'Strikingly relevant' sci-fi epic fans say is a 'masterpiece' is finally back for season 3
Apple TV+'s captivating sci-fi spectacle, Foundation, has triumphantly returned for its third season, boasting a narrative more pertinent to our times than ever before.
Drawing inspiration from the celebrated works of Isaac Asimov, this expansive series is set tens of thousands of years into the future. In this galaxy-spanning empire, clones derived from the original Emperor Cleon—played by Lee Pace, Cassian Bilton, and Terrence Mann as Brother Dawn, Day, and Dusk—hold dominion.
The plot thickens as the brilliant mathematician Hari Seldon, portrayed by Jared Harris, develops the science of psychohistory, enabling him to predict a catastrophic fall of the Empire that would usher in an era shrouded in darkness.
Seldon enlists the help of another mathematical prodigy, Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell), to establish the Foundation, a cosmic consortium with a critical mission: to salvage human enlightenment and knowledge.
In this season, their alliance encounters an unprecedented adversary—the Mule (Pilou Asbæk) —a Mentalic and mercurial warmonger who wields the power to manipulate others' will, reports the Mirror.
Season three underlines the timeless essence of classic sci-fi sagas, demonstrating how tales set eons away can strike a chord with contemporary societal dilemmas.
Comments from the ensemble cast echo this sentiment, including those of Brother Dusk actor Mann, who disclosed to Express Online along with other media: "What happens in Foundation, for all three seasons, mirrors exactly what's happening in the world in any given country, or continent, or city, or home, or family, or town.
"That part of humanity doesn't change, the dysfunctionality of families, they're there and we love them and that kind of storytelling has been here as long as the written word."
Bilton, who plays Brother Dawn, echoed this sentiment, highlighting the show's relevance to the current state of the world. "I think the show this season, more than other seasons, has a very confronting relevance to the world we're living in right now.
"What we explore this season is the idea that power ultimately shouldn't be held by one individual for too long."
"There are elements of the Cleons' rule that are borderline fascistic, they are essentially autocrats. They're, for all intents and purposes, not democratically elected. They're clinging to power, even though that wouldn't be the right thing for them or anyone else.
"You see across the entire Foundation universe the implications of that, and none of it's good. It really is war."
Furthermore, the introduction of the Mule brings new themes that resonate eerily with today's digital landscape. Bilton pointed out the parallels between the Mentalic element and the influence of social media on our daily lives.
"Of course it is a science-fiction idea but, I think with the rise of social media and its influence on the way in which we carry out our daily lives and the choices that we make being informed by the time we spend on our phones has echoes in what the Mule is able to do," he explained.
"It's not so much that he has a very strong army of people with weapons, but he can get in the minds of people. What you're seeing now, both with the rise of AI and the proliferation of social media globally, is people have a shortcut into your attention and your mind.
"Capitalism has taken over every single land mass in the world and now the thing it's coming for is the real estate of your mind.
"That's echoed in the Mule so I do think there's a striking relevance this season to the world we're living in."
Fans have lauded the show as "magnificent and majestic" and hailed it as a "groundbreaking adaptation" of Asimov's classic works, so be sure to carve out time for this impressive sci-fi series soon.
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