Foundation

0

IracundusOct 23, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It is an abomination. It takes Asimov's work and basically turns it on its head and gives the exact opposite message. Spoilers follow for those that have not read all the books. The books were based off of the fall of the Roman Empire, and a key theme of the series was the insignificance of the individual against far larger and longer term societal forces. Instead this TV series has Hari talking about the galaxy pivoting around the actions of single individuals, when that is the exact opposite of what psychohistory is about. Granted, Asimov does put a twist on the theme with a paradigm shift in the Mule but that was an exception.

There are vast changes to the plot including the gratuitous and unnecessary romance/sex relationships, wasting valuable screentime, and the inclusion of a cloned dynasty. Clearly this latter part cannot hold as one of the key plot points of Foundation and Empire was about revolving door emperors due to military leaders overthrowing weak emperors, and strong emperors tolerating no strong military leaders. There is also the portrayal of religion, including vastly hyping it up and even making Daneel part of it, when Asimov and his works generally were in favor of rationalism and secular humanism, not mysticism and faith. Religion in so far as it appears in the Foundation books was as a tool to manipulate masses and to illustrate the fall of a new Dark Age.… Expand

15 of 21 users found this helpful156

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3

DeN_DarKOct 23, 2021

Jared Harris is excellent and Lee Pace is too. Show itself is very pretty and I wanted to like it very much. I don't care about how they changed gender or race of main characters. Actresses is good enough (but not as good as Jared and Lee).Jared Harris is excellent and Lee Pace is too. Show itself is very pretty and I wanted to like it very much. I don't care about how they changed gender or race of main characters. Actresses is good enough (but not as good as Jared and Lee). But scenarists butchered the show by tons of action-movies content: tears, blood, shootings and absolutely illogical and half-baked story. Parts what don't stray far away from books are really nice. But all "original" content is made of illogical circus you can see in every other show and it is boring and full of cliches. And all later episodes made only with new ideas and scenarious. And they awful. Show just not engaging at all after first few episodes and I just start skipping because episodes like an empty shell.
Some original ideas not bad like triune Empire... but all and all - it is sad how show with so much potential and with so good pilot episode became same pale cliche as most shows.… Expand

6 of 11 users found this helpful65

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5

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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1

olekseyOct 22, 2021

tl;dr
Good if you haven't read the books.
Bad if you have. It has almost nothing to do with the books. A completely rewritten story with very few main points and character names retained. Poor acting, poor directing, some scenes are sotl;dr
Good if you haven't read the books.
Bad if you have.

It has almost nothing to do with the books. A completely rewritten story with very few main points and character names retained.
Poor acting, poor directing, some scenes are so predictable and boring.
Characters' stories like Hari Seldon or Eto Demerzel (who is just Demerzel now) are not revealed at all. Some major events are not explained too.
Asimov probably is turning over in the grave. And Robyn Asimov (her daughter) being a producer of the series is an absolute treason.… Expand

10 of 14 users found this helpful104

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1

BobbySandsOct 20, 2021

Poor Directing, poor acting (other than a small few), nothing like the books, and terrible realism, for example think Stormtroopers can't hit their target, ooh boy. All in all such a disappointment, as I really wanted to like this but I faultPoor Directing, poor acting (other than a small few), nothing like the books, and terrible realism, for example think Stormtroopers can't hit their target, ooh boy. All in all such a disappointment, as I really wanted to like this but I fault the producers for wasting a huge budget, a few good actors, and an amazing novel.… Expand

14 of 19 users found this helpful145

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2

FursnakeOct 18, 2021

Ironic...how this show is a perfect example of why Asimov didn't want it made into TV show or movie. Asimov didn't want other writers, producer and directors rewriting and changing his works, which is exactly what has been done to Foundation.Ironic...how this show is a perfect example of why Asimov didn't want it made into TV show or movie. Asimov didn't want other writers, producer and directors rewriting and changing his works, which is exactly what has been done to Foundation. Characters, events and plots have been changed from the books sometimes in an eye-rolling manner and other times cringeworthy. This is someone's fan fiction quality re-writing of Foundation to have it come off as more woke and virtue signaling. It has no business being tied to Asimov's Foundation and it should not be going into a second season, but it is. I'll give it a rating of two, one for the quality of the effects and one for the cast. The rest of it is garbage and doesn't deserve to compare itself to Asimov's books.… Expand

