Apple TV+'s 'majestic' sci-fi epic returns for 'strikingly relevant' season 3

Apple TV+'s enthralling science fiction masterpiece, Foundation, returns triumphantly for a third season, perfectly on cue with the current zeitgeist.

Drawing inspiration from the renowned pen of Isaac Asimov, Foundation unfolds an expansive narrative set in the distant reaches of the future, where a galaxy-wide empire is presided over by clone rulers known as Brother Dawn, Day and Dusk, embodied by the acting talents of Lee Pace, Cassian Bilton and Terrence Mann.

It's during this era that genius mathematician Hari Seldon (portrayed by Jared Harris) conceives psychohistory, a theoretical tool to forecast the future, and predicts the empire's catastrophic collapse and ensuing millennia-long dark age.

Accompanied by prodigious mathematician Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell), he forms the Foundation, a scholarly coalition aimed at curating human intellect and culture.

In this latest instalment, the Foundation braces against their most formidable foe yet: the Mule (Pilou Asbaek), a Mentalic and enigmatic conqueror with powers to manipulate minds, reports the Mirror.

Season three elevates Foundation to new heights, spotlighting how narratives unfolding countless centuries ahead can still profoundly echo today's real-world challenges.

Echoing this sentiment, Terrence Mann, portraying Brother Dusk, shard with Express Online and fellow journalists: "What happens in Foundation, for all three seasons, mirrors exactly what's happening in the world in any given country, or continent, or city, or home, or family, or town.

"That part of humanity doesn't change, the dysfunctionality of families, they're there and we love them and that kind of storytelling has been here as long as the written word."

His co-star Bilton, who plays Brother Dawn, chimed in: "I think the show this season, more than other seasons, has a very confronting relevance to the world we're living in right now.

"What we explore this season is the idea that power ultimately shouldn't be held by one individual for too long.

"There are elements of the Cleons' rule that are borderline fascistic, they are essentially autocrats. They're, for all intents and purposes, not democratically elected. They're clinging to power, even though that wouldn't be the right thing for them or anyone else.

"You see across the entire Foundation universe the implications of that, and none of it's good. It really is war."

While Foundation has always resonated with human history and contemporary life, the Mule introduces brand new themes that will feel eerily timely to today's online landscape.

"You have that on one side and also another thing that strikes me as relevant is the Mentalic element of this season," Bilton continued.

"Of course it is a science-fiction idea but, I think with the rise of social media and its influence on the way in which we carry out our daily lives and the choices that we make being informed by the time we spend on our phones has echoes in what the Mule is able to do."

The ominous reach of modern technology was illustrated by the star: "It's not so much that he has a very strong army of people with weapons, but he can get in the minds of people. What you're seeing now, both with the rise of AI and the proliferation of social media globally, is people have a shortcut into your attention and your mind.

"Capitalism has taken over every single land mass in the world and now the thing it's coming for is the real estate of your mind.

"That's echoed in the Mule so I do think there's a striking relevance this season to the world we're living in."

Devotees are raving about the series, dubbing it "magnificent and majestic" and heralding it as a "groundbreaking adaptation" of Asimov's seminal works, so it's an absolute must-see for any sci-fi buff.

Foundation season 3 continues Fridays on Apple TV+.