#appletv foundation

[philtrashnumberunus]

i collect Jared Harris roles like pokemon cards. like silly bands. i’m trading them on the playground. one valery legasov is equal to two severuses plus six goatee smokers. i’ll give you four hari seldons AND one king george vi for your francis crozier.

[chillporcupine]

Mallow did prove one thing though. Empire can be touched.

[pinkunicorn1701]

Well, hello handsome! 😏😎💕

[theladyfromplanetx]

(Because if you try to read the original, you'll get hit with a paywall. This article was originally published in 2021.)

By Paul Krugman

The blogger John Rogers once noted that there are two novels that can shape the lives of bookish 14-year-olds: "Atlas Shrugged" and "The Lord of the Rings". One of these novels, he asserted, is a childish fantasy that can leave you emotionally stunted; the other involves orcs.

Well I was a bookish 14-year-old, but my touchstones were two different novels:

Isaac Asimov’s “Foundation” and Frank Herbert’s “Dune.”

Many social scientists, it turns out, are science fiction readers. For example, quite a few experts on international relations who I know are fanatics about the TV version of “The Expanse.” I think it’s because good science fiction involves building imaginary worlds that are different from the world we know, but in interesting ways that relate to the attempt to understand why society is the way it is.

Anyway, that’s my excuse for devoting today’s newsletter not to the latest scary developments in politics and economics but to a much happier event: the U.S. release of a wonderful, satisfying film version of “Dune” — the first movie I’ve seen in a theater since the pandemic began.

Before I get there, however, a word about the new “Foundation” TV series, which is being released one episode a week on Apple TV.

The “Foundation” trilogy had a huge impact on my teenage self. For those who’ve never read it, it’s about social scientists who use their knowledge to save galactic civilization. I wanted to be Hari Seldon, the brilliant mathematician who leads the effort; this economics thing was as close as I could get.

“Foundation” might seem unfilmable. It mostly involves people talking, and its narrative inverts the hero-saves-the-universe theme that burns many acres of CGI every year. The story spans centuries; in each episode everything appears to be on the brink, and it seems as if only desperate efforts by the protagonists can save the day. But after each crisis, Seldon’s prerecorded hologram appears to explain to everyone what just happened and why the successful resolution was inevitable given the laws of history.

So how does the Apple TV series turn this into a visually compelling tale? It doesn’t. What it does instead is remake “Star Wars” under another name. There are indispensable heroes, mystical powers, even a Death Star. These aren’t necessarily bad things to include in a TV series, but they’re completely antithetical to the spirit of Asimov’s writing. Pretending that this series has anything to do with the “Foundation” novels is fraudulent marketing, and I’ve stopped watching.

Now on to “Dune.” The book is everything “Foundation” isn’t: There’s a glittering, hierarchical society wracked by intrigue and warfare, a young hero of noble birth who may be a prophesied Messiah, a sinister but alluring sisterhood of witches, fierce desert warriors and, of course, giant worms.

And yes, it’s fun. When I was a teenager, my friends and I would engage in mock combat in which the killing blow had to be delivered slowly to penetrate your opponent’s shield — which will make sense if you read the book or watch the movie.

Now on to “Dune.” The book is everything “Foundation” isn’t: There’s a glittering, hierarchical society wracked by intrigue and warfare, a young hero of noble birth who may be a prophesied Messiah, a sinister but alluring sisterhood of witches, fierce desert warriors and, of course, giant worms.

And yes, it’s fun. When I was a teenager, my friends and I would engage in mock combat in which the killing blow had to be delivered slowly to penetrate your opponent’s shield — which will make sense if you read the book or watch the movie.

What makes “Dune” more than an ordinary space opera are two things: its subtlety and the richness of its world-building.

Thus, the Bene Gesserit derive their power not from magic but from deep self-control, awareness and understanding of human psychology. The journey of Paul Atreides is heroic but morally ambiguous; he knows that if he succeeds, war and vast slaughter will follow.

