Foundation S1E5 "Upon Awakening" Review

Release date: October 15, 2021
Running time: 50 minutes

A flashback reveals the origin of Gaal’s conflict between faith and science. The standoff on Terminus takes an unfortunate turn.

So Foundation is finally getting into the action and here we are. This episode allows us to both be reunited with old friends and to see the action pick up.  It proceeds in parallel with two storylines going on parallel tracks.  It is an interesting way to tell this story as they don't intertwine at all, but it does allow some break up during the whole endeavor.  I really liked the focus on these two characters who I greatly enjoy seeing and the extra time we get to spend with them.  We also finally get some backstory filled in from episode 2, solving that strange time skip. 

But although I have been clamoring for action, the action in episode 5 is not very good.  Don't get me wrong, the series is not going to be an action series and the drama and production values are still top notch, but the action is slow and choreographed heavily.  And apparently no one in this world is a marksman as there is a hail of bullets and very few hit.  And although I really liked seeing these characters, we didn't get any updates from the empire.  I imagine that we will get it in the next episode, but this was a very Foundation-focused one.  But that being said, this was a solid episode to move the Salvor storyline along and help flesh out some of the past mystery.

Foundation S1E5 brings back some characters and fills in some story, while advancing the conflict on Foundation and allowing Salvor to really shine.

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Foundation is available to stream on Apple TV+ with Season 1 Episode 5 "Upon Awakening" available on October 8, 2021.

Foundation S1E7 "Mysteries and Martyrs" Review: An Interesting Reveal Has Some New Flaws

Release date: October 29, 2021
Running time: 49 minutes

The Anacreons and their hostages board the fabled Invictus warship. The bond between Brother Dawn and Azura intensifies.

Now we are starting to barrel towards some interesting territory but it still feels like Foundation is setting up the world.  This episode is similar to others we have seen, though I will say the reveals seemed to happen more evenly throughout.  Rather than the previous episodes that seemed to have a big reveal at the start and end, this has a few spaced out.  There were a few key plot points that help to flesh out several of the stories, and I really liked some of the personal crises that this is introducing.  We get to see one of the Emperor's vulnerability, we get to see a big reveal from Gaal, and Salvor is put in very difficult position.  And I really liked he evolution of both Brother Dawn and Gaal, both of which had big story segments in this episode.  I have not been a fan of Brother Dawn, but with these new insights his overall story has become that much more interesting.  

And although Foundation is starting to come together, I still feel like this episode is building building building.  I guess that is just what this series will be, a slow intrigue setup for later episodes, but I do wonder when the payoff will happen. Don't get me wrong, I'm still enjoying the characters, but the slow pace and lack of definitive movement is starting to bother me.  Still, I will keep watching as this episode showed that there is still plenty of enjoyment left in this story.

Foundation S1E7 has some big reveals and a return of some of our favorite characters, but still feels like the series is all preparation and no execution.

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Foundation is available to stream on Apple TV+ with Season 1 Episode 7 "Mysteries and Martyrs" available on October 29, 2021.

Foundation S1E6 "Death and the Maiden" Review: Some More Plot Lines Laid Bare

Release date: October 22, 2021
Running time: 50 minutes

Brother Day meets Zephyr Halima—a would-be leader who opposes the Empire. Brother Dusk grows suspicious of Brother Dawn.

We missed the Empire in the last episode but it comes roaring back in this one.  This episode feels more evenly split between the Empire and Foundation, but still with plenty of really great reveals.  It also feels like another groundwork laying episode, and I'm starting to wonder when the actual action will happen.  The world of Foundation is clearly a complicated one and there is a lot of groundwork to lay, but I am concerned that the show runners are just using season one a as a setup season for a more exciting season 2.  Overall I am wondering if Foundation will be all build up, no payoff.

What we do get is more reveals and a chance to see Salva with some emotion.  The reveals are both about the Empire and about Foundation's predicament.  For the Empire, we get some additional background and a look at some of the power struggles within the actual Empire.  It was another important reveal and it seems like the last couple episodes have tried to put some cracks in the Empire's previously unified front.  On the Foundation side, we see the aftermath of the invading force and the fate of Salva.  It is a sequence that allows her to show some emotion and additional character growth, but also requiring her to become a strong leader very quickly.

Foundation S1E6 has some more reveals and lays some solid foundation, but I am wondering when the series will stop building and start executing.

