‘Foundation’ Season 3 receives 7.5 out of 10 stars.

Released on Apple TV+ on July 11th with its initial episode, ‘Foundation’ returns us to the multi-storyline tale of an Empire’s fall and a dedicated –– some might say obsessed –– scientist’s drive to steer the future.

With David S. Goyer (‘The Dark Knight’) as its showrunner, the series stars Jared Harris (‘Chernobyl’), Lee Pace (‘Bodies Bodies Bodies’), Lou Llobell (‘Voyagers’), Pilou Asbæk (‘Ghost in the Shell’) and Terrence Mann (‘Critters’).

Related Article: TV Review: ‘Foundation’ Season 2

Initial Thoughts

We are long past the point where Isaac Asimov’s ‘Foundation’ stories are considered “unfilmable” –– the team behind this Apple series have been putting the lie to that since 2021.

Yet, the source material’s endlessly layered and complex themes have not always proven so easy to transition to screens, and the third season of the show continues that. There are storylines and characters who pop (the returning ones), while others struggle to make themselves stand out.

And some serious production issues (strikes, budgetary squabbles) have led to delays on this one –– but fortunately the quality is unaffected.

Script and Direction

While Goyer had been serving as both head writer and initial director for the first three episodes, he was swapped out –– on the directing front, at least, by Tim Southam, who has worked on the likes of ‘One Piece’ and ‘Lost in Space’. Partly that was to allow Goyer to focus on the writing side, and partly to curb budgetary overruns.

And it’s not hard to see why –– ‘Foundation’ remains a visually dazzling, clearly expensive series that manages to balance intimate, intense character moments with sweeping star-scapes and big location shoots.

But none of that is worth it if the scripts don’t work, and while the series sometimes loses itself in esoterica, it still delivers on the ‘Game of Thrones’-esque machinations of competing political, scientific, and particularly this season, criminal dynamics looking to dominate the galaxy.

There’s real scope and scale here, but the writers also don’t forget to narrow down to a more human level (even if the character is, say, a humanoid robot who can tear her own face open with a fingertip and seal it back up again like someone else shutting a Ziploc.

On the directing side, Southam and the other directors keeps up the style of the show, all grand architecture and vibrant costumes, and the effects remain impressive.

Cast and Performances

As I mentioned above, the veteran cast are, for the most part, the characters who pop. Jared Harris continues to own every scene he’s in as “psychohistory” expert Hari Seldon, the deep thinker with a planet-sized ego whose math-based theories have predicted the end of empires and how civilizations can speed up the chaotic periods in between interstellar calm.

Harris is measured and fantastically smug in equal measure and despite his character’s seeming death last season, he’s not letting that stop him make pronouncements.

If there’s anyone who can match Harris for sheer presence it’s Lee Pace as Brother Day, one of the three clones who rules the Empire in endless succession, a new one decanted when one dies, and always three hanging around arguing (Pace’s scenes with co-stars Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk, the older variant and Brother Dawn, played by Cassian Bilton, are always good).

Pace, never knowingly fully clothed, is handed yet more solid material to play here, and while it’s less showy than other season, it deepens his character as his flaws really start to play on him. Plus a mano-a-mano duel late in the season we won’t spoil here is excellent.

Rounding out the standout veteran characters is The Mule, with ‘Game of Thrones’ veteran Pilou Asbæk taking over the role for this third season. A psychic warlord who can influence the brain of almost anyone he meets, he’s like a violent, vulgar crossbreed of Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, a man who believes he’s destined to rule worlds and isn’t above slaughtering people to achieve his aims.

Asbæk gives him just the right amount of sneer mixed with charisma, and The Mule is a highlight of the new season.

No less impactful but much humbler is Lou Lobell’s Gaal Dornick, one of Hari’s main followers who has long since evolved into her own person with her own mission. Lobell makes her believable and empathetic.

And Laura Birn, who plays synthetic lifeform Demerzel, an aide to Pace and co’s emperors who is much more –– and much more powerful/influential than anyone suspects continues to impress.

Of the new characters this year, there is good work from Alexander Siddig (back on the science fiction beat after his first big role in ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ decades ago). While Siddig had a small role in Season 1 of the show, he’s back playing Dr. Ebling Mis here.

Finally, there are three other newcomers who pop –– Synnøve Karlsen and Cody Fern as Bayta and Toran Mallow, a spoiled rich couple on their honeymoon who get swept up into the Mule’s storyline and Tómas Lemarquis as a hypnotic musician who works with the criminal character.

Final Thoughts

‘Foundation’ might seem impenetrable to some. But if you give it a chance to wrap its tendrils around your brain, you’ll appreciate the magic trick it is pulling off bringing one of the most complicated and thoughtful novel series to life.

What’s the plot of ‘Foundation’?

Set 152 years after the events of the second season, The Foundation has become increasingly established far beyond its humble beginnings while the Cleonic Dynasty’s Empire has dwindled.

As these galactic powers forge an uneasy alliance, a threat to the entire galaxy appears in the fearsome form of a war lord known as The Mule whose sights are set on ruling the universe by use of physical and military force, as well as mind control. It’s anyone’s guess who will win, who will lose, who will live and who will die.

Who stars in ‘Foundation’?

• Jared Harris as Hari Seldon
• Lee Pace as Brother Day
• Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick
• Laura Birn as Demerzel
• Cassian Bilton as Brother Dawn
• Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk
• Pilou Asbæk as The Mule
• Cody Fern as Toran Mallow
• Synnove Karlsen as Bayta Mallow
• Alexander Siddig as Dr. Ebling Mis

List of David S. Goyer Movies:

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