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(Created page with "{{Crew | name = Lauren Bello | image = | caption = | birthname = | birthdate = | birthplace = | deathdate = | deathplace = | gender = | height = | occupation = Screenwriter }} '''Lauren Bello''' is a screenwriter. She wrote the episode "Barbarians at the Gate" for Season One of ''Foundation''. {{Stub}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Bello, Lauren}}")
 
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{{Character
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| name = Lauren Bello
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| name = Demerzel
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| affiliation = *[[Galactic Empire]]<ref name="TEP">"[[The Emperor's Peace]]"</ref>
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*[[Luminism]]<ref name="DM">"[[Death and the Maiden]]"</ref>
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| occupation = Advisor and aide<ref name="TEP" />
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| occupation = Screenwriter
  
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| species = [[Robot]]<ref name="PTL">"[[Preparing to Live]]"</ref>
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| gender = Female<ref name="TEP" />
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| portrayedby = [[Laura Birn]]
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| debut = "[[The Emperor's Peace]]"
 
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'''Demerzel''' is one of the main characters of the [[Apple TV+]] series ''[[Foundation (TV series)|Foundation]]''. Demerzel is the enigmatic "intelligent [[robot]]" and loyal aide to the Emperor of the Galaxy. Patient and watchful, Demerzel is the last of her kind and has guided the [[Cleon I|Cleonic]] [[Genetic Dynasty|Dynasty]] for centuries. She is portrayed by [[Laura Birn]], first appearing in the episode "[[The Emperor's Peace]]".
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'''Lauren Bello''' is a screenwriter. She wrote the episode "[[Barbarians at the Gate]]" for [[Season One]] of ''[[Foundation (TV series)|Foundation]]''.
  
   
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== Biography ==
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{{Stub}}
  
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=== Early history ===
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Demerzel is a [[robot]],<ref name="TEP" /> and a devout [[Luminism|Luminist]]. Around [[Timeline|1,102 Era Imperial]] she had the opportunity to walk [[The Spiral]] on the [[Maiden]], reaching the [[Womb of the Mother]] and being granted with a vision.<ref name="TMP">"[[The Missing Piece]]"</ref>
   
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Demerzel came to serve as an aide and advisor to the ruling Cleons of the [[Galactic Empire]].<ref name="TEP" /> She was aide to [[Cleon I]], the first emperor of the [[Genetic Dynasty]], and was fiercely loyal to him and Empire<ref name="TMG">"[[The Mathematician's Ghost]]"</ref> and the two even had a sexual relationship.<ref name="ISS">"[[In Seldon's Shadow]]"</ref> Demerzel oversaw the gestation and births of the clones,<ref name="TMG" /> and took on a role similar to that of a guardian and mentor to the Cleons when they were [[Brother Dawn]].<ref name="PTL">"[[Preparing to Live]]"</ref> Among Demerzel's other duties was assisting [[Brother Dusk]] with their ascension when the time came.<ref name="TMG" />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bello, Lauren}}
  
