Here we go again. Joseph’s takes, thoughts, and theories from watching the episode. Simultaneously published at Comics, The Universe, and Everything.
Watching Foundation S2E08
Trantor?
Yeah. Trantor. We open on Demerzel’s dress bathed in sunlight. Upon rewatch, this is like a neon sign about where the episode is going.
Enjoinder Rue is in Demerzel’s quarters. There’s the jewelry box to remove any doubt.
Dusk finds her. The encounter is weirdly flirty, considering the huge invasion of privacy.
Rue admitting to having her memories should be an automatic death sentence. But Dusk being taken aback about a lack of trust is insanely disingenuous.
“She will always be here, as she always has been,” Rue admits to Dusk that she doesn’t trust Demerzel. It quickly becomes clear that Dusk’s mind has been tampered with. It isn’t memory suppression on the one hand and mental powers on the other; mental manipulation is the thread that links the two broad subplots together.
Dusk is paying attention though. “Hey,” he says, “ that jewelry box reminds me of the mural from episode 204!”
Cut to the mural.
Dusk muses about the Robot Wars. It’s reminiscent of the take on the Kaylon from the Orville. Other than the outcome.
“Emperor Benefoss was slaughtered at the hands of a robot. The first law of robotics was circumvented. Is this a lie? If it isn’t, here’s evidence of the 0th law.
But the interesting possibility for the Robot Wars would be different factions of 0th law robots, fighting each other about the best course for helping humanity. That could be consistent with what Asimov decided would be the fate of all the robots, exiling themselves because their presence was holding back or harming humanity. The robot wars would be strong evidence in favor of that. Then all that “robot against human” stuff is inflammatory propaganda!
There’s something odd about the mural, but no time for that now! It’s time for the weekly execution! Ain’t no party like a lynchin’ party!
Ignus
Gaal is looking for Salvor and Tellum is remarkably frank about having killed Hari. It’s getting harder and harder to believe that that’s a head fake.
Apropos of probably nothing, the black shape on the front of Gaal’s shirt is roughly the shape of a Superman emblem.
Evidently, Gaal knew about Hari’s death? If Gaal is becoming as powerful as they claim perhaps it is she who is fooling the Mentalics that Hari is dead.
Still, “I killed your friend for your own good” is galling under any circumstances though. Galling. Gaaling. Ha! I kill me! But wait. The show doesn’t pronounce it that way.
It sure doesn’t seem like Gaal has the upper hand though. She’s in a prison with psychic dampers. She’s holding something back though. Could it be…?
Trantor & Terminus
They sure watch a lot of teevee on this show. This looks like quite the viewing party. It’s the Execution show! Live! From Trantor!
They are going to make us watch Director Sermak watch his daughter’s execution.
If the producers actually execute Poly and Constant I’m going to be pissed. Joanne, on the other hand will be completely done with the show!
Ever need to behead someone but don’t have time to build a proper guillotine? Get the Ronco Automatic Decapitator (TM)! Only $19.95! Don’t hesitate! If you order now, we’ll send you a second decapitator free of charge! You just pay shipping!
The handholding seems to validate Sereth’s position as empress-designate.
Once again Day’s going all George W. Bush on this thing. Except Day has charisma and better writers.
This gathering of onlookers, standing in mathematically perfect rows, seems too small to generate the crowd noise that we are hearing.
Letting Sereth choose the Empire’s first victim is another power-play between her and Day. Her hesitance perhaps shows a small, nascent spark of humanity.
The prayer is sort of interesting although it skews too spiritual for a religion that is mere window dressing for science.
“Guide me through the darkness, and together we will shorten the Darkness,” is pretty great though. Provided they get a third season, of course.
And then, I have to admit, I raised my hands and cheered! Yay, Hober!
But you have to be a real dickhead to rage “damn fool just declared war on our behalf” and then storm off in front of a dad who just watched his daughter not get executed.
That is some real “Douglas C. Niedermeyer energy from that guy. He should be a toady for the Empire.
[Note: this character does much better in the next episode, but this is still inexcusable.]
And Dawn just signed his own death warrant on the battlefield. Jon’s prediction that Sereth will be surprised by a pickle could soon be realized.
