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I am a fan of the Foundation TV series, but it was sluggish and disjointed at times. I am curious to see how film edits like this pan out ThanosM.
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UPDATED ON JAN 24
FILMS 1-8 ARE COMPLETE AND AVAILABLE THROUGH PM
Foundation is a science fiction streaming series based on the award-winning novels by American author Isaac Asimov.
The premise of the story is that, in the waning days of a future Galactic Empire, a mathematician develops a theory of Psychohistory, a new and effective mathematics of Sociology, which can predict the future of large populations and foresees the imminent fall of the Empire.
The first season consists of ten episodes, which aired in 2021. The second season aired in 2023, also consisting of ten episodes.
DISCLAIMER
I have not read Asimov’s novels. But I have read many reviews and seen many video essays explaining how the series is loosely based on them and how the creators missed some of the key points of the original story.
I do not want to disappoint the book readers among us, but these fanedits do not try to fix that.
The purpose of this project is to approach the content of the series in a more engaging way while providing an alternative viewing experience.
That being said, any contribution from a member familiar with the original material (and also any fan of the TV series) is greatly appreciated.
THE PROBLEM
Although I enjoyed the aesthetics, the overall plot and the acting of the first ten episodes, the main problem for me was the pacing and story structure of the show. The characters, while interesting and complex, and the locations, while magnificent and impressive, were scattered across the episodes, which made it hard for me to follow the overall plot.
THE SOLUTION
With these fanedits, I attmept to arrange the entire narrative into a series of feature-length films. To accomplish this task, I have started by dividing the story into distinct segments -or chapters- each centred on the characters’ arcs and their respective locations.
This process resulted in 11 distinct chapters:
Season 1 Chapters:
- Gaal Dornick’s Synnax: Gaal’s origins, the mathematical competition and her departure for Trantor.
(Episodes 5, 1)- Trantor: Gaal’s first meeting with Raych and Hari Seldon, the destruction of the Strabridge and the trial of Hari Seldon.
(Episode 1)- Journey to Terminus: Seldon and his followers on the Deliverance, Gaal’s hesitations about his plan, Seldon’s demise and Gaal’s escape.
(Episode 2)- The First Foundation: the formation of the Foundation on Terminus, young Salvor Hardin’s relationship with her father, adult Salvor Hardin’s connection with the Vault, the invasion by Anacreons and Grand Huntress’ plans to seize The Invictus.
(Episodes 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, Episode 8’s flashback of Anacreon’s destruction and Episode 9’s flashback of young Salvor)- The Shift of Power in the Galactic Empire: the transfer of power of the genetic dynasty, the Luminism’s threat on the Cleon lineage and Brother Day’s departure for The Maiden.
(Episodes 3, 4)- Gaal’s Awakening: her awakening and arrival at the Raven starship, the “ghost” of Hari Seldon and her departure for Synnax.
(Episodes 5, 7, 8)- Brother Day at The Maiden: his arrival at the holy moon of the Luminist faith, his interactions with Zephyr Halima, his decision to take the Spiral and his journey back to Trantor.
(Episodes 6, 7, 8)- Brother Dawn’s Challenges: his suicidal tendencies, his first meeting with Azura, the forming of their relationship, Brother Dusk’s suspicions, Dawn’s escape from the palace, his cature by the anti-Empire “rebels” and his rescue by Dusk.
(Episode 4, 6, 7, 9)- The Commandeering of The Invictus: the exploration of The Invictus by Salvor and the Huntress’ party up to its arrival on Terminus.
(Episodes 7, 8, 9)- The First Crisis: Hari Seldon’s return and Salvor’s journey to find Gaal.
(Episodes 9, 10)- The Future of the Empire: Brother Day’s arrival on Trantor, the fate of Brother Dawn and the truth about the Cleon lineage.
(Episode 10)
By organizing the chapters above into a cohesive and straightforward narrative, four two-hour-long films were crafted, covering the events of the first ten episodes.
In addition to the difficult and complex task at hand, I decided to alter the aspect ratio to 1.78:1, adding black bars to the top and bottom of the screen, thus re-framing each scene shot-by-shot. This creative decision arose from my desire to imbue my films with a more cinematic feel and to craft new dynamic and visually arresting compositions. While viewers may miss some of the original visual content, they will gain a fresh and visually captivating aesthetic.
