Foundation
Foundation
Now Showing

Foundation

"No future lasts forever."

7.7
Yr 2021
Status Returning Series
Sci-Fi & Fantasy Drama
Your Verdict

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Series Brief

Overview

Follow a band of exiles on their monumental journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization amid the fall of the Galactic Empire.

Critical Reception

What critics are saying

Score 68 /100

Critical reception for Apple TV+'s adaptation of Isaac Asimov's Foundation is distinctly mixed, though reviewers overwhelmingly agree on the show's jaw-dropping visual grandeur. Critics consistently praise the high production values, cinematic scale, and lavish special effects, emphasizing that the immense budget is visible in nearly every scene. Strong performances—particularly from Lee Pace and Jared Harris—are also highlighted as major strengths that help anchor the complex sci-fi universe.

Despite the aesthetic triumph, the series faces substantial criticism regarding its narrative weight and pacing. Multiple reviewers found the show overly solemn, tedious, and bogged down by heavy exposition, with some describing it as emotionally distant or lacking true narrative substance. While some critics appreciated the bold liberties taken to modernize the dense source material, others felt the storytelling failed to match the soaring heights of its visual spectacle.

“A cerebral story supported by high production values, Foundation is not fully faithful to its source, but worth watching.”

“creates a strongly developed sci-fi universe which coupled with a stellar cast results in a successful first season”

“beautiful but tedious”

“A Beautiful, Empty Sci-Fi Screensaver”

Transmission Paths

Where to Watch

Apple TV
US • CA • UK
Apple TV Amazon Channel
US • UK • CA
Why fans love it

Foundation balances the collapse of a sprawling Galactic Empire with a keen sense of irony. It treats the end of civilization as both a slow, mechanical process and a series of intimate personal failures. The script sidesteps typical space opera adrenaline for a more dignified rhythm, favoring long, introspective silences over constant action.

Jared Harris anchors this gravity with a performance that feels weary and sharp. The series retains a biting, anxious quality throughout, refusing to treat the salvation of humanity as a clean or simple heroic arc. It remains a curious puzzle of a show, layering tragic outcomes underneath a glossy, high-concept aesthetic. This approach makes for a viewing experience that feels heavy with consequence rather than just busy with spectacle.

