I ultimately enjoyed the series. It's visually stunning and has talent aplenty. There is much to commend it in the introduced story devices; the clone dynasty and relationship between the 'brothers' is clever, the exploration of actual characters, the palace intrigue and more.
My problem is that it fails to understand the potency of psychohistory. By focusing on narrative impact of individual characters it undermines the statistical predictions of psychohistory that are core to the Asimov vision.
Foundation, the novel, has a great deal to embarrass a 21st century reader. It's very much a product of its era. However the underlying concept is clever and visionary.
Foundation, the series, is a fine yarn and nicely done, but it is a fun story rather than a visionary modern interpretation of a visionary and important work.
Watch it, enjoy it, but don't expect it to be Asimov's story. Appreciate the new questions it raises, but seek elsewhere for insights into the questions Asimov asked.
My problem is that it fails to understand the potency of psychohistory. By focusing on narrative impact of individual characters it undermines the statistical predictions of psychohistory that are core to the Asimov vision.
Foundation, the novel, has a great deal to embarrass a 21st century reader. It's very much a product of its era. However the underlying concept is clever and visionary.
Foundation, the series, is a fine yarn and nicely done, but it is a fun story rather than a visionary modern interpretation of a visionary and important work.
Watch it, enjoy it, but don't expect it to be Asimov's story. Appreciate the new questions it raises, but seek elsewhere for insights into the questions Asimov asked.