And the world Herbert created is given depth by layers of cultural references. He borrowed from Islamic and Ayurvedic traditions, from European feudalism and more — “Dune” represents cultural appropriation on a, well, interstellar scale. It’s also deeply steeped in fairly serious ecological thinking.

So why was the 1984 film a disaster? Because the director — yes, David Lynch — either didn’t grasp the subtlety and richness or decided that audiences couldn’t handle it. That is, he did to “Dune” what Apple TV has done to “Foundation.” For example, in the book there’s the “weirding way of battle,” which is about using psychology and deception to overcome foes; in Lynch’s film this was replaced with some kind of gadget.

The great thing about Denis Villeneuve’s “Dune: Part I” is that he respects the audience enough to retain the book’s spirit. He trimmed the narrative to reduce it to filmable size — and even so, his two and a half hours cover only the first half of the book — but he didn’t dumb it down. Instead, he relies on spectacle and spine-tingling action to hold our attention despite the density of the story. In so doing he made a film worthy of the source material.

I wouldn’t say that this “Dune” matches the vision I had when reading the book. It’s better. The visuals surpass my imagination — those ornithopters! The actors give the characters more depth than the book’s author previously had in my mind.

Will this labor of love sell to a mass audience (and allow Villeneuve to finish his story)? The early box office looks good, and this does seem like the kind of film people will see twice — I did — so sales may hold up longer than usual. But I guess we’ll find out.

In any case, all of us former bookish 14-year-olds finally have the “Dune” movie we always wanted to see. Sometimes, things actually do go right.

[ominotauro-blog1]

“Fundação”, segunda temporada: mais distante dos livros, mais perto do coração

Quando escrevi sobre a primeira temporada de “Fundação” (Apple TV+), há quase dois anos, não economizei elogios à adaptação do fabuloso épico sci-fi escrito por Isaac Asimov. Afinal, a saga composta por sete livros era considerada por muitos como impossível de ser adaptada para a televisão ou cinema. E motivos não faltavam: não há um protagonista do início ao fim; a história percorre centenas de…

[usagirotten]

Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Season 2 teaser

Apple TV+ has shared a teaser trailer for Foundation Season 2 and announced that the first episode will premiere on July 14 A hundred-year time jump. That’s what we’re contending with when Foundation returns to Apple TV+ in July. The massive timeline suits the scale of the show, which stars Lee Pace (in an increasingly dramatic series of costumes) as one of a trio of clone emperors whose time has long since come.  The synopsis for the coming season is very dramatic:   More than a century after the season one finale, tension mounts throughout the galaxy in Foundation season two. As the Cleons unravel, a vengeful queen plots to destroy Empire from within. Hari, Gaal and Salvor discover a colony of Mentalics with psionic abilities that threaten to alter psychohistory itself. The Foundation has entered its religious phase, promulgating the Church of Seldon throughout the Outer Reach and inciting the Second Crisis: war with Empire. The monumental adaptation of Foundation chronicles the stories of four crucial individuals transcending space and time as they overcome deadly crises, shifting loyalties and complicated relationships that will ultimately determine the fate of humanity. Foundation also stars Jared Harris, Lou Llobell, and Leah Harvey; the returning cast includes Laura Birn (as a conflicted android), Cassian Bilton, and Terrence Mann. Season two introduces a whole new pile of characters, as seems inevitable when we’re jumping a century into the future: Ben Daniels (Bel Riose), Kulvinder Ghir (Poly Verisof), Rachel House (Tellem Bond), Nimrat Kaur (Yanna Seldon), Isabella Laughland (Brother Constant), Dimitri Leonidas (Hober Mallow), Holt McCallany (Warden Jaegger Fount), and Ella-Rae Smith (Queen Sareth of Cloud Dominion). Foundation, which is co-created and show run by David S. Goyer, returns with weekly episodes beginning July 14th on Apple TV. Read the full article

[liaratisoni]

OH fuck yes, Keiko! I had a feeling she'd be alive in the other world and I wanted it to be true so bad!!

