In the last chapter of the first season Foundationavailable in AppleTV+, made it clear that the habitable galaxy is about to plunge into chaos. On the one hand, Emperor Cleon (Lee Page in his adult version) rebelled against the long genetic tradition that preceded him. Another, Hari Sheldon (Jared Harris) or his holographic memory is about to take believers in psychohistory into a new future. All this time, power is crumbling, and the first signs of the Dark Ages that the scientist predicted are more obvious than ever. As for his new party, he will have to resolve the galactic conflict.
The series, which is an adaptation of one of Isaac Asimov’s most ambitious works, has also managed to create an understandable universe based on a long literary saga. The stories published between 1942–1957 and 1982–1992 span at least 16 books. In turn, they are connected with ten, in which the writer delves into the most relevant topics of the main narrative. Collectively, the story spans 1,000 years, hundreds of inhabited worlds and planets across the galaxy. In addition, there are over 500 characters in the life and legacy.
The plot, which was supposed to include a wide range of concepts and storytelling twists from its paper version, managed to do this by building a vast world. The script, instead of simply showing the setting of the novels or detailing their analogies and hypotheses point by point, delved into their characters and conflicts.
At the same time, in a large-scale confrontation that demonstrated the foresight of Isaac Asimov, science could predict the historical behavior of culture. Hence Foundation, bases its premise on a prediction of an inevitable fate: the fall of a cosmic civilization into darkness. In addition, it restores the main characters of the literary saga and gives them more dramatic significance, which is in line with the epic tone of the series.
Pivot to the future
The central story of the production is very similar to the one that Isaac Asimov came up with and that the author began writing in 1940. Set in the far future, it tells how the human race ended up colonizing a large part of the galaxy. For the fact that they inhabit, in different dimensions of cultural and technological complexity, hundreds of planets over innumerable light years.
This vast population is controlled galactic empirewhich is based on the planet trantor. Head of cosmic power, this is the line of heirs Cleon, a charismatic leader who established the laws that govern the balance between worlds. His clones have ruled for millennia in his name and through the knowledge they inherit from generation to generation.
Genetically identical to their predecessor, there is always a trio on the throne. A young version of Cleon, another in middle age and an old one. The intent is that the domain through space is based on the idea of the eternity of its visible heads. In the literary version, the rulers are dynastic, so the turn complicates the perception of the passage of time and the inheritance of political dominance.
A person who can see the mystery
At the other end of the site is Hari SeldonA psychohistorian. In other words, a scientist who will use mathematics and anthropology to predict the future based on an algorithmic predictive system. Of course, such a goal carries a risk: the authorities will not like the description of the future.
That is exactly what will happen. In the end, Seldon predicts with frightening accuracy the collapse and fall of the galactic Empire through a long series of precise cycles that turn out to be inevitable.
Turned into a danger to the rulers and the very stability of the galactic system, Seldon and his followers are isolated. Which develops one of the most interesting moments of the book. A paranoid look at the dangers of science and especially how its impact on the future is analyzed.
Foundation: a terrible prediction that will change everything
According to calculations rarelyafter the fall of the empire dark times out of 30,000 years. But if the explosion of the system is prevented, it can be reduced to 1000, so the scientist suggests working on this possibility. Of course, one thought about the destruction of the organism of power, which considers itself infallible, unworthy Cleon. Which makes all followers of psychohistory and its predictions outcasts.
Despite this, and with the intention of avoiding rebellion, he sent them for forced colonization in conditions. It is a distant and hostile planet where they must collect the history and discoveries of the present. All in anticipation of the possible fall of the Empire. Of course, the intention of the leaders is to exclude Seldon from scenarios in which he can have influence and try to make sure that his predictions are forgotten.
IN conditions, Hari Seldon creates the basis and commissions his psychohistorians to compile the Galactic Encyclopedia. The intention is to streamline all the knowledge and history of the Empire in order to avoid the Dark Ages after its death. But the emperor (in any version of it) wants the project to be forgotten and buried in time. This is to disprove the possibility of global destruction and especially its implications for the force lines that support the galaxy.
First season Foundation, culminating in the appearance of a holographic version of Hari Seldon on Terminus. It also seems to be the decision of Emperor Cleon to rebel against his lineage. Which would lead, oddly enough, to the complete fall of the planetary system, which he leads. As the psychohistorian predicted earlier.
Source: Hiper Textual
