Though shows constantly seem to get the axe as WBD still tries to streamline its debt, a few standout shows survive for another day. Three recent titles from HBO and/or Max are lucky enough to move forward for sophomore seasons. Let’s look at each one in turn.
DUNE: PROPHESY is a science fiction television crafted by Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker for HBO. Set in Frank Herbert’s Dune universe, the series focuses on the origins of the Bene Gesserit, a powerful social, religious, and political force whose members possess superhuman powers and abilities after undergoing years of intense physical and mental conditioning. The show is a prequel to the Denis Villeneuve films Dune and Dune: Part Two, taking place some 10,000 years earlier. The series commences eighty years after the human military defeated the thinking machine armies of Omnius at The Battle of Corrin, and follows sisters Valya and Tula Harkonnen as they combat forces that threaten the future of humanity, and establish the fabled sect. The story sheds light on the origins of the Sisterhood their rise to power and influence in the Imperium, as well as their personal struggles, conflicts, and battle against a prophesied enemy. Each episode is jam-packed with a convoluted plot that deserves a viewer’s complete attention.
The premiere season ran for six installments with the last episode, “The High-Handed Enemy” debuting on December 22, 2024. In the course of the season, we’ve learned that the Sisterhood mastered the lives of many, and had their hands in every facet of power – even including the death of Emperor Javicco. But there is one player named Desmond, who could be a threat. He slipped all detection because it was thought he died at birth. With his nano-tech enhancements, he hopes to put the Bene Gesserit in check. Valya aims to find out who is behind his mission as she and the Sisterhood arrive on Arrakis. All this sets up season Two.
Sarah Aubrey, Head of Max Original Programming said in a press release, “DUNE: PROPHECY has captivated audiences around the globe thanks to the visionary leadership of showrunner and executive producer Alison Schapker, who will continue to guide this grand tale of truth and power. We are incredibly grateful to our partners at Legendary and to our extraordinary cast and crew for their service to the Imperium. We’re excited to collaborate with this team again to see what they have in store.”
That next title is a completely different piece. It is LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE. The HBO Original series debuted on Sunday, November 03 on HBO Latino in the U.S. and became available to stream globally on Max.
It explores the idea that sometimes traditions can become a prison, an obstacle for love. Tita de la Garza and Pedro Múzquiz are two souls deeply in love, yet unable to be together due to entrenched family customs. The protagonists navigate a world of magical realism and rich flavors as Tita struggles between the destiny imposed on her by her family and her fight for love. Along the way, the audience will witness her greatest refuge: the kitchen. For Tita, her magical connection to cooking becomes an active resistance against oppression, allowing her to channel her deepest desires and passions into her recipes, transforming those who taste them.
The final episode of the premiere season debuted on Sunday, December 08, 2024, but the announcement for a continuation of the Mexican series came shortly thereafter. Set during the Mexican Revolution, the series addresses the struggle of women to control their own destinies. The breathtaking locations in Tlaxcala and Mexico City provide an authentic and powerful backdrop for this adaptation of the beloved Mexican literary classic of the same name. The series has become the most-watched Latin American content on Max worldwide and has climbed to rank among the top three most-watched series on the platform during its premiere month. The renewal announcement was made by Salma Hayek Pinault, executive producer of the series.
She stated, “It’s been incredible to see such an important Mexican story resonate with audiences around the world. We are thrilled to confirm a second season of LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE and are looking forward to giving closure to such a strong and powerful story.” Mariano Cesar, SVP of General Entertainment Content and Programming Strategy at Warner Bros. Discovery for Latin America and US Hispanic added, “We are proud to see the success that LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE is having on international screens. It is an original Latin American production made with the highest quality standards that characterize HBO series, with an incredibly talented community of local creators and artists. This second season of the series will complete the story, fusing essential aspects of Mexican culture, such as magical realism and gastronomy, acting as forms of expression and connection. These themes are developed from a female perspective, in which the questioning of social and family mandates reinforces the current relevance of the narrative.”
One set of intellectual property WBD cannot afford to not tap into is DC content. Cinematically, all that stuff Is tightly controlled by James Gunn & Peter Safran. They have PEACEMAKER’s second season to get to us sometime later in 2025, but in the meantime has given us CREATURE COMMANDOS.
The DC Studios animated series focuses on a black ops team of monsters assembled by Amanda Waller. All seven episodes were written by series creator James Gunn, with Dean Lorey serving as showrunner and Yves “Balak” Bigerel as supervising director. The show features an ensemble cast including Indira Varma, Sean Gunn, Alan Tudyk, Zoë Chao, David Harbour, and Frank Grillo. It premiered on the streaming service Max on Thursday, December 5, 2024.
The series establishes the squad and via flashback shows us how the creatures came to be and how they ended up in the penitentiary they’re in. They are The Bride, G. I. Robot, Doctor Phosphorus, Nina Mazursky, and Weasel all led into missions by Rick Flag, Sr. Also in action is The Bride’s stitched-together counterpart, Eric Frankenstein. Season Onbe saw one complete mission resolved but there are plenty more, especially since a second season was granted. TheWrap labeled the series as “a fun, endearing start to a new cinematic universe that offers gore, thrills, laughs, and emotions galore.” IGN called CREATURE COMMANDOS “a really rad show” and noted the “performances are an across-the-board highlight.” Collider emphasizes “the new series has all the laughs, emotion, and memorable characters that have already established Gunn as one of the biggest and most reliable names in the genre.” James Gunn and Peter Safran, Co-Chairs, DC Studios were quoted as saying, “We’re thrilled to team up with Max for another season of Creature Commandos mayhem. From our spectacular first season of Peacemaker to the astonishing run of The Penguin to the record-breaking launch of Creature Commandos, Max has consistently delivered above industry expectations and beyond our wildest imaginings. Thank you, Casey, Sarah, Pia, Sono, and the entire team for your tremendous support of DC Studios. We are proud to call Max home.”
Are you a follower of any of these titles? They are each a gem to the fans that have followed their debut seasons. We have a highly detailed SF epic, a beloved international hit, and the lead story in the new DC Universe. Are you going to hold out for a sophomore season? What do you think should play out in an upcoming season? How long do you think we’re going to wait? Keep your eye on HBO and HBOWatch while you wait.
