HBO’s ‘Dune: Prophecy’ Episode 5 Review - When Even Tabu Fails to Do Much

In the fifth episode of Dune: Prophecy, Tabu, as Sister Francesca, appears like a breath of fresh air. It, however, only takes a few minutes for you to realize that this "freshness" is a result of a new face. My eyes were tired of looking at the same people, which is why Francesca piqued my interest. Who is Francesca? Why has she come now? Where was she for all these years? These queries, alas, are resolved through what seems like one-sentence answers. Instead of offering a deep, satisfying explanation, they simply fill the gaps in the plot. Francesca, too, arrives merely to push the story to its predetermined destination. Tabu is an outstanding actress. She can conjure layers of depth with her performance, but even she is confined within Dune: Prophecy's narrow ambitions. The show merely uses her as a puppet and Tabu isn't given enough meat, enough substance to free herself. She ends up serving a shallow function - moving the plot gears. Hence, her performance, like that of other actors, becomes bland. Forget Shai-Hulud; the series itself comes across as a great threat. It swallows the noble talents of its actors.

Now that Desmond has proved his worth to the ruler of the Imperium, Javicco gives him the title of Bashar and orders him to eliminate all the traitors. This new title brings with it a new kind of performance. Desmond starts behaving like Johnny Depp's Captain Jack Sparrow. He doesn't imitate his walk, but he makes faces like him, speaks (and smiles) like him, and performs some gestures (ordering his men to search Mikaela's place) like him. Here is a character who wants to infect the Imperium with corruption. Desmond is the bringer of doom, of all the unpleasant forces. Yet, while watching him in Episode 5, you mainly think about Pirates of the Caribbean. I even went to Wikipedia to see if a new movie in the Pirates franchise is still in development. Yes, it is, and Margot Robbie will be the lead actor. I saw her name and immediately started thinking about Barbie and her superb performance as a...sentient doll. The memories of those vibrant (mostly pink) colors, those imaginatively expressive images, filled me with happiness.

In contrast, the dark, gloomy images of Dune: Prophecy have the power to handicap your own imagination. Francesca gently persuades Javicco to recognize Constantine's talent. Constantine discovers the truth about Keiran and becomes responsible for his arrest. Constantine, at the dinner table, is given the title of fleet commander. These developments occur in a rush, so they feel weightless. I also don't know how much of an impact Valya's schemes will have on the plot or how satisfying they will feel to us, given that there is only one more episode left. Valya should have struck us as a clever chess player, but she looks like a pawn. I suspect the final episode will swiftly pack itself up. Things that should feel urgent would only come across as disposable. In other words, the next week could be similar to the previous ones.

Final Score – [4.5/10]