Apple TV+ has released the official trailer for Foundation season 2 — we take the opportunity to discuss the context of this stage of the adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s masterwork
Since our original piece (see below), Apple TV+ has now released another official trailer for Foundation season 2. Here it is:
Our thoughts on the new official trailer
It’s clear the show is blending the second Seldon crisis from the original Foundation novel with ideas from Foundation and Empire. While we are intrigued by the treatment of the decline in power of Emperor Cleon, the trailer does focus on the more space opera elements of story than Issac Asimov ever did, and suggestions of similarities to Star Wars will surely follow, and we couldn’t help but think Jedi several times.
Putting aside concerns about the show as an adaptation, there’s clearly a big budget here and we look forward to seeing how well the second season performs.
Original article from June 15, 2023
Foundation season 2
We identified Foundation as one of our six shows to watch on Apple TV+, mentioning the upcoming season 2. We now have a trailer to enjoy, as well as a broad sense of the unfolding drama:
More than a century after the Season 1 finale, tension mounts throughout the galaxy. As the Cleons unravel, a vengeful queen plots to destroy Empire from within. Hari, Gaal, and Salvor discover a colony of Mentalics with special abilities that threaten to alter psychohistory itself. Meanwhile, the Foundation and Empire are on a collision course for war with the fate of humanity in the balance.
Before we dig in, here is the trailer:
We’ll give you a moment to catch your breath…
Foundation season 2
It’s fair to say season 1 wasn’t constrained by Asimov’s original novel, and the trend looks set to continue. At least we get a mention of Foundation and Empire, the title of the second book in the original publication order. We were pleased so see this: a colony of Mentalics with special abilities that threaten to alter psychohistory itself. One of the ideas behind the second novel is the emergence of an individual (the Mule) whose abilities change human behaviour on such a scale Seldon’s projection of the future of human history is no longer valid. While that novel has a clear cut resolution, we expect more nuance this time round.
In terms of returning cast, we still have Jared Harris, Lee Pace, Lou Llobell and Leah Harvey, our four key characters. Plenty of others return and there are new faces as well.
What the books don’t dwell on is the fall of Empire (a major element of the TV adaptation), and we are promised more depth here as well. We picked up this quote:
The Foundation has entered its religious phase, promulgating the Church of Seldon throughout the Outer Reach and inciting the Second Crisis: war with Empire.
How will it end? Only Seldon can tell us, and he’s waiting until July 14 (final episode September 15). We can’t wait!