Latest news with #Gaal
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
‘Foundation' Just Smashed the Past Into the Present, and the Present Into the Future
You knew it wasn't going to be a pleasant exchange when—at the very end of last week's Foundation episode—Demerzel barged her way aboard Gaal's spaceship. Gaal may be a psychic warrior who's lived for over 300 years, but Demerzel is an ancient robot. They aren't strangers, having met at the very beginning of season one. But times have changed since then, to put it mildly, and they really don't know much about each other. That evolves in a big way in season three, episode six, 'The Shape of Time.''The Shape of Time' is a turning point episode in many ways; we don't spend much time in the palace, but the other storylines all take big leaps forward. The Mule continues his cruel galactic takeover. The Foundation elite strike a tentative truce with the Alliance of Traders to witness Hari Seldon's promised return—a brief, confusing, emotionally brittle sequence with Holo-Hari that the Mule gleefully crashes. Brother Day continues his quest through Trantor's most mushroomy sub-region in search of his beloved Song. But no encounter strikes a chord more than the one between Gaal and Demerzel. The robot's first instinct is violence: it's because of Gaal that Brother Dawn turned his back on Empire. Not only did his subsequent actions result in an entire planet and the Imperial fleet being laid to waste, but the youngest Cleon was last seen being blown out of an airlock. Demerzel is furious at first, and her instinct to choke the life out of Gaal is very strong. Truths come out quickly: Gaal had no idea that Empire's majordomo was an immortal robot, but now that she's in on the secret, she realizes Hari (who did know) made his pitch about Foundation all those centuries ago to Demerzel, not the Cleons. Demerzel reveals that Hari used her memories to help complete his data set, which means… she's actually the co-creator of psychohistory. Gaal points out, while gasping for breath, that she herself is part of Seldon's plan and that Dawn was helping her in direct service of that. She explains the Second Foundation in succinct terms Demerzel can understand: 'The Cleons have back-ups. Why wouldn't the Foundation?' This makes sense, especially since Demerzel herself has noticed 'shadows in the math' clouding the Prime Radiant's ability to predict the future. She hadn't considered another Foundation, nor the fact that it would be powered by psychics—including Gaal, the most gifted among them—who are uniquely suited to battle the Mule. He has similar abilities, Gaal explains, but he uses them for sinister purposes. Gaal admits, as she did last week to a shocked Brother Day, that she wanted that planet and the fleet to be destroyed. With Empire now in a perilously weak state, the Mule will attack, thereby setting up the ultimate battle with the Foundation. Later in the episode, we see the Mule attack the Foundation first, meaning Gaal's strategy may need some readjusting. But for now, Demerzel is intrigued by Gaal's most unique talent: 'I can project my consciousness forward.' Demerzel insists that 'information cannot travel backwards on the timeline,' but Gaal pleads with her to expand her logical definition of what 'time' can be. She predicted the Mule's arrival 152 years ago, and she knows that four months in the future, there'll be a battle where she and the Mule will face off for the first and probably last time. Realizing that lines up with the Prime Radiant's fraying ends, suggesting humanity itself might end in about four months, Demerzel sets her jaw. 'Show me,' she orders. Though she's not human, she has a mechanical way to read minds—a holdover from, it's implied, her Robot Wars era interrogating human prisoners. It involves injecting filaments into Gaal's brain, and it looks as painful as you'd expect. It's effective, though, and it allows Demerzel to glimpse a vision Foundation viewers will recognize: the Mule, executing a very Demerzel-like chokehold on Gaal, demanding to know the location of the Second Foundation as war rages around them. She recognizes the battlefield as Trantor—the Imperial Library, to be exact—and asks Gaal if she's ever 'gone further.' A second mind-reading session transpires, so intense Demerzel has to hard-reboot and Gaal requires resuscitation afterwards. Beyond the Mule, beyond that familiar and seemingly fated battle, there is blackness. Nothingness. But there's also a sound so far below the range of human hearing that only a robot could detect it: 'Gravitational waves emanating from a black hole.' That means, four months from now, Gaal will be… orbiting a black hole. That's certainly ominous, and Foundation viewers will immediately think of that black hole-powered superweapon Brother Dusk has been gleefully developing on Trantor behind Demerzel's back. But there are suddenly more pressing concerns. Just as Demerzel and Gaal are striking an understanding (Demerzel won't accept Gaal's visions as 'premonitions' until the events actually take place, but she's going to give her the benefit of the doubt by not killing her), they learn the news about the Mule attacking the Foundation's home, New Terminus. As Demerzel hurries back to Trantor, knowing the Mule will now have control of the Foundation's fleet, Gaal tries to send a message to her partner, Pritcher, currently being held in a prison cell orbiting New Terminus. Chaos, everywhere! While Gaal's black hole drift is certainly the eeriest takeaway from 'The Shape of Time,' the episode is not without its amusements. Let us now appreciate Brother Day's 'mid-1990s Lollapalooza dude' glasses, hair, and bucket hat combination—his stoner disguise of choice while creeping through Trantor's underbelly. 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.
