Latest news with #Demerzel
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Nethermind's Work in Blockchain Infrastructure is Shaping the Future of AI Agents and Digital Identity
This content was provided by Acumen Media for Demerzel. This advertiser content was paid for and created by Acumen. Neither CBS News nor CBS News Brand Studio, the brand marketing arm of CBS News, were involved in the creation of this content. The next phase of enterprise automation is here. AI agents are starting to act on behalf of users and organizations: managing tasks, making decisions and executing transactions. Nethermind, a blockchain research and engineering company, provides the infrastructure layer that makes these interactions verifiable, programmable and secure. Its tools already power Ethereum and its scaling solutions, enabling the deployment of agent-driven systems at scale. In the agentic economy, autonomous agents interact with financial platforms and digital services, transferring value and executing logic without direct human oversight. Blockchain makes this possible by offering a shared execution environment, built-in trust guarantees and interoperability across systems. This enables enterprises to automate operations while introducing entirely new service models. Nethermind is building the systems that allow agents to access tokenized assets, verify credentials, and coordinate across decentralized protocols independently and securely. Nethermind sits at the intersection of blockchain and AI, translating protocol research into production-ready infrastructure. Its Ethereum client secures over 30% of the network and underpins many core applications. One example is AuditAgent, an AI system that analyzes smart contracts and anchors findings on-chain. This blend of automation and transparency is a template for how agents will serve regulated industries. Ethereum is already home to enterprise-grade applications such as BlackRock's BUIDL, Stripe's stablecoin payments and identity ecosystems like WorldID. Nethermind is a core contributor to Ethereum, actively shaping protocol development. It builds infrastructure designed for high performance, modularity and the demands of agent-driven systems. Agentic infrastructure reduces costs by automating workflows and enforcing compliance. But more importantly, it enables differentiated services. As agents become primary participants, enterprises must adapt, offering programmable, context-aware systems that respond to agents acting on users' behalf. Nethermind supports these capabilities with live tooling, including identity-based access controls and zero-knowledge onboarding components. "While less than one percent of financial assets are currently on blockchain, this will multiply dramatically," said Tomasz Stańczak, Founder of Nethermind and Co-Executive Director at the Ethereum Foundation. With deep protocol expertise and a track record in Ethereum infrastructure, Nethermind is helping define the architecture for the agentic economy.
Gizmodo
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Foundation' Just Dropped a Huge, Terrifying Twist
Foundation is currently rolling out a third season stuffed full of dramatic resonance. We've always been fans of Demerzel, the ancient android played by the excellent Laura Birn, but season three has really elevated the character—even beyond that big season-two reveal that she's been moving the chess pieces on behalf of the galaxy-ruling Empire for generations. That was a monumental bit of information. But this week's episode, 'The Stress of Her Regard,' dropped a bombshell that's even more startling in the moment, and just gets more jaw-dropping as it sinks a callback to Foundation season one. But it also dovetails perfectly with Demerzel's season three arc, which has explored her increasing unease about the very near future. After Hari Seldon gave her the Prime Radiant in season two, Demerzel has been able to tap into his predictive 'psychohistory.' Over the past 150 years, she's consulted it so frequently she keeps it tucked inside her chest for easy accessibility. The Second Foundation and Empire both have use of a Prime Radiant, which means the two groups—who are ostensibly at odds—have the same means to glimpse the road ahead. As season three began, both realized there'd been a sudden, potentially cataclysmic shift in the timeline. Though they've long been preparing for an extended dark age that will kick off with the fall of Empire, Seldon's math now suggests the possible end of humankind itself. Soon! If the math holds, it'll happen in just a few