Αdditionally, I have added hardcoded subtitles for Anacreon and Thespian dialogue and re-porpused the title sequence as the end credits of each film and added a title card within the first minutes of each film.
The same process was followed for the episodes of Season 2, resulting in 15 chapters:
Season 2 Chapters:
- Return to Synnax: Gaal and Salvor on Synnax and their attempt to reactivate the Beggar’s Lament, so they can return to Terminus.
(Episode 10 of Season 1, Episodes 1, 2 of Season 2)- Inside the Prime Radiant: Hari Seldon’s consciousness trapped inside the radiant and his attempts to escape.
(Episodes 1, 2, 6)- Gaal’s vision: Gaal relates her visions of the future to Hari and Salvor about a warlod named The Mule who brings darkness and despair -and the death of Salvor- and the trio’s discovery of planet Ignis as the location for the Second Foundation.
(Episode 2)- A New Empire: Brother Day’s assassination attempt, Queen Sareth arrival for the her marriage with Day, Dawn and Dusk discovering that Day has the authority to conduct memory audits on them and Sareth’s investigation about her family’s murder.
(Episodes 1, 2, 4, 5)- The New Terminus: The flurishing of the Foundation on Terminus, Poly Verisof and Brother Constant spreading its holly mission and the the words “Hober Mallow” appearing on the Vault’s surface.
(Episode 1, 2, 3)- Hober Mallow: The escape of Hober Mallow on Korell, his return to Terminus with Poly and Constant and Hari Seldon’s instructions to stop the imminent war.
(Epidoes 3, 4)- Bel Riose: Demerzel briefing Empire that the Foundation is building alliances in the Outer Reach, the recruitment of Bel Riose to deal with them and his reunion with his presumed dead husband, Glawen Curr.
(Episodes 1, 2, 3)- On Oona’s World: The trio arriving at Oona’s World, Hari’s encounter with Kalle and his resurrection in an actual body.
(Episode 3)- The New Empress: Brother Day’s announcement to wed Queen Sareth and end the Genetic Dynasty, Sareth confronting Demerzel and her scheme with Dawn to end of Day’s legacy.
(Episodes 6, 7)- Ignis: The trio meeting the Sighted and their leader Tellem Bond on Ignis, Tellem’s attempts to detach Gaal from Hari and Hari being held prisoner by Tellem and being found by Salvor.
(Episodes 5, 6, 7)- The Negotiation: Hober arriving at the coordinate that Hari uploaded on the Spirit, his meeting with the Spacers and his encounter with Riose.
(Episode 6, 7)- The Peace Offering: Poly Verisof and Brother Constant arriving at Trantor and being brought to the Emperors, the execution of Poly and Constant and Hober coming for the rescue.
(Episode 6, 7, 8)- Attack on Terminus: The aftermath of the attack on Trantor, Hober and Constant escaping from Trantor and being captured by Riose, Day arriving at Terminus with Polly and his meeting with Sheldon, the attack on Terminus and the fight between Day and Riose.
(Episodes 8, 9, 10)- Ignis No More: Salvor escaping her mind cell with the help of Hari from inside the Vault, Tellem trying to force her consciousness into Gaal’s body, Salvor rescuing Gaal, Hari returning to kill Tellem, Salvor dying, Hari and Gaal getting into cryosleep.
(Episodes 8, 9, 10)- The Forever Empress: Dusk and Rue discovering Demerzel’s origins, Demerzel returning to Trantor, Dawn and Sareth escaping the planet and Demerzel decanting three new Cleons.
(Episode 8, 9, 10)
Similar to my previous process, four feature-length films were crafted, covering the events of Season 2.
Unlike the previous attempt, these films diverge in terms of duration, ranging from an 1 hour and 36 minutes runtime being the shortest, to a 2 hours and 25 minutes runitme being the longest. Ideally, I would prefer for all the films to possess equivalent durations, yet I place a greater emphasis on the story rather than the length, and currently, I think I am happy with the outcome.
A title card within the first minutes of each film has been added, the title sequence serves as the end credits and I have added hardcoded subtitles for Thespian dialogue.
