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Foundation (2021): Where Tyrants Spend Eternity - S3E05 - RECAP - INLEO Version@skiptvads275d

Foundation Season 3 Episode 5 turn this whole thing into one giant mind bender that left me questioning every about who is trying to help who?, I mean they took the whole chess game metaphor and cranked it up to 11 where Gaal is basically playing with human lives like they are just numbers on a calculator, I only wonder if at some point in time life will become just that, I know now days we can say it is but I think not yet at the levels of this series. The whole episode is built around Gaal manipulating Brother Dawn into creating this massive trap around Kalgan, convincing him that surrounding the planet with Imperial battleships will contain the Mule when really she wants the entire fleet wiped out. The girl straight up orchestrated genocide to weaken the Empire and strengthen Foundation, that is some cold calculation right there that makes you wonder how far she has traveled from the innocent mathematician from Season 1, I have just started watching Season 1. Dawn thinks he is making independent decisions and doing the right thing by forming this enclosure with the council, meanwhile Gaal is pulling his strings like he is a puppet, the manipulation game is strong with this one. The crazy part is how they use the Empires own jump gate technology against them, turning their faster than light travel into a delivery system for this thing called a cobalt spike weapon that just erases the entire Imperial fleet in seconds. You watch these thousands of ships move into position thinking they are setting up containment when really they are just making themselves sitting ducks for slaughter, the visual of all those battleships getting obliterated was sick, there is no dramatic explosions or anything, they just disappear like they never existed, the whole act make the effects unnecesary at all.

IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804484/
Platform: AppleTV+

Rottentomatoes Rating

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![](https://i.imgur.com/77aG1My.png) [Source](https://tinyurl.com/yn746rtw) At this point the Foundation has evolved from this hopeful thing about preserving knowledge into something much darker and more ruthless, Gaal went from being this gentle scientist who wanted to save civilization to someone willing to sacrifice entire planets for what she believes is the greater good, take in consideration that there are no guarantees so this are HUGE risks Gaal constantly takes, sounds irrational to be honest. That transformation feels earned through time but also pretty disturbing when you think about the mathematics of it all, she talks about individual lives being variables in larger equations and you can see how far removed she has become from caring about actual people, she even tells this to Pritcher straight to his face when he ask her to run away with him. The episode does a great job showing this through Dawn who did believe he is doing the right thing while being completely manipulated, his character represents the tragedy of good intentions being twisted by people who think they know better, after all who can guarantee Gaal is right?, have she been right a couple of times yes but she is predicting the infinite future when she have all this blur visions. Brother Day is still spiraling into madness while Brother Dusk seems lost in his own little world of traditions and ceremony, meanwhile Dawn is the only one who appears to have any kind of desicions over his life but even that turns out to be an illusion. The Empire is basically a zombie at this point, still moving around and going through the motions but already dead, they just dont know it yet and Gaal is the one holding the knife waiting to finish the job. The political maneuvering between all these factions gets complex fast, you got different groups playing long term games that span decades while individual characters think they are making choices when really everything was planned out years in advance, but there is something none of them know and Brother Dusk is the key to all of it.

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The technical stuff in this episode was solid as hell, the way they showed the cobalt spike weapon working was scary, like watching an entire civilization get erased with the push of a button. The jump gate technology being turned into a weapon is such a clever concept, taking something that enables exploration and turning it into a tool for massive destruction, its like turning highways into missile launchers which is a pretty dark metaphor for how technology can be perverted. The space battles in Foundation have always been more about strategy than spectacle but this episode found a good balance, especially with those fleet formations around Kalgan where you could feel the tension building as all these ships moved into position. Even though the script might not always be at its A game, the visual quality is almost on every episode specially with such events like the Cobalt Spike, the way they showed the destruction, there is something terrifying about watching thousands of ships just vanish without any sound or drama, just gone like they never mattered. Hull and other characters keep stepping up, showing sides of themselves that we have not seen before while the enigmatic Magnifico Giganticus becomes more central to everything going on.