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During the rule of Cleon XII, she, along with the current [[Brother Dawn]], greets the delegations from [[Anacreon]] and [[Thespis]] to [[Trantor]], and leads them through the [[Mural of Souls]]. Demerzel explains its significance to the delegations before bringing them before Empire.<ref name="TEP" /> Following the [[Bombing of the Star Bridge|bombing]] of the [[Star Bridge]], Demerzel led Imperial troops to the dwarf planet [[Aethra]], capturing and interrogating the biohacker [[Jiam Quarver]] who supplied the bombers with [[nano-lace explosive]]s.<ref name="PTL" />
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Following the death of Luminist leader [[Proxima Opal]], Demerzel accompanied [[Cleon XIII]] to the [[Maiden]], where she helped brief him on the tenets and current religious structure of [[Luminism]]. The Emperor noted that Demerzel was a Luminist herself, which she confirmed, stating that even though her instincts were coded, she could still believe in something greater than herself. Although she supported the Empire's efforts to install [[Zephyr Gilat]], who would keep invoking the [[New Octavo]] which did not preach against clones, she could not help herself from bowing when [[Zephyr Halima]], who wished to invoke the [[Primary Octavo]], gave a rousing speech at Opal's funeral which indicated some level of distaste for the Empire.<ref name="DM" />
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Shortly before leaving the Maiden after [[Cleon XIII]] completed his own pilgrimage on The Spiral, Demerzel revealed her own experience on The Spiral to [[Zephyr Halima]] and that she had been blessed with a vision. On Cleon XIII's orders, Demerzel killed Halima by secreting a poison from her skin.<ref name="TMP" />
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===Serving Cleon XVII===
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Demerzel continued to serve the [[Genetic Dynasty]], and during the reign of Cleon XVII, she initiated a sexual relationship with the Emperor. During an intimate moment, the pair were [[Assassination attempt on Cleon XVII|beset]] by assassins from the [[Blind Angels]]. Part of Demerzel's head was cleaved off while Cleon fought off the assassins. The last assassin managed to cut Cleon with a [[molecular blade]] coated in a [[nano-toxin]] before Demerzel managed to kill him. Demerzel saw to it that Cleon got medical attention to save his life before attending to her own damage.<ref name="ISS">"[[In Seldon's Shadow]]"</ref>
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During the presentation of Queen [[Sareth I]] to Cleon XVII as a potential bride-to-be, Demerzel interrupted the proceedings to brief the Emperors that the [[Foundation]] might not have perished over a century ago as they believed. While Brother Dusk recommended crushing them immediately, Demerzel counseled a more nuanced approach, gathering information before committing to action. Cleon XVII agreed with her assessment.<ref name="ISS" />
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In an attempt to find out if they were involved, Demerzel reports to Cleon XVII that Dawn and Dusk's [[memory audit]]s show no involvement with the Blind Angels attack on him, though just because they cannot remember it, doesn't mean there was no involvement. She has the memories of the medical staff altered too, so they do not recall Cleon XVII and Demerzel in a compromised state. With the investigation into the Foundation, she suggests General [[Bel Riose]] to handle it, much to Cleon XVII's disdain after their checkered past. Nonetheless, Cleon agrees, though says Riose must be killed if he refuses the task.<ref name="AGOD">"[[A Glimpse of Darkness]]"</ref>
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Demerzel goes to [[Lepsis]] where [[Bel Riose]] is held prisoner. As he works as a slave, she interrupts him, giving him a deal to come back to serve Empire, on the grounds that he can go free afterwards. Demerzel refuses his attempts to bargain for the freedom of the other prisoners but relents and promises better treatment for them. After she reveals that his husband, [[Glawen Curr]] is alive, Riose eventually goes with her. Back at the [[Imperial Palace]], she tells Bel to get cleaned up before meeting Cleon XVII, but he refuses, saying he wants to meet Day as the person he has become. Later, she watches with Cleon XVII as Bel and Glawen reunite, and they realise it is a good plan to use Bel to investigate the Foundation.<ref name="KAC">"[[King and Commoner]]"</ref>
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==From the ''Foundation'' Books==
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''Eto Demerzel was the alter-ego of the robot R. Daneel Olivaw. Demerzel served as First Minister to Emperor Cleon I during the events depicted in Foundation. Demerzel used his position to manipulate events, such as ensuring that Hari Seldon continued to develop psychohistory.''
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==Differences From the Novel Character==
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In the original [[Foundation series|''Foundation'' series]] by [[Isaac Asimov]], Eto Demerzel was a robot whose human disguise presented as male. The character's gender was changed to female for the ''[[Foundation (TV series)|Foundation]]'' series.
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[[David S. Goyer]], the show’s executive producer, confirmed in a Reddit AMA that Demerzel is R. Daneel Olivaw.<ref name="Goyer-Daneel>"[https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/15fjxw4/hello_reddit_im_david_s_goyer_showrunner_of/judtnxw/ "We will be expanding on Asimov's 3 laws. And Demerzel is Daneel. We can confirm that."]</ref> Originally, the production was not allowed to use the name due to the rights to the name being held by Fox. However, Goyer made a personal appeal to the head of Fox and it was agreed that the name could be used in a limited number of circumstances.<ref name="Goyer-Fox">[https://www.reddit.com/r/television/comments/15fjxw4/hello_reddit_im_david_s_goyer_showrunner_of/judwp5a/ "The name WASN'T. But I made a personal appeal to the head of FOX, who is a fan of the show -- and they agreed to allow us to mention the name in a couple of specific instances."]</ref>
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In the original, as a [[robot]], Demerzel was incapable of violating the three Laws of Robotics, although he modified himself to instead be incapable of violating the ''four'' Laws of Robotics:
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;Zeroth Law
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:A robot may not injure humanity, or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.
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;First Law
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:A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, unless this would conflict with the Zeroth Law.
  +
;Second Law
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:A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the Zeroth or First Law.
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;Third Law
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:A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the Zeroth, First, or Second Law.
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However, Demerzel appears to violate these laws by killing [[Zephyr Halima]] when ordered to do so by [[Cleon XIII]], despite the First Law trumping the Second Law. She also kills [[Cleon XIV]] in violation of laws One ''and'' Two, as [[Cleon XIII]] is deliberating about what to do with him, meaning she is under orders not to make the decision for him. As there is no evidence the Zeroth Law was applicable as a "trump" in the two cases - and as the robot followed up the second murder with self-harm, in contradiction of the Third Law. However, in an interview on the Podcast "Foundation and Podcast" following the release of episode 10 of Season 1, when asked about the Three Laws in the show, he stated that "They are important and they will be addressed." and that the "Laws exist in our show mythology and we will be talking about them explicitly."
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==Appearances==
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*[[Season One]]
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**"[[The Emperor's Peace]]" {{1st}}
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**"[[Preparing to Live]]"
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**"[[The Mathematician's Ghost]]"
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**"[[Barbarians at the Gate]]"
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**"[[Death and the Maiden]]"
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**"[[Mysteries and Martyrs]]"
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**"[[The Missing Piece]]"
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*[[Season Two]]
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**"[[In Seldon's Shadow]]"
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**"[[A Glimpse of Darkness]]"
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**"[[King and Commoner]]"
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==External Links==
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*[[w:c:asimov:Eto Demerzel|Learn more about Eto Demerzel]] on the [[w:c:asimov|Isaac Asimov Wiki]]
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== Notes and references==
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<references />
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[[Category:Characters]]
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[[Category:Females]]
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[[Category:Galactic Empire]]
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[[Category:Robots]]
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[[Category:Luminists]]