Beki’s part was exhilarating and then rapidly became heartbreaking. I think maybe the producers shouldn’t be so quick to discard something just because it’s very expensive.
And Day screams “Stop them!” In utter impotent fury!
And then I’m mad at the show. There’s got to be a better way to remove the Ronco Automatic Decapitator (TM) than “Eeny, Meeny, Miny Moe.” I mean, this guy has some experience with not being executed.
I really like Glawin’s reaction to Hober’s heroism. “Empire can be touched.” To paraphrase my friend Jason, “Most people watch Star Trek and see science fiction. I see… options.” Maybe the Bel/Glawin story is going somewhere other than we’re expecting.
The exchange between Day and Dusk is interesting. Dusk is making sense. That Day is focused on probably decades-old slights makes him seem childish. Then, “I’d rather talk to them.” That could be the kind of decisive action Dusk wants (emphasis on the decisive part; Dusk really wants violent retribution). Unfortunately, it’s so wildly out of character for the guy who was about to execute the Foundation’s envoys that it’s hard to take it seriously.
The games continue as Sereth goads Day into leaning into the stupidity. “Your realm has been leaking blood and stars for too long” earns a good laugh!
Then “It’s time for big hands to bind the wound.“ If that isn’t a direct shot across the bow of a certain ex-president nothing is.
And then Day leaves Chekov in command instead of Sulu.
Rue and Sereth, even while reveling in the fragmentation of the Cleons shows signs of fragmenting themselves. Rue is right. If their plot goes wrong, it will be devastating for the Cloud Dominion. And I think this actually points up the fundamental problem with this storyline. The objectives are tiny “I’m going to have someone else’s baby to spite the man who killed my family.“ It’s an easy sort of thing to get bogged down in but they’re playing with stakes of galactic importance.
Ignus
The kid, Joshua, brings Salvor a snack. She is in the same kind of prison as Gaal, who Joshua says “they’re getting her ready for the table.” It’s “To Serve Man” all over again. It’s a cookbook! Seriously, though, sounds ominous. “It’s a very special honor.” Ha!
I get the Purloined Letter thing, but the unfolded radiant is very obviously the radiant.
But Salvor uses the radiant to talk to Hologram Hari back in the Vault. It’s a lot of fun watching him putting everything that he didn’t know. Then “Fu¢k. I’m the left hand!” LOL!
Then Salvor: “I don’t care about the math!” That could be the show’s new subtitle.
Space
Constant should dress those wounds, she’ll get an infection! They’re near Terminus but they might be able to escape detection!
Terminus
Sermak is worried, wanting to know if Constant survived. “The Prophet will protect her is the absolute last thing I’d want to hear.
So, he goes to the Vault. And Hologram Hari shows up. Sermak really didn’t want Constant to “choose the robes.” We’re back to the Hari doesn’t give a crap about people thing. He tries to be comforting but “people matter because they’re in the math” isn’t exactly a hug and a cup of cocoa.
So, he says “we do the hardest thing there is, we wait.” I thought he was going to say “we hope,” but Joanne predicted it. And then, poof! He’s gone.
Space again.
Constant is finally applying some rudimentary first aid. Hober’s sorry about Beki and Poly and they reminisce about the church and Poly a bit. That parable isn’t bad but the telling is a little flat. It’s okay though because it set up a tribute from Constant that was heartfelt.
Space yet again, but a different bit, near Trantor.
Day and Poly are conversing. Poly defends the church because underneath, it’s science. I get it, but science isn’t actually a religion. I hope the viewers mostly get that. Math isn’t magic. Science isn’t a religion. I should make a list. Day tries to make a joke, “how all the children love his rigor.” There are levels to that pun that are in poor taste.
Here’s the Bel Riose thread from the books. Day thinks that, knowing Hari’s predictions he can turn them on their end. Repudiating that would be a blow for Psychohistory.
Day: “See, Poly, you think you’ve just taken on the trappings of religion, but once you start kneeling and praying, it’s hard to get back to standing and thinking.” we’ve certainly seen this in the books and see some of this here. There are people who believe in the Foundation’s religion. But perhaps Poly shouldn’t have used the word “faith.” There’s no need for faith in science, because you can know about the process and understand that it should be self-correcting. The explanations are there for all to see.