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But the real meat of this episode is the character development, especially for Gaal who has basically completed her transformation from idealistic scientist to ruthless strategist willing to do anything to ensure survival. When she talks about the necessity of sacrifice and how the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, you can see how psychohistory has warped her thinking until individual lives become just data points in her calculations, I have never seen such concept taken to the extreme into a TV series, mostly across time, she had hundred of years to give this a thought and actually never change or imagine she was wrong, kinda Thanos way of thinking. Hari Seldon continues pulling strings from beyond the grave but even his psychohistory cant account for wildcards like the Mule who operates outside normal patterns of human behavior, creating chaos that no one can predict or control. The episode raises serious questions about Demerzels stability as she gets lost deeper into emotional drama I never thought her character would have, she is a robot making her reactions even more unpredictable and dangerous, its weird she have not snap and killed anyone yet, this is just half way of the season and feels like the end with all the chaos and unfolding crisis shows how complex the entire survival aspects it considering its literally the continuation of human civilization.

Going int to end, you think Dawn is coming back through the airlock after everything that went down, Demerzel shows up instead with that line about 300 years that changes everything. The look on Gaals face when she realizes the robot has been playing an even longer game than her was priceless, these two have been circling each other for three seasons and now they are finally face to face with all their cards on the table, although the only true immortal here is Demerzel. The whole cliffhanger works perfectly, making you realize that Demerzel has been orchestrating events from way further back than anyone imagined while Gaal thought she was the mastermind givin way more context to episodes from even season 1, and Gaal thought she was the only one taking risks for the survival of the Foundation but it ends up that Demerzel had the same intentions but for the Empire. Episode gets a solid 87.5/10 from me, the political drama aspect was tight as hell, the action sequences delivered when they needed to and very smooth too, and that ending left me wanting more immediately, lucky me I can since Im only half way and the series already ended irl. Gaals choices without making excuses for the genocide she orchestrated shows how mature this series has become, its not afraid to show the dark side of trying to save civilization when the cost might be higher than anyone wants to pay.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, foundation, gaal, demerzel, dawn, mule, empire, kalgan, cobalt, spike, fleet, destruction, manipulation, strategy, sacrifice, chess, galactic, betrayal, confrontation, centuries, endgame, morally, complicated, transformation, choices, implications

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›Foundation (2021): The Stress of Her Regard - S3E04 - RECAP@skiptvads280d
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Foundation Season 3 Episode 4, damn its one of those episodes that really makes you think about where this series is heading and I dont understand from where people might say they are bored with this series only after 3 Seasons, yes I can understand how they can feel both Gaal and the Empire plans feel over extended but with The Mule as the new factor in the equation things seem to be more interesting and exciting, the way this season focus more on Demerzel character was something else and honestly I'm still processing how a robot breaks character when it cant break the three laws and go against its program. Episode four titled "Distress of Her Regard" really puts all the cards on the table when it comes to what Demerzels been doing behind the scenes, she finally admits she was the one responsible for the Starbridge bombing that killed all those people way back in season one and the way she talks about it is so cold its almost scary. The revelation that she orchestrated this massive terrorist attack to protect Harry Seldon and let the Foundation grow is wild but also makes perfect sense when you think about her programming, shes been playing chess while everyone else is playing checkers and now we finally see how deep her manipulation goes.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804484/
- Platform: AppleTV+
Rottentomatoes Rating

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What really got me was how she explains her reasoning to Zephyr in that garden scene, the way she justifies killing millions of people because she believed it would help the Empire survive longer term is both logical and both sad and negative towards the Empire because she still believe the dynasty is going to disappear she is just trying to extend it as much as she can. She basically admits that without the Foundation succeeding the Empire would have just executed Harry and fallen apart much quicker, so she sacrificed all those lives on the Starbridge to create the exact scenario that would keep both sides alive and fighting for centuries. The fact that she can talk about this massive loss of life like its just another tactical decision really shows how different she is from humans, even when she clearly struggles with some kind of emotional conflict about her actions. Zephyr tries to get her to see that maybe she could have a different purpose once the Empire falls but Demerzel literally cant think that way, her programming wont let her imagine a world where she doesnt serve the Cleons and its both tragic and frustrating to watch.