Revision as of 15:05, 6 August 2023

Demerzel is one of the main characters of the Apple TV+ series Foundation. Demerzel is the enigmatic "intelligent robot" and loyal aide to the Emperor of the Galaxy. Patient and watchful, Demerzel is the last of her kind and has guided the Cleonic Dynasty for centuries. She is portrayed by Laura Birn, first appearing in the episode "The Emperor's Peace".

Biography

Early history

Demerzel is a robot,[1] and a devout Luminist. Around 1,102 Era Imperial she had the opportunity to walk The Spiral on the Maiden, reaching the Womb of the Mother and being granted with a vision.[4]

Demerzel came to serve as an aide and advisor to the ruling Cleons of the Galactic Empire.[1] She was aide to Cleon I, the first emperor of the Genetic Dynasty, and was fiercely loyal to him and Empire[5] and the two even had a sexual relationship.[6] Demerzel oversaw the gestation and births of the clones,[5] and took on a role similar to that of a guardian and mentor to the Cleons when they were Brother Dawn.[3] Among Demerzel's other duties was assisting Brother Dusk with their ascension when the time came.[5]

During the rule of Cleon XII, she, along with the current Brother Dawn, greets the delegations from Anacreon and Thespis to Trantor, and leads them through the Mural of Souls. Demerzel explains its significance to the delegations before bringing them before Empire.[1] Following the bombing of the Star Bridge, Demerzel led Imperial troops to the dwarf planet Aethra, capturing and interrogating the biohacker Jiam Quarver who supplied the bombers with nano-lace explosives.[3]

Following the death of Luminist leader Proxima Opal, Demerzel accompanied Cleon XIII to the Maiden, where she helped brief him on the tenets and current religious structure of Luminism. The Emperor noted that Demerzel was a Luminist herself, which she confirmed, stating that even though her instincts were coded, she could still believe in something greater than herself. Although she supported the Empire's efforts to install Zephyr Gilat, who would keep invoking the New Octavo which did not preach against clones, she could not help herself from bowing when Zephyr Halima, who wished to invoke the Primary Octavo, gave a rousing speech at Opal's funeral which indicated some level of distaste for the Empire.[2]

Shortly before leaving the Maiden after Cleon XIII completed his own pilgrimage on The Spiral, Demerzel revealed her own experience on The Spiral to Zephyr Halima and that she had been blessed with a vision. On Cleon XIII's orders, Demerzel killed Halima by secreting a poison from her skin.[4]

