JuicyTalk
Foundation season 3 is releasing soon, and there are major story details to recap. Based on Isaac Asimov’s prolific Foundation novels, the Apple TV+ series has developed a reputation for being one of the most ambitious projects on television. With ten new episodes on the way, audiences anxiously anticipate the adaptation of one of Asimov’s darkest stories.
Foundation season 3 will be released on July 11, 2025, at 12:00 AM ET with the first of ten upcoming episodes, meaning the series will run through September. It’s a complex show already, and the new season will pull no punches by dropping audiences directly into a new era, likely causing some confusion.
With Foundation season 2’s ending airing nearly two years ago, it’s no wonder that even the most dedicated fans of the series might want a refresher. There have been numerous time jumps and a rotating cast of supporting characters, making it a challenge to keep everything straight.
8
The Citizens Of Terminus Survived The Planet’s Destruction
The Second Foundation Will Be Established
The shocking ending to Foundation season 2’s penultimate episode saw the Invictus ship fall onto the surface of Terminus, the original world of the Foundation. Brother Day died in the process of his conquest, but he went down believing he had eliminated the Foundation, the growth of which was threatening Empire’s reign.
Terminus was destroyed, but its population moved on to a new world in the Vault.
As always, however, Hari Seldon’s psychohistory planned for the destruction of Terminus, as the season 2 finale revealed that the citizens had all survived. Terminus was destroyed, but its population moved on to a new world in the Vault. The Vault can alter and create matter, allowing it to save everyone just as the planet exploded.
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When audiences last saw the citizens of Terminus, they were flying through space inside the Vault. In keeping with Isaac Asimov’s books, these characters will go on to found the Second Foundation, altering the timeline of the novels in a notable way and making their future more challenging to predict.
7
Demerzel Has Obtained The Prime Radiant
Demerzel Is More Powerful Than Ever
The penultimate episode, “Long Ago, Not Far Away,” was a tremendous success for Foundation, setting the record for the highest-rated episode in the series. Much of this was due to actress Laura Birn’s portrayal of Demerzel, who had some major narrative advancements in the episode. One of which included her acquisition of the Prime Radiant.
The Prime Radiant is a tool with unusual properties, allowing it to exist in more than one place simultaneously. There was one within the Vault on Terminus, which is now in the possession of Demerzel, and the other is on Ignis. The device contains Seldon’s psychohistory calculations, making it one of the most vital items in the galaxy.
Demerzel can now utilize both her lasting knowledge and the power of the Prime Radiant to access information about the future. After Brother Day’s bone-headed blitz against the Foundation in season 2, this device finally gives Empire an edge they previously lacked, which should help them prepare for the Mule.
6
Brother Dawn & Sareth Escaped With A Natural-Born Heir
There’s A Cleon Clone Baby Out There Somewhere
The narrative between Brother Dawn and Sareth was one of the most fascinating in Foundation season 2, symbolically examining the collapse of the Cleonic dynasty’s stability. Flaws have begun to show among the ruling emperors, and the idea of a natural-born heir through marriage stirred up some controversy among the Cleons.
For attempting to assassinate Brother Day at the beginning of Foundation season 2, Sareth’s execution was ordered. However, she and Brother Dawn somehow managed to escape Trantor, and now there’s a child somewhere in the galaxy with Cleon I’s blood, albeit a diluted clone’s version.
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Given that this story is a complete diversion from Isaac Asimov’s books, it’s impossible to tell where it might lead. Be on the lookout for a Cleon descendant in season 3, as they could be anywhere, posing a massive threat to Demerzel and Empire.
5
Bel Riose Killed Cleon XVII Above Terminus
Bel Riose Used Mallow’s Device To Pull A Fast One On Brother Day
In the Foundation novels, Bel Riose is the renegade general who wages war on the Foundation. In the TV series, he was the reluctant soldier who refused to take orders from Empire, eventually leading to a fatal confrontation between the two. After the destruction of Terminus, Riose and Cleon ended up in a brawl to the death.
