Foundation

Apple TV | Release Date: September 24, 2021

4.6	USER SCORE Mixed or average reviews based on 266 Ratings

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kito78Aug 16, 2023

As last two episodes were good I am changing score to 6.

It is just ok. I still do not understand why they needed to change so much. They had great books, but in their arrogancy decided to fork it up… it could be 10/10 but now is 2. ToAs last two episodes were good I am changing score to 6.

It is just ok. I still do not understand why they needed to change so much. They had great books, but in their arrogancy decided to fork it up… it could be 10/10 but now is 2.
To writers, producers and directors: if you want to know how to do book adaptation: 1. Read Harry Potter 2. Watch first two Harry Potter movies 3. Read book you want to do (a few times) 4. Do it as close to book as possible… and learn from mistakes of others… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

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norseJul 30, 2022

Great design and world building, fantastic visuals and great actors.

The frequently lousy writing and direction take it down from 10 to a 4. I didn't mind the complete departure from the source material or the gender changes, I sort of loveGreat design and world building, fantastic visuals and great actors.

The frequently lousy writing and direction take it down from 10 to a 4.

I didn't mind the complete departure from the source material or the gender changes, I sort of love that the show had a token white guy, and the last episode makes up for a lot - but: everything in between episode 1 and that suffers from the most cringe-worthy moments where characters seem to choose the dumbest possible way for them to behave, or contradict themselves moments after making a bold statement. It might have helped for an unnecessarily action ladden show if the directors had watched any successful movie featuring fighting before completely ruining immersion with the most brain dead depiction since 1960ies B movies.

It is a bit as if the raw video had been given to JJ Abrahams or one of the recent Star Wars directors, with the explicit direction to ruin things to the best of their capability.

More infuriatingly, occasionally the show hands out consistently great writing (in particular in the clone emperor sequences), emphasizing what's missing in the remainder.

I can only hope that someone thinks critically about what to do in season 2 and improves on the things that stand in between this being epic and bingeworthy.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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DukeJonSep 30, 2021

Some great effects, but the world-building isn't explained at all so you don't get any feeling of immersion. Two episodes in and my overall feeling is "meh". After two hours it really should have grabbed me by now. Characters are boring andSome great effects, but the world-building isn't explained at all so you don't get any feeling of immersion. Two episodes in and my overall feeling is "meh". After two hours it really should have grabbed me by now. Characters are boring and illogical and the main character, who started off as confused and fragile, has already turned into a Mary Sue. Never read the books, so I can't comment on how accurate this all is.… Expand

11 of 16 users found this helpful115

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BubberOct 1, 2021

Disregarding the book, the first episode was good, then it went downhill in episode 2 and 3, I now have little hope it will recover.

10 of 15 users found this helpful105

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AlexPetrovNov 13, 2021

This TV series has nothing to do with novels written by Isaac Asimov. They borrowed just a few character and planet named and that's it. I you're an Asimov fan, don't waste your time on this. It is not an adaptation. Visual effects are wellThis TV series has nothing to do with novels written by Isaac Asimov. They borrowed just a few character and planet named and that's it. I you're an Asimov fan, don't waste your time on this. It is not an adaptation. Visual effects are well done. Acting is so so. There are 3 main plot lines: Foundation/Salvor Hardin, Emperors, Gaal/Seldon. So... Foundation plot line was ok in the beginning but after a couple of episodes it got boring. I am just skipping it now. Same for Gaal/Seldon. The first episode was great, but then it is just not interesting to follow them. It is Emperors plot line that saves the show for me. I don't really care if they were in books or not (they were not), I only care if it is fun to watch or not. It is. The other to plot lines are not. I'd say that the Emperors deserve their own series.… Expand

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

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tranemonkNov 17, 2021

Way too confusing and all over the map. Started with promise. Got much worse as the season progressed.

6 of 9 users found this helpful63

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Janice_23Aug 4, 2022

If you love Asimov's Foundation trilogy, be warned this series has almost nothing in common with the books. Season 1 was passable, but season 2 went off the rails. It's a pity, given the excellent actor, and that the Foundation series is oneIf you love Asimov's Foundation trilogy, be warned this series has almost nothing in common with the books. Season 1 was passable, but season 2 went off the rails. It's a pity, given the excellent actor, and that the Foundation series is one of the greats in SF. The series could have been very cool had it remained true to the spirit of the source material.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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KurschOct 8, 2021

Foundation feels rushed in its world building but manages to slow down for tedious melodrama. It tries to be epic in scale, but feels small, nothing is outright terrible, but there isn't anything gripping about the show either. Hard coreFoundation feels rushed in its world building but manages to slow down for tedious melodrama. It tries to be epic in scale, but feels small, nothing is outright terrible, but there isn't anything gripping about the show either. Hard core sci-fi fans will occasionally roll their eyes - a galactic civilization with FTL travel, space elevators, "living" paint, and holodecks, but the laundry mat can't get the stain out of Hari Seldon's shirt.

