Star Wars’ Best Streaming Rival Is Apple TV’s 3-Part Space Opera

by

While Star Wars has seen success with its streaming series, Apple TV+’s space opera remains a strong competitor. Since Disney+ launched in November 2019, several well-received Star Wars shows have been created, including critically acclaimed series like Andor and more recent favorites such as Maul — Shadow Lord.

After the conclusion of the main movie saga, streaming services have kept the franchise alive by exploring more of its history and characters. This has revitalized interest in the series, leading to success in theaters – the recent Mandalorian and Grogu film, for example, has already earned $294 million worldwide on a $165 million budget.

Look, I’m a huge Star Wars fan, but when it comes to sci-fi on streaming, Apple TV has really stepped up. They launched around the same time as Disney+ back in 2019, and they’ve been consistently delivering some fantastic shows. It’s not just one type of sci-fi either – you’ve got the alternate history stuff with For All Mankind and its Star City spin-off, then the really gripping post-apocalyptic world of Silo. They’re trying a lot of different things, and honestly, it’s keeping the genre really interesting and exciting.

One compelling example is the series Foundation. Inspired by Isaac Asimov’s books, Foundation depicts a galactic Empire facing a predicted downfall. Professor Hari Seldon foretells the collapse of the ruling Cleon dynasty within 500 years, using a science called psychohistory. Though labeled a traitor, Seldon is granted resources to establish the Foundation – an effort to safeguard human knowledge. This sets the stage for a centuries-long struggle between the Empire and the Foundation.

Apple TV’s Foundation Continues To Be One Of The Best Sci-Fi Shows On TV

Foundation stands out as a truly original sci-fi series. The show spans numerous planets and jumps forward in time – often by over a hundred years – with each season. It follows a diverse cast of characters and explores the events that will lead to both the rise of a powerful Empire and the eventual success of the Foundation.

Throughout the series, the show contrasts the Foundation’s growing technology with the Empire’s gradual decline, particularly focusing on the Empire’s ruling family of clones. What really makes Foundation stand out, though, are its characters. From Hari Seldon to his student, Gaal Dornick, and the cloned rulers of the galaxy, each character plays a vital role in the unfolding story.

The show has consistently received positive reviews from critics throughout its run. Season 3 of Foundation, for example, earned a ‘Certified Fresh’ rating of 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, and similar praise has been given to the other seasons released every two years.

Like Star Wars, Foundation tells a compelling story of underdogs fighting against oppression, and shares similarities with Luke Skywalker’s journey. However, Foundation stands out by focusing on the sweep of history over many centuries and isn’t afraid to introduce new characters to demonstrate how things change over time. This makes it a unique and strong competitor to the Star Wars franchise.

Foundation Is Already Renewed For Season 4

Similar to Star Wars, Foundation is expected to continue for years to come, with Apple TV regularly renewing the show for new seasons that are released approximately every two years. The fourth season of Foundation was confirmed in September 2025, and Ian B. Goldberg and David Cob will take over as showrunners, replacing David S. Goyer.

The next season of Foundation will continue the story right after the last one ended, resolving a major cliffhanger with potentially devastating consequences for humanity. The show is known for its complex and surprising plots, and it’s also developed compelling characters and storylines that will continue to unfold in the upcoming episodes.

While perhaps not as expansive as the world of Star Wars, Foundation is a strong contender, particularly due to its epic scope and the way it tells its story through a historical lens. With more story to tell and the show planned to continue, it’s likely to remain a major competitor to Star Wars for years to come.

Read More

2026-06-09 05:10