[themovieblogonline]

Is Tellum Bond The Mule? Is Brother Day Bisexual? What is Brother Constant's real name? We ask David all the HARD questions about Season 2 and even SEASON 3 of

[somosorigen]

Trailer Internacional Oficial: Foundation Temporada 2

A solo unos dias de su arribo de que la segunda temporada se estrene en Apple TV, se revela este nuevo adelanto para los mercados internacionales. Continue reading Untitled

[faniacmag]

Foundation — Season 2 Official Trailer | Apple TV+

[ciegeinc]

Foundation — Season 2 Official Teaser | Apple TV+

[merryverse]

Foundation AppleTV+ - The Leap

[cameron-s-gaskins]

The Genetic Dynasty

Brother Dawn, Brother Day, and Brother Dusk.

From the AppleTV adaptation of Issac Asimov’s series ‘Foundation.’ Big fan of the show :)

[lebonah]

Lee Pace as Brother Day in AppleTv's "Foundation"

[lesb0]

Girl if you have AppleTV you NEED to watch Foundation. The leads are amazingly smart black women kicking ass and taking names

Oooh ok maybe I shall give it a look

[usagirotten]

Foundation Season 2 Official Trailer: Unveiling New Twists and Epic Battles

The wait is finally over! Apple TV+ has just released the official trailer for Foundation Season 2, and it's nothing short of mind-blowing. As an avid fan of Isaac Asimov's groundbreaking science fiction series, I couldn't be more excited to dive deeper into this epic saga. Join me as we unravel the secrets teased in the trailer and speculate on the thrilling developments awaiting us in Season 2. The trailer opens with a pulse-pounding sequence, showcasing the aftermath of the cataclysmic events from the previous season. We see our beloved protagonist, Hari Seldon, portrayed brilliantly by Jared Harris, grappling with the consequences of his bold predictions. The visuals are stunning, painting a vivid picture of a universe on the brink of chaos. One of the most intriguing aspects of the trailer is the introduction of new characters. We catch glimpses of powerful figures whose allegiances remain unclear. As tensions rise and empires clash, it seems that Hari Seldon's Foundation faces even greater challenges in its quest to save humanity from a dark future.

The trailer hints at epic battles and intense confrontations, raising the stakes for our favorite characters. The visual effects are top-notch, creating awe-inspiring worlds and breathtaking space scenes. It's evident that the production team has spared no expense in bringing Asimov's vision to life, and fans will undoubtedly be treated to a visual feast. As we eagerly anticipate the release of Foundation Season 2, the trailer leaves us with more questions than answers. What is the true purpose of the mysterious Second Foundation? How will Hari Seldon's plans unravel in the face of unexpected obstacles? And what role will the enigmatic Gaal Dornick, played by Lou Llobell, play in this cosmic struggle? With its intricate storytelling, philosophical depth, and grand scale, Foundation has already established itself as a must-watch series. The second season promises to take us on a thrilling journey through the vast reaches of space and the complexities of human nature. Brace yourselves for a mind-bending adventure like no other. So mark your calendars and set your reminders! Foundation Season 2 is set to premiere on Apple TV+ in just a few weeks. Prepare to be transported to a universe where empires rise and fall, and the fate of humanity hangs in the balance. I can't wait to explore this mesmerizing world together and discuss the exciting twists and turns that lie ahead.   As the Cleons unravel, a vengeful queen plots to destroy Empire from within. Hari, Gaal, and Salvor discover a colony of Mentalics with psionic abilities that threaten to alter psychohistory itself. The Foundation has entered its religious phase, promulgating the Church of Seldon throughout the Outer Reach and inciting the Second Crisis: war with Empire.     Read the full article