Serving Cleon XVII

Demerzel continued to serve the Genetic Dynasty, and during the reign of Cleon XVII, she initiated a sexual relationship with the Emperor. During an intimate moment, the pair were beset by assassins from the Blind Angels. Part of Demerzel's head was cleaved off while Cleon fought off the assassins. The last assassin managed to cut Cleon with a molecular blade coated in a nano-toxin before Demerzel managed to kill him. Demerzel saw to it that Cleon got medical attention to save his life before attending to her own damage.[6]

During the presentation of Queen Sareth I to Cleon XVII as a potential bride-to-be, Demerzel interrupted the proceedings to brief the Emperors that the Foundation might not have perished over a century ago as they believed. While Brother Dusk recommended crushing them immediately, Demerzel counseled a more nuanced approach, gathering information before committing to action. Cleon XVII agreed with her assessment.[6]

In an attempt to find out if they were involved, Demerzel reports to Cleon XVII that Dawn and Dusk's memory audits show no involvement with the Blind Angels attack on him, though just because they cannot remember it, doesn't mean there was no involvement. She has the memories of the medical staff altered too, so they do not recall Cleon XVII and Demerzel in a compromised state. With the investigation into the Foundation, she suggests General Bel Riose to handle it, much to Cleon XVII's disdain after their checkered past. Nonetheless, Cleon agrees, though says Riose must be killed if he refuses the task.[7]

Demerzel goes to Lepsis where Bel Riose is held prisoner. As he works as a slave, she interrupts him, giving him a deal to come back to serve Empire, on the grounds that he can go free afterwards. Demerzel refuses his attempts to bargain for the freedom of the other prisoners but relents and promises better treatment for them. After she reveals that his husband, Glawen Curr is alive, Riose eventually goes with her. Back at the Imperial Palace, she tells Bel to get cleaned up before meeting Cleon XVII, but he refuses, saying he wants to meet Day as the person he has become. Later, she watches with Cleon XVII as Bel and Glawen reunite, and they realise it is a good plan to use Bel to investigate the Foundation.[8]

From the Foundation Books

Eto Demerzel was the alter-ego of the robot R. Daneel Olivaw. Demerzel served as First Minister to Emperor Cleon I during the events depicted in Foundation. Demerzel used his position to manipulate events, such as ensuring that Hari Seldon continued to develop psychohistory.

Differences From the Novel Character

In the original Foundation series by Isaac Asimov, Eto Demerzel was a robot whose human disguise presented as male. The character's gender was changed to female for the Foundation series.

David S. Goyer, the show’s executive producer, confirmed in a Reddit AMA that Demerzel is R. Daneel Olivaw.[9] Originally, the production was not allowed to use the name due to the rights to the name being held by Fox. However, Goyer made a personal appeal to the head of Fox and it was agreed that the name could be used in a limited number of circumstances.[10]

In the original, as a robot, Demerzel was incapable of violating the three Laws of Robotics, although he modified himself to instead be incapable of violating the four Laws of Robotics:

Zeroth Law
A robot may not injure humanity, or, through inaction, allow humanity to come to harm.
First Law
A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm, unless this would conflict with the Zeroth Law.
Second Law
A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the Zeroth or First Law.
Third Law
A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the Zeroth, First, or Second Law.

However, Demerzel appears to violate these laws by killing Zephyr Halima when ordered to do so by Cleon XIII, despite the First Law trumping the Second Law. She also kills Cleon XIV in violation of laws One and Two, as Cleon XIII is deliberating about what to do with him, meaning she is under orders not to make the decision for him. As there is no evidence the Zeroth Law was applicable as a "trump" in the two cases - and as the robot followed up the second murder with self-harm, in contradiction of the Third Law. However, in an interview on the Podcast "Foundation and Podcast" following the release of episode 10 of Season 1, when asked about the Three Laws in the show, he stated that "They are important and they will be addressed." and that the "Laws exist in our show mythology and we will be talking about them explicitly."

Appearances

External Links

Notes and references

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 "The Emperor's Peace"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Death and the Maiden"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Preparing to Live"
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "The Missing Piece"
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "The Mathematician's Ghost"
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 "In Seldon's Shadow"
  7. ↑ "A Glimpse of Darkness"
  8. ↑ "King and Commoner"
  9. ↑ ""We will be expanding on Asimov's 3 laws. And Demerzel is Daneel. We can confirm that."
  10. ↑ "The name WASN'T. But I made a personal appeal to the head of FOX, who is a fan of the show -- and they agreed to allow us to mention the name in a couple of specific instances."
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