months. Humans who are privy to this information deal with the impending doom in varying ways. But it's different for Demerzel. As we've seen in earlier episodes, she's facing a dilemma so grave she's sought out a confidante—a religious leader named Zephyr Vorellis—who agrees to have her memory wiped after each meeting, then restored when it's time to talk again. Demerzel's secrets are so intense she actually, for once, needs a sounding board to help her muddle through them. The big one is, of course, that she's a robot. She was a fierce general in the long-ago Robot Wars, then captured and held in stasis for centuries as the last of her kind. Then, she was reprogrammed by Cleon I to serve only Empire's interests and has been doing so alongside the genetic clones (all named Cleon) decanted in succession. That directive has manifested in different ways across Foundation's run so far; we've seen that Demerzel's programming removes her from having to obey the Three Laws of Robotics, as written by Foundation source-material author Isaac Asimov. In other words, she can and will kill humans. That includes any Cleons who step too far out of line. But the knowledge that Empire will fall and, even more recently, that humanity may end has sparked an existential crisis: who is Demerzel without Cleons to serve? And on an even larger scale, what is her objective if humanity ends and she's left to float through her eternal existence? As 'The Stress of Her Regard' begins, we get a whole new window into just how determined Demerzel has been to preserve Empire's rule—and just how important her hand has been in shaping not just the trajectory of the Cleons, but of the Foundation too. In Foundation season one, terrorists blow up the Star Bridge—a giant elevator designed to carry space travelers from their ships down to Trantor, Empire's home planet. It's a horrific act that kills millions. Hundreds of millions. In response, Empire showers devastating bombs upon the two worlds it deems responsible, causing nearly as much trauma in return. But as we learn in season three, while the responsible parties were indeed from the planets that were punished, they were acting on behalf of Demerzel. It's a secret she's been keeping for three centuries, and Vorellis, who's suitably shocked to hear the truth, wants to know why she did it. 'I have eyesight that far outstrips your own,' Demerzel reminds Vorellis. She's been playing a long game here. In season one, Empire was poised to execute Hari Seldon and banish his plan for the Foundation, which he had proposed as a way of shortening the length of the dark ages on the horizon. But Demerzel believed the Foundation would actually help Empire stay in power, at least in the short term. Since, as Demerzel explains to Vorellis, the Cleons respond to strong emotions rather than strong arguments—which Foundation has shown to be absolutely true—she had to do something to shift their thinking. Destroying the Star Bridge did the trick; they took Seldon's dire predictions more seriously, and agreed he could set up the Foundation on a far-flung planet. Cut to season three. Three hundred years later, Vorellis wonders if Demerzel feels regret over being a mass murderer. Demerzel—someone who operates strictly based on her programming, not her desires or emotions—did feel pain that day watching the destruction she'd caused. And because she's immortal, she'll be forced to remember that forever. But don't ask her if she has any regrets. 'The paradox is the thing that hurts,' Vorellis realizes. 'You said helping Foundation did not violate your programming in the near term, but in the long term Foundation is an enemy of Empire now, and you are partly responsible.' Vorellis, who represents Luminism, a faith Demerzel has been curious about in the past, suggests that maybe the robot is looking for a loophole to set herself free. She can't die and reincarnate as the religion teaches. But maybe… she has died, in her own way? Vorellis points out that there have been different versions of Demerzel throughout her existence. She's been reprogrammed more than once. Maybe there'd be a new Demerzel waiting to take over once Empire is gone? It's hard to tell what Demerzel makes of this idea, other than the fact that it distresses the hell out of her. She can't embrace the idea of existing without Empire, because she's wired completely around the idea of serving them. 'You are mistaking me for human,' she hisses, before tearing her skin and showing the freaky metal face beneath. 'I am not!' An understandably frightened Volleris dashes away, leaving the audience, and Demerzel herself, to contemplate the terror of losing her entire purpose, especially after all she's done to safeguard its existence. We're also left pondering the fact that she plotted the Star Bridge disaster—and wondering what else Demerzel might have done, or will do, to keep the status quo. New episodes of Foundation arrive Fridays on Apple TV+. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Geek Girl Authority