The Review Geek
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Foundation – Season 3 Episode 2 Recap & Review
Shadows in the Math Episode 2 of Foundation season 3 starts with Gaal and Hari Seldon awakening 151 years ago. The Second Foundation are here, with Thalis leading the effort. We're still on Ignis, but the Foundation are clearly desperate to get the plan back on track. These two have been kept in cryosleep all this time, save for a few weeks each year. While awake, Hari teaches psychohistory to the Mentalists, while Gaal uses her powers to help prepare for the fight against the Mule. This knowledge eventually helps the Second Foundation to expand out across the galaxy, with eyes and ears in every area. However, despite controlling the Empire's loosening grip, not everything can so easily be controlled. Gaal and Hari come to the realization that they need everything to be perfect here, and for that to happen, one of them needs to stay awake for the foreseeable future. Hari Seldon decides to sacrifice his life for this, staying awake and teaching everything he can to the Mentalists. Fast forward to 4 years back and Thalis is dead. There's a new First Speaker now on Ignis which happens to be a guy by the name of Preem Palver. As for Hari Seldon, he's now an old man, realizing that he's needed to teach the Mentalists whatever he can, with Gaal the 'girl who's the key to everything'. He explains that the Third Crisis is almost upon them and they need to be ready. Hari shows her the Prime Radiant, which includes everything he knows about the Eight Crises. All the raw data is here, including his thoughts, secrets and, most importantly, the Invictus. If the Mule is defeated, everything is headed for this. Hari is an old man now though and it's unclear exactly how long he has left. A physical manifestation of the Prime Radiant speaks to him and opens up some sort of portal that takes him to his final resting place. When Gaal realizes Hari has gone, she speaks to Preem and learns his language, helping to get the plan back on track. This long prologue catches us up to the moments at the end of episode 1. Gaal awakens in present time from Cryosleep and learns that the Mule's actions have thrown their plan completely out of whack. On Trantor, the Cleons try to remain hopeful over the future. Dusk and Dawn question the psychohistory and whether it can be changed, while Day wipes his hands of all of this, declaring they're 'fucked'. Instead, he heads on over to the Claviger Barracks and indulges in his gambling. As for Dusk, he pleads with Demerzel, trying to escape his fate of turning to dust. It doesn't go to plan and getting nowhere, instead tries to bargain with Day to show up for the robing. Day believes they're ragdolls dressed up at Kings and demonstrates the futility of everything, slicing his hand and showing the nanites healing his skin. That's a no, then. Dusk speaks to Dawn next and is sorry for Day not doing his duty. However, he wants to help do whatever he can to set things right with Dawn. He and Ambassador Quent will be having drinks that night and he wants Dawn to come join them. Dusk promises that he has a gift for him that he's not told anyone about, but right now he needs to wait for the right time to hand it over. With Dawn becoming Day and ascending, Dusk checks out his 'gift'. This is a Novacula, which happens to be a black hole bomb. It has a lot of power and obviously nothing can escape a black hole so it can't be stopped. It's essentially a planet-killer akin to the Death Star in its final form, allowing them to puncture across the universe and hit any planet. This is for Dawn to use, but only when things are dire enough that there is no other choice. On Kalgan, the Mule shows up at the Archduke's palace and finds his daughter, Skirlet, there. With all the soldiers watching on silently, the Mule talks about conversion and his methods of coercion. He offers the girl a gun, who points it at her own head and fires. Thankfully, there's no bullet inside but it's a demonstration to show that he's in control, and the Mule's ominous promise to force the rest of the galaxy to bow to his will, isn't a great sign of things to come. Over at the Alliance of Traders, we catch up with Toran Mallow. He wants nothing to do with any of this, especially his father's part to play in the