But it is we, the ones they call concubines, who history will call wives.

[meganbmoore]

So, after the NPR list discussion yesterday, I remembered that I had acquired the 2000 Dune miniseries for about $5 a while back, and watched it today.
 

In short, fun as long as you remember that this wasn't standard scifi when it came out.  Needed more economics, politics, ladies, and creepy little girls.  Needed less rich pseudo-European aristocratic white boy messiah leading the savage natives and introducing them to his pseudo-European ways.

I understand there's actually more of the ladies than in the book.  And that the book has even more of matriarchal societies having the ultimate goal of using the women of the society to breed the awesome male savior.
 

I basically followed it through Jessica and Irulan's POVs, for the most part.  I feel they were the most interesting characters, though I have issues with parts of how their roles play out (there was also the "Irulan, you are kinda awesome and cunni-wait, did you just pimp out your maid to get info?  Well, at least she seems to like the idea." moment) and reading up the books on wikipedia, I'll have more issues.

I liked Paul when he wasn't judging on mansplainin' to his mother.  He judging her in their first scene together, and mansplainin' in their last scene.  This is actually very unfortunate, because of the relationships, Paul and Jessica's was the one that interested me the most.  I also feel that there was a bit of "This man is judging this woman from the start.  Sinc it's a man judging a woman, you know it'll eventually be justified." (Which, TBH, I don't really think it was, in what was revealed here.) going on narratively.

Matt Keesler spends a lot of the time running around shirtless.  Sometimes he has what look to be really wide red suspenders.  Sadly, 2000 Matt Keesler still needed to grow into his face and frame a bit.

There's also apparently a tradition in which men fight in what look like diapers.  They weren't actually diapers, but they looked like diapers.
 

Did I mention the creepy little girl?  You would never believe "My brother is coming." would be one of the best lines in something until you see it from her.

But anyway, the title of this post.  Listen, Frank Herbert, I get that the roles you gave the women were pretty progressive when your book came out.  Totally not contesting that.  (For that matter, it's better than a lot of much more recent stuff manages.) HOWEVER.  THAT LAST LINE!  NOW REALLY?  Good job of reducing women to nothing but wives there.  Especially in a society that doesn't appear to judge women for who they have sex with or their legal status in regards to who they have sex with.

Anyway, will probably check out the sequel miniseries.  Might give the 80s version a try.  No real interest in the books, except maybe the Jessica prequel stuff.
 

Comments

[starlady]

I really enjoyed the first two books at the time, eons ago--I read the second one when the miniseries came out. I remember thinking that both miniseries were actually improvements on the books in various ways (especially the second one, for having more Irulan and A…oh crap I forget her name!).

I'm planning a rewatch at Christmas. I have to make sure I own the first series too, I totally missed Matt Keeslar the first time around.

[rhivolution]

The Children of Dune miniseries is quite good. Well. The second half is, with James McAvoy and Jessica Brooks as the twins. The first half...meh.

The Spice Must Flow!

[royalarchivist]

Dune became my sci-fi comfort food a long time ago (in a combination of the 1984 movie and reading the book as a young lad)--decades before I was cognizant of its issues--so I'm always glad when someone discovers it for the first time. :) But I can't offer any defense against its failings. :\

That said, as a fan I'm glad you mostly(?) liked it. :)

PS: And the 1984 movie is completely terrible but in a gloriously awesome way. Sting! Patrick Stewart!! Horrid music by Toto!! Really bad special effects!

PPS: Okay, I'll stop fanboying at you now. ^_^