Foundation

[Anonymous]

Anyone watching this on Apple TV? It's based on the Isaac Asimov sci-fi series. I loved those books as a kid. I was afraid they were going to spend a bunch of time on some prequels that Asimov spit out in the late 80s, but so far that hasn't been the case.

For those who don't know the background, the premise is that there is a Galactic Empire, tens of thousands of years in the future. The Empire has been ruled from a planet in the center of the galaxy for something like 10,000 years. A mathematician/scientist has come up with math called "psychohistory," which allows him to predict the future if given sufficiently large populations and a long enough time frame. (It can't predict what an individual is going to have for lunch tomorrow.) His math shows that the Empire is going to collapse in the next century or two and that the resulting dark ages will last 30,000 years. However, he believes that if they set up a repository of knowledge -- a Foundation --the on the periphery of the galaxy, the dark ages can be reduced to 1,000 years. (In the books, this started as a group of people compiling an encyclopedia of human knowledge -- I don't think the term 'encyclopedia' has been used in the show.) Being comprised of a bunch of people with scientific knowledge and located mostly out of the way of the turmoil of the collapsing empire, Terminus and the Foundation rise as the Empire collapses. Hijinx ensues.

So far, I've enjoyed the first two episodes. But without having the books as background, I have to wonder how much viewers are getting out of the show, if it's moving too slowly, or what.

[Anonymous]

I was excited about it, read the books as a kid (I recently tried to reread them, ouch). But they're only on Apple. So I'll just have to read your updates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was excited about it, read the books as a kid (I recently tried to reread them, ouch). But they're only on Apple. So I'll just have to read your updates.

Same. We had a free trial of Apple, but decided to not pay. Do apple shows ever end up on DVD?

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed the first two episodes and think this may end up being Apple’s first real hit show.

I’ve read other Asimov, but not the Foundation Series, so I don’t know how it compares.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was excited about it, read the books as a kid (I recently tried to reread them, ouch). But they're only on Apple. So I'll just have to read your updates.

Same. We had a free trial of Apple, but decided to not pay. Do apple shows ever end up on DVD?

I doubt it. Apple is using these shows as a loss-leader to get people to sign up for their services.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I enjoyed the first two episodes and think this may end up being Apple’s first real hit show.

I’ve read other Asimov, but not the Foundation Series, so I don’t know how it compares.

[Anonymous]

I was gonna say --- this one may end up being a hit, but Ted Lasso is already a hit.

[Anonymous]

I have not read the books but did watch the first two episodes. It is not hard to follow but the second episode was kinda slow. Also, what about the SPOILER ALERT death at the end of second episode? I thought he’s supposed to be part of the show? He’s already dead?

[Anonymous]

The ambition of this type of story is immense; and considering the time spans considered, I would imagine the cast and characters change every episode or two??

I remember loving Foundation, and I think if they could make LOTR approachable this is possible... maybe...

[Anonymous]

I've read the books and halfway through the first episode. It's quite different from the book.

The visuals are amazing. Hats off to the costume designers.

[Anonymous]

I never read the book and am liking it, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have not read the books but did watch the first two episodes. It is not hard to follow but the second episode was kinda slow. Also, what about the SPOILER ALERT death at the end of second episode? I thought he’s supposed to be part of the show? He’s already dead?

Tell me you didn't read the books without telling me you didn't read the books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was gonna say --- this one may end up being a hit, but Ted Lasso is already a hit.

For All Mankind also is well regarded, but not as well-known. Plus, Ronald D Moore is involved in it.

[Anonymous]

It diverges from the books. The cloning dawn, day and dusk were not in the books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have not read the books but did watch the first two episodes. It is not hard to follow but the second episode was kinda slow. Also, what about the SPOILER ALERT death at the end of second episode? I thought he’s supposed to be part of the show? He’s already dead?

First of all, I don't think he's really dead. But, however they pull it off, I think the Foundation needs Seldon to be a mythic figure (a martyr is even better) and, in any event, the plot needs him not to be on Terminus when they set up the Foundation. I think they're going to lean into the first bit -- that was probably the significance of him bemoaning the fact that he was "Hari" and no longer "Professor Seldon" to the people on the ship. In the books, the Foundation on Terminus didn't have any psychohistorians which ends up being a pretty significant plot point.