Foundation, Apple's adaptation of Isaac Asimov's sci-fi novels, has been humming along for two seasons now. The show doesn't exactly have a death grip on the public imagination, but the second season improved on the first, and if this new trailer is any indication, the third could be the best yet:
Foundation is about a galactic empire on the precipice of collapse; thanks to a new branch of science called psychohistory, its failure is mathematically guaranteed, however much the leaders deny it. Knowing this, a group of people have left the Empire to establish the Foundation, a separate society that will be able to withstand the fall of civilization. In season 3, both the Empire and the Foundation will be threatened by the Mule, a mysterious figure with an appetite for destruction and the ability to control the minds of others, turning enemies into friends. He's an agent of chaos who wasn't predicted psychohistory, which means that Pilou Asbæk is the perfect person to play him.
You may remember Asbæk as the chaotic Euron Greyjoy in the later seasons of Game of Thrones. Euron is basically a fantasy version of the Mule, so this should be a cinch for him. The manic energy is rolling off him in waves in the trailers.
I wasn't a giant fan of Foundation in its first season, but the second kicked things up a notch and I'm curious to see what the show does with the Mule, who is one of the most important and memorable characters from Asimov's books. At some point, it just becomes impressive that an expensive, elaborate sci-fi show has lasted this long despite not being a huge hit. I respect Apple for commiting to the series and hope this new season gets it more attention. We'll see how things shakes out when Foundation season 3 premieres on Apple TV+ on Friday, July 11.
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