Warning: Includes MASSIVE SPOILERS for Isaac Asimov’s Foundation and Empire, which could be used for season 3 of the TV adaptation!
Foundation season 3’s main villain might be even more dangerous than we thought, according to a fascinating theory based on the books. The Apple TV+ sci-fi series is based on Isaac Asimov’s prolific Foundation novels, and though it’s typically perceived as a loose adaptation, the novels still serve as a blueprint. Foundation season 2’s ending and the general conflict drew significantly from the first half of the second book, “The General” section of Foundation and Empire. The plan for season 3 indicates that it will be adapted from “The Mule,” the second part of the same book, while also maintaining a decent amount of original storytelling.
We saw glimpses of the Mule at the end of Foundation season 2, played by actor MudLuvMedia. The character has since been recast with a more recognizable name, with Game of Thrones and Aquaman star Pilou Asbæk taking over the character. He’s featured prominently in the season 3 trailer, raising some important questions, especially given that the Mule is hidden throughout much of his titular story in Asimov’s book. A theory by YouTube channel MudLuvMedia suggests he may not be who he seems.
Pilou Asbaek’s Villain Character Isn’t The Real Mule
The Mule Could Be Another Character In Hiding
In Foundation and Empire, the Mule disguises himself as his own court jester, a clown named Magnifico Giganticus. He pretends to be fleeing from the Mule’s court, manipulating members of the Foundation to take him in and bring him behind enemy lines. The Mule is known for his powers of manipulation, as exhibited by the season 3 trailer. This allows him to trick the Foundation into thinking he’s a lowly clown, while also stirring up a massive, intergalactic conflict that threatens the Foundation as we know it.
The YouTube video suggests that actor Cody Fern’s new character is secretly the Mule in hiding, but it actually seems evident that actor Tómas Lemarquis, who’s been cast as the character Magnifico Giganticus, will be the true mastermind villain. This plays well, given that Pilou Asbæk has developed a reputation for playing antagonist characters. Rather than having the Euron Greyjoy actor play into his typecasting, he’s being used as a decoy for a major plot twist that could happen toward the end of the season, representing the brute force external image of the Mule, while Magnifico wields the true strength.
Related
Foundation season 3 adds a new cast member who audiences will recognize from Game of Thrones, but it can’t make the same mistake as the HBO epic.
Who Is The Mule In Isaac Asimov’s Foundation Books?
The Mule Is One Of The Primary Foundation Villains
In Asimov’s text, the Mule is a powerful mentalic mutant who utilizes his powers to influence people and wage war throughout the galaxy. In the literal sense, he’s a major threat as a conqueror who rapidly expands his strength. Figuratively, he’s the antithesis to Hari Seldon’s (or Isaac Asimov’s by proxy) notion of psychohistory, proving that a singular human action can outweigh the trends of the mass populace, which is the defining idea of Foundation.
Foundation
8/10
- Release Date
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September 23, 2021
- Network
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Apple TV+
- Showrunner
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David S. Goyer
- Directors
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Alex Graves, Roxann Dawson, Jennifer Phang, Mark Tonderai, Andrew Bernstein
- Writers
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Jane Espenson, Leigh Dana Jackson, Liz Phang, Eric Carrasco, David Kob, Addie Manis, Marcus Gardley, Lauren Bello, Olivia Purnell