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
FOUNDATION Recap: (S03E04) The Stress of Her Regard
Foundation Season 3 Episode 4, 'The Stress of Her Regard,' kicks the overarching narrative into high gear as major chess moves are made by both Empire and the Foundation. Two Cleons leave the palace, so Dusk must rule alone. We pull back the curtain on Pritcher's true loyalties. Demerzel's existential crisis also takes center stage. Bolstered by compelling performances across the board, this outing is well-paced and well-structured. I'm tickled for what's in store for us. RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Foundation episode, 'When a Book Finds You' Foundation, 'The Stress of Her Regard' We open with Demerzel's (Laura Birn) latest therapy session with Zephyr Vorellis (Rebecca Ineson). Demerzel discloses a secret she's kept close to the vest for three centuries: She orchestrated the destruction of the Star Bridge. Plot twist! Demerzel sent her two cat's-paws, one from Anacreon and the other from Thespis, to carry out the act on her orders. Why? Because she predicted that the Foundation's flourishing would strengthen Empire's reign. Vorellis wonders if Demerzel feels guilty. She speaks nonchalantly about, you know, killing millions of people. Demerzel reminds Vorellis that her superior eyesight allowed her to watch those deaths in real time that night. The conversation pivots to Demerzel's potential — if latent — desire for freedom. Demerzel insists that's not it. She's solely programmed to serve the Cleonic Dynasty. Then, the therapy session takes a turn toward Demerzel's immortality. Vorellis believes that Demerzel has died at least twice since becoming a weapon (and puppeteer) for Empire. She makes the mistake of imbuing Demerzel with too much humanity, though. In a fit of rage, Demerzel slices the skin on her face, right down the middle, to reveal her metallic insides. She orders Vorellis to leave. Laura Birn, you are a treasure. RELATED: The Mule Wreaks Havoc in Foundation Season 3 Trailer and New Photos Ignis Later, Pritcher (Brandon P Bell) lands on Ignis. Surprise — he's secretly a member of the Second Foundation who's infiltrating the First Foundation. Preem (Troy Kotsur) greets him. Pritcher reveals he stole Indbur's ship to get here. Then, Gaal (Lou Llobell) embraces Pritcher … with a kiss. Yes, these two hot people are a thing. FOUNDATION Season 3 Episode 4, 'The Stress of Her Regard' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ After this, Pritcher shares his encounter with the Mule with Gaal and Preem. Preem places his hands on Pritcher and Gaal to access Pritcher's mind. They all see the club on Kalgan. Magnifico (Tómas Lemarquis), the Mule's (Pilou Asbæk) balladeer, plays his instrument for the dancers. They're all entranced by the music. Pritcher reveals that the Mule is a Mentalic like them. Unfortunately, the Mule accessed Pritcher's mind, and Pritcher had Gaal on the brain. Gaal realizes that that's how the Mule learns about her. Preem analyzes the situation. The Mule uses Magnifico's music to facilitate his control over people. It keeps them under his sway. Preem observes that one doesn't need to hear the music — they can feel it, like him. Also, he notes that the Mule surrounds himself with people because he's lonely. And since he doesn't know who the Mentalics of the Second Foundation are, they have the advantage. They can make him scared of them. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Gaal Dornick Everything in Its Right Place After this, Gaal goes for a swim. It's nice to see that some things don't change in 300 years. She sees that vision of the Mule strangling her on repeat. Pritcher sits on a dock nearby, his feet in the water. Gaal remarks that everything's unraveling in a timely fashion. Seldon's Third Crisis is on the horizon. Foundation's Traders want autonomy. FOUNDATION Season 3 Episode 4, 'The Stress of Her Regard' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ Of course, the Mule is an outlier. Pritcher adds that Indbur is also a problem. He's struggling to persuade the mayor that the Mule must be eradicated. Gaal