5 Things Fans Want To See In Dune: The Sisterhood, According To Reddit

Dune is at the forefront of pop culture discourse once again thanks to Denis Villeneuve’s film adaptation of Frank Herbert’s science-fiction epic. This week, the film received even more buzz once it was announced that the star-studded sequel had indeed received the green light.

While the internet has been celebrating this news, Reddit has already turned its attention to the HBO Max prequel series based on Sisterhood of Dune. No details have been released about Dune: The Sisterhood. However, because there are thousands of years of storylines to choose from for the show, Dune fans have taken to Reddit threads to discuss what they hope to see (and not see) showcased in upcoming episodes.

5 Denis Villeneuve’s Direction

Most fans were impressed by Denis Villeneuve’s adaptation of Dune. When it was announced the decorated director would be returning to oversee the first episode of Dune: The Sisterhood, fans were pleased as punch. While most threads are dedicated to lengthy analyses of the Bene Gesserit, a few also included excitement over having Villeneuve at the creative helm once again.

SWA_ON said, “I hope Denis would give good tips and suggestions to the team before leaving it in their hands, because we know he will deliver 1000%.” The-Mirrorball-Man, perhaps controversially, added, “I feel that Villeneuve understands Dune far better than Brian Herbert.” a-cold-human agreed, pointing out, “Adaptations can surpass their source material.”

4 Savvy Thematic Choices Being Made

Fans aren’t always on the same page about the Dune canon and the extended universe. Some Redditors, like this now-deleted user, “prefer ‘fleshing out the world’ when it stays away from the main stories.” They said, “Give me more Dune. Give me more Bene Gesserit. But set it far enough away from the established lore that we never even hear about how close they are to the end of their breeding program. Make it about something completely different, or so far back in history that the breeding program is generations away from the Kwisatz Haderach.”

chromehuffer, on the other hand, argued that if Dune: The Sisterhood steers clear of some of the established lore, some of the elements from the extended Dune universe also should be scrapped. They said, “I hope they steer away from the “magical” aspects of the extended universe. I want my Sisters smart, strong, cunning, and badass because they trained and worked for it, not because of space magic.”

3 The Subtleties Shining On The Small Screen

One Reddit user pointed out how “structurally, the series depends too much on what’s inside people’s heads to really work in a medium other than literature, which is ideal for exploring people’s internalities.” While some fans were in agreement, others felt like the internal focus will come across on the small screen and could even include some of the wilder moments from the Dune books. In a day and age where the complexities of the human condition drive almost every conversation in some way, shape, or form, Dune: The Sisterhood could fit nicely into this discourse.

MalortFink argued, “we know that the Bene Gesserit is a complicated institution that consolidated the forms of power available to women . . .One of Herbert’s strengths as an author is that he does not demand the reader read his characters precisely as he writes them. The sisterhood is a rich and complicated institution that has villains and heroes that instill inspiration and revulsion. This is most certainly a feminist account of power. I for one am looking forward to a series that explores their lives.”

The first-mentioned user added, “At the end of the day, in a series that’s all about what it means to be human, the Bene Gesserit, with their complete abandonment of love and all the other forms of ‘affections,’ are arguably some of the least human people we encounter. While Futars or Guild Navigators might be repulsive on the outside, the Bene Gesserit are rotten on the inside, despite their seductively beautiful exteriors! Moreover, their deficiencies are not inherent but something brutally instilled in them through their ‘education.'” This, undoubtedly, will make for interesting television and is one of the things everyone should know before watching any of the Dune adaptations.

2 The Political Drama Driving The Plot

Fans are already anticipating the HBO Max series to deviate from the big-budget action sequences presented in Dune Part One. Instead, the show should center around political intricacies. MikeBravo1-4 said, “the shell game of politics and allegiances that the Sisterhood book is rife with is pretty much perfect for a TV drama where there will be a lower budget for action or special effects.”

krawm agreed, stating, “[Dune: The Sisterhood] could have a lot of potential if handled properly if they stay true to the principle of the Bene Gesserit” because they “are actively engaged in the politics of the era. Having influence in every great house and with the common people, opening schools on every world open to anyone who wants an education. From local governors to the emperor himself, you will find Bene Gesserit acting as advisors, educators, and concubines.”

1 Absolute Power Corrupting Absolutely

Like many of Herbert’s characters, the Bene Gesserit are a mixed bag of “heroes” and “villains,” with no easy answer to who is who or even if those labels are applicable at all. This is one of the reasons why fans have enjoyed the Dune series so much. This is also why fans are expecting Dune: The Sisterhood to be gritty and dark, as the Bene Gesserit aren’t always the most likable characters in the Dune universe.

analogbunny said, Dune: The Sisterhood should be a “series about anti-villains” because the Bene Gesserit “are just elaborate metaphors for the corrupting nature of different kinds of power.” They pointed out the Bene Gesserit’s “emotional manipulation, weaponizing of motherhood, certain abusive and controlling behaviors, and the utility of gossip” as making this group the opposite of “symbols of feminist empowerment you want them to be.” They concluded with, “in a book series that only has protagonists and no ‘good guys,’ the BG (and their ‘worst of male behavior’ counterpart the BT) stand out as being particularly nefarious.”

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