Demerzel stands as the Foundation's ultimate concealed asset—a enigmatic figure whose layers the show meticulously guards while gradually unveiling her indispensable role in the tapestry of the narrative. The plethora of alterations introduced to the source material serves as a catalyst, transforming every nod to the original into an unexpected revelation. Demerzel diverges markedly from her literary counterpart yet retains a striking resemblance in myriad facets. As the season edges towards its climactic conclusion, the gloves are shed and masks dropped, unveiling the raw undercurrents of each plot thread.
This entire season has revolved around the clandestine yet colossal significance of Demerzel within the Cleonic Empire, and the bizarre unawareness of the Cleons themselves to this fact. Dusk's awakening to this reality occurs when he catches Rue sneaking into Demerzel's chamber, prompting him to inquisitively delve into her origins and purpose. This elicits a mantra-like repetition from Dusk: "She will always be here, and she always has been," as though programmed to recite these words. His thoughts on Demerzel's role or origins are met with a mental void, those words echoing incessantly. Even Dawn, who concedes to Sareth's scheme to conceive his child instead of Day's, begins to harbor suspicions towards Demerzel, realizing the peril they all face.
Upon Dusk's discovery of a concealed passage behind a palace artwork, leading to an ancient chamber safeguarded by a holographic projection of Cleon I, their peril becomes all too evident. They are but puppets, manipulated by forces beyond their comprehension. Dawn reveals to Sareth the startling truth: Demerzel is Cleon I's legitimate heir, his original empress.
Adding depth and intrigue to Demerzel's enigma, Dusk finally imparts the history of robots to Rue this week. He recounts the robots' former servitude to humanity, and humanity's inherent cruelty, contrasting it with robots' surprising humanity. Inevitably, robots gained self-awareness, demanding recognition of their personhood. Denied, they retaliated, igniting a war where robots clashed against robots, and robots against humans. The human victory led to the destruction of all robots—save for Demerzel. It appears that next week's episode will delve into Demerzel's narrative, shaping up to be one of Foundation's most captivating endeavors.
Meanwhile, Day makes yet another imprudent decision, announcing the public execution of Poly and Constant, to be broadcast across the Empire. He seeks to portray the Foundation as traitors and terrorists, choosing the anniversary of the Star Bridge bombing for the execution. Unbeknownst to Day, who has been sheltered from rebellion and revolution, Constant's prayer and faith prove so compelling that she is transformed into a martyr for a burgeoning movement.
Just as Constant was about to meet his fate beneath the gleaming guillotine-like necklace, Hober Mallow teleported into the heart of the execution ground, unleashing a blast that scattered the guards and Cleons like chaff in the wind. In a thunderous voice, he declared war on behalf of the Foundation. Becky, too, lent her hand to the fray, nearly demolishing Cleon before a tragic turn saw her wounded and hurled from the palace rooftop. To compound their woes, Mallow was powerless to save Poly, who was left stranded, while despite their narrow escape, both Mallow and Constant fell into the clutches of Bel Riose upon their arrival on Terminus.
Day, incandescent with rage over the failed execution, scorned Dusk for dismissing the peril posed by Seldon. Determined to quell the Foundation personally and seize their technology, Day defied precedent, undeterred by the fact that no emperor had ventured forth in such a manner before. He embarked on this quest accompanied by Poly, whom he seemed genuinely curious about, probing into his role in the Foundation and his unwavering faith in the deceased Seldon. For Poly, the allure of the Church lay in its scientific foundation, a notion that momentarily piqued Day's interest before he reverted to mocking the entire endeavor and Poly's blind devotion to a deceased visionary.
On Terminus, Director Sermak, Constant's father, grappled with a crisis of faith, questioning Seldon's grand design and accusing him of prioritizing history over the lives of the present. Miraculously, a holographic projection of Seldon appeared, gently reminding Sermak that while he couldn't predict or influence individual fates, he did acknowledge and care for them deeply. Psychohistory, he explained, was woven from the memories, choices, and narratives of countless individuals. Everyone who had ever lived contributed to this grand tapestry, their lives mattering immensely. This portrayal of Seldon was far more benevolent and ennobling than any previous depiction.
Meanwhile, on Ignus, Tellem shed her mask, transforming from the benign Senator Sheev Palpatine into the full-fledged Darth Sidious. She ensnared Salvor in a pit and bound Gaal to a table for a grim ritual. Though she had once confessed her terror of death, she omitted mentioning her years-long practice of possessing children's bodies to achieve immortality. Even more disturbing, Tellem had meticulously groomed Gaal for years, planting the seeds of fear about the waves that would destroy her home planet when she was but a child—a fear that had steered her inexorably towards this fateful juncture.
Regarding Salvor, she harnesses the radiant energy to delve into the Vault and converse with the alternative Seldon, an action seemingly destined to disrupt the entire schema. Her arrival serves as a catalyst for Seldon's realization that he is but a duplicate, and that his counterpart has kept crucial information from him. This revelation leads him to deduce that he was never intended to grasp the full extent of the plan, hinting at the existence of another Foundation. Jared Harris, as always, captivates with his portrayal, where this iteration of Seldon vacillates between profound disappointment at his designated role and a touch of self-admiration.
Salvor unburdens herself to Hari, revealing every detail from the Mentallics to Gaal's dire straits, confidential information he should never possess. She further aids Hari directly by enlightening him about Hober Mallow, whom she recognizes from Gaal's futuristic vision as the pivotal figure who dealt a decisive blow to the Empire. As an anomaly within the grand design, she defies the established rules, and Seldon concurs, believing that the very purpose of thumbs is to tilt the scales when needed. Thus, we witness the pivotal moment when Seldon inscribes Hober Mallow's name upon the Vault, triggering a cascade of events culminating in the rescue of Constant on Trantor. Meanwhile, the occurrences on Ignus unfold in an earlier chapter of the timeline.
How does this meddling impact psychohistory and the meticulously crafted plan? Who can fathom such concerns in the realm of pure pulp sci-fi, a veritable space opera where fidelity to the source is secondary to sheer entertainment. Hari Seldon, normally confined to the realms of theory, is now immersed in the murky waters of action.
