Foundation TV Series: Apple TV+’s Most Ambitious Sci-Fi Epic Is Also Its Most Confusing

Apple TV+ threw a massive pile of money at Isaac Asimov’s legendary sci-fi novels and somehow created both the most visually stunning space opera on television and the most bewildering viewing experience you’ll have all year. Foundation TV Series is gorgeous, ambitious, and absolutely exhausting (sometimes all at once).

TMJ Rating: 🍿🍿🍿/5

What You Need to Know

Okay, deep breath. A brilliant mathematician named Hari Seldon invents something called “psychohistory”, basically using math to predict the future of entire civilizations. His calculations show that the galactic empire is about to collapse, leading to 30,000 years of darkness and chaos.

The empire’s rulers aren’t thrilled about this prediction, so they exile Seldon and his followers to a remote planet where they establish the “Foundation”, a group tasked with preserving human knowledge and shortening the coming dark age to just 1,000 years.

Meanwhile, the empire is ruled by three identical clones called Brother Dawn, Brother Day, and Brother Dusk, each representing different stages of the same emperor’s life.

Got all that? Good, because that’s just the setup, and the show spans decades, jumps between timelines, and introduces about 50 more plot threads along the way.

Acting and Cast Performance

Lee Pace steals every single scene as Brother Day, the current emperor.

He’s magnetic, terrifying, and weirdly sympathetic all at once—the kind of ruler you’d probably follow into battle even though you know he’s absolutely going to get you killed.

Pace brings a regal menace to the role that makes every political scene crackle with tension.

Jared Harris brings gravitas to Hari Seldon, playing him as part prophet, part scientist, and part stubborn old man who’s convinced he’s the smartest person in the galaxy (and he might be right).

Lou Llobell does solid work as Gaal Dornick, though her character sometimes gets lost in the show’s sprawling narrative.

The real standout might be the production design team. Every planet looks distinct, every costume feels lived-in, and the special effects are genuinely movie-quality throughout.

Story, Writing, and Pacing

Here’s where things get complicated. 

The Foundation TV Series is trying to adapt source material that spans centuries and multiple generations of characters. The show handles this by jumping around in time, following different storylines that sometimes connect and sometimes don’t, and expecting you to keep track of political intrigue across multiple planets.

When it works, it’s genuinely thrilling: epic space battles, palace coups, philosophical debates about the nature of power and knowledge. When it doesn’t work, you’ll find yourself pausing to Google character names and wondering if you missed an episode.

The show is at its best when it focuses on the political machinations of the empire and weakest when it gets bogged down in mathematical exposition that even the characters seem bored by.

The Sci-Fi Stuff: How Is It?

Visually? Absolutely stunning.

Apple clearly spent HBO-level money on this thing, and it shows in every frame. The space battles are gorgeous, the alien worlds feel genuinely alien, and the technology strikes that perfect balance between futuristic and believable.

Conceptually, it’s hit-or-miss. The psychohistory concept is fascinating in theory, but it can feel like a convenient plot device when the show needs to justify why characters make certain decisions.

The clone emperor storyline is brilliant and gives the show some of its best dramatic moments.

The Best Scenes in Foundation TV Series

Any scene with the three emperors debating policy or dealing with threats to their rule is television gold. The dynamic between the clones—young, middle-aged, and elderly versions of the same person—creates fascinating conflicts about legacy, power, and identity.

There’s a space elevator sequence in the first season that’s both beautiful and horrifying, showcasing the show’s ability to blend spectacle with genuine emotional stakes.

Nevertheless, the show demands your full attention (no scrolling through your phone while watching this one!). But when you give it that attention, it can be genuinely rewarding.

My Final Verdict: Should You Watch It?

If you’re a sci-fi fan who likes complex narratives and doesn’t mind doing a little homework, absolutely. Foundation is unlike anything else on television right now, and when it clicks, it’s genuinely spectacular.

If you prefer your entertainment straightforward and easy to follow, maybe skip this one. The show doesn’t hold your hand, and it doesn’t apologize for being complicated.

Give it at least four episodes—that’s about when the various storylines start connecting and the show finds its rhythm. If you’re still confused by then, it’s probably not for you.

Are you brave enough to tackle Foundation, or does the complexity scare you off? Have you read Asimov’s books, and if so, how do you think the show compares? Let me know in the comments!