Apple TV's 'Foundation' Episode 4 Review: Salvor Hardin in focus in humdinger chapter
Spoilers for 'Foundation' Episode 4: 'Barbarians at the Gate'
'Barbarians at the Gate' establishes Salvor Hardin as one of the key figures in 'Foundation'. She's the Neo, she's the chosen one, and is certainly a massive change from Isaac Asimov's version that featured a male character and actually served as Mayor of the Foundation rather than Warden. Foundation's version of Hardin is much more action-oriented and is a strapping warrior with potential. By the end of the third episode, a threat is imminent and the colony on Terminus is facing a new enemy that they haven't encountered before. The episode also delves into Phara's (Kubbra Sait) past.
At Tranton, the brothers are having their own issues to deal with. Primus Opal's successor is a rebel and is all set to expose the genetic dynasty. Add to this is the massive Hari Seldon size chip on Brother Dawn's (Lee Pace) shoulder. Back at Terminus, the team preps for an Anacreon attack while cutting off the Foundation's communications with the Empire. Phara and her troops come in for the Foundation's module, which Hardin disposes of as a lie. It remains to be seen how much change the upcoming episode will see from the books as the Anacreons were bang in the middle of Seldon's first crisis.
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That said, there also rests a lot on Hardin's shoulders. Her connection with the Vault and the visions she sees still need some more explanation. The 'outlier' that she is considered to be is now set to be a vital cog in Terminus, is now a character with the personality to change history and dig out Seldon's hidden motive, And the Foundation, still unclear about what she can offer as they still religiously believe in the scientist's theories.
The final minutes of the episode see Gaal in the pod, making sure the upcoming episode will see more of her after the first two episodes. 'Foundation' continues to be engaging despite the slow pacing and is still the visceral drama that has a good six episodes to explain Asimov's stories deeper. Only time will tell how David S Goyer weaves in all the plot points together.
'Foundation' airs Fridays with new episodes on Apple TV+.
