The second season of Foundation, a popular TV series on Apple TV Plus, has been praised for its ability to let the characters shine through. This week's episode, which focuses on Hari Seldon, Gael, and Salvor as they learn to live with Tellem Bond and the Mentalics, is particularly satisfying. Salvor grapples with her intensified visions and learns to "unvoice" without audible words from a child. Tellem explains that the Mentalics have tragic stories, treating them as gods among men or wolves among sheep. Seldon believes Tellem and the Mentalics are the Second Foundation, but she dismisses psychohistory and Gael's precognitive abilities. Tellem teaches Gael about her mental trickery but admits that she is not well and wants someone to lead Ignis and the Mentalics after her departure. She offers to train Gael in her abilities, as long as Seldon is not involved. The episode showcases the show's ability to create a satisfying and engaging sci-fi series. In this episode, Gael spends time with Tellem, while Seldon and Salvor bond over fishing. Seldon reveals that the version of him in the Vault on Terminus only knows part of the Plan and can check in on him via the Prime Radiant, which exists outside of spacetime and can be in two places at once. Gael breaks up the quantum chat to explain Tellem's proposal, which sends Seldon into a rage, claiming Tellem has manipulated Gael's mind. He urges Salvor to protect Gael and the Prime Radiant from the Mentalics. The show highlights the development of a mother-daughter bond between Gael and Salvor, despite their unconventional relationship. In the final part of the episode, Gael and Salvor watch as Seldon appears to fly away in the Beggar, but it is an illusion created by Tellem. She tells him she will destroy the Prime Radiant and reveals her deep mistrust of non-Mentalics, like Seldon, and leaves him to die. In this episode, Seldon meets his life partner Yanna at university on his home planet of Helicon, who falls pregnant while working on the Prime Radiant. Their work on psychohistory and the fall of the Empire raises eyebrows on Trantor. Imperial official Dr. Tadj informs Seldon that he has been summoned to Trantor and is angrily against it. Tadj kidnaps Yanna at gunpoint and tells Seldon to hand over the Prime Radiant to see her again. Seldon, using a necklace she gave him, senses that Yanna is already dead. Seldon kills Dr. Tadj and settles into his workplace on Trantor, where he meets Reece Shearsmith. The episode ends with Seldon drowning as visions of Yanna fill his mind. Hober Mallow arrives at the coordinates Seldon set but finds himself on a massive spaceship accused of defiling the Swarm of Spacers. Brother Day announces his impending marriage to Queen Sareth and declares the end of the Genetic Dynasty. Sareth addresses the people of Trantor, saying the Empire serves them and their needs are their obligations. This episode is one of the strongest Foundation has ever produced, deepening Tellem, Salvor, and Gael as characters and providing an origin story for Hari Seldon.
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