Cleon XVII eventually had the advantage, believing himself to have won the fight by opening the ship’s shuttle. Riose ultimately used Hober Mallow’s transportation device to swap their locations, and Cleon was sent out into the abyss of space; a humiliating ending to a despicable reign.
4
Salvor Hardin Was Killed On Ignis
Salvor Hardin Died Earlier Than Expected
Salvor Hardin is one of the earliest protagonists in Isaac Asimov’s Foundation novels, and though the show’s version was somewhat different than the original book’s, she managed to outlive her source material counterpart. That said, Salvor Hardin died in the season 2 finale, fulfilling a moment of foreshadowing from earlier in the season.
This is a pivotal moment, as Gaal Dornick had envisioned Salvor’s death 152 years later, which Hari Seldon claimed would be unchangeable. The fact that she died on Ignis suggests a crucial notion: free will still exists, and the future can be changed. Gaal’s visions aren’t entirely accurate.
3
Demerzel Decanted All Three Cleons
All Three Brothers Died In Season 2’s Ending
Foundation season 2 was something of a disaster for the genetic dynasty, with all three Cleons having to be decanted for the first time. Brother Day died in space outside Terminus, Demerzel killed Brother Dusk in the secret chamber, and Brother Dawn fled with Sareth.
Brother Day died in space outside Terminus, Demerzel killed Brother Dusk in the secret chamber, and Brother Dawn fled with Sareth.
Given what audiences now know about Demerzel and her influence over Empire, this was a drastic power move. In interviews about Foundation season 3, actor Lee Pace shared that his new version of Brother Day hates Demerzel, which means the versions of Cleon since XVII have known about her power over them.
2
Gaal Dornick Saw Visions Of The Mule
The Mule Is Season 3’s Main Villain
The Mule is a critical new character in Foundation season 3, who will be the primary antagonist of the season. He’s a mentalic mutant warlord who appears and begins conquering planets. Though he’s initially believed to be a lowlife pirate, he’ll quickly become a threat to the entire galaxy, changing the scope and dynamics of the series.
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Gaal Dornick saw future visions of the Mule during season 2, one of which saw the Mule killing Salvor Hardin. Though that did not come to pass, the Mule is still an oncoming threat. Gaal Dornick and Hari Seldon went into cryosleep to wait out the coming years, preparing for the Mule’s arrival.
Another element of Gaal’s vision is that the Mule is afraid of her, setting up a critical rivalry for season 3. While actor Mikael Persbrandt played the Mule in brief season 2 appearances, Game of Thrones star Pilou Asbæk takes over the role for season 3.
1
There Is A 152-Year Time Jump To Season 3
Foundation Is Jumping Ahead Again
In keeping with previous seasons of Foundation, season 3 will have a significant time jump to keep track of, meaning changes across the board. Gaal and Hari planned to wake up from cryosleep once per year to help the people of Ignis, keeping them alive long enough to deal with the Mule’s threat decades later.
With over a century and a half of change, the social standing of the galaxy will have undergone notable changes. In the novel, by the time the Mule arises, Empire has been significantly weakened, and the Foundation’s influence has grown. While season 2’s ending means a reset for the Foundation, they’ve now had plenty of time to rebuild.
At this point, we’ve seen numerous versions of Brother Day, and the rugged Lee Pace character we see in Foundation season 3’s trailers is Cleon XXIII. Six generations have passed since the emperor we see killed in Foundation season 2, and the atmosphere on Trantor has changed just as much.
Foundation
8/10
- Release Date
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September 23, 2021
- Network
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Apple TV+
- Showrunner
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David S. Goyer
- Directors
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Alex Graves, Roxann Dawson, Jennifer Phang, Mark Tonderai, Andrew Bernstein
- Writers
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Jane Espenson, Leigh Dana Jackson, Liz Phang, Eric Carrasco, David Kob, Addie Manis, Marcus Gardley, Lauren Bello, Olivia Purnell