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Foundation is available to stream on Apple TV+ with Season 1 Episode 6 "Death and the Maiden" available on October 22, 2021.

Foundation S1E4 "Barbarians At The Gates" Review: Foundation Sets Up The Rest Of This Exciting Series

Release date: October 8, 2021
Running time: 45 minutes

Salvor faces off with an enemy of the Empire. Brothers Day and Dusk are at odds, while Brother Dawn wrestles with his truth. 

If you were waiting for Foundation to pick up, then this is the week to watch.  Although it doesn't quite get into the full on action, this episode has lots of intrigue and a whole lot of build up.  But this build up has important revelations and an exciting format, as you get to see more of some pivotal characters.  We really get a good look at the three emperors as they deal with their own galactic crises, and of Salvor and her place in the foundation.  It has an air of excitement that seems to set the rest of the season up for some amazing times.

Episode 4 keeps the same great production values that have made this series a visual treat, but adds a whole layer of new information.  We get important revelations about many of the main characters, and a good idea of who will be the focus of the following episodes.  And we get to see some characters grow into the leaders that we expected them to be, with some pretty impressive acting from them.  I really liked Leah Harvey as Salvor, who takes on a commanding performance in this one.  And I also loved the set up.  Whereas before I was annoyed, this time I am all about the slow build.  The build up here feels meaningful, with a direct relation to what we find out and what will occur in the near future.  It really speaks to the care that this series has that we can have episodes that have so much backstory, and it will pay dividends in the remaining six.  

Foundation S1E4 puts the spotlight on some characters and sets up  some exciting events that will have an impact on both the Foundation and the Empire.

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Foundation is available to stream on Apple TV+ with Season 1 Episode 4 "Barbarians At The Gates" available on October 8, 2021.

Foundation S01E03 "The Mathematician's Ghost" Review: An Interesting, But Not Exciting Set Up Episode

Release date: October 1, 2021
Running time: 43 minutes

Brother Dusk reflects on his legacy as he prepares for ascension. The Foundation arrives on Terminus and finds a mysterious object. 

As was the case in episode 2, Foundation Season 1, Episode 3 jumps ahead in time again.  This allows us to see the progression from one generation to the next, but also has some consequences.  It was really interesting to see how the Emperors progress and to see the ritual that causes one dynasty to end and another to begin.  But, this also means that for characters that are not cloned, they are just gone without explanation.  This might just be the norm with this series but it was something I didn't love seeing.  And the series doesn't acknowledge this at the start, so you're left wondering where the characters that we just spent two hours with have gone to.  

But overall, this time jumping does allow the series to explore legacy; both from the perspective of the empire and the perspective of the Foundation.  Whereas the Empire shows that a legacy is pretty much ongoing, the Foundation is still establishing everything.  New revelations occur, new practices happen, and new characters are introduced.  It is a nice contrast that was fun to see.  However, this episode is a slow one, setting up an exciting encounter in the next episode.  It introduces us to the new characters of this time and leaves on a cliffhanger for the follow up.  it is not a bad episode, just not one that really moves the needle.  It is more of a set up.  But don't worry, it seems like the next episode will be an exciting one and in any event, I'm already hooked on the series.  

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Foundation is available to stream on Apple TV+ with Season 1 Episode 3 "The Mathematician's Ghost" available on October 1, 2021.

What to Watch This Weekend: Venom, Kenneth Chambarlain, Sopranos Prequel, Tammy Faye, Foundation, Seance, Still Today, Go Don't Go

For A Fun Comic Book Movie: Venom: Let There Be Carnage (Theaters) 
Venom: Let There Be Carnage is a worthy sequel to the first film, with another great performance by Tom Hardy, plenty of humor, and a psychotic foil to the lethal protector.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Dramatic And All Too Common Experience: The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain (Theaters and Digital)

The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain highlights a horrible, but all too common encounter with police, with a strong performance by Faison and a tense, gripping story.  For more information, check out the review!

For An Origin Story You Can't Refuse: The Many Saints of Newark (Theaters and HBO Max)

Still has that Sopranos allure despite the theatrical timeframe, and make sure to watch it before it leaves HBO Max in 30 days!