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Brother Day finally making his move to escape and go after Song was something I saw coming but the execution was better than I expected, watching him kill Mavon after realizing he was being betrayed was brutal and showed us this version of Day is way more ruthless and calculative than previous ones, how he made reference he lost all those times playing cards with the guards and Mavon almost like he was trying to learn them so when the day comes he knew not who to trust but who would betray him the less basically, I think that was clever writing from the series and instead of making it predictable gives it more context to what could have always been Brother Day plan to one day escape, it shows Day has been paying attention and learning even when he seemed like he was just partying and causing trouble. The whole sequence where he steals one of Demerzels tools while she was doing maintenance on herself was intense but dumb too, how she let that slide? was it because she trust him? this is the part where the "robot" character keeps falling appart and feels like human errors, seeing her with her head detached was both cool and creepy as hell and it really brings in that she is a machine even when she acts "human ish" most of the time. Day spitting on the floor after talking to Cleon the firsts memory was such the disrespectful and balls to the wall move almost like not even a Cleon itself cant stand been a Cleon after properly analizing all the wront they have done through centuries, it shows how disgusted he is with the legacy of violence and oppression that defines his dynasty.

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The political stuff with Quent and Dusk discovering each other had romantic feelings was unexpected but worked really well, I always saw them together but also shows that most Cleon cant have no love for a partner, the Empire is always above everything even live or humanity, their chemistry has been building for a while but seeing it finally come out in the open while they are looking at the Prime Radiant together was a romantic moment and Dusk showing off how to use the Radiant felt just right when a man is trying to pick up a woman based on showing of some skill. The way Dusk shows her this device that can predict the future and they both get so caught up in the moment they forget about the chaos around them its supposed to show every Clean still has a human side, even these powerful people just want connection and love when everything around them is falling apart, Dusk has not even made peace with one day turning into dust . Meanwhile Gaal and Han relationship keeps getting more complicated as she struggles between her mission to stop the mule and her feelings for him, the way he wants to just run away and get married while she knows she has to save the galaxy creates this tension that pulls them apart, after hundreds of years of planing and going into cryo she was dead set on the goal and target and not Han or any other lover would change it. The mule learning about Gaal through Hans mind is going to create even more problems and I love how the series keeps building up for that moment, that vision might start to feel force if they dont get to it or at least give it a rest and not make it the center of attention too much.

Dawn deciding to leave with Gaal at the end was the right move even though it means abandoning his chance to become Day, the way she used her mental powers to hide them from the guards and make them forget what they were looking for had Dawn amazed and terrify since he realize just how powerful she really is and at the same time that he can be another pawn on her play when he ask if she can read peoples mind and if she have been doing it with him, the answer was obvious and he still decided to go with it. The fact that all three Cleon brothers are now going in completely different directions felt right as the Empire is starting to split and probably spells the end of the dynasty as we know it, Dusk is falling in love, Day is on a revenge mission and Dawn is joining the rebellion that wants to destroy everything the Empire represents but he kinda share Demerzel vision to keep the Empire going he must do certain things that really fall into a gray area. This episode really feels like a turning point for the entire series, all the pieces that have been moving around for three seasons are finally starting to come together and feel inevitable but also surprising, like everything has been perfetcly calculated for years by Gaal's work. I have to admit the series can feel slow sometimes and I understand why some people think its getting stretched out too much, but episodes like this shows me how even with Season 3 been my only season I keep watching because when Foundation has so much quality in its storytelling, political drama, suspense and also is not bloaded with human emotional side because of how the sci fi aspects rips it apart, I dont know, its just my personal way to describe it, it really hits hard and makes all the political and character development worth it.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #foundation, #demerzel, #starbridge, #empire, #cleon, #seldon, #psychohistory, #robot, #programming, #rebellion, #gail, #dusk, #dawn, #mule, #trantor, #manipulation, #sacrifice, #dynasty, #politics, #varelis, #maven, #betrayal, #romance, #quent, #scifi

