Spoilers

As the Galactic Empire is reeling from events on Trantor, Hari Seldon and the colonists begin their journey to Terminus.

The Emperor is looking for someone to blame for the deaths of 100 million of his subjects. This has led to expeditions to other parts of the galaxy in a bid to find the insurgents, as well as the continued interrogation of delegates, but so far to no avail. Is this the beginning of the collapse of the Empire as prophesied by Seldon, or was it as a result of Seldon’s prophecy being openly shared?

There’s not so much to take on board in this episode, with no new characters of note bolstering the already large cast list. A lot of time is spent on the vessel will  take over four years to reach its terminus (literally). This gives time for Gaal and Raych (Alfred Enoch) to develop their blossoming relationship, while also revealing the rift between the latter and Hari, which comes to a head when Raych stabs him at the end of the episode and jettisons Gaal in a life pod.

While the pace is slower in this episode that’s only because so much was crammed in to the premiere. We get more time to breathe here, with the different characters of the Emperor revealing themselves. Brother Day (Lee Pace) is particularly ruthless, as demonstrated in his public execution of perceived terrorist sympathisers. This is merely a defiant show of power, which he already knows is slipping through his fingers. But it’s the brutal attack on Hari that will leave you reeling. Surely he can’t be dead already?

Verdict: With less of a focus on the tech and world building, Foundation spends more time with its central characters in this fascinating adaptation of Asimov’s masterwork. 8/10

Nick Joy