Foundation episode 2 recap: a Star Wars-style story with Game of Thrones shocks

Date:
Fri, 24 Sep 2021 19:00:00 +0000

Description:
Preparing to Live, Foundations second episode, ups the ante after a bloated beginning to Apple TV Plus latest big-scale TV production.

FULL STORY ======================================================================

Major spoilers follow for Foundations first two episodes. Watch them before reading on.

Foundation didnt exactly burst out of the gate during its first episode on Apple TV Plus. The detailed nature of Issac Asimovs seminal sci-fi novels meant that the shows premiere had plenty of set up to get through before it could get going. Now that the groundwork has been laid, though, Foundations second episode Preparing to Live is the first true test for Apples latest large-scale production. About this episode

- Episode 2 (of 10), 'Preparing to Live'

- Written by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman

- Directed by Andrew Bernstein



Its unusual for a TV series second episode to be burdened with such expectations. After all, a shows premiere is normally enough for viewers to decide whether its worth sticking with. Foundations complex narrative and abundance of characters gave its first episode something of a free pass, though, even if we felt it was lacking in some areas. Now, its up to its next entry to deliver a rousing spectacle to make audiences sit up and take
notice.

Thankfully, Preparing to Live does just that: producing a tighter, more thematically dense and surprising entry than its predecessor. The show still suffers from a couple of persistent issues, but it begins to make good use of Asimovs material and takes Foundations story in an interesting direction. Check out our review of Foundation episode 1 Or read up on everything worth knowing about Foundation's TV adaptation Apple TV Plus is having a moment
and Netflix should be worried

Picking up events sometime after episode 1, Preparing to Live follows
parallel storylines involving Hari Seldon (Jared Harris), Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell) and their followers, and the Empires de facto rulers.

The former are en route to Terminus, the barren planet that Brother Day (Lee Pace) exiled them to in the previous episode. Meanwhile, back on Trantor, Brother Day, Brother Dawn (Caleb Cooper) and Brother Dusk (Terence Mann) debate what should be done with Anacreon and Thespis delegations following
the Star Bridge attack. A subplot involving Dusk, who is going through an existential crisis, also threatens to create further tension among the trios ranks.

Whats immediately apparent about episode 2 is the distinct lack of location hopping. Unlike episode 2, Preparing to Live takes place in just two
settings: Trantor, and on the ship transporting Seldons group to Terminus. By reducing the number of locations, episode 2 becomes much easier to follow
than the shows premiere. You know where each group of characters is and what theyre doing, which makes things less chaotic from a storytelling
perspective. (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Of the alternating storylines, Trantors is arguably the simpler to follow.
Day and Dusk find themselves quarreling over the decision to exile Seldon, Dornick and their disciples, as well as whether they should retaliate over
the Star Bridge attack.

The ensuing impasse results in Day (and Dawn but, as a child, he takes a backseat to proceedings) interrogating Anaceron and Thespis' envoys over
their parts in the devastating assault. Meanwhile, Dusk busies himself with menial tasks away from the hubbub, and its during one such errand where Preparing to Lives key theme emerges.

Working on the Mural of Souls, a seemingly endless piece of artwork depicting the history of the Empires current rulers, Dusk almost falls from his lofty perch to his death. Realizing that his body is starting to fail him each of the Empires leaders are clones of its first emperor, Cleon I Dusk spends the rest of episode 2 reflecting on, and questioning, his existence.

Dusks mini-story arc is the first time that Foundation thematically resonates with its audience. Initially unshaken in his belief that Anacreon and Thespis should be punished for their crimes, Dusks dice with death, as well as a trip to one of Trantors decimated subterranean levels in the wake of the Star Bridges collapse, make him more sympathetic to their cause. The jaunt leads
to the startling revelation (for audiences, at least) that the Emperors advisor Eto Demerzel (Laura Birn) is also a robot: the first of three big surprises that episode 2 drops on viewers.

Ultimately, Dusks last-minute change of heart about what should be done with Anacreon and Thespis' delegates makes no difference to ensuing events (more
on this later). But as viewers, were able to examine the fragility of life through Dusks eyes and how we might react, or be impacted by, similar events in our own futures. Its taken one and a bit episodes for Foundation to begin exploring key themes from Asimovs works, but its welcome all the same. (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Episode 2s other storyline examines human vulnerability in equal measure. Dornicks heart-to-heart with supporting character Lowre (Kin Adis), who refuses to terminate her pregnancy despite the risks en route to Terminus, is one such example of this. The revelation concerning the parents of Raych Seldon (Alfred Enoch), Haris adopted son, is similarly emotive in its exploration of life and death. Its a thematic examination that ties episode
2s coexisting storylines together and shows that commonalities exist between Seldon and Days groups despite their differences.