Featured Players

Cast

Credited 75
Regulars 7
Longest run 30 eps
Jared Harris
Jared Harris
as Hari Seldon
30 episodes
Lee Pace
Lee Pace
as Brother Day
30 episodes
Lou Llobell
Lou Llobell
as Gaal Dornick
30 episodes
Leah Harvey
Leah Harvey
as Salvor Hardin
20 episodes
Laura Birn
Laura Birn
as Demerzel
30 episodes
Cassian Bilton
Cassian Bilton
as Brother Dawn
30 episodes
Terrence Mann
Terrence Mann
as Brother Dusk
30 episodes
Reece Shearsmith
Reece Shearsmith
as Jerril
3 episodes
Show 67 more
Daniel MacPherson as Hugo Crast 10 episodes Vanessa Ifediora as Imperial Herald 3 episodes Alfred Enoch as Raych Foss 7 episodes Nikol Kollars as Jacenta 4 episodes Elliot Cowan as Lewis Pirenne 8 episodes Clarke Peters as Abbas 4 episodes Buddy Skelton as Keir 4 episodes Chloe Lea as Gia 6 episodes Joni Morris as Laylo 3 episodes Mido Hamada as Shadow Master Obrecht 3 episodes Sasha Behar as Mari 9 episodes Pravessh Rana as Rowan 5 episodes Amy Tyger as Azura 5 episodes Nikhil Parmar as Freestone 4 episodes Kubbra Sait as Phara 7 episodes Julia Farino as Zephyr Gilat 3 episodes T'Nia Miller as Zephyr Halima 3 episodes Ella-Rae Smith as Queen Sareth I of Cloud Dominion 8 episodes Sandra Yi Sencindiver as Enjoiner Rue Corintha 9 episodes Oliver Chris as Director Sef Sermak 7 episodes Rowena King as Kalle 5 episodes Eva Bradley-Williams as Varia 5 episodes Jairaj Varsani as Poly 7 episodes Emily Stott as Oreen 4 episodes Wade Briggs as Brigadier Manlio 6 episodes Anthony Barclay as Councilor Sutt 6 episodes Haqi Ali as Handman Hahn 8 episodes Alexander Siddig as Dr. Ebling Mis 7 episodes Isabella Laughland as Novice Claric Brother Constant 8 episodes Kulvinder Ghir as High Claric Brother Poly Verisof 8 episodes Ryan Ali as The Beggar Computer (voice) 4 episodes Mikael Persbrandt as The Mule 4 episodes Luis Torrecilla as Pater 5 episodes Ben Daniels as Bel Riose 6 episodes Dimitri Leonidas as Hober Mallow 7 episodes Dino Fetscher as Glawen Curr 6 episodes Judi Shekoni as She-Bends-Light 5 episodes Ephraim Goldin as Air Officer Kress 4 episodes Rachel House as Tellem Bond 5 episodes Michael Akinsulire as Loron 4 episodes Kit Rakusen as Josiah 6 episodes Sandra Guldberg Kampp as Thalis 6 episodes Isabel Adomakoh-Young as Timandra 4 episodes Mahmoud Aldachan as Ferzan 4 episodes Ian Dillon as Terminite Council Member (uncredited) 6 episodes Cherry Jones as Ambassador Quent 7 episodes Brandon P Bell as Han Pritcher 9 episodes Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing as Song 7 episodes Pilou Asbæk as The Mule 10 episodes Rebecca Ineson as Zephyr Vorellis 4 episodes Leo Bill as Mayor Indbur 5 episodes Iðunn Ösp Hlynsdóttir as Sephone 6 episodes Miltos Yerolemou as Presider Kinn 4 episodes Adam Basil as Hekkus 6 episodes Cody Fern as Toran Mallow 9 episodes Marcus Fraser as Vandagh 6 episodes Synnøve Karlsen as Bayta Mallow 10 episodes Krista Kosonen as Warden Greer 6 episodes Troy Kotsur as Preem Palver 5 episodes Tómas Lemarquis as Magnifico Giganticus 7 episodes Ibraheem Toure as Mavon 4 episodes Isla Gie as Skirlet 6 episodes Darren Pettie as Randu Mallow 4 episodes Victoria Wyant as Zera 4 episodes Laura Berlin as Oceanglass-49 5 episodes Tavia Pereira as Sweetheart (voice) 5 episodes Ahir Shah as Zagreus 6 episodes
Production Board

Crew

Costume Design
Shauna Callanan
Assistant Director Trainee
Barry Costello
Producer
David Kob
Assistant Art Director
Barbara Agbaje Karl Crosby
Co-Executive Producer
Russell Rothberg Leigh Dana Jackson Jane Espenson
Casting
Lucinda Syson Natasha Vincent
Consulting Producer
Chad McQuay
Director
Andrew Bernstein Tim Southam Jennifer Phang Rupert Sanders
Production Design
Rory Cheyne
Assistant Editor
Joey Reinisch
Digital Effects Supervisor
Bastian Wartenberg
Prosthetics Sculptor
Duncan Jarman
Art Direction
Kevin C. Lang
Set Production Assistant
Matej Kricner
Co-Producer
Adam C. Banks Tara Doolan
Props
Sean Lyons
Stunts
Yusuf Chaudhri JJ Battell
Editor
Skip Macdonald
Military Consultant
Paul Biddiss
Director of Photography
Steve Annis
Camera Trainee
Andri Fannar Kjartansson
Signal Match

Similarity

Where Foundation overlaps with other shows, and exactly what they have in common.

Keyword Cloud

Keywords

prophecy based on novel or book affectation grave empire distant future biting space opera questioning speculative curious meditative mysterious shocking candid thoughtful philosophical human clone reflective lyrical complex wonder anxious loving cautionary introspective serene inspirational grand intimate provocative direct didactic dramatic suspenseful critical tense sentimental witty intense bitter admiring adoring appreciative assertive audacious awestruck bold commanding compassionate defiant dignified earnest empathetic enchant exhilarated foreboding hopeful instructive ominous powerful scathing sincere sympathetic tragic urgent vibrant
Technical Sheet

Details

First Aired
September 23, 2021
Status
Returning Series
Origin
US
TMDB Votes
1,691