Prophecy" episode 1 ahead! Screenwriters Schapker and Ademu-John keep a tight rein on the series' dour tone and bleak visuals that do present flashes of pure sci-fi geekiness, like the premiere episode's Butlerian Jihad clash with the thinking machines paired with Valya's passionate voice-over of how the Harkonnens were branded cowards and banished.

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

Dune: Prophecy has officially landed at Max as of Sunday, Nov. 17 when the series premiered. The prequel show follows the establishment of the Bene Gesserit years before the events of Denis Villeneuve's two films starring Zendaya,

Prophecy has stepped into that Sunday night slot to keep us entertained. The show from Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker takes place years before the rule of Atreides, and critics say the new series "delivers twist after twist" in this tale,

Taking Place 10,000 years before the rise of Paul Atreides, Dune: Prophecy debuts the deadly Valya Harkonnen and a plan to restore power to her House.

Dune: Prophecy has returned to the world of Paul Atreides – but 10,000 years in the past. The prequel series is concerned with the powerful Sisterhood that eventually becomes the Bene Gesserit, led by sisters Valya (Emily Watson) and Tula (Olivia Williams) Harkonnen.