King and Commoner is the third episode of Foundation's second season on Apple TV+. It aired on July 28, 2023. The episode was written by Leigh Dana Jackson and Jane Espenson based on the novels by Isaac Asimov. David S. Goyer directed the episode.
Synopsis[]
The Empire recruits Bel Riose to investigate the resurgent Foundation. Hari leads Gaal and Salvor to a desert planet.
Plot[]
Gaal and Salvor approach Ignis in the Beggar's Lament, with Gaal trying to talk about her vision of Salvor's death and Salvor not wanting to. As they make planetfall on an uninhabited world with abandoned mines, Hari admits that he took them to Oona's World instead of Ignis because the Prime Radiant required it. Hari needs to visit a place called the Monuments to Industry, but he cannot go unless he transfers himself back into the Prime Radiant and is carried there. Gaal initially says no but Hari refuses to relinquish control of the Beggar's Lament until it is done, forcing her hand.
On Terminus, Director Sef Sermak, Poly Verisof, Councilor Sutt and Brigadier Manlio discuss the recent events. Poly believes that the death of Warden Jaegger Fount is a judgement from Seldon, that he would not like what the Foundation has become. They wonder how Seldon's Plan could even factor in the birth and existence of Hober Mallow, and debate whether or not they should bring Hober to the Vault or keep him away. Poly convinces Sermak to get Hober, and he takes Brother Constant with him to Korell.
On Oona's World, Hari and Gaal walk across the desert. They talk about Gaal wanting to try and change the future to save Salvor. Gaal asks why it is okay for Hari to use future knowledge—the location of Ignis—but it is not for her. Hari explains that he takes a small action in the present to affect the future, while Gaal would expend massive effort to prevent the death of one person. Gaal argues that Salvor is important, and that she solved his first crisis. Reaching the Monuments of Industry, they begin to climb and Hari says they are going to meet an old friend.
At the penal colony on Lepsis, Bel Riose attempts to save the life of a fellow prisoner before the arrival of an Imperial Shuttle carrying Lady Demerzel. She comes with an offer to return to service. Riose attempts to barter for the freedom of his fellow prisoners as a condition for even talking to him; Demerzel doesn't agree, but does promise to ensure better conditions for the prisoners. Riose initially refuses to return to service, believing Cleon XVII to be an unfit leader. Demerzel reveals that Riose's husband, Glawen Curr, is still alive and Riose was only told he was executed as part of his punishment. Riose accepts the offer.
Hari and Gaal arrive at a wall with intricate markings, which Hari insists is a door. Gaal finds the mechanism to open it, and on the other side is a woman who Gaal recognises as Kalle, although Kalle died centuries ago. Hari doesn't know what is going to happen next so tells Gaal to go back to the Beggar's Lament and if he has not returned in six hours, then she is to leave. He has already transferred control back to Salvor. Kalle has the ability to sustain Hari's digital form, and he transfers out of the Radiant. Kalle closes the door, cutting Gaal off from them.
On Korell, ommdor Argo takes a meeting with Master Trader Ponyets via hologram. Argo is warned by his Forcer, Wallick, that Ponyets is actually the notorious con man Hober Mallow. Argo knows, and wants to catch him in the act of selling a useless item for half of the planet's treasury. Hober tries to sell Argo on a piece of equipment known as a castling device, with the ability to switch the places of two individuals of relatively equal mass. The only downside is that it transports only the person, and not any clothes or equipment. Instead, the person being "castled" arrives in the other person's clothes. Argo demands that Hober test it, and to prove he is not being conned, wants Hober to test it by castling him. Hober agrees, and switches places with the Commdor, then reverses the process. Argo hurriedly asks how much the device is but Hober tells him that he changed his mind on selling it. At this point, Argo realises that Hober, while in his place, stole the Eye of Korell. As Hober tries to escape the planet in his ship, he is captured by soldiers and sentenced to be executed.