Come to think of it, why does Hari Seldon, the brilliant psycho historian who handpicked a group of true believers to restart civilization, fill his ship with domestic servants? Is manually doing laundry the key to reducing the galactic dark age to just 1000 years? Maybe the show gets better after the second episode, but I can't muster up the energy to care. For hard core sci fi, stick with the Expanse.… Expand

7 of 11 users found this helpful74

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Dee-Jay_DeliOct 30, 2021

Interesting ideas, poorly executed: Yeah, despite some potential in the ideas and concept, the execution is piss-poor. The story is distorted and difficult to grasp, the characters bland and uninteresting and there is very littleInteresting ideas, poorly executed: Yeah, despite some potential in the ideas and concept, the execution is piss-poor. The story is distorted and difficult to grasp, the characters bland and uninteresting and there is very little world-building outside of the emperors.… Expand

5 of 9 users found this helpful54

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GameBoyAdv4002Dec 20, 2021

This is not Isaac Asimov's Foundation. I knew that from the the moment episode 1 ended, and watching the rest of the series did not convince me otherwise. It has the same basic idea of a political faction being founded under the guise of aThis is not Isaac Asimov's Foundation. I knew that from the the moment episode 1 ended, and watching the rest of the series did not convince me otherwise. It has the same basic idea of a political faction being founded under the guise of a research outpost in order to reduce a dark age from 30 millennia to 1, but it's mostly an original story. As an original story, it's pretty neat. But it is not Foundation.
Like most great Sci-Fi, Isaac Asimov's Foundation is not a new story, just an old one told on the scale of an entire galaxy. Unlike other Sci-Fi however, the Foundation was based on the real events of the fall of the Roman Empire, and that gave it a uniquely historical tone. Dramatic problems were solved by mundane solution. There were no great battles, just smart diplomacy, and that's what made Foundation interesting. It was not for everyone, and many people did not like it for that very reason, but for me and lots of people, that was the core of Foundation.
This series has none of that. What was once solved with political manoeuvres and trade deals is now solved with bravery and heroism. This sounds like it would make it more interesting, and it does to an extent. I always wanted to know what direction the story was taking itself, if only for the thought, "I wonder how they're going to **** up this?". But it's not sustainable. I cannot even begin to imagine how elements like the Mule are going to be handled, given how the series appears to have sabotaged the elements of that arc already. I will continue to watch it, but I hold no hope for this being a good adaptation. I'll just try to view it as an original series.… Expand

2 of 6 users found this helpful24

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NdemusNov 27, 2021

Loved it even more the second time I watched it. Love the characters and depth to the story. Can’t wait for season 2

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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AdamEnDetailNov 24, 2021

Foundation purports a vast world that expands over a truly broad scope - but its story/plot is inadequate and its characters are mediocre.

Lou Llobell's character, Gaal Dornick who I think was the most interesting and immersive characterFoundation purports a vast world that expands over a truly broad scope - but its story/plot is inadequate and its characters are mediocre.

Lou Llobell's character, Gaal Dornick who I think was the most interesting and immersive character amongst all takes a back seat mid season in a confusing turn of events. While, Lee Pace and Terrence Mann as Empire (Day and Dusk respectively) offer noteworthy performances.

Visually, Foundation's production design looks brilliant but overall it fails to mean anything or accomplish much. The show averages almost an hour per episode in which one can feel reverberations of profound ideas but after ten episodes it all seems entirely uneventful and devoid of meaning or emotion. Barring the irritation of the show's cheap cliffhanger season finale.

I have not come across or read Isaac Asimov's books which Foundation is based on. But if the narratives in the books are as vast as it has been put forward in this show, then Foundation seems like it will not be able to properly tell the story the source material sought to tell, talk less of a better one.… Expand

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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rainmantexOct 22, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I love science fiction to a fault, but can directors at least try to make shows believable? It only takes a small cannon to take out a starship, really. Hate to see what a small dust particle would do flying through space.… Expand

1 of 9 users found this helpful18

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