‘Foundation’ Recap: ‘In Seldon’s Shadow’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Lou Llobell and Leah Harvey as Gaal Dornick and Salvor Hardin in Episode 201 of ‘Foundation’ – ‘In Seldon’s Shadow’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

It is definitely safe to say, that season one of the Apple TV+ series, Foundation, was an absolute breath of fresh air. Simply because this science fiction series defied current convention for sci-fi television shows by bringing us… a true sci-fi epic. One that took its time in telling its story and gave every character and situation attention. Which allowed for a rich and powerful storytelling experience to take place. One that engaged us and wowed us and left us hungry for more and thankfully… our wait for more of this majestic series has come to an end. For today brings forth the debut of season two of the show on Apple TV+, and well… the good news about the return of this series is that it hasn’t missed a beat and clearly plans on sticking with what worked so well in season one.

For ‘In Seldon’s Shadow’ is a story… that once again is eager to world-build and offer a slow burning story that not only fills in the blanks of what happened in between the many years the story jumped through… but keeps the characters at the forefront of the story and gives them powerful journeys to go on and that made for a phenomenal season two premiere. One that informed us… that the past 138 years in the galaxy have been uneasy. Wherein the vast footprint that Empire once enjoyed is no longer as vast, courtesy of new factions and a thriving Foundation. One that quietly was preparing for war and of course… this was something that the core of Empire really wasn’t bothering to pay attention to in the slightest.

Since Brother Day was focused on how best to change the course of Empire, to better deal with the genetic problem the Cleon’s suffered from. To the point where he believed that producing an heir naturally would change everything for Empire and somehow bond it closer. But that was nothing more than vanity, the kind that ignored the real needs of the people and that was why it came as no surprise… that an assassination attempt befell the palace. One that put Day close to death, but even that… wasn’t enough to really raise any alarm bells or concerns. It was business as usual, and it took information regarding Foundation and the reality of what happened so long ago, to wake this trio of leaders up. Which was… a fine way to immerse us back into this world and remind us of its troubles… which is often this trio of close-minded leaders.

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Lee Pace and Terrance Mann as Brother Day and Brother Dusk in Episode 201 of ‘Foundation’ – ‘In Seldon’s Shadow’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

But of course… there was so much more to explore in this story that the failings of the Cleons. For this is also a story that informed us that Hari Seldon was in a unique place following the incident aboard the ship. For he awoke in a place that wasn’t quite reality and wasn’t quite fantasy. Leaving him to wonder if by chance… this was what death was like and that an afterlife was real. But that was mere disorientation for this iteration of Hari, and it didn’t take long for him to realize that Gaal had stuffed him away in the Prime Radiant and that he was basically at a crossroads in his existence. Wherein he could patiently wait within his own world and emerge as called upon or be Hari Seldon and reclaim agency regardless and of course… Hari chose the latter option. Which led to a unique moment we will get to in a second.
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Because it related to the last catch-up journey/character study present in this tale. Specifically, checking in on Gaal and her daughter, Salvor. Since they were still stranded on Synnax and that forced this duo, to come to know each other properly and learn what it means to have family across time and space, and it was wonderful to watch these characters share the deep bond they weren’t sure existed early on in this story and use it to trust one another in a valiant attempt to revitalize the ship beneath the water, to get off of Synnax. Primarily because of coming storms… both literal and figurative. Since a giant hurricane was brewing near the ship and would cause them harm and because… a storm was brewing for humanity. For everything was going awry with Hari’s calculations regarding the future of humanity and someone needed to step in and stop the looming crises that awaited.

But alas, that will be no quick process. Simply because… Hari was indeed free and eager to have a little palaver with his former protégé. Which gave rise to a cliffhanger of sorts, one that has mother and daughter at a crossroads of their own until this gets resolved. But that aside, this was… a perfect season premiere. Courtesy of how it eased us back into this world and through its wondrous world-building. But above all, what made it so great… was that it felt like season one never ended. Because everything we love about this show was present. That means… season two is going to offer up another great science fiction epic. One that keeps on the edge of our seats with a story that continues to impress and well, now that we are back in this universe and the stage has been set, it will be fascinating to watch the Second Crisis and its resolution play out as season two of this brilliant show continues along. Until next time.

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