14 of 20 users found this helpful146

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0

Justin-bauceOct 12, 2021

I wish I could have liked it. I had been anticipating this show for a long time.
The actors/writer/showrunners have spoken in interviews and hinted that it would not be based on the books at all. I wish they would have said that in the firstI wish I could have liked it. I had been anticipating this show for a long time.
The actors/writer/showrunners have spoken in interviews and hinted that it would not be based on the books at all. I wish they would have said that in the first place to lower my expectations significantly.

If you loved the books and wanted to see a visual adaptation. Well then I'm very sorry to disappoint. They've been massacred. Unfortunately the title "Foundation" being used in this case, is almost at the point of being nothing more than clickbait.

If you like generic modern "sci-fi" that are actually just dramas, that try to be relevant by referencing current events/politics. Then go for it, you'll like this show.

But I can't give it a good review when it claims to be an adaptation of the books. The characters are not only different people, they have different histories, different roles, different personalities. In most cases they share barely more than the same name.

I pained myself to get through the first 4 episodes. But it was hard to enjoy anything they did well, with the constant distractions from all the "liberties" the writers took in the process of mutilating a timeless Asimov story.… Expand

15 of 22 users found this helpful157

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2

SterlingHeroOct 9, 2021

The screens are impressive, but it’s super woke. Be prepared to be lectured by a petulant college kid.

11 of 19 users found this helpful118

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4

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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2

Sv4roGOct 8, 2021

Another unfortunate victim of Woke Wars. It has so little in common with the novel that if not for the tittle i wouldn't recognize the story. It has so much ideology forced down viewer throat that I'm surprised people are not choking on itAnother unfortunate victim of Woke Wars. It has so little in common with the novel that if not for the tittle i wouldn't recognize the story. It has so much ideology forced down viewer throat that I'm surprised people are not choking on it while watching. Shame. I was hoping for another great Sci-Fi show.… Expand

21 of 32 users found this helpful2111

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10

menthysOct 8, 2021

Alike those living in the troubled times of the Empire's fall that could not see beyond the next day, many reviewers made up their minds too quickly and acted as if they had watched and judged the entire series before it even aired. IsaacAlike those living in the troubled times of the Empire's fall that could not see beyond the next day, many reviewers made up their minds too quickly and acted as if they had watched and judged the entire series before it even aired. Isaac Asimov warned of the culture of ignorance, and it is that very culture rearing its ugly head in rushed, negative reviews all over the internet. Isaac Asimov himself, while writing Foundation's Edge, made his own self-critique about the original trilogy lacking this potency of adventure; and indeed, for many the books are too cerebral. I grew up with these books and loved them. And I took them to heart enough, to be able to understand the liberties ANY adaptation of the Foundation novels would have to take to make it to television. After 4 episodes, and with the story still at its very beginning, I am not going to argue about the depth of characters or those "purist" reactions that bemoan Salvor Hardin being a woman and whatever, given Asimov himself would not give a **** about that. I will only say: so far, the worldbuilding is deep, the Empire is something tangible and the Foundation is truly all at sea. It pains me that I do not see any of those who hate this show realize that from the very first moments of the first episode, the production took into account the entirety of Asimov's novels and possibly the officially authorized Second Foundation Trilogy. Massive work has been done in drawing ideas from Asimov's works, including his Robot series. It's obvious the showrunners have thought ahead - and they have said so. I do not know if "Foundation" will reach 8 seasons, but I am looking forward to its journey's continuation. This is a show made by people living in 2021, trying to place so many issues via the lens of a world that was first explored 60 years ago. The undertaking of this production is insanely difficult, many will say impossible, and it is also on that basis that we should judge the outcome.… Expand

9 of 26 users found this helpful917

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10

thehealingsOct 8, 2021

Ignore the haters. This show is magic! Outstanding worldbuilding, richly drawn characters, superb production values, and very timely themes.

