Latest news with #LauraBirn
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.
Forbes
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Lee Pace And Laura Birn Discuss The Evolution Of ‘Foundation' Season 3
Lee Pace and Laura Birn attend a photocall for the launch of "Foundation" Season 3 on June 26, 2025 ... More in London, England. Since premiering in September 2021 on Apple TV+, the sci-fi drama series Foundation has taken its viewers along for a thought-provoking and emotional ride, filled with compelling themes surrounding social class, greed and striving to find a deeper connection with others amidst an imperfect world. Based off of the Foundation book series by Isaac Asimov, season three premieres July 11, kicking off an entirely new chapter several years later and is a fresh start for certain characters, while destined prophecies and lingering uncertainty for the future remain a focal point. Sitting down with two of its stars, Lee Pace, who continues to play ruler Brother Day, and Laura Birn, who continues to play robot Demerzel, I wondered what has been the greatest joys for these actors, in getting to play Foundation characters that constantly have the chance to evolve, season after season. Laura Birn as Demerzel in "Foundation" Birn said, 'As an actor, that's what you wish for. Well, you [Lee] get to play a totally new character every season, and I think Demerzel, it's the other way around. In the beginning, she was so mysterious and just observing, and you would not know what she's going through. Then, when it starts to open, it's the other way. You can always go back and understand that in that moment - she already had all the power, but we just didn't know that. So, it's so much fun to be able to play with that, and sometimes, I'm surprised myself when I read the scripts. I'm like - I did not know that it's going to go that way, and sometimes, I know already before that we're going to go maybe tease that side of her. Being surprised constantly by the scripts, by your fellow actors - that's the best thing in our work.' Pace said of Day: 'Yeah, he's so different every time. One of the riddles of the character is that even though he's a different person, different soul, different time that he's living in, that he's responding to a different emperor - he's still the same man. I think that as an actor, it's interesting to experiment with that idea, that there is a scientific truth to that genetic coding that has to remain constant through the characters. One of the things about Foundation is that you've got all of these characters that somehow have managed to cheat death and extend through time. In this season, I tried to make him as different as I possibly could from any of the previous Cleons - but even in doing so, I made him sloppy. He's no longer interested in ruling any kind of anything. He's not interested in taking any kind of responsibility. He doesn't want to execute anyone. He doesn't want anything to do with the robot. He just wants to hang out in the garden and get stoned and eat snacks and hang out with his pets. Then, some very serious things start happening in the galaxy. And so, I find that to be a really interesting, fun setup for the character.' Lee Pace as Brother Day in "Foundation" He added: 'One of the things we do a lot on Foundation is we like these reversals that happen, and things that you begin the season taking for granted, become reversed by the time you end the season - or you just find out information that completely changes the way you had interpreted what you took to be fact. You know, that happened in a huge way with our characters. He thought Demerzel was absolutely someone he could trust, he could rely on, and when it came down to it, she's like - Go ahead and die. I'll decant another one of you. You thought I loved you?' Birn responded on behalf of Demerzel, 'I didn't have a choice. It wasn't in my hands.' Being a story that depicts war regularly, with some characters risking their lives for the greater good, I wondered what Birn and Pace hope that Foundation audiences bring into their own world after watching this series play out, knowing and seeing the divisiveness that is occurring across our world today. Cassian Bilton, Lee Pace and Terrence Mann in "Foundation" Pace said, 'What I find really interesting about where we are right now in the story - and it has taken the building of a couple seasons to get there - but I think one of the things this show shines a light on is not this idea of war as two different factions of opposing views, battling it out, and whoever is the strongest is going to win and long live the king. That's not what we're exploring here - what we're exploring is the idea that there is a civilization that is vast, diverse, massive, and its destruction will not be any one event. It will be a crumbling that happens from lots of different things that disintegrate, things that stop working - moments of violence that create imbalance. In our story, we dramatize that with this character, The Mule, who's one of the big marquee characters of the book. He is this mutant of chaos that unsettles everyone in the galaxy, and they never even saw it coming. Foundation is worried about the traitors, the Empire is worried about the Galactic Council, the Emperor is worried about the other emperors and the robot. Everyone's thinking about something else, and then chaos appears. It's not even the chaos can do it - it's just that things start to crumble and fall apart. I look at our world right now, and it's so kind of overwhelming, the things to be anxious about. That's kind of what that feels like, is that it's just kind of - it's all fraying.' Concluding my conversation with these Foundation actors, I left them with my original and signature interview question, wondering what they would say to the different variations of their characters, Day and Demerzel, if only they could. Lee Pace as Brother Day and Laura Birn as Demerzel in "Foundation" Birn said with Demerzel in mind, 'Do you know what I would do? I would listen, because there's no one who listens to her. I think that's the thing - she's endlessly lonely. Obviously, she's the only one of her species that's left, but then she lives in this palace where she's always there for them. I would just listen and let her speak. I think that what she tries to do in this season, she needs to get someone to the palace that, for a moment, has ears for her - because these guys, they don't. They are always like so concentrated on their things and wanting her to listen to them.' Pace quickly interjected to Birn about Demerzel, 'I'm having such a hard time understanding, because she's making us. She's making us in her little vials and laboratory, and then you're mad that we're not listening to you?' As for his message for Day on Foundation, Pace added: 'Unplug the robot. What would you say to him? I don't know - I'm sorry, man. You've got the worst job.'
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.