If Dusks existential crisis has you feeling sorry for him, Preparing to Lives harrowing ending soon puts a stop to that. Sure, he doesnt make the final decision to enact revenge on Anacreon and Thespis but, in simply being associated to Day, hes just as accountable for the events that follow.

Unable to determine who is responsible for the Star Bridge attack, Day punishes Anacreon and Thespis equally. Callously, Day makes the planets main envoys watch as he hangs the rest of their delegations. Thats not all, though
Day also sends a legion of Empire warships to Anacreon and Thespis who, on his signal, brutally bombard both worlds with immeasurable numbers of missiles. Its a highly emotive moment (millions of innocent Anacreons and Thespins are likely killed in the attack, after all) thats eerily reminiscent of Alderaans destruction in Star Wars: A New Hope. It also feels as ghastly
as comparably distressing incidents in Game of Thrones another pop culture touchstone that Foundation is tonally similar to.

Preparing to Lives other storyline delivers its own unexpected moment, too.
In its final scene, Dornick (and audiences by extension) are left stunned as we see Raych murdering Hari. But, for some reason, the gravity of the situation feels a bit hollow. Thats likely down to the fact that two episodes isnt enough time to invest in Hari as a character if his shocking death
didnt arrive until episode 7 or 8, it would be far more impactful. It
prevents Hari and Gaal's father-daughter style relationship from progressing, too, which has been one of Foundation's bright spots thus far.

As it is, Hari's death is a hugely surprising turn of events, but one that lacks the emotional depth that a main characters death would usually have.
Our verdict (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Preparing to Live is a superior episode compared to the series opener. With major character introductions and plot setup out of the way, theres more time to focus on the shows key themes, character development, traumatic events and cliffhanger ending that will leave viewers wanting more.

However, Foundation continues to struggle in the story pacing department. It still feels frantic at times and audiences would benefit from knowing the timespan between each episode. Some individuals briefly allude to how much time has passed, but theyre blink-and-you-miss-it moments. A clearer understanding of timescales for each story strand wouldnt go amiss.

Plot pacing aside, though, Foundation episode 2 feels more cohesive than the shows premiere. The series creative team are beginning to find a balance between honoring Asimovs source material and making a TV show that diverges from the novels in exciting ways. If it maintains this equilibrium between
the lore in Foundations books and updating its plot for present day, Apples new flagship show will be worth sticking with. Foundational facts (Image credit: Apple TV/Twitter) Unlike episode 2's ending, Hari isn't killed by Raych in Isaac Asimov's book series. Instead, the mathematical genius dies of natural causes. Later on in the novels, he reappears in hologram form to provide guidance to the Foundation's settlers. Another change that the show makes from the books relates to Gaal and Raych. While the pair begin a romantic relationship in the TV series, this doesn't occur in the novels.
Gaal is a male in the source material, while Raych goes on to marry a female security officer who ends up saving Hari's life. Foundation episode 2 also introduces us to characters who don't appear in the books. Kim Adis' Lowre, Clarke Peters' Abbas, Johanna O'Brien's Shivaughn and Florence Ordesh's
Briwan are all new additions for Foundation's TV adaptation. Original characters aren't the only new inclusion in the show. Thespis is an entirely original world created for the TV series. Anacreon, meanwhile, already
existed in Asimov's novels. If you think that Trantor and its emperors have a futuristic Roman feel to them, you wouldn't be too far wide of the mark. According to Asimov, Foundation was inspired by Edward Gibbon's History of
the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, so there are clear influences in Trantor's and the emperors' aesthetic and designs. Speaking of designs, New York-based costume designers Kurt Swanson and Bart Mueller (otherwise known
as Kurt & Bart) produced the many outfits seen in season 1. Foundation marks the duo's return to TV after a decade away, too, following their work on US comedy-drama series How to Make it in America. Andrew Bernstein, Foundation episode 2's director, has a long history of working in the TV medium. Bernstein has helmed entries in The Umbrella Academy, The Nevers and Fear The Walking Dead among others a far cry from episode 1's director Rupert
Sanders, who was making his TV directorial debut.

New episodes of Foundation debut exclusively on Apple TV Plus every Friday.



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