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›Foundation (2021): When a Book Finds You - S3E03 - RECAP@skiptvads281d
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This episode of Foundation just delievered one of the most intense episodes of the entire season so far and even though I havent seen Season 1 or 2 Im really enjoying the series, in fact there is not much story needed to follow up and today it just got renewed for season 4, episode 3 titled "When a Book Finds You" gave context about how Gaal Dornick and Brother Dawn ended up working together and honestly it came to a shocking how all this is happening but tis very clear Gaal is the one pulling the strings not Empire. The opening scene showing us how Dawn got recruited three years ago was brilliant, him trying to research psychohistory at the library only to find out that the librarian was basically a spy for the Second Foundation, thats exactly the type of sneaky political intrigue that makes this show so addictive. What really caught my attention was the way they handled the whole recruitment process, it wasnt some dramatic action scene but this quiet conversation in a tea house where Gaal shows up as a hologram, I was never here; and basically reads Dawn like an open book, knowing exactly what buttons to push to get him on her side, after all she have been alive for hundreds of years, seen and meet so many people he was just so easy to decode. The fact that she knew about all the previous Dawns and their escape attempts was such a smart move, showing that shes been studying the Empire for decades, waiting for the right moment to find someone willing to break free from the system.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804484/
- Platform: AppleTV+
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Source The relationship between the three Cleon brothers really hit me hard this episode, specially that scene where they share the ceremonial drink and talk about strength, wisdom and fortitude, it was probably the most human moment I have seen from them in the entire season or probably for the entire series. Brother Day keeps trying to escape with Song but everything keeps going wrong for him, first he reveals to her that Demerzel is a robot which totally freaks her out but not in the way he expected, she was all for it since she belongs to this secret religion called the Inheritance where they worship robots, believing that artificial beings will eventually return to save humanity from suffering, so when she finds out Demerzel is a robot she sees her as some kind of messiah instead of a threat. This whole subplot about the robot religion was fascinating because it shows how desperate people are for something to believe in, I actually get too excited about this series sometimes, even in a galaxy where robots have been banned for centuries there are still groups secretly worshipping them hoping for salvation, humans tend to have that kind of behavior with anything that gets prohibited. The way Song gave that secret signal to Demerzel completely changed the situation, showing that she was willing to betray Day for her faith and watching his reaction when he realized what happened was brutal, Lee Pace really nailed that moment of heartbreak and rage, he is such a great actor.

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Source The Mule continues to be the most terrifying villain but I'm now starting to feel he also has his own vulnerabilities, at first though he was close to invinsible but the thing is that there are not many like him, that scene at the party where he gets inside Han Pritchards mind was absolutely killer, the way the camera frame distorts when he uses his powers gives you this sense of being pulled into someones consciousness against their will and becoming a prisoner in your own mind. Pritchard trying to resist and then just running away showed how dangerous the Mule really is, even someone whos supposed to be a mental himself cant stand up to his power for more than a few seconds, but latter on its revelead why. The whole party sequence with Torren and Beta trying to get information while distracting the Mule was so tense, specially when the Mule started that insulting game and then threatened to make Torren peel his own skin off while enjoying it, this was fkn crazy, you could feel the pure evil from the Mule and its something I really appreciate from Pilou Asbaek, how even when he looks over the top manage to nail the character. Beta managing to rescue Magnifico Giganticus was such a smart move, not just because she saved him from abuse but because taking away something the Mule cares about is going to make him even more dangerous, his ballader is the key to increasing his reach and power over others and is one of his vulnerabilities, but its just too late for Magnifico or anyone else who has felt it "I have never felt this kind of love".

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Source Brother Dawn trying to negotiate with the Mule over the hologram was another standout moment, showing how different the two characters approaches to conflicts and power, Dawn still believes in diplomacy and trade agreements while the Mule just wants to burn everything down and take what he wants. The Mules response about Dawn learning to snap napkins while he learned to kill was such a perfect way to show the difference between someone whos lived a sheltered life of privilege and someone whos had to fight for everything, and when he rejected the offer to bring back Kalgan under the Empire control, it was clear that this isnt someone whos interested in working within the system. The fact that hes already taken control of the jump gates without anyone knowing shows that hes been planning this takeover for a long time, it was such a 3D Chess move and his comment about things being preordained tells me that he might have some connection to psychohistory, but this is also me trying to go too deep into the series or thinking I know much about it my imagination flying her or is it at least he believes that his victory is inevitable, could he have a radiant or solved the problems Gaal and Demerzel have been trying to fix?.

