Foundation season 1

 Okay, so I've heard a lot of good things about this series, and of course some not so good as well.

 

So I sat down and gave the first season a go, and see what it is all about!

 

Based on the works of Isaac Asimov, this is a series with two things at it's center: a declining empire ruled by clones, and maths.  Yeah, that doesn't sound to much of rock and roll for the latter now does it, but luckily it is far more enjoyable then hours of calculus at school.

 

A prodigy, Gaal Dornick, travels to the Trantor, the capital of that Empire ruled by Emperor Cleon, where she meets with Hari Seldon.  This is your math teacher that predicted the end of the Empire, and as such isn't really liked, resulting in banishment to Terminus where he can start work on creating "the Foundation", a repository of knowledge to slow the demise of the Empire.

 

Of course, there are more that want the downfall of the dynasty, and a terrorist attack crashes the star bridge.  Brother Day (the clones come in three, a younger one called Dawn, the current emperor called Day, and the previous older incarnation called Dusk, as well as the very old one Darkness, but these are usually quickly euthanised) returns the favour by nuking some planets from orbit in retaliation for this act, instigating further dissent amongst the planets.  

 

Now, one thing about this series is that it often hops to and fro in the story, so you must keep up and pay attention or miss out on vital details.   On Foundation, a city has sprung from their efforts, though a mysterious and unreachable Vault is at it's outliers.  When rebels arrive on the planet, a fight errupts costing the lives of various settlers and faction member rebels, but it turns out they want to go search for a mythical vessel of a bygone age.  The Emperor in the meantime tries to sway a planet back in it's fold by undertaking a sort of spirit quest, though he lies about the outcome, yet manages to overthrow the threat to his power and install his vassal in charge.

 

Gaal, who has been off the radar for 19 years after the murder of Hari in the past, awakens on an automated ship, while the others find the Invictus, the ship they where looking for.  The pieces are all connected, and it turns out Hari actually build, and a projection is inside, the Vault on Terminus, as a sort of reward to have it's secrets unlocked.  See, maths can bring you somewhere in life it seems... like being dead and locked in a filing cabinet.

 

As Gaal learns of the truth what transpires and the others try and take control of the Invictus, the Empire itself shakes by betrayal of the youngest clone, brother Day.  He wants to taste freedom instead of  the life set out for him, but this only results in both his death by execution by his elder siblings, as well as a shaking foundation of the imperial system.  On terminus, the truth about the Foundation's purpose, not being a vault but a fresh start, shakes up more believes, and a plan is sprouted how to handle this situation...

 

So visually stunning, it can get confusing at times of "where" in time we actually are at moments, yet it is a series that draws your attention to the screen.  Lee Pace is great as the Emperor and I'll definitly will be watching the future seasons as well relatively soon, if time and real life permit some binging sessions.  

 

But make sure, if you haven't, to check this series out for sure!