Foundation
I’m not sure I’ve seen a TV show dramatically improve this much season over season over the past few years, but that’s what’s happened in this case.
The show is Foundation, another of Apple TV+’s amazing sci-fi series, one of the only streaming services to make this many shows in that genre and do them well. Foundation is returning for season 3 later this week on July 11, but reviews are already rolling in.
As it stands with a limited number of reviews in, Foundation has a perfect 100% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. I guess technically, you cannot do better season over season when season 2…also had a perfect 100% score. It’s true that there are only a few reviews in for season 3, but season 2 had triple that number, and it stayed 100%. Both are big increases from the 72% rating of season 1. The show has really found its footing.
There are a whole lot of Foundation books to adapt, and an open question is just how far Apple is willing to go with the series. It’s well-known that Foundation makes a gorgeous show with a lesser budget than other series, with season 1 allegedly clocking in at just $45 million in total. For comparison’s sake, Apple’s Severance costs a stunning $20 million an episode.
Foundation
That said, Apple has publicly stated that it is attempting to scale back on content spending. While Foundation is great, it’s generally a lesser-watched show than offerings like Silo and Severance and not super “buzzy,” despite its high quality.
The good news is that Apple has a habit of letting shows run a lot longer than other streaming services (Netflix) might allow them. If the budget can be kept in check, viewership is still decent and this kind of effusive praise is still pouring in, I’d say that chances are pretty decent it may continue from here. I’m sure Apple would not mind having a complete offering of one of the best sci-fi shows of the last decade. Here’s the synopsis for season 3 and the trailer right after that:
“Set 152 years after the events of Season 2, the Foundation has become increasingly established far beyond its humble beginnings while the Cleonic Dynasty’s Empire has dwindled. As both of these galactic powers forge an uneasy alliance, a threat to the entire galaxy appears in the fearsome form of a warlord known as “The Mule” whose sights are set on ruling the universe by use of physical and military force, as well as mind control. It’s anyone’s guess who will win, who will lose, who will live, and who will die as Hari Seldon, Gaal Dornick, the Cleons, and Demerzel play a potentially deadly game of intergalactic chess.”
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Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