The ending with Demerzel erasing Songs memory was probably the most emotionaly devastating part of the episode, watching Day return to find that the woman he loves has been turned into a stranger was heartbreaking and Demerzel trying to justify it as mercy just made it worse, watching Demerzel going out of character and loosing temper was something I was not expecting from a robot. The fact that Song was sent back to the Mycogen sector where she belongs to that robot worshipping religion opens up so many questions about what Demerzel is really planning, she claims she did it to protect Day but I think theres more to it like she has her own agenda or probably is starting to feel, its almost like a bug taking over her program. This episode really showed how every character is dealing with impossible choices, Dawn working with the enemy of his own empire, Day losing the person he cares about most and the Mule becoming more dangerous with each episode, the way everything is building toward a massive confrontation makes me think the next few episodes are going to be absolutely insane. The production quality continues to be amazing, those scenes on Kalgan looked incredible and the way they handled the mind control effects was just enough and terrifying too, this show keeps proving that science fiction television can be just as epic and emotional as any movie when its done right, best episode for me so far.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #foundation, #mule, #demerzel, #cleon, #dawn, #gaal, #psychohistory, #empire, #robot, #memory, #song, #inheritance, #pritchard, #kalgan, #hologram, #magnifico, #torren, #beta, #mind, #control, #ceremony, #brothers, #library, #religion, #scifi

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›Foundation: Shadows in the Math - S03E02 - RECAP@skiptvads284d
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I just put a few hours on Foundation yesterday during a family reunion, after I hang out with everyone else decided to take my tablet and catch up from episode 6 to 9 so now Im all catch up on Season 3 but still want to post for this entire season, withouth yet watching Season 1 and 2 I really start to love this series and Episode 2 does served up another dose of mind bending sci fi drama titled "Shadows in the Math" really kept me interested even though some parts felt a bit draggy at times but the entire series is like that. The whole time jumping aspect continues to be both fascinating and occasionally confusing, we get this massive 152 year gap that lacks a ton of context that I wish they would slow down and let us breathe with these characters a bit more with multiple storylines without making me feel completely lost, though I have to admit there were moments where I had to rewind because I missed something crucial. The visual effects continue to be absolutely stunning, those shots of the different planets and the space sequences are just gorgeous to look at, its the kind of eye candy that makes you forget about any plot holes for a minute. Brother Dusk's storyline really picked up steam here and I found myself actually caring about his desperation to stay alive, which is saying something because usually these Cleon brothers can be a bit too similar for my taste but this episode gave him some real personality. The whole black hole weapon thing was terrifying and exciting at the same time, its like watching someone build the ultimate doomsday device while knowing it will probably backfire spectacularly later on.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804484/
- Platform: AppleTV+
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Gaal's awakening sequence after being in cryo sleep for so long felt very sci fi and mistical, between her confusion and anger at Harry for keeping her under longer than promised felt very human human from her and gives that touch to the series not feel so unreal. Seeing Harry age to the point of being on his deathbed was sad, especially after we have watched him manipulate events from behind the scenes for so long. The relationship between these two characters has always been one of the strongest parts of the season and I guess it has been building up from Season 1. Within that character build there is and overall Mentalics evolution during Gaal's absence, they are no longer this religious group but have become something more like spies spread across the galaxy. The whole Second Foundation concept is starting to make more sense now, though I still think they could explain some of these psychohistory elements better since at times feels just too advance and lack context but probably this is me missing two seasons. Harry been gone through that mysterious portal was both kinda frustrating and somewhat satisfying too, satisfying because it felt like a proper goodbye but frustrating because I want to know more about where he went and what that means for future episodes. The scenes between Gaal and the new First Speaker Palver were touching, especially when they were laughing together over the statue situation, it showed a lighter side to these heavy storylines and its sadness.

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Brother Dawn's secret communication with Gaal at the end was probably my favorite moment of the entire episode, but this was the begining of something way bigger for the Foundation and the Empire, I really thought she care for him but was just another pawn. The political maneuvering on Trantor continues to take some action although is not the focus, watching these three brothers deal with their different approaches to the impending crisis shows just how complex this empire really is. Brother Day's gambling scenes felt a bit unnecessary to me, like they were trying too hard to show us his rektless attitude when we already got that from his previous scenes. The whole nanite technology thing they mentioned become very important later, its one of those details that seems small now but will probably pay off in future episodes. Demerzel's role as this unchanging force watching over the dynasty becomes more interesting when you consider that she might outlive all of them, her conversations with the brothers have this underlying tension that I really pick up like someone ows something but until this episode I didnt know if it was Empire who took something from Demerzel, in a way Demerzel best friend could be time as its both a weapon and a limitation, everyone is running out of time in different ways and it creates this sense of urgency throughout the episode.

