Apple's mega-bucks sci-fi series remains one of the most bonkers shows on TV

Telegraph

11-07-2025

As a technology company, Apple is renowned for its super-minimalist designs. But its rip-roaringly over-the-top sci-fi romp, Foundation (Apple TV +), has the very opposite philosophy as it returns for a thrillingly calorific third season. Ludicrous, lavish and larkingly largely than life, it is one of the most bonkers TV shows ever made and all the richer for that lack of inhibition.
Foundation is science fiction with rocket jets cranked to the maximum – and benefits from gorgeously evocative special effects which have the camp charm of a 1970s prog rock album cover. It is loosely adapted from the cult Isaac Asimov novels about the slow decline of a vast intergalactic empire that Asimov envisioned as a sort of Rome among the stars (the books were a huge influence on George Lucas's Star Wars). The latest series picks up the story after a 152-year time jump – and following significant behind-the-scenes upheaval that saw production temporarily suspended in early 2024, resulting in the departure of showrunner David Goyer.
That delay came amid rumours that Foundation's $45 million-per-year budget was too hefty even for a company with Apple's bottomless pockets. However, such problems have seemingly been ironed over. With little evidence of penny-pinching, the series reunites viewers with Lee Pace as hysterically camp galactic emperor Cleon and Jared Harris as immortal mathematician Hari Seldon. He is the architect of the 'Foundation' – a sort of shadow imperium designed to keep human civilisation alive after he predicts the Empire's inevitable collapse.
Foundation has the scale and sweep of Star Wars or Star Trek. But its intricate plot and vast cast place it closer in spirit to Game of Thrones. The Thrones parallels are made more explicit with the arrival of Westeros actor Pilou Asbæk, playing an apparently psychic war-lord referred to as 'The Mule'. He is a literal disturbance in the force, who blazes a trail of chaos across the galaxy and jeopardises the future of both the Foundation and the Empire – and eventually comes into contact with vapid intergalactic influencers Toran (Cody Fern) and Bayta (Synnøve Karlsen)
Seldon, who lives on as a hologram, predicted the Mule's emergence. And so he and his protege Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell) are woken from cryosleep to deal with this new threat. But though they are ready for action, their old nemesis Cleon (Pace) has lost his interest in life as supreme overlord. He has instead morphed into Jeff Bridges in The Big Lebowski – spending his days flapping around in a dressing gown and puffing on spliffs.
Luckily for the Empire, the weight of the galaxy does not sit on his shoulders alone. Cloned from the original Cleon, at any one time, the Emperor exists in three forms: as a young man (Dawn, played by Cassian Bilton), an older one (Day, aka Pace) and the elderly (Dusk – Terrence Mann). With Day busy toking his way to oblivion, the task of keeping manners on the Mule and Foundation rests with Dawn and Dusk. They are assisted by creepy robot adviser Demerzel (Laura Birn), while the series also introduces Tómas Lemarquis as Magnifico Giganticus, The Mule's shy and seemingly harmless jester and court musician.
Newcomers will want to catch up with the previous two seasons. Whatever else it is, Foundation is not a binge-watch to dive into head-first. Meanwhile, fans of the books will be interested to see whether it can pull off the huge surprise that Asimov carried off with his Mule storyline. Do so, and Foundation will have achieved a shock up there with the Red Wedding on Game of Thrones. But even if it mucks up the Mule twist, this is a sci-fi show like no other – gorgeous, cerebral and unapologetically out to lunch.