encourages Pritcher to change Indbur's mind. After all, they need the Foundation to beat the Mule (and kill him). Gaal states that Pritcher must return to New Terminus. And it's perfect timing because the Vault is about to open again. But first — sexy times. If I had a nickel for every time Gaal got hot and heavy in the water, I'd have two, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice. Never change, Gaal. Let the hot people copulate! Gaal and Pritcher bask in that postcoital glow in Hari's quarters. Hey, at least it's getting some use. RELATED: New TV Shows This Week (July 27 – August 2) Joining Forces Elsewhere, Ebling (Alexander Siddig) pays Indbur (Leo Bill) a visit. He tells the mayor that he met Hari in the Vault. Unfortunately, Hari gave him the boot after he pointed out some inconsistencies in the Plan. They contact Ambassador Quent (Cherry Jones), who's still on Trantor. Ebling and Indbur inform her that Hari gave the Prime Radiant to Empire, and the Vault will open again during the eclipse. Oh, and Pritcher is on the hunt for some 'bumbling fugitives.' FOUNDATION Season 3 Episode 4, 'The Stress of Her Regard' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ Quent decides to have a chat with Dusk (Terrence Mann) about all this. We see the faces of Toran (Cody Fern), Bayta (Synnøve Karlsen) and Magnifico, our trio of fugitives. Quent remarks that the Foundation didn't know about their escape from Kalgan. Not to mention, Toran is part of the Traders, specifically through his uncle Randu — the very faction Empire is supplying with weapons. Next, Quent proposes that the Foundation talk to these runaways once they catch them. Dusk wonders what Empire will do besides wait. Quent fires back that perhaps he can consult the Prime Radiant. Dusk and Demerzel look taken aback. Quent suggests that she and Dusk join forces. Share their knowledge. After all, Day and Dawn are shirking their responsibilities, leaving Dusk to rule solo. Dusk orders Demerzel to hand over the Prime Radiant so he can show Quent how it works. RELATED: Read our Murderbot recaps Then, we see Dusk explain to Quent that Hari gave the Prime Radiant to Cleon XVII during the Second Crisis. Initially, he struggles to unlock the Prime Radiant, as it were. Quent offers to wait a minute while he tries again. Hey, it happens sometimes. Oh, I clocked that innuendo, and so did Dusk. Once he successfully opens it, he shows Quent that everything just ends after four months. That's worrying. Quent marvels at the Prime Radiant while Dusk cozies up to her. Aw. Waiting to Live After this, Gaal finds Pritcher standing before her cryosleep pod. He remarks that he initially didn't see what all the fuss was about. Why did everyone care about the sleeping woman? A face behind the glass? However, he eventually fell for her. The conversation pivots to love and marriage. Gaal urges him to pump the brakes. They've only spent 32 days together in total between her periods of sleep. FOUNDATION Season 3 Episode 4, 'The Stress of Her Regard' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ Pritcher counters that everyone else gets to live their lives while they wait to live. Wouldn't Salvor want her to be happy? He adds that that's all Hari wanted. Side note: I love that you can still see the scars on Gaal's face from her prayer stones. RELATED: Apple TV+ Renews Hit Spy Drama Slow Horses for Season 7 The Dream Lives On Later, Day (Lee Pace) requests a meeting with 'the august memory' of Cleon I (also Mann). He asks Cleon about an incident in the 26th year of his reign. That's when older Cleon gives way to the younger. Cleon I transforms into the Day version (also Pace), sans beard. Day demands to know why Cleon traveled to the Mycogen sector that year. Cleon rattles off historical facts about Emperor Aburanis hanging all the robot sympathizers there. He notes that the Inheritance is still alive and well. He went there to retrieve Demerzel's golden tools, which those in Mycogen viewed as a holy relic. Cleon tried to avoid killing too many people, but there ended up being 200,000 casualties in the wake of his visit. Oops. Regardless, he thought he had wiped out the Inheritance followers. He urges Day to be more cautious and conscientious. FOUNDATION Season 3 Episode 4, 'The Stress of Her Regard' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ Day asks why he got those tools for Demerzel. Did he love her? Cleon must understand that machines are incapable of love. Cleon refuses to elaborate, only reciting, 'The dream lives on in you.' Day spits at Cleon's feet before leaving. Brother