FOUNDATION Season Premiere Recap: (S03E01) A Song for the End of Everything

Geek Girl Authority

2 days ago

Foundation Season 3 Episode 1, 'A Song for the End of Everything,' brings the Mule into the equation and sets the stage for what'll undoubtedly be a propulsive, high-octane season. The visuals are as stunning as ever. The stakes are as high as can be. I mean, the end of everything is pretty damn serious.
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We open with narration from Gaal (Lou Llobell), explaining that, if one lives long enough, 'time can be a weapon.' In her three centuries of life, Gaal has seen the Foundation grow and Empire decline. We're now 152 years out from the Second Crisis. The Foundation has the Outer Reach in their grasp, with the objective to seize the middle band. This includes the planet Kalgan.
Of course, should Kalgan fall under Empire or Foundation's thumb, the rest of the middle band will follow suit. Gaal admits that someone else knows this, too — the Mule. He haunts her dreams. Meanwhile, Archduke Bellarion (Ralph Ineson) and Hopewood (Jake Fairbrother) wait for the infamous Mule to arrive. They have armed forces as backup. Sure enough, the Mule (Pilou Asbæk) emerges from the trees. Compulsion
As it turns out, the Mule kidnapped Bellarion's daughter. He'll return her to Bellarion once he gets what he wants: control of Kalgan. Control Kalgan, control the galaxy. Bellarion refuses to let a warlord take the reins. So, the Mule gets messy. He compels the ships hovering above them to attack each other. Then, he compels Bellarion's soldiers to kill each other.
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After this, the Mule tries to take Bellarion's signet ring. When it proves tricky to remove, the Mule compels Bellarion to bite off his own finger and hand over the ring … before shooting himself in the head. The Mule is one chaotic b. Like Euron Greyjoy but in space. FOUNDATION Season 3 Episode 1, 'A Song for the End of Everything' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ The Third Crisis
Now, we're at Jump Gate Prospero. Gaal's voiceover returns to inform us that Empire must now use jump gates to traverse the galaxy. This puts a wrench in their takeover plans. With the Cleonic Dynasty no longer in control (of the galaxy or their council), they've drifted away from the center of power.
Brother Dawn (Cassian Bilton) joins Demerzel (Laura Birn), who shares that the Third Crisis is on the horizon. She sees it in the Prime Radiant. Something new, something troubling, is also brewing. However, Demerzel insists that their impending meeting with the Galactic Council won't make a dent in psychohistory.
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Then, Dawn and Demerzel head to Clarion Station for the Galactic Council session. Before they land, they spot fire wheat farmers protesting outside the Galactic Council. The Foundation has imposed heavy tariffs on their grain stores. The Council doesn't have jurisdiction over this, but Dawn believes they can still apply pressure. Outside the Council headquarters, one woman lugs soil at Dawn. A New Alliance
Next, Dawn addresses the Council, claiming that the Foundation's corruption and greed are why the soil is sterile. 'When crops die, people die,' he states. He adds that the Traders, a faction within the Foundation, are willing to lend a hand. However, they lack the funds and support necessary to break away from the Foundation. Dawn might be 10 days away from becoming Emperor, but he wants to help now.
It's simple: assist the Traders and weaken the Foundation from within. Then, Empire can take back the planets that once belonged to them. Presider Kinn (Miltos Yerolemou) remarks that they could tally a formal vote if Emperor Day were present. Dawn informs the Council that Day is on Trantor (having a spa day, obv). He offers the Council a choice: he returns in 10 days, after becoming Emperor, to revisit the motion and pass a referendum on a new Presider (ouch), or they make waves now. The Council decides to vote with haste.
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Later, Demerzel compliments Dawn on how he handled the Council. She asks Dawn if Brother Dusk advised him to supply the Traders with soil to throw at him. Dawn insists it was his idea. He just hopes it was actually sterile. FOUNDATION Season 3 Episode 1, 'A Song for the End of Everything' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ To Ashes
Meanwhile, on Trantor, Brother Dusk (Terrence Mann) comes to terms with his inevitable death. He watches footage of past Dusks turning into ash, positioning it from different angles. Dawn joins him. He informs Dusk that the Council will fall in line, and their new alliance with the Traders will ensure the Foundation crumbles from the inside out.
Dawn asks Dusk if he would run when the time comes to die. Dusk muses that he doesn't have it in him to run. The conversation shifts to the Mule and how Kalgan has fallen to piracy. After this, Gaal tells us about New Terminus, which rose like a phoenix from the ashes of Terminus. The Foundation prospered on New Terminus for 150 years. They made the leap from a religious focus to trade, more concerned with expanding their sphere of influence.
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The Traders threaten secession as a rift between those with power and those with influence widens. Professor Ebling Mis (Alexander Siddig) is a researcher of this rift, and he's keen on meeting Hari Seldon. Why? Because the Third Crisis — the Seldon Crisis — is on the horizon. Hari could help. You Nulled My Null Field
Ebling turns into a fanboy when Hari (Jared Harris) materializes. Hari is equal parts fascinated and annoyed that Ebling nulled his null field. He transports Ebling to a replica of his Trantor office. Then, Hari states that the Foundation is beyond their religious phase and well into their trade era, with the Traders — or Merchant Princes — pitted against the majority. FOUNDATION Season 3 Episode 1, 'A Song for the End of Everything' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+
Ebling shares that the Foundation's standards have fallen considerably. They're too comfortable now. They're not prepared for the crisis to come. Ebling believes the Traders themselves are the crisis. Hari remains tight-lipped. Ebling adds that Empire is now allied with the Traders. Hari replies that he gave Empire the Prime Radiant. This bewilders Ebling. Why would Hari do that? However, Hari gives Ebling the boot instead of providing an answer. Rude.
