Foundation Season 3: Did Gaal Finally Break Free from Hari’s Shadow?

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In the thrill of Foundation’s recent episode, where a chilling telepath showcased his formidable abilities and Apple TV+ introduced its own version of a colossal cosmic threat akin to the real Death Star, the moment that truly left an impression on me was surprisingly understated.

Over the last two seasons, viewers have seen an intriguing, sometimes fiery and frustrating dynamic between Dr. Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) and his apprentice Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell). However, this episode marked a significant turning point in their relationship that we’ve been eagerly anticipating.

In the third season’s second episode, as per their pact in season 2 to periodically awaken from cryosleep to impart mentalic knowledge to each other, Hari, in his signature manner, catches Gaal off guard yet again by executing a surprise move.

Upon awakening, Gaal finds herself unexpectedly in cryosleep for 148 years, as Hari apparently broke their agreement without so much as a goodbye. True, Hari justifies his actions by claiming Gaal’s time is more precious than his own – a point that might hold some weight – but it hardly alleviates the fact that he failed to discuss this decision with her prior.

In what follows, I take a step I should have taken long ago – I pass the Prime Radiant to her, laden with all the data, wisdom, and secrets I’ve amassed about the eight crises. This act signifies the conclusion of my strategy of keeping her in the dark. As I come to understand and express it to her, “From here on, your path is one you can walk independently.

At last, Hari has taken a step that was long due, given that Demerzel (Laura Birn) and the Empire have been using the Radiant for some time now. However, with Gaal now in possession of the Radiant, she can actively make decisions and importantly, act with complete knowledge at her disposal, rather than speculating about Hari’s intentions indefinitely.

Following his transfer of the Radiant to Gaal, Hari withdraws to his chambers, informing his apprentice they’d meet again tomorrow. However, it quickly unfolds that this was a final deception – albeit a gentle one – as Gaal discovers the next day that Hari had passed away in the night.

It’s highly likely that Hari will reappear in some capacity within the series, since there’s still an electronic version of him stored in the Vault. However, at present, the psychohistorian appears to have surrendered to death as much as he can, effectively leaving Gaal to navigate the situation on her own.

In essence, during the last part of the episode, Gaal appears independently and takes an intriguing action by phoning Brother Dawn (Cassian Bilton). It’s possible that she might be establishing some sort of partnership or understanding with him as she states: “Now is the time for you to prove your worth, Empire.

In light of the numerous threats escalating within the ongoing events, such as the Mule’s growing power and Brother Dusk’s ominous disclosure about the Novacula, a devastating weapon analogous to the Death Star, forming an alliance of this magnitude might be pivotal for Foundation in the future. Given her unique access to information, Gaal could potentially orchestrate such an alliance effectively.

So far, although she possesses remarkable mathematical skills and mental prowess, she has consistently been overshadowed by Hari. Her life and identity have been significantly influenced by him in some way. With Hari temporarily absent from the scene, Gaal can now step forward and establish herself, preparing for her encounter with the Mule on terms that suit her.

Although Hari and Gaal’s bond was captivating and likely equipped her with essential skills, as she gears up to confront The Mule and the major dangers sweeping across the galaxy, one can’t help but sense that she might be more advantageous without his presence at this critical juncture.

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2025-07-18 17:04