Dude doesn't give one flying f*ck. RELATED: Welcome to the Chatsubo: Apple TV+'s Neuromancer Is Now in Production I Understand Connection After this, Day walks in on Demerzel performing maintenance on herself. She's currently headless. Boy, I'd love to take off my head some days. Relax for a spell. Demerzel puts her head back on her body. Day reveals that he consulted Cleon I. His ancestor was rather withholding regarding Demerzel. Did they love each other? Then, Day explains why he's so upset about Demerzel sending Song away. He loves her despite her following an illegal religion. He asks Demerzel what she hears when he says the word 'love.' This scene is so good. Lee Pace, the actor that you are. What a force of nature. I hang on his every word. Demerzel replies that she understands connection. She feels it. In fact, all robots share everything with each other. They call it the clasp. Of course, she's the only robot left now. Demerzel asserts that she had no choice re: the Song situation. Everything she does is for Empire's well-being, even if it causes pain. RELATED: On Location: The Phoenicia Diner on Apple TV+'s Severance The Plan Next, Mavon (Ibraheem Toure) watches from afar as his daughter and wife laugh together in their home. However, once he enters, he sees Day on the floor with his ferret, Capillus. Mavon's daughter laughs gleefully as she plays with Capillus. Day urges Mavon's wife and daughter to take Capillus upstairs while he chats with Mavon. Day asks Mavon if he's ready to leave now. He plans to travel to the Mycogen sector to save Song. He has a bargaining chip to grant him access — one of Demerzel's tools. Day vows to uphold his end of the deal. He'll give Mavon's daughter his nanites to cure her terminal illness and ensure the family can safely leave Trantor. Join Me Elsewhere, Dawn (Cassian Bilton) dons his disguise and makes a beeline for the tea house to meet Gaal. He's surprised to find her solid — not a hologram this time. They sit across from each other. Dawn informs her that his bid for an Enclosure on Kalgan didn't work. Day wouldn't call an emergency Council session. Gaal persuades Dawn to leave the planet with her. He can see what her organization is all about. RELATED: Severance Renewed for Season 3 by the Will of Kier (and Apple TV+) Dawn reminds Gaal that he's about to ascend to Day in a matter of days. He can't leave Trantor. Plus, what is Gaal's organization? What do they do? Gaal refuses to disclose those pretty important details. Suddenly, clavigers descend upon the tea house in search of Dawn. Gaal grabs Dawn, and they escape to the underbelly of the city. FOUNDATION Season 3 Episode 4, 'The Stress of Her Regard' — Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ I'm Sorry Meanwhile, Day, clad in a claviger uniform, and Mavon pass the checkpoint. Mavon maps out Day's trek from the spillway and into Mycogen. Before they part ways, Day chucks his aura into the water and removes his nanites, feeding them into a special container. He places it on the ground for Mavon. They bid each other farewell. Day turns his back before whirling around and shooting Mavon. He explains that he's played cards with clavigers enough to know their tells, their cues. Mavon has been loyal, but not to him. Day apologizes before shooting Mavon dead. Then, he feeds his nanites into Mavon before rolling his body into the water. Day insists he didn't want to kill Mavon before he speeds away. RELATED: Read our Foundation recaps Running Away At the same time, Gaal and Dawn race through the sewers as a claviger pursues them. She pulls him into a branching tunnel and places him flush against the wall. Then, Gaal utilizes her abilities to render them invisible to the passing clavigers. Gaal tells Dawn that they won't remember why they're in the sewers and will leave. Dawn is bewildered. Gaal promises that if he joins her, he'll show her everything she's (and her people) capable of. Then, Gaal leaps into the Beggar's Lament . Dawn hesitates before eventually doing the same. As Gaal flies them off Trantor, she finally declares that she's part of the Second Foundation. Dawn looks shocked. Meanwhile, Day continues his trek toward the Mycogen sector. A guard informs Demerzel that Day's nanites have ceased functioning. She doesn't know about Dawn (yet). Two Cleons are on the lam. Foundation drops new episodes every Friday on Apple TV+. On Location: The Lighterman in Apple TV+'s SLOW HORSES Contact: [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. Critic: Rotten Tomatoes, CherryPicks, and the Hollywood Creative Alliance.