Bel Riose chooses to be presented to the Emperors in his current state: filthy and disheveled from years of working in the mines. He wants to know what the mission is, and is briefed about the situation in the Outer Reach and Hari Seldon's Foundation. Riose and Day talk privately and frankly; Riose believes Empire is an arrogant bully who was embarrassed by Riose's actions. Day tries to goad Riose into striking him, but Riose refuses to break his oath to serve the Emperor. Day, seemingly satisfied, allows Riose to reunite with Glawen Curr. After an emotional reunion, Glawen helps Riose to shed his prison rags and clean up, all watched remotely by Day and Demerzel.
Gaal returned to the Beggar's Lament and fills Salvor in on everything that happened. She says that Kalle felt alive, but since the real one died centuries ago, she has no idea who or what is in the cave with Hari. Salvor feels that the whole planet is off. As the six hour time limit approaches, Gaal tries to convince herself that they should leave as Hari instructed. Salvor says this version of Hari scares her, and that if Gaal says to leave, then she will fly them out. Salvor asks Gaal what Hari would do in this situation, and she admits that Hari would leave.
Poly and Constant arrive on Korell, just as Hober is about to be executed by Titan's prick. Poly attempts to delay the execution by appealing to Commdor Argo that he be allowed to attend to Hober's soul before he dies. Argo refuses, and as Hober says his last words, he "castles" with Argo, having secreted the control node in his mouth prior to his arrest. With the guards distracted by removing Argo from the execution device, Hober makes his escape in the Commdor's air yacht. Poly realises that Hober knows they have a jumpship and he will try to take it. They make it back to the Spirit Rising in time to board it as Hober takes off. Poly takes control of the ship while Constant prevents Hober from leaving in an escape pod.
Travelling by shuttle, Glawen says that if Riose wants, they could desert. Riose dismisses the idea; as one of the few people that are indispensable to Empire, he feels the responsibility to defend the trillions that aren't and does not have the luxury of settling old scores. Riose and Glawen arrive on their jumpship, the Shining Destiny, and are reunited with the crew and the Spacer She-Bends-Light. After a heartwarming reunion, Riose gives the order for the fleet to jump to the Outer Reach
Attempting to lift off, the Beggar's Lament ends up falling through the planet's thin surface and awakens the autonomous mining machines that wiped out the planetary population. Escaping from them, Gaal and Salvor start to leave until they realise the machines turned their attention elsewhere. The sensors pick up a lifeform at the Monuments of Industry, and that is what the machines are heading for. Gaal says its Hari and they go to rescue him, finding that he is now alive, and in an actual body.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- Jared Harris as Hari Seldon (Raven)
- Lee Pace as Brother Day (Cleon XVII)
- Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick
- Leah Harvey as Salvor Hardin
- Laura Birn as Demerzel
- Cassian Bilton as Brother Dawn (Cleon XVIII)
- Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk (Cleon XVI)
Guest Starring[]
- Ben Daniels as Bel Riose
- Isabella Laughland as Brother Constant
- Dimitri Leonidas as Hober Mallow
- Dino Fetscher as Glawen Curr
- Oliver Chris as Director Sef Sermak
- Kulvinder Ghir as Poly Verisof
- Rowena King as Kalle
Co-Starring[]
- Judi Shekoni as She-Bends-Light
- Philip Glenister as Commdor Argo
- May Lifschitz as Forcer Wallick
- Wade Briggs as Brigadier Manlio
- Anthony Barclay as Councilor Sutt
- Pius McGrath as Lepsis Mine Overseer
- Ian Benson as Executioner
- Jose Miguel Toledo as Faltering Man
Appearances[]
| Characters | Creatures | Events |
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| Vehicles and vessels | Weapons and technology | Miscellanea |
Characters
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Creatures
Locations
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Organizations and titles
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Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels
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Weapons and technology
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Miscellanea
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Behind the scenes[]
- An on-screen graphic shown of the galaxy aboard the Shining Destiny lists numerous planets previously mentioned and drawn from the Foundation series. The names capable of being made out on screen include: Anacreon, Asperta, Cil, Harleggor, Haven, Kalgan, Konom, Korell, Locris, Lyonesse, Radole, Rossem, Santani, Sarip, Siwenna, Smyrno, Synnax, Tazenda, Terel, Terminus, Trantor, Voreg, and Zeon.