Salvor Hardin, a supporting character in Foundation season 2, has finally had the opportunity to shine in the sci-fi series. The chess pieces are moving and the board is set for the home stretch of the second season on Apple TV Plus. Last week's episode 6 concluded with the death of Hari Seldon, as Tellem Bond and the Mentalics continue to enact their plan. Foundation remains one of the best Apple TV shows and the best TV series currently watching. In this uneven episode, Gaal explores her Mentalic powers, while Salvor becomes increasingly uneasy due to her clouded visions. Gaal speaks to the assembled Mentalics at a feast, suggesting they need to reach out into the galaxy more to bring more of the Sighted to their cause before The Mule and his war arrive. Later in the day, Salvor investigates a fishing boat that Loron had tried to keep from her earlier in the day. Under the cover of night, she accesses the boat's travel history and takes it to its previous destination, the coastal area where Seldon drowned last week. Tellem arrives and tells Salvor that sometimes death is necessary, leaving her limp and floats next to Seldon's. The relationship between Gaal and Salvor has become increasingly fractious, with Salvor unsure of Gaal's hype. The tension between Queen Sareth and Demerzel grows, as Sareth reveals she knows Demerzel is a robot and confirms that the Empire ordered the death of Sareth's family. Demerzel believes she is no longer bound by the Laws of Robotics and only lives by one rule: "I serve Empire." She makes it clear that serving Empire is different from serving Brother Day or Sareth, suggesting she might take extreme action if she disapproves of this union. She is not afraid to kill a Cleon. Sareth and Day have a tense discussion, where she emotionally recounts the story of her family and their individual personalities, revealing that she knows what happened to them. They part on rather cold terms, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating the next events. Queen Sareth secretly meets Brother Dawn, who she believes has "kind" eyes and suggests her children could share those eyes. She agrees to marry Day but wants Dawn to step up and father her children, ensuring he cannot be forced out by Day. They kiss to seal a bloodless coup. The core members of the Queen Sareth fan club enjoy seeing her take control against the Cleons and are on board for her plan to bring down the Genetic Dynasty. Brothers Constant and Poly Verisof are imprisoned by the Cleons, while Hober Mallow's attempt to win the Spacers over to the Foundation's cause fails. Hober escapes captivity with the help of his pet Bishop's Claw, showing Bel Riose his "whisper-ship" capabilities. Hober reports to Brother Day that the Foundation has technology beyond even that of the Empire. Bel's husband Glawen Curr is intrigued by the possibility of the Foundation overthrowing the Empire, but Bel is forced into submission by the Empire's threats. Constant and Poly face trial in front of the Cleons, with Poly asking for sovereignty for the Foundation in exchange for not waging war against the Empire. In the episode of Foundation, Seldon warns Brother Day that the Foundation is not toothless and knows that it would win a war. Day refuses to let this worry him, ordering Bel Riose to surround Terminus and taking inventory of any useful Foundation tech. Constant and Poly are locked up again. The episode is sluggish with too many characters involved and Seldon's over-arching plan left oblique and unknowable. The episode has elements that were loved, such as Sareth playing with Dawn and Salvor and Gaal's complex relationship. However, with three episodes remaining, the Second Crisis is set to resolve, and the Empire now has reason to fear the Foundation. This could be explosive. For more sci-fi from Apple, check out our guide to the Invasion season 2 release date and the For All Mankind season 4 release date. For more space action, read our Ahsoka episode 1 and 2 recap and find out how Ahsoka Tano survived Order 66.
Review of A Necessary Death
