Respectfully, I find the Foundation TV series extremely disheartening. I envy those who can watch Lee Pace’s triumphant acting without being completely off put by the appalling writing choices in the show. The fundamental aspects of the Robot, Empire, and Foundation series books clashe so hard with the message being presented in this show. The entire first season doggedly trashed psychohistory’s main point by making single individuals into linchpins. Hari’s double AI clones and his contrived disease was an abomination that undercut his entire function in the story. Demerzel (R Daneel Olivaw) is utterly without connection to their character from the book. It is infuriating to see a character that spent 18 books gently and intelligently guiding humanity towards a harmonious existence be turned into a Cleon sex doll muderbot. None of that should have been possible for them. It would have shredded their mind. In what universe can this character presented be guiding humans towards galaxia or second empire. The “believe in belief” motif of the show is antithetical to Azimovs clearly atheistic writing and goes counter to the whole message of his books. Intellectual pragmatism is replaced by dice rolling space cowboys. In the same way star trek has devolved from following hyper specialized intellectual duty-bound characters to flagrantly stupid/morally reprehensible ones, foundation has made its primary characters into people who ride on luck and faith.
All of this rant comes from a place of geniune distress and I don’t mean to disparage anyone who enjoys the show. I’ve seen so much praise and it’s causing me a lot of cognitive dissonance. I can’t see how people aren’t up in arms about Demerzel and the other character assassinations. I have no issue at all with any of the actor choices, design, artistry, or extraneous changes made to update the show to be a modern adaptation. There are even some good ideas, like the clone dynasty, which serve to enrich the story, but the flaws are to many to overlook. Are there any other foundation universe fans that feel the same way or am I living alone on the moon with a deteriorating positronic brain?
One thousand percent agree. So much so, in fact, that after reading synopses of what was written into the show, I didn’t bother watching even one episode. Foundation is by far my favorite science fiction of all time. I understand why liberties would of necessity be taken with the story in order to make compelling television - but this - what’s been done - was not necessary.
And it’s refreshing to be able to say so. On reddit, all the Asimov real estate appears to be fully bought and paid for by corporate masters - this opinion would be deleted and you might well be banned.
As a reddit refugee, I have been pleasantly surprised by the community here. I appreciate not being put in the stocks for having voiced my opinion on this matter. The obvious lack of advertisment in instances is immediately apparent and astoundingly beautiful. This is the internet that I want to be a part of. I wonder if writers in California are migrating from Reddit as well. If they are, I hope they come accorss more honest and constructive dialogues like these about the projects they may be working on.