As fanciful and creative as any science fiction universe is, only one thing can emotionally ground the work: the humans who inhabit it. The vast timespan of Foundation, the acclaimed Isaac Asimov adaptation on Apple TV+, unfolds through dozens of characters and hundreds of years with worthwhile investment, guided by the visions of David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman. Now that The Expanse is over, this is the only hard sci-fi show you must watch nowadays.
Foundation Synopsis
In a Galactic Empire ruled by the clones of an emperor who seeks only domination and eternal power, a mathematician named Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) unveils his completed theory of psychohistory, a sociological predictive model of absolute yet esoteric certainty that foretells the end of the Empire. Across the entire reach of this dynasty over decades, Seldon navigates the outcomes of his theories along with his troubled, uniquely bright pupil, Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell), and warden of his future knowledge-preserving failsafe Foundation, Salvor Hardin (Leah Harvey).
The Excessive Gambles of Apple TV+
From Metropolis to today, creating meaningful sci-fi for the screen has come from the marriage of sharp, observant writing and the best special effects currently available. Anything less and the result is heartlessly vapid or inefficiently budgeted. Foundation certainly has the Apple budget going for it, but some criticized its first season’s storytelling side due to the difficulty in maintaining the weight of numerous narrative threads. Apple TV+ bet on a long-term plan from its creators, and thankfully, it is paying off in creative success.
Goyer (the Dark Knight trilogy) and Friedman (the Terminator TV series) came into adapting Foundation with an eight-season plan, and this approach is readily apparent in all 20 episodes currently available to stream. The story development of Seldon’s Foundation on Terminus is slow-going, to say the least; luckily, Season 2 doubly invests in its new and old characters to extend the basis of the series beyond each individual’s journey from start to finish. In every episode, we understand and identify with each tumultuous situation the heroes are put through, all while the entertaining action and drama of a nation’s rise and fall underscore the emotional core of Foundation.
Foundation Capitalizes on Fascinating Philosophical Narratives
Lee Pace and Ella-Rae Smith in ‘Foundation’
The second batch of Foundation episodes has more of the natural decline of the Empire, this time with well-written political interweaving thanks to the addition of a fiery new character played by Ella-Rae Smith of Into the Badlands fame. Though watching the interactions of the Empire’s clones (Lee Pace, Terrence Mann, and Cassian Bilton) would be interesting enough, the flawed heroes have finally become fully fleshed-out characters with a complexity that carries the viewer through Season 2 with satisfying briskness and engagement.
The initial run of Foundation only hinted at the depth of these characters, further satisfying by ensuring that each actor got memorable screen time to showcase their abilities. Recent episodes now demonstrate that their motives and decisions in each multifaceted scenario could lead the show in any direction, following predictive algorithms or veering toward uncharted territory (unless that territory was part of the Plan all along).
The Verdict on Foundation Season 2
Are Seldon, Gaal, and Salvor meant to be the proponents or the disruptors of the Plan for Foundation? Their complex narratives have already shown both to be true. But to anyone worried about the advanced approach of Foundation, know that Star Wars and Dune fans will be pleased. Though the original Asimov novels predate these examples, their visual iconography has wrapped around to influence this new adaptation, highlighting the standout elements while basking in a familiar, surprisingly accessible package. At this rate, Foundation has a chance to be the space opera of the generation, and it will only achieve this goal if it continues to follow the lessons of fully-formed character focus and emotional grounding learned from Season 2.
Foundation is streaming now on Apple TV+.