8 of 27 users found this helpful819

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10

greedoinaspeedoOct 8, 2021

Truly digging this show. It's the intelligent science fiction TV series I've been waiting for. A dense, well constructed universe with a lot of moving pieces. It reminds me of some of my favorite science fiction novels, which I have neverTruly digging this show. It's the intelligent science fiction TV series I've been waiting for. A dense, well constructed universe with a lot of moving pieces. It reminds me of some of my favorite science fiction novels, which I have never seen accurately captured in a TV show.

That being said, if you are a diehard fan of the Asimov stories, and you come in with an attachment to seeing something specific, you're bound to be disappointed. The show is necessarily divergent from the source material, as the books they're based upon are written like histories, without any developed characters, jumping time-periods constantly.

I feel like this was bound to bother some people no matter how they spun it. Luckily for me, what exists here is a show I've been waiting on for ages.

I only hope this initially negative reception doesn't halt the series from continuing on, because I'm hooked, and beyond excited to see where this goes.… Expand

7 of 26 users found this helpful719

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0

Saul2021Oct 6, 2021

The TV shows leaves you wondering if there's any point to this futuristic story other than selling woke narratives of today.
To me it seems like producers used Foundation franchise as a proxy to promote their beliefs.
Has nothing to do withThe TV shows leaves you wondering if there's any point to this futuristic story other than selling woke narratives of today.
To me it seems like producers used Foundation franchise as a proxy to promote their beliefs.
Has nothing to do with actual Foundation. I've never seen so many gender and race swapping thus far. This one certainly sets the record.
Visuals are ok, but the design is cliched. Acting, I guess ok. Screenplay and story, nothing special really. If not for the woke bs, I'd give it 5, at best 6. But injecting politics into adaptation of any kind is a red line for me. Thus, zero.… Expand

20 of 30 users found this helpful2010

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2

MattBlalockOct 3, 2021

Turgid, disjointed, confusing. I read the Foundation series in the 60's and I admit my memories are hazy, but this ain't it. I DON"T CARE THAT THEY meddled with the characters' genders, color, ethnicity either. That is not important, what isTurgid, disjointed, confusing. I read the Foundation series in the 60's and I admit my memories are hazy, but this ain't it. I DON"T CARE THAT THEY meddled with the characters' genders, color, ethnicity either. That is not important, what is important is character development in this portrayal and I'm not seeing any character motivation beyond the dialog they've been given. The murder of Seldon goes unexplained, the jettisoning of Gaal Dornick goes unexplained, the time jumps don't segue smoothly. The scripting is shallow, the sets look like they were built and shot on the shooting stage of a daytime Soap Opera. The special effects are mediocre and the look and feel of the tech is 1960's Star Trek. Even the transporter effect turns out to be nothing more than an incinerator. This won't last. Read Damodredd below. He gets it right.… Expand

16 of 23 users found this helpful167

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10

rlian220Oct 2, 2021

I don’t know what you all are talking about. This show is awesome. It’s like Star Wars meets Game of Thrones. It’s ambitious and difficult to tell such a big story that spans over 1000 years, but I think they pulled it off in a veryI don’t know what you all are talking about. This show is awesome. It’s like Star Wars meets Game of Thrones. It’s ambitious and difficult to tell such a big story that spans over 1000 years, but I think they pulled it off in a very believable way. The story is interesting and thought-provoking, the acting is superb, and show overall comes across as entertaining and full of depth. I’ve watch every episodes and can’t wait for more.… Expand

7 of 25 users found this helpful718

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1

FlobarOct 2, 2021

One star just for visual effects. The story (which deviates so much from the books) is so boring and unwatchable, that after three episodes I'm done with the show.

