The following article contains spoilers for Foundation Season 2, Episode 4 “Where the Stars Are Scattered Thinly,” which is streaming now on Apple TV+.
Foundation is following the dream of psychohistorian Hari Seldon as he guides his organization, the Foundation, through intergalactic crisis’. Seldon wasn’t able to guide his Foundation through the First Crisis due to being dead and only an AI construct. Fortunately, Salvor Hardin was there. Now Seldon is back, and his AI is still around also, together, they are preparing to ensure that the galaxy will not only survive the Second Crisis, but also all the following ones.
Seldon’s plan for the First Crisis was very unclear, it seemed like a rather hands-off approach. This was only because Gaal Dornick had not been on Terminus like she was supposed to be. Now everything is aligned properly. Gaal, Salvor and human Seldon are together, and Brother Constant, Poly and Hober Mallow are ready to venture into the galaxy. Hari can finally begin to properly guide the Foundation and its place in the galaxy as the Empire collapses and the darkness of anarchy descends. This will hopefully shorten the darkness and begin a new age of peace for the galaxy.
Hari Seldon is Ready for War With Empire
When the Vault opens for the second time, it only has one request, to bring Hober Mallow to the Vault. Seldon even incinerates someone who tries to enter the Vault who isn’t Mallow. When Mallow is finally brought to the Vault, he enters along with Brother Constant, Poly, and Director Sermak. Hari Seldon all but ignored Sermak, clearly unimpressed with how he has run the Foundation, but Constant, Poly and Hober are of great importance. While the Foundation has believed that they are preparing for war with the Empire, Seldon has a different plan. He wants Constant and Poly to travel to Trantor and convince the Empire to believe in the Galactic Spirit. So while they try to make peace, Mallow has a different goal.
Hober Mallow was the only one who Hari really wanted, and while his purpose wasn’t made perfectly clear, its obvious that it isn’t a peaceful one. He tells Mallow that he won’t be going to Trantor, but somewhere else entirely. Seldon says that if he and the Foundation are offering a hand of peace, they also need to have a knife and a fist behind their back. Mallow will be the knife of the Foundation. This makes sense considering that the Mule knows him to be the man who pricked the Empire’s hide. Mallow will work to bring down the Empire while they are distracted with the Church of the Galactic Spirit.
Seldon’s Plan for the Foundation Likely Won’t Work
Gaal’s vision of the future was dark and extremely grim. She saw war torn world that was burning. The Foundation was dead, her daughter was dead, and she was about to die. The Mule seemed to dominate what was left, and he had no room for mercy. It therefore seems unlikely that Seldon’s plan will work. While Hari never meant to prevent the age of darkness, it doesn’t seem like he shortens it either. Seldon and his team may have to learn how to adapt and move away from psychohistory to find solutions that will help everyone survive.
Hari Seldon has tried to come up with a plan, a backup plan, and a plan for the backup plan for almost every scenario. The Prime Radiant and psychohistory have guided many of his actions. While the Church fights for peace and Mallow prepares for war, it becomes increasingly unlikely that Seldon’s plan will succeed, at least not in full.
Stream new episodes of Foundation every Friday on Apple TV+.