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Barbarians at the Gate is the fourth episode of Foundation's first season on Apple TV+. It aired on October 8, 2021. The episode was written by Lauren Bello based on the novels by Isaac Asimov. Alex Graves directed the episode.

Synopsis

Salvor faces off with an enemy of the Empire. Brothers Day and Dusk are at odds, while Brother Dawn wrestles with his truth.

Plot

Brother Dawn jumps from his bedroom window in the Imperial Palace, seemingly intent on killing himself. He is saved from impact by the personal aura all Emperors wear. Dawn's actions are witnessed by a gardener, who runs off when she realises who Dawn is. Demerzel interrupts Brother Day's personal time with a matter of importance; Proxima Opal, leader of Luminism religion has died. While the Emperors expect Zephyr Gilat to take her place, Ambassador Thanwall informs them that another candidate, Zephyr Halima, is gaining in favor. She advocates for a return to the Primary Octavo, a heretical pre-Imperial script that holds that the soul cleaves to only one body. As such, the belief indirectly casts the Emperors as less than human since they are genetic clone of one individual. Brother Dusk, who had previously helped to install Proxima Opal, decides to travel to the funeral and address the conclave.

Salvor Hardin is captured by the Anacreons led by Phara. They claim to be scrappers looking for the slow ship's navigational module. When informed it was stripped out decades okay, Phara wants to be taken to the tower in the middle of the settlement. Phara forces Salvor to take her through the perimeter fencee, but instead of taking her to the tower, Salvor directs the vehicle they are in towards the Vault. Phara passes out under the null field's influence, allowing Salvor to take her prisoner and inform the colonists of the Anacreons' presence. Salvor begins to interrogate Phara, and figures out that she is the Grand Huntress of Anacreon.

Dawn engages the services of Shadowmaster Obrecht to find out the identity of the gardener. Day and Dusk become increasingly concerned about events throughout the Galactic Empire; religious fervor, insurgencies on Trantor, and the destruction of a comm buoy in the Arcturus Sector all seem to point to Hari Seldon's predictions coming to fruition.

With Phara a prisoner, her second, Rowan, directs his troops to encircle the settlement. On Trantor, Dawn is informed of the gardener's identity; Azura Odili. He visits her in the garden and starts to be enamoured by her. With problems rearing themselves throughout the Empire, Day lays the blame on Dusk's handling of the Seldon situation and the subsequent bombings of Anacreon and Thespis. He orders Dusk to remain on Trantor while he heads to Proxima Opal's funeral, something which goes against the protocol of having the primary Cleon remain on the throneworld.

On Terminus, the colonists face off against the Anacreons, protected by their shield. As Day departs Trantor, Dusk orders Kray Dorwin to head for Terminus and remind the Foundation that they are still Imperial citizens.

Cast

Starring

Guest Starring

Co-Starring

Appearances

By type 
Characters Creatures Events
Locations Organizations and titles Sentient species
Vehicles and vessels Weapons and technology Miscellanea

Characters

Events

Locations

Organizations and titles

Sentient species

Vehicles and vessels

Weapons and technology

Miscellanea

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