Warning: Spoilers ahead forFoundationseason 3, episode 3, “When a Book Finds You.“Apple TV+’s live-action adaptation of Isaac Asimov’sFoundationbooks immediately installed a very notable change in its first episode, and that alteration just bloomed into an incredibly wholesome moment in season 3, episode 3, “When a Book Finds You.” TheFoundationsource materialtells a sprawling story that would have been almost impossible to directly translate to the small screen.
Thankfully,Foundation’s writers have found a way for the saga not only to work in live-action, but also for it to become one of thebest sci-fi shows on Apple TV+. While theFoundationtimelinehas remained largely the same in the adaptation, the characters that populate the space opera’s universe have been heavily altered, so their new medium can accommodate them.
Foundationhasn’t been content with simply changing established characters, but has also introduced brand-new figures who Isaac Asimov didn’t create. While there are some who dislike this approach to adapting the story, I think it has resulted in some ofFoundation’s best scenesso far.
Foundation’s Genetic Dynasty Doesn’t Exist In Isaac Asimov’s Books
Apple TV+ hugely changed Cleon from the novels
Cleon I exists in both Isaac Asimov’s source material and Apple TV+’s adaptation ofFoundation. However, both iterations of the character are very different. WhileCleon II goes on to rule Empire in the books, he isn’t a clone, and he and his predecessor are only relatively small parts of the larger story.
In the show, all Cleons after Cleon I are clones of the original version of the Emperor.
In fact, the entire concept ofFoundation’s Cleonic Dynastyis original to the show. Asimov’s Cleon II was a character independent of Cleon I, although they were genetically related. In the show, all Cleons after Cleon I are clones of the original version of the Emperor, andthree of those Clones serve at once as one man- albeit at different stages of their respective lives.
The Cleonic Dynasty emerged from Cleon I (Terrence Mann) and his failure to father an heir to inherit his throne. As such, he rather egotistically put a plan in motion that would essentially make him the eternal leader ofFoundation’s Galactic Empire.This addition to Asimov’s work fits right in with the source materialand has provided some great storylines.
The Clone Emperors Bonding In “When A Book Finds You” Is An Unexpectedly Emotional Payoff In Apple TV+’s Foundation Adaptation
The clones' drinking game warmed my heart out of nowhere
The clones refer to one another as brothers, and each has a title of Dawn, Day, or Dusk, depending on their age at the time. Despite the implied familial bond,a trilogy of active Cleons are rarely emotionally close. Instead, they’re simply raised to rule together and generally encouraged to ignore their own needs.
For a long time, this system served Empire well. Unfortunately for the Dynasty,the genetic material of Cleon I was tampered with. This caused each successive clone to behave less than less like the original. By the time ofFoundationseason 3,the so-called “genetic drift” has resulted in notable personality changesamong the brothers.
Dawn (Cassian Bilton) is controversially working in secret with the Foundation, while Day (Lee Pace) has shed his responsibilities as a leader altogether. Dusk (also Terrence Mann), is especially resistant to ending his reign, which is often a process that clones are expected to take in their stride.
The disparate personalities of the clones inFoundationseason 3 create no shortage of frictionbetween them all. So, it’s especially heartwarming in “When a Book Finds You” when the two older brothers are shown coming together to each Dawn a drinking game. The long pan out as the trio laugh and enjoy each other’s company is unexpectedly wholesome.
What The Cleons Building Bridges Means For The Rest Of Foundation Season 3
Unsanctioned collaboration between the Cleons could take Empire by surprise
The Cleons forming a bond of any kind outside their roles as leaders isn’t something that generally happens inFoundation. Instead, they tend to keep each other at bay and wait for their turn to rule. If the current three come together, their different personalities could combine to affect real change for Empire - for better or worse.
For example, while Day is still on the middle throne, he and Dawn could work together to help save Dusk from Ascension, which is something Mann’s character seems keen to avoid. Any collaboration in official matters would be unexpected, even for Lady Demerzel (Laura Birn), making upcoming events inFoundationseason 3 even harder to predict.
New episodes of Foundation season 3 release every Friday on Apple TV+ until the finale on September 12.
Foundation
Cast
Foundation is a science fiction film that follows a band of exiles on a crucial journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization as the Galactic Empire collapses.
