch on HBO at 9:00pm Eastern Time (ET) on November 17, 2024 / 6:00pm Pacific Time (PT), meaning it will become available to watch on November 18 in most territories outside the US.

Dune: Prophecy episode 1 "The Hidden Hand" showcases everything that can go wrong when bringing Frank Herbert's world to the screen.

HBO's new "Dune" series from Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker kicks off with a 66-minute premiere episode.

The following review contains spoilers for the first episode of Dune Prophecy, “The Hidden Hand.” The tasks assigned to “The Hidden Hand” seem insurmountable. The premiere of Dune: Prophecy is asked to set up an enormous cast of characters and the relationships between and the conflicts amongst those characters,

Dune: Prophecy is a lifeless spinoff that falls short of the cinematic majesty of its sister films.The Latest Tech News, Delivered to Your Inbox

Dune: Prophecy is the latest extension of the beloved franchise, joining the ranks of Game of Thrones and the forthcoming Harry Potter series. The show delivers a visually stunning and narratively rich expansion of the Dune franchise;

Prophecy, "The Hidden Hand," front-loads a lot of lore. But it's well-made, wonderfully acted, and has more than intrigue to keep us coming back.