MovieChat Forums > Foundation (2021) Discussion > I was mostly "meh" with this show until....

I was mostly "meh" with this show until... spoilers

posted 3 years ago by damocci (1514)
22 replies | jump to latest

I was mostly "meh" with this show until that spectacular scene between Brother Day and that saboteur woman. I wish the entire show was nothing but high stakes scenes like that. I legitimately thought Brother Day was going to strike a bargain with her, because maybe she was unique or special? Then he coldly slaughters not just her and her family, but everyone who had any meaningful relation going up to her great grandparents and all their scions AND their relations???? It's been a while since I've seen such cold-hearted cruelty. What an amazingly written scene. Because of Hollywood's lazy tendency to cater to what we expect to see I thought Brother Day was going to strike a weird bargain with her and make her, I don't know. his eyes and ears or whatever.... BUT he he flips her the finger and wipes her out in one of the most complete ways I've ever seen in popular entertainment.

Gaal and Salvor and Seldan's stories are irrelevant. I honestly don't care much about where their story is heading. This series should be entirely focused on the Genetic Dynasty and all the shit they have to deal with. I cannot stand soap operas but I would invest my time watching the trials and tribulations of that clone trio AND that robot servant of theirs.

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 3 years ago

I'd rather see one faithful to the original story. Genetic Dynasty? Sounds like nonsense.

[–] damocci (1514) 3 years ago

Is the original story translatable to film/television, though? I keep hearing how wildly divergent this series, and to be honest I got my hands on Asimov's entire Foundation series on account of how celebrated it is. So far I read maybe the first three chapter (up until Gaal, who is apparently a guy in the books) arrives on Trantor, then I stopped reading because clearly the book and the show are very different.

PS, the Genetic Dynasty idea sounds daft and probably is impractical but I find it fascinating that three of the exact same person rule the galaxy, now and always. Like some Holy Trinity. Especially now that the Dynasty is starting to unravel.

[–] trevorh321 (5495) 3 years ago

Yeah, kinda weird. Sounds like they are using Asimov's name to sell the series and not much else.

[–] asom (6824) 3 years ago

Yeah, the only good thing about the show is the empire. Everything else is rubbish …

[–] damocci (1514) 3 years ago

I totally agree. The empire is the one saving grace.

[–] FilmBoy (1160) 3 years ago

Lee Pace is the saving grace. He played the HELL outta that role!

[–] asom (6824) 3 years ago

Brother Dusk is not that bad either tbh ...

[–] Jinx (3722) 3 years ago

Lee Pace is great, have you seen any of his other projects? The Fall is my favorite movie and Pushing Daisies was lots of fun. He always performs really interesting parts.

[–] FilmBoy (1160) 3 years ago

I watched all seasons of HALT AND CATCH FIRE and took notice of his acting abilities then.

[–] asom (6824) 3 years ago

Damn, I forgot he was in the fall, time to rewatch ...

[–] JoeBlow88 (562) 3 years ago

100%

[–] TandyMan (11096) 3 years ago

Dude. The whole Empire story line was epic.

[–] Missemd (276) 3 years ago

It was a delicious scene wasn’t it?
He was so calm and methodical throughout.
At first I thought he might smash her head on the concrete bench or throw her in the pond - something extremely violent anyway but in then end what he did was SO MUCH WORSE than I ever could have imagined.
Just wow.
The Empire storyline is my favourite thing about the show in Season 1 by a mile.

[–] damocci (1514) 3 years ago

Absolutely! I'm glad you enjoyed the scene as much as I did.

You were expecting Brother Day to react to that woman with violence, though? It was the opposite for me. The way he was harping on about Brother Dawn, especially after his religious pilgrimage, it felt to me as if Brother Day was going to reveal that while what she did was subversive he was not angry with her. Maybe exile her to some backwater planet at the edge of the galaxy. But never once did I imagine he could so cold as to slaughter 2,000 innocent people who were unfortunate enough to have any form of relationship with her.

Hopefully season 2 will continue this trend of gripping writing.

[–] moviebuff00 (797) 3 years ago

scene is good only if you don't know what they borrowed from. it seems so creative until you realize it's taken almost verbatim from chinese history. beheading 9 generations of relations is the highest penalty in imperial china. also the shrouded forever part is taken from what empress lu zhi of the first han dyansty did to the emperor's favorite concubine. upon his death, she took power and proceed to have the concubine's arms and legs cut off. the concubine was also blinded. she was held in a pig's pen and force fed to keep her alive until she died naturally.

i couldnt enjoy the scene as much knowing how they stole it almost verbatim.

[–] Quasimodo (16388) 3 years ago

That's cultural appropriation !

[–] Ldlamb (636) 3 years ago

I don’t see why that makes it less enjoyable

[–] moviebuff00 (797) 3 years ago

because it's stolen verbatim? it's like a repost for me.

[–] JepGambardella (492) 3 years ago

And why is that a problem?

[–] TylerAArse (2871) 3 years ago

That was one of the most frightening scenes I've ever seen in cinema. It was absolutely unnerving. He leaves her there so she can ponder her demise. And I liked the idea that we're left just to imagine it and actually not see it. What made it even worse for me was the thought that he was the child (Brother Dawn) that we saw in earlier episodes. If I were her, I would've drowned myself in the water she was sitting above.

Just when I thought Brother Day had "reinvented" himself from walking the Spiral, he reminded us of his ruthlessness.
Truly a great scene.

[–] damocci (1514) 3 years ago

Just when I thought Brother Day had "reinvented" himself from walking the Spiral, he reminded us of his ruthlessness.

That's precisely what caught me by surprise. I thought his religious pilgrimage and that bond he formed with that old man who died during the walk had changed him for the better, given him a sense of empathy. The last thing I expected was for him to massacre hundreds of people for the crimes of one person. Talk about having the rug pulled from under me.

What made it even worse for me was the thought that he was the child (Brother Dawn) that we saw in earlier episodes.

Thanks for reminding me. I'd forgotten he was the child clone from the beginning of the series. Yes,. that makes it so much worse, considering how squeamish he was at the execution of those people suspected of being involved in the bombing of that space elevator.

To the writers of this series, more of the Genetic Dynasty please! They are absolutely fascinating.

[–] bananaman87 (57) 3 years ago

I also found the scion legacy story arc to be the most entertaining, along with the first few episodes with Jared Harris. the story arc with salvor was definitely the most uninteresting.

all in all the show was not too bad. Except for the ending that didnt feel like a season finale, it could have been just another regular episode. We deserve some sort of closure at the end of the season which we didnt get, so I dont think I ll be tuning in for a season two

I was mostly "meh" with this show until... ***spoilers***

I was mostly "meh" with this show until... spoilers