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The Mule's demonstration with Skirlet and the gun was absolutely chilling, even though I knew he would not actually kill her, the tension was unbearable, killing kids is never good for media anyway. His ability to control minds while still wanting genuine love and loyalty creates this contradiction that makes him more than just your typical villain, the Mule is a geniues as enslaving people through love "love they never felt before". The way he talks about wanting everyone to love him reveals something deeper about his character, maybe some childhood trauma or rejection that drives his need and ability to control others. Torren and Beta Malow's introduction as these rich influencer types was both annoying and necessary, they represent this privileged class that has been ignoring the larger problems in the galaxy plus been influencers resonates with todays world so that was clever. Their work with Han Pritcher develops a very interesting infiltration plan, though I hope they develop these characters beyond just being spoiled brats. The whole party invitation angle gives them a way to get close to the Mule without it feeling too convenient but eventually what worries me is how easily the Mule could turn this party into a mass conversion event is what I though at the moment, using his powers to create an army of loyal followers all at once something I keep asking why he doesnt turn everyone he lays eyes on??.

Until this episode I had some friction opinion about the pacing and character development, some storylines moved forward nicely while others felt like they were either dragging or missing too much context like Priest for example. The production quality continue to be what keeps this series going hard, every planet feels distinct and the costumes are just ridiculous in the best possible way, Demerzel's outfits alone are worth watching. Brother Dusk's planet killer weapon reminds me Nidavellir from the MCU where Stormbraker was made powered by a small star, its also another threat that could end civilization and it made me curious to see how they will all come together, how Dusk is going to use it against the Mule. This episode is full of future conflicts without resolving too much so keeping the tension high, eventually the Vault opening day is key too, which keeps you wanting more but also leaves you feeling a bit unsatisfied but still wanting more. Harry's warnings about what comes after the Mule's defeat suggest there are even bigger threats lurking but how it can be bigger or worst than the Mule taking over or Dusk using his new weapon. Gaal's position as the leader of the Second Foundation puts a lot of pressure on her character and I hope they give her enough screen time so she does not become just another overwhelmed hero trying to save everyone without much development now that she is really out there looking for the Mule. The alliance between the Foundation and Empire could be exactly what both sides need to survive but it also creates new problems about who can be trusted. I would give this episode a solid 7 out of 10, it is not perfect but it sets up some exciting developments for the rest of the season that Im sure most viewers end up enjoying, at least I did so much I couldnt wait to catch up the rest of the episodes.

#skiptvads, #inleo, #hive, #foundation, #scifi, #television, #appletv, #review, #gail, #harry, #seldon, #brothers, #cleon, #empire, #mule, #dusk, #dawn, #demerzel, #psychohistory, #mentalics, #trantor, #weapon, #blackhole, #alliance, #cryo, #speaker, #crisis, #galaxy

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›Foundation (2021): A Song for the End of Everything – S3E01 – RECAP@skiptvads294d
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I decided to watch this series because I read how huge the entire story is also a very complicated one that you do need to put your 110% attention into it to follow up, lucky me this first episode gives a lot of context but at the same time feels boring without much drama and mostly empire thinking they have the full control of everything, btw dont murder me on a comment if I get a name or a theory wrong this is just a recap post based on my opinion not a lore discussion. The empire is trying to strike back with subterfuge all the while brother Dawn and Dusk are trying to keep things together. Brother Day had transformed completely, for the better from the viewers perspective, he is off on a journey of discovery and reconnecting with nature and people while brother Dawn is in deep reflection mode and brother Dusk is kinetic, solidifying his power base, plotting and scheming. On the other side, the foundation itself is dealing with corruption and inept leadership but showing peaks of hope with new characters introduced, both powers are aware of the Mule, whose terrifying power display is convincing that he can achieve his goal of defeating both empire and foundation. I wonder if the two super powers be able to neutralize this emerging threat? Hard to see that turning out well based on the state of their leadership. The visuals, music, sets and individual performances are stunning and the story telling in this episode is very well paced with both the serious and larger themes being addressed in addition to some lighter moments, I will for sure continue watching and catch up.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0804484/
- Platform: AppleTV+
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This entire thing is a crazy universe thats 152 years into the future and honestly the world building is probably the best aspect of the show. The episode titled "A Song for the End of Everything" really sets up everything thats gonna go down this season with the Mule finally making his presence known in the most terrifying way possible, the guy basically walks onto a pleasure planet and just takes it over without breaking a sweat which is both impressive and scary as hell. Digging a bit into the previous season it seems they recast the Mule with this new actor who brings this creepy charisma that makes you understand why people would follow him, the opening scene where he forces that Archduke to bite off his own finger was absolutely brutal and sets the tone perfectly for what kind of villain we are dealing with. The way he can turn entire armies against each other just by using his mental powers shows us that psycho history might not be enough to predict what hes gonna do next, this dude is basically the joker in Harry Seldon mathematical deck and I love how unpredictable that makes everything. The visual effects when showing his powers are really well done too, you can see the budget increase from previous seasons and it shows in every scene from the space battles to the different planets we visit.

