"Foundation" is an intriguing adaptation, standing in stark contrast to the experience of reading its original source material. While Isaac Asimov's books delved into grandiose scales, exploring momentous ideas primarily through argumentative lenses and leaving the action to the imagination, the television series "Foundation" indulges in dissecting the myriad subtle details omitted from the books. It brings to life the action and delves into the minute, personal narratives of those entwined in monumental historical occurrences.
Thus far, this season has been preoccupied with emphasizing the significance of individuals within the vast tapestry of humanity. Despite the series' contention—articulated last week through Hari Seldon and this week via Gaal Dornick's opening monologue—that individual persons and their emotions are inconsequential on a grand scale, they remain invaluable when considered from the perspective of the human heart. The show is attentive to fostering empathy for these individuals among viewers, even as the ensemble undergoes frequent temporal transitions. Hence, it is a delight to witness "Foundation" not merely grappling with colossal, galaxy-altering events but also finding time for a "Star Trek"-esque episode, featuring Ben Daniels as a weary Starfleet officer exploring an enigmatic new world in search of ancient life and civilizations.
In this week's episode, Daniels' Bel Riose and his husband, Glawen Curr, execute an extreme halo jump from orbit, descending upon Siwenna—the planet where Poly and Brother Constant converted the indigenous populace. Their mission: to ascertain whether the Foundation poses a threat to the Empire. Much of this storyline unfolds akin to a classic "Star Trek" adventure, with Riose and Curr trekking across the desert, encountering locals, narrowly escaping their wrath while immersing themselves in a novel culture—only to be subsequently beamed back to their ship. During their sojourn, they encounter an Imperial informant who presents them with footage of Constant wielding an ostensibly unobtainable personal shield, as well as footage of their jump ship, which is prohibited within the Empire.
Notably, the informant collects forbidden texts, particularly printed books, seemingly including the "Mahabharata." Additionally, Curr displays a steadfast conviction that soldiers are merely bound by their orders. I am certain that this will not prove to be a harbinger of conflict with the Empire.
The specter of war between the Empire and the Foundation has lingered since the curtain fell on the first season, and it now casts an omnipresent shadow over the unfolding second season. While the Empire remains complacent, merely probing the depths of the unfolding situation, the Foundation stands poised for confrontation, with Hari Seldon meticulously arranging his strategic pawns and initiating the chess match of civilizations.
Upon their arrival at Terminus, Hober Mallow, accompanied by two clerics and the Foundation's leader, ventures into the Vault, an enigmatic locale initially perceived as merely a tourist attraction. To their astonishment, the Vault reveals itself as a tesseract—an infinite expanse beyond the confines of time, possessing the formidable power to manipulate molecules, conjuring random entities such as sustenance from thin air.
Within the Vault's enigmatic confines, Hari Seldon materializes, promptly acknowledging that the Foundation has embarked upon its anticipated religious epoch. He embodies the role with consummate ease, referring to Constant as his offspring, bestowing a reverential kiss upon her forehead, and assuming the mantle of the immortal prophet revered by the Church. To further cement his image, he even confesses to Poly his role in the Warden's demise, infusing his prophet persona with an aura of wrathful deity. Seldon subsequently dispatches his disciples on diverse missions, their collective objective being the aversion of war.
This forms the very essence of the Foundation series—both installments. Despite occasional forays into space opera-inspired action, these narratives primarily delve into the subtler dynamics of societal and economic erosion, which often herald the most profound transformations. Despite the Foundation's possession of a formidable warship, Seldon refrains from ordering the mobilization of an army. Instead, he directives Poly to broker diplomatic ties with the Empire, mirroring his successful endeavors in courting alliances across the Outer Reach. Hober Mallow's specific assignment remains shrouded in mystery, yet his mission clearly involves negotiating on behalf of the Foundation.
Brother Day's absence from this episode is noteworthy, yet the tale of Queen Sareth's quest to unravel the truth behind her potential husband and Emperor's involvement in her family's zeppelin crash introduces us to two of the three Cleons. Sareth subtly flirts with Dawn, probing his perception of his future self's capacity for such treachery. She subtly sows discord among the Cleons, hinting at a more harmonious union between Dawn and herself, as opposed to her engagement with Day, and reminding Dawn of his impending obsolescence. Furthermore, she persuades a guard to spy on her, seeking both the truth and insights into an assassination attempt. Meanwhile, Dusk endeavors to rekindle an old romance with Sareth's companion, Rue, once a courtesan whom Dusk had once favored.
As Foundation hurtles towards a climactic confrontation, the interplay between the minute and the monumental remains its linchpin. The Empire's disregard for impending conflict stems from the Cleons' perception of their own immortality and omnipotence, while the Foundation stealthily erodes their territorial integrity. Moreover, the Cleons' apparent disregard for security in the aftermath of an assassination attempt seems breathtakingly characteristic of their hubris.
