A new clip from Foundation explains the Apple TV+ series' major conflict. Created by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman, the new show adapts the series of novels of the same name by Isaac Asimov, which are considered formative texts in the science fiction genre. Foundation premiered its first two episodes today, September 24, with the rest of season 1 to release weekly.
Set in a distant future in which humans have established a Galactic Empire across the Milky Way, the premise of Foundation involves the fictional science of psychohistory, in which statistics can be used to predict the future of large populations. The theory is developed by the mathematician Hari Seldon (Jared Harris), who discovers the Empire will soon collapse and bring about a lengthy Dark Age across the galaxy. While this fall is inevitable, he argues, the right actions can reduce this gap between Empires from 30,000 years to just 1,000.
The crux of that conflict is on full display in this Foundation clip released by PlayStation. In it, Harris' Dr. Seldon and his protégé, Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell), are brought before Emperor Cleon, depicted here as three clones at three distinct ages. The middle clone, Brother Day (Lee Pace), holds Seldon responsible for an attack on the Empire, and suggests executing him and his followers. Dornick, however, says that would be catastrophic:
Dornick explains to the Emperor that because Seldon is the only person capable of shortening the coming Dark Age, killing him would only accelerate the fall. The imposing Brother Day is suspicious of this seemingly convenient data point, but Seldon confirms that if the Empire's demise can be accelerated, it can also be slowed. This sets up Foundation's major conflict: Seldon and the psychohistorians must convince the Empire, which they believe is doomed to fail, that they are the only ones who can hasten its second coming.
Asimov's novels are famously expansive, covering a millennium and constantly starting over with brand new characters, and adapting this in any format is certainly a challenge. However, clips like this are reason for Foundation fans to be excited by the new series, which seems intent on matching the source material's epic scope. Much of the promotional material has highlighted the breathtaking visuals and production design, but this exchange is character-focused, evidence that the show will not sacrifice the human element for the grandeur of its vision. For those intrigued enough to want more, the first two episodes of Foundation are available to stream now on Apple TV+.
Source: PlayStation