Gizmodo
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Foundation' Season 3 Digs Into What It's Like for a Robot to Have an Existential Crisis
Foundation, Apple TV+'s adaptation of the famed Isaac Asimov novels, takes place in a galaxy facing an imminent, mathematically predicted age of darkness. It's troubling, especially for Empire, the genetic dynasty of clones named Cleon that's been in power for centuries, but it's not as bad as all-out extinction. But as season three begins, certain among Foundation's characters learn the math has changed, and total doomsday is all but certain. Some react to this news—signaled by worrisome changes in the Prime Radiant, the quantum supercomputer of sorts that divines what lies ahead—by escalating preventative actions, while others decide partying will help. But the most thought-provoking response comes from Foundation's arguably most complex character: Demerzel, played by Laura Birn. She's an ancient robot, the last survivor of the Robot Wars. Several hundred years ago, she was reprogrammed by the first Cleon to serve Empire—a directive that guides all of her actions and one she's powerless to defy. As Foundation has progressed, we've learned a lot about Demerzel. Her backstory gets more investigation in season three, but as Empire (and, by extension, all of humanity) faces what's to come, her role in that future becomes decidedly confusing. 'I'd say very much she is in an existential crisis,' Birn told io9 at a recent Foundation press day. 'For many centuries her path has been very clear, since [she was programmed by Cleon I], and before that also.' But that clear path is now muddied. 'This season, the information that the Prime Radiant offers—and when [season three villain] the Mule arrives, the effect it has on the whole galaxy—suddenly offers these new paths, possible paths. She's thought that she always knows the right answers, like, 'this is a way we have to work, this is the way I'm going to guide the galaxy, or guide the Cleons.'' Birn continued. 'Suddenly, when that shifts a bit, [a lot of] questions arise. What if the end comes? What's [her] responsibility in all this? Where does it leave [her] if the human species is destroyed? Is it a good thing for her? Is it something very lonely and sad? Does she carry a responsibility? Can she make a difference? So all these things kind of spiral her into a place of 'what is the purpose of my life, what is the meaning?' So it's very much an existential crisis.' Early in season three, Demerzel reaches out to a leader in the Luminist faith—Foundation fans will recall it from a key season one storyline—to act as a sounding board for her crisis. 'I think, like in many of her decisions, it's hard to say if it is a good thing or a helpful thing,' Birn said. 'In the palace nobody knows her secrets. She's very held back. She's very controlled. So to have those moments where she can literally reflect on her own things—decisions that she's made, contemplating the past and the future—it is powerful, but I'm not sure if it's helpful. Maybe for her, but maybe not for humankind.' Demerzel stores the Prime Radiant, which resembles a small jewelry box, inside her chest. It's almost where her heart would go if she were human. The choice is one made out of convenience, of course, but there's also a deeper meaning, as Birn pointed out. 'It's interesting: how do we define where the humanity in us lives? We often think that it's the heart that feels. Or it's the soul—where do we think the soul exists? That play of, that there's just a mechanical thing inside her, which is actually something so relevant for the whole galaxy, and the information that she holds close to her heart and the decisions that she makes. So yeah, I do love the play of that.' Foundation returns to Apple TV+ with weekly episodes starting July 11. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Gizmodo
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Foundation' Returns With Its Best Season Yet
Foundation is not a show that lends itself to casual viewing. Its nuances and details, not to mention its constantly shifting settings, mean you must pay close attention to understand what's happening. It's also not really a show you can decide to start watching midway through, something to consider ahead of its third season premiere. But the rewards are worth it: it's wildly entertaining—thanks to its writing, layered world-building, and performances—and while it's a show that deals with very serious themes, Foundation also knows when to lighten up. Even as humanity faces extinction, it makes room for moments of levity and romance, as well as surprising twists that subvert audience expectations. That includes those who've read Isaac Asimov's Foundation books, which inspire but don't dictate the events of the series. Foundation also makes it easier on viewers whenever it can. This is a plot-heavy show with a lot of characters to keep track of, so it makes use of helpful narration as well as on-screen text to let us know where we are on the timeline. It also makes things very clear when we're visiting a new planet or region—something season three does a lot of, efficiently showing us just how much this story has expanded since season one. Season three picks up 152 years after season two. Some things look the same: Empire is still ruling the galaxy with its Cleon clones and ancient android Demerzel (Laura Birn); Foundation, now relocated to New Terminus, counts down the days until its creator Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) next emerges from his mysterious vault. The Second Foundation, created in secret, has been training psychic warriors. And the Prime Radiant, Seldon's compact supercomputer, is still predicting the fall of civilization, with an extended dark age to follow. That last bit is obviously worrisome, but at this point, Seldon's doom-filled prophecy—tabulated using his 'psychohistory,' used to envision the