17 of 28 users found this helpful1711

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2

MeganRappinHoeOct 1, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Boring tripe! Deviates so far from the novel that it's "Foundation" in name only. The race/gender swapping of principal characters is predictable and cliched. Salvor Hardin in the novel is a cigar-chomping man, but in the show Hardin is a black woman who is THE BESTEST EVAR because she's the only one who can enter the null field around the Vault without being affected. Unfortunate that the show had to be made in these woke times by people with an agenda; better if it had never been made at all!… Expand

19 of 28 users found this helpful199

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5

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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6

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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10

UlverNielsenSep 29, 2021

Generally puzzling to me how anyone can dislike this. It is the most gorgeous-looking show I have seen in years – if not ever. Terrific performances and excellent storytelling that stay true to Asimov’s vision while making changes appropriateGenerally puzzling to me how anyone can dislike this. It is the most gorgeous-looking show I have seen in years – if not ever. Terrific performances and excellent storytelling that stay true to Asimov’s vision while making changes appropriate for a new medium. The thing about most of Asimov’s characters is that their gender and ethnicity is irrelevant to the story and I feel quite confident that he would have approved of color and gender-blind casting.… Expand

6 of 27 users found this helpful621

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0

thesadpunkSep 29, 2021

If you haven't read the books this could be a good sci-fi drama show. It's graphical impressive. But if you have read the Foundation series, this doesn't do any good to the books. It's more like an expensive fanfiction, the only Asimov inIf you haven't read the books this could be a good sci-fi drama show. It's graphical impressive. But if you have read the Foundation series, this doesn't do any good to the books. It's more like an expensive fanfiction, the only Asimov in this are the names.… Expand

14 of 20 users found this helpful146

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10

krikaoliSep 28, 2021

I read the book several times. Don't pay attention to reviews with low ratings, they are probably haters. It's a very difficult adaptation to make. And even so, the series was excellent! So far I'm impressed with the quality of this show. TheI read the book several times. Don't pay attention to reviews with low ratings, they are probably haters. It's a very difficult adaptation to make. And even so, the series was excellent! So far I'm impressed with the quality of this show. The actors are very good, the plot was very elaborate, the sets are wonderful. All done with great quality and perfection.… Expand

9 of 33 users found this helpful924

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2

Klose000000Sep 27, 2021

Очень плохая экранизация книги. Столько вложить средств в картинку, но при этом так угробить оригинал, надо уметь.

13 of 22 users found this helpful139

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1

LeofiniarelSep 26, 2021

Waaaay too unfaithful and distant from the book, in every way, Feels like bad fanfiction. Very disappointed

28 of 42 users found this helpful2814

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10

felipecsSep 26, 2021

More relevant than ever, Foundation is a must to bring up debates about imperialism, post-capitalism, and also to analogize the negationism that has emerged in this pandemic period. I recommend it to everyone who is passionate about scienceMore relevant than ever, Foundation is a must to bring up debates about imperialism, post-capitalism, and also to analogize the negationism that has emerged in this pandemic period. I recommend it to everyone who is passionate about science fiction and about how this genre is more about looking at the present than the future itself.… Expand

13 of 51 users found this helpful1338

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0

DamodreddSep 26, 2021

This may come as a shock to see such a low rating given to something with such a high production value but it is entirely justified. At best, this is fan-fiction written by people who have not read or respect the source material. It's notThis may come as a shock to see such a low rating given to something with such a high production value but it is entirely justified. At best, this is fan-fiction written by people who have not read or respect the source material. It's not even a "foundation inspired" story - it's just a whole different sci-fi with the name of Foundation and with a couple characters with the same names as some in the actual Foundation series.

It's not even just a "deviation" of some characters back stories or features of which, they changed absolutely every character's origin, personality, motivations, every aspect of them both relevant to the plotline and not; it's a complete abandonment of the central driving technical (sci-fi) themes and spirit of the original story's plot-line. What may appear to a viewer in an early scene as 'just a technical detail' or 'just the reason a character exists' turn out to have extremely plot-centric story arcs that the plot of the entire series of the books is completed reliant upon.