weapons and gear last episode, but Toran is forced to pay attention with the Mule right on his doorstep. He's not the only one here though, as Captain Pritcher also shows to see Mallow. Pritcher explains that they're docked in a warzone right now and he wants Toran's help. It makes sense, given this would allow cover to Indbur and the rest of the Foundation leadership in the process. As the episode closes out, Dawn excuses himself from the dinner with Quent and Dusk, where they simply talk politics and don't take the Mule's threat seriously. Instead, we winds up on a call with Gaal. The Episode Review So the Mule is upon us and this threat is not going to be easy to contain. His demonstration at the dinner table is evidence enough that this man demands respect and is absolutely unhinged in his desire to get it. The opening scenes with Gaal and Hari Seldon help to flesh out more of the 151 year history, and it's presented well, especially with the Third Crisis upon us and Seldon sacrificing himself for the sake of getting the Plan back on track. There's also the drama involving the Cleons and seeing Dusk harnessing a new Death Star and potentially handing this over to Dawn, could be the start of a brand new power dynamic springing forth in the Galaxy. Visually, the show still looks great and the understated soundtrack adds a lot of atmosphere to this one. Either way, everything is left wide open for what should be a dramatic set of episodes to follow. Previous Episode Next Episode Expect A Full Season Write-Up When This Season Concludes!
Geek Girl Authority
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
FOUNDATION Season Premiere Recap: (S03E01) A Song for the End of Everything
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. RELATED: Read our recap of the Foundation Season 2 finale, 'Creation Myths' Foundation, 'A Song for the End of Everything' 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. RELATED: The Mule Wreaks Havoc in Foundation Season 3 Trailer and New Photos 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. RELATED: Geek Girl Authority Crush of the Week: Gaal Dornick 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. RELATED: New TV Shows This Week (July 6 – 12) 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. RELATED: Read our Murderbot recaps 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. RELATED: Apple TV+ Renews Hit Spy Drama Slow Horses for Season 7 A Chase on Haven 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. RELATED: Welcome to the Chatsubo: Apple TV+'s Neuromancer Is Now in Production Would You Like a Jelly? 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. RELATED: On Location: The Phoenicia Diner on Apple TV+'s Severance Therapy 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. RELATED: Severance Renewed for Season 3 by the Will of Kier (and Apple TV+) Much Bigger 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. RELATED: Read our Foundation recaps 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+. 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.
UPI
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- UPI
Watch: Gaal takes on the Mule in 'Foundation' Season 3 trailer
1 of 3 | Apple TV+ is previewing Season 3 of "Foundation." Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ June 11 (UPI) -- Voyagers actress Lou Llobell and Game of Thrones actor Pilou Asbaek prepare to face off in a new trailer for Foundation Season 3, released Wednesday. Llobell portrays Gaal in the sci-fi series inspired by the Isaac Asimov novels. Asbaek joins the cast as the Mule, a warlord who poses "a threat to the entire galaxy," according to an official synopsis. "You think I'm a monster?" he asks in the preview. "I have talents, you see. I can worm my way into people's minds. Convert enemies into allies. Hate into love." Hari (Jared Harris) tells Gaal that her battle is with the Mule. "It's my job to ensure you're prepared." he says. "The Mule's abilities are far beyond anything I can do," she responds. Season 3 takes place more than a century after Season 2, according to the synopsis. The upcoming chapter also stars Cherry Jones, Brandon P. Bell, Synnove Karlsen, Cody Fern, Tomas Lemarquis, Alexander Siddig, Troy Kotsur, Laura Birn, Cassian Bilton, Terrence Mann and Rowena King. Season 3 premieres July 11 on Apple TV+.