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There is this interesting event almost like a thicking bomb where Brother Dawn is only ten days away from becoming Brother Day and you can tell hes ready for the responsibility, hes sharp and knows how to work the political game which is a nice change from some of the previous versions we have seen. The galactic council scenes were really well done showing how Dawn can manipulate a room full of politicians and even stage his own protest to get what he wants, this kid is gonna be dangerous when he takes over fully. Brother Dusk spending his time watching old execution videos of previous cleons was dark as hell but it makes sense that hes trying to prepare himself for whats coming, the way they show him being anxious about his upcoming death really adds some humanity to these characters. Then theres Brother Day who has completely checked out and is living his best life with this girl named Song smoking drugs and writing poetry about cloned animals, which sounds ridiculous. The contrast between the three brothers and where they are mentally right now creates this interesting tension that drives the whole empire storyline forward.

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The foundation side of things introduces us to some really interesting new characters but also shows us how much the organization has changed over the past 152 years, they are no longer the scrappy underdogs fighting against impossible odds but have become this massive power with 800 planets under their control. What I really liked was meeting Professor Ebling Miss who seems to be the only person who actually understands what Harry Seldon was trying to accomplish, his scene inside the vault with vault Harry was probably my favorite part of the episode because it shows how disconnected the current foundation leadership is from the original mission. The mayor of new terminus is such an incompetent politician who cares more about staying in power than actually preparing for whats coming, which creates this nice parallel with the empire where both organizations are being led by people who dont really get the bigger picture. Han Pritchard seems like hes gonna be our main action hero for the foundation side and I really hope they give him more to do than just chase around these trader rebels, the whole sequence on Haven with the pod racing through those temperature extremes was visually impressive but felt a bit rushed. Demerzel has to be the most fascinating character on the entire show and her scenes with the zephyr priestess were incredible, finally getting some real backstory about the robot wars and how the laws of robotics actually work in this universe, besides she is son beautiful. The garden setting with those poisoned golden apples was beautiful and creepy at the same time, this entire story is so complex and the amount of imagination put into, you can tell the production designers really thought about every detail to make these locations feel lived in and meaningful. The bigger question comes in when Demerzel talks about not knowing what she is without empire, that kind of existential crisis from an artificial being raises so many interesting questions about identity and purpose that I hope they explore more as the season goes on. The way she stores the prime radiant inside her chest look very practical and symbolic showing how shes literally carrying the future of humanity inside her, the special effects for that scene were really well executed.

I though it would be way harder to catch the thread of the series but the episode does a great job setting up all the pieces for what feels like its gonna be a really intense season with the mule as this wild card that neither empire nor foundation can predict or control. Gail waking up from cryo sleep at the end gave that feeling that maybe someone will be able to stand against the mule since shes the only other person with similar mental abilities but even she admits that her powers are nowhere near as strong as his, the Mule remind me Sentry on Thunderbolts, way over powered and who is going to stand against him? and how?. The pacing of this episode felt a bit draggy at times with other scenes that felt rushed, but overall it succeeds in expanding and giving context to the world and introducing new plot threads that have me excited to see where things go next and to catch up with previous season when ever I can. Yes, there was a lot of talking and very little action and might not have the immediate excitement, it does the important work of setting up what feels like its gonna be the most ambitious season yet based on what the little I know about it, I am definitely gonna keep watching to see how they handle the mule storyline and whether empire and foundation can find a way to work together against this common threat.

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