This is part of the reasoning for their dramatic and jarring abandonment of the actual Foundation story in favor of this new story they're desperately trying to convince us can compete with Asimov's masterpiece, from the show-runner:

"The first thing I said to the Asimov Estate is that Asimov crafted Foundation to be a mirror so I need to write about what's happening now. I need to write about Brexit, MeToo, the ascent of nationalism again. I need to write about climate change."

We have yet another series trampled by someone who ignores the core features of the original to shoe-horn in their own feelings about current events. They try to claim that they're echoing Asimov's great "mirror" telling of world events but they failed to indicate that Asmiov's mirror was pointed at the fall of Rome, not some trendy temporary trends popularized by television magazine websites such as Vox, Fox, CNN, or Teen Vogue. The rating of 2 is me being cognizant of the high production value and effort put in by the actors. For people who like to put meaningless background movies on for their kids during the day that have colorful scenes, go ahead, because that's going to be the primary consumer of this irrelevant show that will be forgotten in 2 months tops. Referring to this new series as a "Foundation" sci-fi is about the same as taking a silly summer blockbuster like "Transformers" and simply slapping the name "Star Trek" on it, then marketing it to Star Trek fans as if it's going to be this complex plotline with huge political intrigue even though you are just planning on delivering the same **** you delivered last year. The throwing around of established IP's like this ultimately will send this franchise to the grave with the likes of the last 2 seasons of Game of Thrones (recognized world-wide as the some of the worst show-running decisions in history).… Expand

36 of 45 users found this helpful369

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0

AlesikiSep 26, 2021

This is a spit on the grave of Isaac Asimov.
It is huge disappointment in ci-fi future.
What a shame (((
Its look like script writers event didnt read the books.

32 of 42 users found this helpful3210

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9

termonSep 26, 2021

Editing and some characterizations could be better, but the emperors are the most interesting TV antagonists since Game of Thrones.

8 of 30 users found this helpful822

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2

TestaGrandeSep 26, 2021

Feels like clickbait using Asimov’s master piece.
Forgetting the books it is yet another quite lame sci-fi series, in this case too expensive for its own good.

29 of 40 users found this helpful2911

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0

Nethrez1mSep 26, 2021

A complete and utter **** right from the beginning, this series will undoubtedly stay high in the list of the modern media. From an original story about philosophy and sociology it contains only names. I can't explain to myself why so manyA complete and utter **** right from the beginning, this series will undoubtedly stay high in the list of the modern media. From an original story about philosophy and sociology it contains only names. I can't explain to myself why so many butcherings were made.… Expand

37 of 47 users found this helpful3710

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0

plountSep 24, 2021

This review, like almost all negative reviews, was deleted from imdb after being approved. It's not vulgar, personal or even politic. Let's see if it stays here:

The Anti-Foundation This movie doesn’t have much to do with Asimov’s book.This review, like almost all negative reviews, was deleted from imdb after being approved. It's not vulgar, personal or even politic. Let's see if it stays here:

The Anti-Foundation

This movie doesn’t have much to do with Asimov’s book. Foundation is arguably one of the best, if not the best SF. It describes a science irrelevant now, psychohistory, while touching themes of sociology, psychology, epistemology etc. It’s as far as it can be from a teen melodrama. And complex philosophical stories can be presented in a TV Series. It was done in the first season of Westworld. So no excuse there.

I knew from the explosive trailer that it was going to be bad, but it was way beyond my expectations. The very first words uttered by the main character were idiotic (she wanted to know the name of millions of planets for no reason at all), while also telling us the screenwriters don’t care about the book (the Star’s End reference).

The main character of this series, Gaal Dornick, is just a plot device in the book. There are other characters in Asimov’s book, some interesting like Salvor Hardin, but ok. Still even the small background that Asimov gave to Gaal is changed in the series, by making her/him came from a backward planet, which is again absurd.

Two things to finish this text. One is the interesting concept proposed by this show of radical mathematics written between the lines. It made me puke a little in my mouth.

The second is about the dissolution of a specific civilization. Do you know the fictional movie “Ass” from “Idiocracy”? Yeah, we’re past that. This is worse.… Expand

30 of 42 users found this helpful3012

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Foundation

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