Ok, so this is a show that I only found out about when I googled the Dune adaptations and found this on and its sequel.

Before I go on, a bit of housekeeping. For anyone who has only read my book or movie reviews, you will know I like to pick out things I want to talk about and list it out with firstly, secondly and thirdly. But for tv shows, I will be giving my thoughts about each episode in a more free form manner.

“Frank Herbert’s Dune (2000) is a faithful three-part television miniseries. It follows House Atreides’ relocation to the harsh desert planet Arrakis (Dune), a trap orchestrated by their rivals, the Harkonnens, and the Emperor. After an ambush, Paul Atreides and his mother, Jessica, flee into the desert, unite with the native Fremen, and launch a rebellion.”

This series is, I believe, the most accurate adaption I have ever seen, mainly because they took three one and a half hour episodes to tell this story. My only qualifier is that this was a series made in the year 2000, and the CGI shows that.

Episode 1: to start, I find it interesting that we see how every planet has a recognisable feel to it, whether its colour scheme, lighting or architecture. I am so glad that they brought Princess Irulan more into the series, both in the scene on Kaitain and with the meet-cute at the banquet. This is a character that Frank Herbert does not fully flesh out until the third book so seeing more of her is brilliant.

Now I need to talk about something that I have a problem with in this series as a whole. In the book, we can read the very obvious Middle Eastern interpretations in the descriptions of Fremin, so why is Stilgar white? I am not calling anyone who worked on the series racist; it’s just that they had a very European pool of actors to pull from.

My other issue is the CGI. It’s not their fault, but every time we see someone flying, it looks like a video game when they are just moving into 3D.

Episode 2: This is a small thing, but this episode has a bit of nudity. When the Fremin are at their base, there is a shot of them taking off their stillsuits, and in passing, you see a random butt. Then Channi shifts to change from behind; it looks like she is not wearing a bra, then she turns around and proves it.

Once again, on how cool Princess Irulan is, it is great that we see the historian is acting like a spy to find out what is going on. Even if that means seducing Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen.

Ian McNeice is I think it is my favourite version of the Baron Harkonnen. This is because of how he balances the dark and threatening side that the baron needs to be a threat, with the smooth mask that is required to be a head of a great house. Also, this is even more interesting because I’ve only seen the actor play Winston Churchill.

I enjoy seeing the Beast Raban crushing any rebellion. This was something you hear about, and now we get to see it.

Now on to the one thing I have a problem with, the episode starts with Jessica and Paul sleeping in the sand, like that won’t kill them in an hour.

Episode 3: I find it interesting that there are two things in this episode that are not in any other adaptations. Firstly, Gurney Halleck believes that Jessica is the traitor who got his Duke killed. The other adaptation skips the fact that Duke Leto knew there was a traitor but didn’t know who.

Secondly, Leto, the second Paul’s first son. Now I understand why we don’t see him in other adaptations because anyone who has read the book they will know that the Harkonnen’s will murder this 2-year-old boy. But it does hit hard because we see the Harkonnens break in to their home and the last shot is on Leto the Second.

Paul is so powerful and dangerous that we can see the parts of the monster he may become in the future. Also, if you notice, Paul mimics a gesture from the Baron when he is revelling, he is his grandfather.

It is an interesting fact that Princess Irulan works out the truth of Madib and Aleha. She is the one to suggest marriage. I know that I sound like a broken record but I truly enjoy what they did with this character.

Thank you for joining me for this. Like with most of this series, I don’t know if I would ever get around to watching this series. And until next week.

Happy reading to all and to all a good night.