Delving into the universe of Foundation, the science fiction spectacle on Apple TV+ based on the celebrated Hugo Award-winning novels by Isaac Asimov, can indeed be a convoluted undertaking. Yet, one thing that should not perplex the viewer is the timeline, or essentially, the actual temporal setting of the visually captivating and philosophically profound events taking place.
As we venture into the labyrinthine tales of our central characters – the prodigious psychohistorian, Dr. Hari Seldon (Jared Harris), the tenacious Salvor Hardin (Leah Harvey), the brilliant Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell), and the imposing dictator Brother Day (Lee Pace), the emblematic face of the Galactic Empire – we must navigate numerous temporal leaps. And this is just the beginning of the second season. Therefore, it’s pertinent that we establish a chronological roadmap that will help us chart the course of these characters and their interconnected narratives.
Let’s Investigate the Initial Setting of ‘Foundation’
The story of Foundation commences with a youthful Gaal parting from her native planet of Synnax to become the protege of the illustrious psychohistorian and mathematician, Dr. Hari Seldon, on the imperial capital world of Trantor. Gaal arrives as a pre-teen girl, marking the genesis of our story. It’s roughly the year 12,066 Era Imperial under the reign of Cleon XIII.
At this time, Brother Day is negotiating a ceasefire between two rival factions as Hari welcomes Gaal on Trantor after she successfully unravels the supposedly uncrackable Abraxas Conjecture. They are soon accused of heresy by the Empire’s tribunal and banished to Terminus, where they plan to create a new civilization, a safeguard for humanity after the Empire’s impending destruction.
In the same year, 12,067 Era Imperial, or E.I., the Foundation is established. A year on, Brother Day and the Empire annihilate almost all the battling planets of Anachreon and Thespis situated in the Galaxy’s outer fringes. The remnants of these two “barbarian” planets lie in close proximity to Terminus and the Foundation. These three worlds share a relatively intimate celestial neighborhood.
The First Temporal Leap in ‘Foundation’s’ Inaugural Season
Amid the devastation of Anacreon and Thespis, Gaal and Hari venture towards Terminus to inaugurate the Foundation in the year 12,067 E.I. The narrative takes its first significant leap forward after Hari Seldon breathes his last on the spacecraft Deliverance, and Gaal finds refuge in a cryopod, jettisoning from the same ship. The temporal leap is around 20 years, catapulting us to the year 12,086.
During this epoch, Cleon XIII tyrannically rules the galaxy, convinced that Hari, Gaal, and the rest of the Foundation pioneers have perished on the desolate planet of Terminus, utterly dismissive of Seldon’s prophecy. On Terminus, post-jump, we meet the Warden of the Foundation, Salvor Hardin, Gaal’s daughter, who is approximately the same age as Gaal was when she entered the cryopod two decades earlier. Salvor departs Terminus in a cryopod to search for her mother, and the inaugural season concludes in the year 12,102 E.I.
A Second, More Extended Temporal Leap Closes Season 1 and Ushers in Season 2
The subsequent temporal leap in Foundation happens in the tenth episode of the first season, spanning 138 years. Therefore, as we step into the second season, the date is 12,240 Era Imperial. During this leap, Brother Day, or Cleon XIII, has been succeeded by a slightly genetically altered clone, Cleon XVII.
Gaal returns to her former world of Synnax, only to discover her home submerged under rising sea levels. Gaal encounters another cryopod on the ocean bed upon arrival: It belongs to Salvor Hardin, who reached Synnax decades earlier. Over a century after Salvor left Terminus in pursuit of her mother, Gaal discovers her in the submerged cryopod. Despite the cryostasis and temporal leaps, they are reunited as mother and daughter, appearing to be of the same age.
This tantalizing cliffhanger rounds off the first season, and Season 2 amplifies the suspense and intrigue in its thrilling premiere. The current timeline in Season 2 shows the Foundation gearing up for war with the Empire, and Brother Day (Cleon XVII) preparing to welcome a new bride. All this drama unfurls in the year 12,240 E.I., deep into the reign of the Cleonic Genetic Dynasty. To clarify further, “jump drives” and “jump ships” mentioned in the narrative are distinct from these temporal leaps and do not influence the timeline.
As we unravel this intricate narrative, the chronological anchors should facilitate a more lucid understanding of the events, characters, and dynamics that make Foundation a truly immersive experience. The series continues to captivate audiences, with new episodes of Foundation Season 2 premiering every Friday on Apple TV+.
