‘Foundation’ Recap: ‘The Sighted and the Seen’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Jared Harris, Leah Harvey, and Lou Llobell as Hari Seldon, Salvor Hardin, and Gaal Dornick in Episode 205 of ‘Foundation’ – ‘The Sighted and the Seen’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 205 of ‘Foundation’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
​
There are a great many reasons that people fall in love with science fiction. For some, their love relates to the fact that such stories allow for the reader or viewer to straight up travel to the stars and see the glory of the cosmos. For others, it relates to the sense of discovery these stories provide, since the unknown awaits amongst the stars. And of course, there are some that are in this for the action and adventure these stories provide, since now and again, watching starships battle can be quite the satisfying experience. But for whatever reason people embrace this genre, there is one aspect of it above all that people truly love the most. Specifically, its ability to showcase a future where humanity finally rises above its nonsense and stupidity and becomes something special and wondrous, and sometimes… these stories go one step further, and showcase how we do that.
​
Which really does make for special storytelling when that happens. The kind that gives us so much to ponder upon and it just so happens that the Apple TV+ series, Foundation, is about to dive deep into that process. For ‘The Sighted and the Seen’, the next episode in this powerful saga, brought forth conflict. And the first major conflict that will require real discord for resolution, involved the Cleons. For Brother Dusk and Brother Dawn, came to worry about Brother Day’s machinations. Specifically, whether or not he had wiped their memories and that prompted them to pull their own data-streams to see if there was a variation in data. Which there was, but not how they expected. It was more so… that every Cleon past the first has experienced a very limited life and now… this trio must figure out how come together and understand what is missing and why, to live a full life and that will be no easy task.

Speaking of Brother Day, well he too brought forth more conflict. For Queen Sareth was determined to learn everything and anything she could about Brother Day and his potential involvement with her family’s passing, and how on earth anyone was able to get to him. Which prompted extreme measures on her part, such as going so far as to have her spy grab Day’s visual records from the same vault that Dawn and Dusk made their discovery within. And she also went as far as to get into Day’s chambers and truly push the envelope to get the truth. Which led to nothing but fights and ugliness between her and her potential mate, alongside some shocking truths in the background. Since Day did admit to manipulation to Demerzel and her secret was unlocked to the queen and her entourage as well, and that is indeed some epic conflict to overcome for peace, as is the situation that Hari’s lot found themselves facing in this story.

For they finally reached their destination and came to learn that Ignis was not what they expected it to be. For it was a world where minds could be read, courtesy of people long forgotten on this world that tuned their minds the instant Empire forgot about them, and their abilities allowed for manipulation to come into play and put this trio in quite the difficult place. For there was a grand back and forth with these people, the kind that made Hari, and Gaal, and Salvor deeply ponder upon whether or not they were friend or foe. Since there was violence followed by peace and well… all that matters regarding the confusion present here is that these people… have no heart or desire to go near the future that Hari knows can exist. They want their own path, one free from a Second Foundation and that is also, quite the juicy conflict to say the least. 

Yet in many ways, all these little twists and turns seem more grounded in drama than hope for a better tomorrow… but this truly was the setup point. For we need to see the conflict brew so that we can witness how to work through differences to say… complete a quest to live a full and happy life, which is what Dawn and Dusk are eager to grab hold of. And learn how people can bring justice forth and equality when someone powerful has wronged them and others, since that is what Sareth wants regarding her family. Not to mention Hari’s journey will explore in great detail how we get on the same page for a better tomorrow, and it is wonderful that this series is setting up the conflict and putting us in the thick of it, so we can see the process in full and learn plenty and enjoy… science fiction at its finest. Until next time.

---

Watch ‘Foundation’

Powered by JustWatch