I was happy to hear “violence is the last refuge of the incompetent” from Poly. And then Day’s reply is “you’re probably right about that.” Wow!
The Vault. Sort of.
Hologram Hari tells Salvor how to escape and Salvor tells Hari about Hober Mallow.
There are way too many outliers in this series. “Look at us! We’re outliers! Psychohistory doesn’t apply to us!
“If the left hand Doesn’t get to put its Thumb on the scale, what’s the point of having a thumb?” The pithy aphorisms are coming fast and furious. And thus we get to see where “Hober Mallow” written in large, friendly letters comes from.
On the Spirit
Hober and Constant are floating in space, unable to jump away, so they decide to… insert your favorite euphemism for sex here… It’s sweet and in a clear homage to Asimov’s work, because it’s also pretty awkward.
Trantor
Dusk sneaks into Rue’s bedroom hoping to resume their “inquiry.” That’s not a euphemism for sex.
Back to the Spirit.
There’s some cute pillow talk about executions. But if these two are going to build a relationship around the executions on this show it’s going to be quite a marathon. And then they’re arrested by Bel Riose playing a cop who encounters two teenagers in a parked car.
Trantor
Rue and Dusk make their way back to the Mural of Souls. In yet another flash of D-and-D-ness that bit of the mural is a secret door. And we’re off to investigate!
Dawn and Sereth meet up again in Billibotton. Show a young man a heat sink and his mind turns to thoughts of lust. Or procreation really. That sterility-reversing device’s use isn’t nearly as horrific as I feared.
It’s clearly a big palace because Dusk doesn’t recognize any of this.
Ignus
Those things keeping Salvor are really easy to dismantle and turn into a weapon. But she stands underneath the rocks as she blasts them.
Cut to Gaal on “the Table.” This isn’t “To Serve Man,” it’s “What Are Little Girls Made of” from season 1 of Star Trek.
But screw all those assholes who are just going to stand around and watch this happen.
We get yet another supervillain speech from Tellem. It turns out she’s the Ultra-Humanite, a Golden Age Superman villain who later became an adversary of the Justice Society. A super-genius, The Humanite moves from body to body through brain transplants.
David Goyer wrote at least one story featuring the Ultra-Humanite, in JSA (1999) #31-35.
In that story, the Humanite takes over Johnny Thunder’s body and controls the world using Johnny’s Thunderbolt. The story’s pretty good, but a little flat.
Joanne thinks that Tellem is the Mule.
Maybe the Mentalics aren’t horrible. They could be controlled.
[This is after we recorded the podcast. I think whoever suggested that Gaal will be powerful enough to fight off Tellum after the takeover might be right. In Superior Spider-Man, Peter’s consciousness exists within Otto’s mind. Otto surrenders Peter’s body so that Peter can save someone Otto loves. That could work here too. Wouldn’t it be funny if all of David Goyer’s Foundation plots came from comic books?]
Trantor, mostly
Cut to more pillow talk in the heat sinks of Billibotten. Not an auspicious beginning for a future regent. Dawn and Sereth talk about how killing Day will only result in decanting a pickle. Dawn doesn’t have the stomach to do what’s necessary (killing all the Day clones) and Demerzel will prevent it any way. Sereth asks, ”Who programmed Demerzel?” And the question just hangs in the air.
On the Rubicon. Day and Demerzel have arrived at Terminus. “This is my destiny,” he says.
Dawn and Sereth come to the conclusion that the Cleons are the puppets and Demerzel is the real power.
Meanwhile, Rue and Dusk have found the basement and are talking to Cleon 1. The Basement was, at one point, a prison. And Day is musing about what Demerzel sees when he cannot. Dawn puts the fine point on it. “Demerzel was Cleon’s only true heir. His forever Empress.”
You know what would be great right now? A post-credits scene with Elijah Baley.
This was a hell of an episode, a rollercoaster ride from start to finish!
All Images from Foundation on Apple TV+.
Stars End: A Foundation Podcast 