fates of large populations—has been out there for centuries. As we saw in season two, Demerzel and the Second Foundation both have access to the Prime Radiant and can keep tabs on psychohistory's progress. Demerzel keeps her Prime Radiant tucked in her chest, almost where her heart would be. The next big event is known to be the Foundation's Third Crisis. But Seldon's followers are no longer the scrappy colonists we met in seasons one and two; everyone, especially the leadership, has prospered. A civil war of sorts is brewing between Foundation's ruling elite and Foundation's merchant traders, who are led by the wealthy descendants of season two character Hober Mallow. But while Seldon's plan, which had veered off course in season two, is back on track, the Prime Radiant is now hinting that instead of merely a temporary period of struggle, the road ahead may lead to something far more permanent. This lends a layer of frantic dread to the feeling that things are rapidly falling apart—something that's exponentially enhanced once the Mule (Pilou Asbæk) starts rattling his saber. A self-styled pirate warlord who uses his psychic gifts to mind-control any opposition, with unimaginably cruel results—soldiers turning on each other with murderous friendly fire, people biting off their own fingers or willingly drowning themselves—the Mule's arrival was foreseen by Seldon's protégé, Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell). She's also psychic, and Foundation has long been teasing their predestined battle. The Mule's the reason Gaal has endured multiple extended cryosleep periods. She needs to be alive at the right time, because she believes she's the only one who can stop him. As Foundation sets up these separate yet connected narratives, there's lots of payoff for viewers who've become invested in the show. Things are barreling toward a face-off that's now years in the making—centuries in the making, if you're going by Foundation's fluid approach to time—but the pacing carefully makes room for all the different characters, all of whom are new aside from Seldon, Gaal, and Demerzel. That includes the three Cleons, who look familiar but are all-new, all-different versions of the same man we've met over and over again across Foundation's run. Brother Dusk (Terrence Mann) is dreading his imminent 'ascension'—he'll soon be incinerated to make way for a new baby Brother Dawn—while the current Brother Dawn (Cassian Bilton) will become Brother Day, the Cleon with the most power. That's problematic because the reigning Brother Day (Lee Pace) has completely fucked off from his official duties, preferring instead to get high, gamble, and laze around with the concubine he's chosen as his permanent companion. Season three's Cleons are by far the most complicated yet—though season two's Brother Day was definitely a piece of work, and his actions still reverberate 150 years after the fact. These men are clones of the first Emperor Cleon, but as we've learned in previous seasons, genetic irregularities have been introduced that mean they aren't actually identical to him or to each other. Dusk gets his meatiest arc yet as he faces his unavoidable end with a mix of bitterness, rage, and melancholy; Dawn, who has the makings of a gifted politician, expands on what we've seen previous versions of the character do by bravely pushing the boundaries of what Empire is capable of. But Day emerges, yet again, as one of the season's standouts. Pace appears to be having an absolute blast tearing through lines like 'Welcome to my filth!'—but despite slovenly appearances, this is no one-note Cleon, and his storyline is full of wild surprises. The Mule is also extremely memorable; after all that build-up, we see immediately—in the very first scene of the season premiere—the horrors that he's capable of, as well as the glee he takes in committing them. Gaal putting herself to sleep for generations to prepare for their meeting suddenly makes a lot more sense. Asbæk resists playing the Mule as merely a scenery-chewing villain with a terrifying grin; there's certainly some theatricality to the character's evil, but there's also a creepy sadness lurking beneath as he promises his victims how much they're really going to love him. But this is an Asimov story, and it's no surprise Foundation's best character—its most complex, most frustrating, and most frustrated—is Demerzel. She's the last remaining robot after humanity's victory in the ancient Robot Wars, but for the most part only the Cleons know her secret. (Everyone else assumes she's a clone, like the rulers are.) In season two, Foundation explored her backstory in depth, including how the first Emperor Cleon found her and tasked her to serve only his interests. Her driving force is Empire above all. She's the real puppeteer of the regime, and while she's done some villainous things (and she can be terrifying when she wants to be), she's not a villain. She's simply powerless to act freely, much less defy the directive she's been given. In season three, Demerzel's dilemma reaches paradoxical levels as she ponders existence without Empire. 'If I outlive my programming, I don't know what I am,' she realizes—and for the first time in a long time she considers what strange changes her own future might hold. That existential predicament is an example of what gives Foundation an extra edge over many other sci-fi shows. It's a story about the burdens that accompany being able to predict the future, especially a potentially disastrous one. But it's also about the various fascinating individuals—a psychotic psychic, a conflicted robot, a rebellious emperor, a cranky hologram, a woman who's lived for hundreds of years—who become caught up in trying to shape what's to come. Taken together, it's truly a fantastic voyage. Foundation season three premieres July 11 on Apple TV+. It then runs weekly through September 12. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