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Later, we arrive at Haven, home of the Alliance of Traders. We learn that Empire is now supplying the Traders with weaponry to continue fomenting unrest between them and the Foundation. Han Pritcher (Brandon P Bell) and Sephone (Iðunn Ösp Hlynsdóttir), who serve the Foundation, try to intercept a weapons drop from Empire. They spot Randu Mallow, Dawn's contact, retrieving said drop.
What transpires next is a wild goose chase across the planet. Han gets close enough to battle it out with Randu before tossing him off his transport. Han attempts to bring Randu's transport closer to him, which carries the weapons. But the sun is about to rise over them, and it's unbearably hot. Sephone swoops in to save Han as they abandon the weapons altogether. Their ship saves them. FOUNDATION Season 3 Episode 1, 'A Song for the End of Everything' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+
Next, Han and Sephone tend to their burns on their ship. Sephone flirts with him, leaning in for a kiss (girl, I get it), but Han pulls away. He claims his loyalties lie elsewhere. Ouch. Unfortunately, they didn't get the weapons, so they don't have evidence to present to the Foundation of Empire's meddling. Then, Han gets an alert that the Mule is nearby.
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After this, Mayor Indbur (Leo Bill) finds Han at his desk. How did Han gain access to Indbur's office? He designed the security protocols, of course. Then, Han informs Indbur that Vault is awake, but the mayor wants the lowdown on the Haven mission. Han confirms that Empire is arming the Traders; however, he and Sephone couldn't get their hands on the goods to prove it.
Indbur reminds Han that they need evidence with which to confront Empire. Vault is screaming that civil war is nigh. Han claims the Traders are a distraction. The real threat is the Mule. He's taken over Kalgan. Han wants to investigate him. Indbur brushes this off, though, insisting that Kalgan is nothing. It lives in the middle band, neither part of the Foundation nor Empire.
Things get heated between Han and Indbur, which the latter attempts to smooth over by offering the former jellies. Han really hates jellies. Indbur decides to revoke Han's launch privileges. If he tries to leave, Indbur will put him under house arrest. Naturally, after departing Indbur's office, Han has the mayor's key fob. Han is giving me Han Solo vibes in the best way. After this, Han leaves for Kalgan.
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Meanwhile, Demerzel meets with Zephyr Vorellis (Rebecca Ineson) on Trantor. She is the first Zephyr on Trantor. Demerzel wishes to unburden herself to Vorellis. However, Vorellis will recall nothing of their little therapy session. Her memories will only be restored for subsequent meetings and wiped thereafter.
For starters, Demerzel shares that she's a positronic robot. Then, she gives Vorellis a history lesson about robots in human spaces. She and Vorellis discuss the basic tenets of robots — how they can't harm humans but can protect themselves. The conversation veers to Hari Seldon giving Demerzel the Prime Radiant. Thanks to the Radiant, Demerzel has seen something that spells the end of Empire. Empire's demise is inevitable. FOUNDATION Season 3 Episode 1, 'A Song for the End of Everything' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+
But what does this mean for Demerzel? She's programmed to serve the Cleons. She loves the Cleons. When they're all gone, what will be her purpose, as one who cannot die? Who is she without Empire? Ah, the age-old question.
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Later, Vorellis and Demerzel join Dawn, Dusk and Ambassador Quent (Cherry Jones), who's part of the Foundation, for dinner. Quent congratulates Dawn on his upcoming ascension to Emperor Day. She tries to rattle him with talk of how Empire is supplying the rebel Traders.
During dinner, Quent finally learns about the Mule seizing control of Kalgan. Dawn insists that Kalgan is nothing of import to Empire. It doesn't belong to them. Dawn reassures Quent that she's free to go about her duties without interference from him. He's focused on something much bigger. The End of It All
Elsewhere, Day (Lee Pace) recites poetry to a camel. Song (Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing), his consort, watches and laughs. Day struggles to finish his made-up poem. Dusk stops by to summon Day, claiming that Demerzel wants him to see something. He clearly doesn't approve of Day's six-month sabbatical, during which he's having fun with consorts, making animals, eating fruit and lounging in the sun without a belly button. Honestly? Goals.
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Dusk insists that, eventually, Day will have to wipe Song's memories so she won't divulge any secrets. Before he leaves for the meeting, Day throws on a robe. I love the bare minimum effort to appear 'presentable' here. When you're Lee Pace, though, you're already in top form… FOUNDATION Season 3 Episode 1, 'A Song for the End of Everything' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+
Day reunites with Dawn and Dusk. Demerzel shows them what she's seen millions of times in the Prime Radiant. Yes, they know Empire will fall based on Hari Seldon's words, but the Prime Radiant is now claiming that this will happen in four months. Not only will Empire cease to exist in four months, but everything will cease to exist. Everything will end.
On Ignis, we see Gaal in cryosleep. She dreams about the Mule. In one vision, he hoists her up by the neck, demanding to know where the Second Foundation is. Then, she wakes. Gaal declares that the Mule is already here, and they're out of time.
Foundation drops new episodes every Friday on Apple TV+.
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[email protected] What I do: I'm GGA's Managing Editor, a Senior Contributor, and Press Coordinator. I manage, contribute, and coordinate. Sometimes all at once. Joking aside, I oversee day-to-day operations for GGA, write, edit, and assess interview opportunities/press events. Who I am: Before moving to Los Angeles after studying theater in college, I was born and raised in Amish country, Ohio. No, I am not Amish, even if I sometimes sport a modest bonnet. Bylines in: Tell-Tale TV, Culturess, Sideshow Collectibles, and inkMend on Medium.
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