Foundation
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On episode 6. For a series that has a whole lot to cover they sure overtell some parts.
Still pretty darn good sci-fi.
@Mik said in Foundation:
good sci-fi.
Yes. But....
It's not Asimov's "Foundation." Very well done, and Cleon is quite the SOB. But it's not the story that Asimov wrote.
It stands alone pretty well, with great production values and high-quality acting. But, it's a different story, set in the same universe that Asimov imagined.
Asimov's "Foundation" has been criticized for being too male-centric. However, given the context and time when Asimov wrote the stories, that's a facile criticism. Asimov's story stands well, on its own, regardless of (dare I say) woeness. The gender shift of a major character doesnt' add or detract from the book, but it makes me question the motives of the producers.
All that said, I enjoyed, and look forward to another season.
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Season 2 has arrived, and I discovered I don't remember a lot about what happened in season 1. Yes, it's not Asimov's foundation. But on 2nd watch, I enjoyed it a lot more.
That season spans about 150 years, but many characters appear in the entire season.
Demerzel is one of them. The Cleons are clones, and though played by the same actors, they are different people throughout the series An interesting concept.
The Cleons explained:
Link to videoOne of the most chilling (and well-acted) scenes was at the end of the season, where Brother Day (Cleon XIII, played by Lee Pace) confronts a traitor about her betrayal and imposes a sentence.
Link to video -
I listened to Asimov's Foundation on the drive out west. Incredible book. I guess I could see why they felt the need to jazz it up for the series, though. The book is a series of vignettes illustrating how strategy and psychohistory defeating mankind's baser, violent instincts. Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent and all that. It might not transfer well to the flat screen. I like both of them, and really enjoyed revisiting the book.
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I listened to Asimov's Foundation on the drive out west. Incredible book. I guess I could see why they felt the need to jazz it up for the series, though. The book is a series of vignettes illustrating how strategy and psychohistory defeating mankind's baser, violent instincts. Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent and all that. It might not transfer well to the flat screen. I like both of them, and really enjoyed revisiting the book.
@Mik said in Foundation:
The book is a series of vignettes illustrating how strategy and psychohistory defeating mankind's baser, violent instincts.
I think they were originally written as short stories, and then turned into novels, and that's still there when you read them. I read them back in the 80's, and really enjoyed them
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Season 2 has arrived, and I discovered I don't remember a lot about what happened in season 1. Yes, it's not Asimov's foundation. But on 2nd watch, I enjoyed it a lot more.
That season spans about 150 years, but many characters appear in the entire season.
Demerzel is one of them. The Cleons are clones, and though played by the same actors, they are different people throughout the series An interesting concept.
The Cleons explained:
Link to videoOne of the most chilling (and well-acted) scenes was at the end of the season, where Brother Day (Cleon XIII, played by Lee Pace) confronts a traitor about her betrayal and imposes a sentence.
Link to video@George-K said in Foundation:
The Cleons are clones, and though played by the same actors, they are different people throughout the series
Reminds me of Orphan Black, which had a similar idea, and was an absolutely amazing set of performances by the main actress, Tatiana Maslany.
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@Doctor-Phibes you might enjoy the TV series. It's very different from the Asimov books, so far, but enjoyable if you take it for what it is, not for what you want it to be.
It's truly grand in terms of production values.
Some of the acting is stiff, but Lee Pace is just remarkable as Brother Day.
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@Doctor-Phibes you might enjoy the TV series. It's very different from the Asimov books, so far, but enjoyable if you take it for what it is, not for what you want it to be.
It's truly grand in terms of production values.
Some of the acting is stiff, but Lee Pace is just remarkable as Brother Day.
@George-K said in Foundation:
@Doctor-Phibes you might enjoy the TV series. It's very different from the Asimov books, so far, but enjoyable if you take it for what it is, not for what you want it to be.
It's truly grand in terms of production values.
Some of the acting is stiff, but Lee Pace is just remarkable as Brother Day.
We don't have Apple TV, so I guess I'm giving this one a miss. We already have more than enough streaming services, or rather more than enough bills coming in. I'd happily drop Disney plus, but my kids watch it.
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I started Season 2.
Behold, the "Star Wars-ificatioin" of Foundation.
The characters have become cardboard caricatures. Totally irrelevant storylines are thrown in.
But, in its favor there are some really original ideas.
- The need for "spacers" - mutant humans - who can navigate hyperspace. It's too dangerous for mere mortals to accomplish.
- A rouge-ish thief/scoundrel who will embark on a secret mission.
- The comely daughter of a leader who wants to have a thing with the scoundrel.
- A deserted desert planet with (cough) machines that can burrow under the dirt and eat whatever's is on the surface.
Jesus H.
Having watched Season 1 again, I had hopes that this might turn out okay after all. Despite it not being Asimov's "Foundation," it wasn't bad sci-fi with interesting topics, deep characters and glorious production values.
The only thing missing is JarJar.