For A Stylish And Entertaining Look At  A Complicated Figure: The Eyes of Tammy Faye (Theaters)

The Eyes of Tammy Faye is a stylish look at this complicated person, with transformative performances, wonderful music, and a painfully honest peek behind the eyes of this influential figure.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Dramatic Science Fiction Experience: Foundation (Apple TV+)

Foundation is based on Isaac Asimov's universe, and has interesting characters, great effects, and a mysterious world that makes it a mathematical impossibility to not keep watching.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Haunting Boarding School Story: Seance (Shudder)

Seance's understated tone, great cast, and wonderful setting summon a mysterious and thoroughly enjoyable murder mystery.  For more information, check out the review!

For A Charming Romantic Night: Still Today (Amazon Prime)

Still Today is a charming romantic comedy that has some unconventional leads in a long, one night romantic journey that will give you plenty to smile about.  For more information, check out our review!

For A Slow Burning Indie Apocalypse Story: Go / Don't Go (Amazon Prime)
Go / Don't Go weaves a mysterious, slow-burning story fueled by beautiful cinematography and the introspective performance of Knapp, Luccardi, and Davis, in this indie apocalypse gem.  For more information, check out the review!

Foundation S1E2 "Preparing to Live" Review: Same Slow Pace, Built Out World, And Climactic Conclusion

Release date: September 24, 2021
Running time: 103 minutes

Based on the award-winning novels by Isaac Asimov, “Foundation” chronicles a band of exiles on their monumental journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization amid the fall of the Galactic Empire.

Where the first episode of Foundation laid the groundwork for the whole galactic organization, this episode really lets you see the stakes that are involved.  The episode starts with an action packed introduction and concludes with a big conclusion, but the middle is all about fleshing out the world and setting up the intrigue.  You learn some of the consequences and pressures facing the Empire, as well as some of the danger facing Gaal and the newly exiled settlers.  You don't have a lot of major revelations, but overall this is a fleshing out episode, giving you more comfort with the major player's situations.  And you also start to see different players that we met earlier start to assert their power, allowing us to see where disagreements lie.  

And the conclusion, wow, what a conclusion.  If you aren't hooked after that then maybe this isn't for you, but I was floored by what happened.  But because this epsiode is more about building out the world, it was pretty slow.  There were important events and revelations, but overall there wasn't a lot going on.  It still kept my attention and helped to show some of the additional rifts that were not highlighted in the first episode.   And there are still some moments of fire that occur, it's just a more slowly paced episode than I was expecting after the conclusion to Episode 1.  Additionally, some time has passed since the first episode and although wounds are still fresh, there seems to be a large chunk that the series just does not explore.  Perhaps this is just due to time constraints given the limited nature of the series but there were some character interactions that seemed to jump out of nowhere.  However, the second episode of Foundation has the same slower pace as the first one, and the same type of climactic conclusion.  And I am very excited to see where this goes from here!

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Foundation is available to stream on Apple TV+ with Season 1 Episode 2 "Preparing to Live" available on September 24, 2021.

Foundation S01E01 Review: A Slow But Intriguing Start To The Series

Release date: September 24, 2021
Running time: 103 minutes

Based on the award-winning novels by Isaac Asimov, “Foundation” chronicles a band of exiles on their monumental journey to save humanity and rebuild civilization amid the fall of the Galactic Empire.

Foundation feels like an interesting mix of medieval Europe mixed with a scifi space opera.  The Galactic Empire has territories and a ruling group, and is stitched together by loose alliances and ruthless efficiency.  This leads to a unique and classic feeling show despite the extreme technology on display in the series.  The first episode introduces us to the whole concept of the series and the plight.  I really liked how it slowly introduced the concepts of this universe to you; leaving plenty of mystery as you experience this place.  For example, a major decision that a main character did was not explained until about 3/4 of the way through the episode.  And even the reason that the main character is there does not become apparent until later in the episode. 

And what makes this such an interesting episode is both the environment and the characters.  You meet so many interesting and strange people during this first look at the Galactic Empire, and I am interested to see where this goes.  The effects are top notch for the most part; there were some minor issues with some of the CG but overall the world of Foundation comes to life to let you experience this imaginative and impactful setting.  Episode 1 teases just enough to let you know that there is so much more going on, and makes you excited to see what will be coming in the future.  I'm excited to see where this goes and am just along for the ride.

Foundation S01E01 is an impactful introduction to the Asimov's universe, and has interesting characters, great effects, and a mysterious world that makes it a mathematical impossibility to not keep watching.

Watch it.

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Foundation is available to stream on Apple TV+ with Season 1 Episode 1 "The Emperor's Peace" available on September 24, 2021.