Foundation Season 3 Begins: The Stakes Have Never Been Higher
Foundation is back with its third season, and I don’t remember being this excited about any other show since the 1923 finale. Of course, the fact that we had an Amazing Season 3 adds to this excitement.
Based on what we know about the second episode, we can confidently claim that the best is yet to come. So let’s talk about it.
If you watched episode one, you know that we’re 152 years past the destruction of Terminus. A century and a half is a long time, and the foundation hasn’t just survived, it’s actually thriving.
I mean, kind of. They’ve relocated to New Terminus, and it’s booming, but the foundation isn’t unified anymore. The older bureaucratic leaders are hanging onto the past, while a rebellious new generation of traitors, who practically worship Hober Mallow, are ready to break off and go their own way.
Things are so serious that civil war is on the corner, and there’s rising fear that the foundation could collapse from within. This would be a massive twist since the foundation was built to save humanity from extinction.
Seldon was serious about this — he even built a second foundation as a backup. We can interpret this as Seldon predicting the collapse of the first foundation via civil war, leading to the second foundation’s reveal in episode two.
This storyline will gain more clarity as Seldon is forced to explain his grand plan.
Ebling Mis, The Third Crisis, and Seldon’s Grand Plan
It’s important to mention that Ebling Mis is now the head of Seldon’s studies. He warns that this instability might be the beginning of the third crisis.
He believes this could be the first time a Seldon crisis won’t be solved. He says Seldon’s plan no longer holds — powerful words for sure.
When Ebling questioned Seldon’s decision to give a Prime Radiant to the Empire, Seldon dismissed him without any answer. This shows Seldon is unwilling to cooperate with Ebling to avoid the third crisis.
In fact, Seldon seems to want the crisis to unfold. This leaves Ebling alone in his struggle, stepping into a bigger role in the Foundation — similar to how Seldon led in season one.
One scene that took my breath away was the speeder bike chase on the desert planet between the foundation and the traitors. The visual effects were stunning, and we met the legendary Captain Han Pritcher.
His role in hunting down the Mule will be significant, and he will have a special connection with Gaal Dornick this season. The two are expected to meet in episode two.
Gaal’s Awakening and Her Connection to The Mule
Speaking of Gaal, she isn’t physically present in episode one, but her voice narrates from the future, warning of what’s to come.
At the end of the episode, she finally wakes up from cryosleep. She’s the only one who saw the Mule coming through her vision — meaning there’s no way to stop the Mule without her.
In episode two, after meeting Gaal, Han Pritcher will realize her importance. Together, they will start to join forces.
Meanwhile, the Empire is unstable. The genetic dynasty has weakened beyond belief. It’s no longer the three-man clone dynasty we saw before.
The Cleons are surrounded by the Galactic Council, which challenges their authority constantly. Brother Dawn is trying to form a new alliance with the merchant princes, but the Council doesn’t trust him.
He even stages a skit where a rebel throws dirt on him just to prove the alliance’s worth. This desperation shows how little power the Kleons have left.
They’re no longer gods — they’re figureheads fighting for relevance.
The Evolution of The Cleons and The Return of Brother Day
What really shocked me was seeing how much the Kleons have changed individually. They’re still clones, but behaving like completely different people.
For example, Dawn was an insecure teenager before, but in season three, he’s an ambitious politician. This change is part of the theme of genetic drift, which will be crucial this season.
Even after one episode, we see them struggling to maintain continuity with who they’re supposed to be.
Now, let’s talk about the elephant in the room — Brother Day. Our beloved Lee Pace returns halfway through the episode, and his transformation is mind-blowing.
He’s been off the grid since being ejected into space last season and has gone into full exile. Think of Endgame Thor — long hair, beard, poetry, a pet camel, and spice smoking.
But unlike Thor, Day is still extremely fit. Can we appreciate how much of an eye candy Lee Pace still is?
Day claims he’s no longer a threat, saying, “That man is gone. I’m not a threat to anyone.” But honestly, I don’t believe him.
Once a Day, always a Day. I’m sure he’ll return to his usual self later this season when he realizes the Empire is in danger, with only four months left.
Demerzel’s Confession, Prime Radiant & The Robot Wars
Interestingly, Demerzel, who’s always been composed and loyal, is starting to crack. Her dramatic confession scene was powerful.
She confesses to a nun about her past during the Robot Wars, explaining how she’s been enslaved by the Kleons for generations.
She fears what freedom would mean because her identity is deeply tied to serving the Cleons. She even admits to having the Prime Radiant, revealing this in her confessional knowing the nun won’t remember.
These sessions act as Demerzel’s confessions throughout the season. In episode two, she’ll reveal more about her fears and especially her plans.
She is embracing her robot identity again and might be working on a new plan to bring robots back.
Now that the Prime Radiant isn’t working beyond four months, civilization is effectively off the map. The Seldon plan is failing.
However, behind-the-scenes rumors suggest that only the Empire’s Prime Radiant is broken. Maybe Seldon gave them a faulty one to push them into action.
Let me know what you think about this theory.
The Mule’s Terrifying Entrance and What’s Next
Now let’s talk about the Mule. What an introduction! He arrives on Khalgan, the Pleasure Planet, the Las Vegas of this universe.
Upon arrival, he takes control of an entire army using pure mind control, making them turn against each other.
I knew the Mule would be scary, but Pilu Asbæk brings unpredictability to the role. If you thought his Game of Thrones character was unhinged, the Mule is even more terrifying.
He’ll do anything he wants, and Khalgan is the perfect base for his dark plans. In episode two, we’ll see him rule Khalgan as a prototype for what he wants to do to the entire universe.