Foundationseason 3’s villain recasting sounds like an excellent choice, andI’m really hoping it won’t repeat aGame of Thronesmistake.Foundationseason 2’s endingsets up the threat of the Mule, a monstrous Mentalic who rises to power with a desire to conquer the galaxy. The season 3 trailer shows that Empire is weakening, with Brother Day letting himself go and bearing hatred for Demerzel, making the galaxy vulnerable to someone like the Mule. The story is about to get more dangerous and sporadic than ever.
Foundationseason 3will premiere on Apple TV+ on July 11, offering weekly episodes for the next two months. Following the critical acclaim of season 2’s closing episodes, the Apple adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s prolific sci-fi novels is looking to maintain momentum. The arrival of the Mule will be the pivotal factor in how this season is received, with him being the primary antagonist, seemingly pushing even Lee Pace’s fan-favorite Brother Day to be a less villainous figure. He’s an added, complex factor in the story, and can make or breakFoundationas an epic adaptation.
Game Of Thrones Star Pilou Asbæk Plays The Mule In Foundation
Pilou Asbæk Is Known For His Villain Roles
When we first saw the Mule inFoundationseason 2’s brief appearances, he was played by Mikael Persbrandt. Season 3 brought in star talent to take over the role, withGame of Thronesactor Pilou Asbæk playing the character. The actor is known for playing the villain Euron Greyjoy inGame of Thronesseasons 6 through 8, thoughhe’s also appeared in films likeUncharted,Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, andSalem’s Lot. He’s highlighted in the season 3 trailer, suggesting the drastic impact he’ll have from the start.
The Mule & Euron Greyjoy Are Similar In Their Source Material
These Are Two Dangerous Guys
At its thematic core, Isaac Asimov’sFoundationexplores the theory of using social trends and mathematics to predict the future of human civilization, and the Mule represents its antithesis. He’s an anomaly, a warlord who rises up and starts conquering everything, suggesting thepotential impact of singular human action as a contradiction to mass trends determined by Hari Seldon’s psychohistory. The trailer’s clips also suggest Pilou Asbæk will be playing the character in a similarly over-the-top way to his interpretation of Euron Greyjoy.
Euron Greyjoy is a similar wildcard inGeorge R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice & Fire, representing an almost elemental force that enters the story to almost instantly upset the course of events.Euron’s depiction in the novels is often described as Lovecraftian, with his fascination with dark magic, an ability to manipulate and charm, to the point where, had he been introduced from the beginning, he might have felt silly and out of place. Both characters exist as extreme countermeasures to pre-established worlds, causing instant terror upon arrival.
Both characters exist as extreme countermeasures to pre-established worlds, causing instant terror upon arrival.
Game Of Thrones Wasted Euron Greyjoy - Foundation Can’t Risk Doing The Same
Euron Is A Much More Compelling Character In The Books
Pilou Asbæk’s face might bring back bad memories ofGame of Thrones’ending to TV fans and lovers of speculative fiction adaptations. However, it’s worth pointing out that the writing of the final seasons, and the numerous differences between his character and the source material version, were not the actor’s fault. Asbæk is a compelling performer, andwith the right material, he can excel as the Mule. That said,Foundationneeds to deliver the right material for multiple reasons, aside from just providing Pilou Asbæk with a redemption villain character.
With behind-the-scenes changes like a shift in showrunner altering the course ofFoundation’sfuture, along with a similarly high-budget adaptation,The Wheel of Timebeing canceled, this season is vital. It appears that Apple is already developing a fourth season, and the platform’s long-term commitment to shows likeFor All MankindandSilosuggests an encouraging future. However,Foundationneeds this season to land with audiences, and the Mule is monumental to its chances of success.
