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I was fascinated by the first episode of this show, because it encapsulated my favourite elements of the first book, throwing you into the heart of a war you didn't even know was happening under the raised eyebrow of madman/genius Hari Seldon (played to absolute perfection by Jared Harris - his casting alone is reason enough for this show to exist for me). Sure, it got a little wobbly with the weird time jumping and calling the narration cliche and unnecessary would be generous. But... potential.

The next episode really threw me though, if only because I truly do not recognise the Foundation novels in them. Where the first episode skimmed along the first story, the next was a total departures from the established narrative, to the point that they actively violate key plot points in the books, like no pyshcohistorian being allowed to travel to Terminus. More so than just being a new interpretations, it felt like a mildly unnecessary (but visually gorgeous) fan fiction.

This episode though... this episode hooked me. The annoying narration is still there, the strange treatment of established narrative is still there and the fanfic vibe is holding strong, but... I think I'm on board. The genetic dynasty is one of the most interesting science fiction concepts I've seen in years, and I love that the show has committed to showing the full emotional and social ramifications of such a program. The pathos and empathy it allows me to feel for the monarchical figures of this universe is something no other fiction has ever achieved, or even tried to achieve.

The Hardin stuff is a little strange, and I don't love that we keep getting Chosen One narratives written into a story that's specifically about systems and not people, but it's keeping me functionally entertained and I do want the mystery of Terminus and the Foundation to fully unravel, a feeling that reminds me of when I first read the books.

So I'm interested. This isn't the show I hoped I would be getting, or even what I feared it might be. But it *is* interesting. It's grappling with fun ideas on a huge scale and telling a story that's (apparently) nine seasons long. I'm curious and engaged. Foundation; let's see what you've got.

A quick note at the end, however. Hearing David Goyer speaking about the Vault on the podcast made me slightly nervous, because, 'even readers of the books don't know what's inside it'. I am truly, truly sick of the instinct modern television has developed of being more interested in surprising its audience than of telling a good story and I truly hope that the Vault serves the same purpose it did in the original story and doesn't get overly complicated purely for the sake of being different to how it originally appeared.

This episode is also the second occasion where a main character from the (very male) original material is gender-flipped into a woman. This is a fantastic change that livens up the dynamics of the show, and makes for more interesting depictions of the characters. However, it's also the second time (of two) where that female character is immediately made to have sex with a man as an establishing glimpse into their characterisation. It's demeaning to the cause of championing women, and women of colour, as the heroes of these stories and I hope it isn't a trend that continues any further.