THE COLLECTION
VOLUME I
Foundation: The Emperor’s Peace
Runtime: 2 hours 6 minutes
Plot & Episodes:
The first installment introduces Gaal Dornick, a mathematical prodigy from a water planet called Synnax, Hari Seldon, an eccentric genius, who has developed a new science that allows him to calculate the future with stunning accuracy, and the Genetic Dynasty of Cleon, the ruling body of the galaxy, based on the capital planet of Trantor. In the aftermath of a terrorist attack on the Star Bridge, the clone-emperors, Brother Dawn, Brother Day and Brother Dusk, summon Hari Seldon to a tribunal to account for his heretical proclamations, where he seeks the aid of Gaal to escape the charges and, eventually, establish a Foundation to save the human kind.
Episodes: 1, 2 & 5 of Season 1.
Chapters: Gaal Dornick’s Synnax, Trantor and Journey to Terminus.
Foundation: The Mathematician’s Ghost
Runtime: 2 hours 2 minutes
Plot & Episodes:
The second installment explores the shift of power in the Galactic Empire, as Brother Dusk prepares for his final day before his ascension. On Terminus, the colonists begin to settle the planet and discover the Vault, a floating structure that projects a null field which keeps people away. Years later, Salvor Hardin, the Warden of Terminus, discovers that a band of Anacreons have invaded the planet and unfolds their Grand Huntress’ plans to seize the acient Imperial jumpship Invictus.
Episodes: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 & 9 of Season 1.
Chapters: The First Foundation and The Shift of Power in the Galactic Empire.
Foundation: The Awakening
Runtime: 2 hours 3 minutes
Plot & Episodes:
The third installment finds Gaal awakening aboard the Raven starship, where she learns everything about the murder -and lies- of Hari Seldon. On Trantor, Brother Dawn grapples with his unique nature as he forges a connection with a strange girl who works as a gardener at the Imperial Palace. Meanwhile, Brother Day is determined to find answers on the Maiden, the holy moon of the Luminist faith, as he begins his journey through The Spiral.
Episodes: 5, 6, 7 & 8 of Season 1.
Chapters: Gaal’s Awakening, Brother Day at The Maiden and Brother Dawn’s Challenges until his escape from the palace.
Foundation: The First Crisis
Runtime: 2 hours 3 minutes
Plot & Episodes:
The forth installment follows Salvor Hardin and the Anacreons on their exploration of the Invictus, where their fates intertwine with an unforeseen and astonishing turn of events. Meanwhile on Trantor, Brother Dawn finds himself confronted with a profoundly unsettling truth, while Brother Day returns home to oversee the resolution of pressing matters. On Terminus, an unpredictable visit ultimately sheds light on the enigma of the Vault, as Salvor makes the momentous decision to seek out Gaal.
Episodes: 7, 8, 9 & 10 of Season 1.
Chapters: The Commandeering of The Invictus, the latter parts of Brother Dawn’s Challenges, The First Crisis and The Future of the Empire.
VOLUME II
Foundation: The Emperor’s Dominion
Runtime: 1 hour 45 minutes
Plot & Episodes:
The fifth installment finds Gaal arriving on Synnax, 138 years after the First Crisis, where she discovers another pod underwater with Salvor’s body inside. On Trantor, Brother Day narrowly escapes an assassination attempt orchestrated by the Blind Angels, prior his imminent marriage proposal to Queen Sareth I of the Cloud Dominion. Meanwhile, Hari Seldon’s consciousness awakes within the Prime Radiant, where he must confront the shadows of his past in a desperate bid for liberation.
Episodes: 10 of Season 1 & 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 of Season 2.
Chapters: Return to Synnax, Inside the Prime Radiant, Gaal’s vision and A New Empire.
Foundation: The Prophet’s Revelation
Runtime: 1 hour 40 minutes
Plot & Episodes:
The sixth installment explores the flowrishing of the newly formed Foundation on Terminus, and the spreading its mission by High Claric Poly Verisof and his junior, Novice Claric Brother Constant, as they embark on a quest to seek out the enigmatic figure, Hober Mallow. As the Empire grapples to maintain control over its vast dominion, Brother Day is forced to recruit a former general, now imprisoned in the Lepsis penal colony, known as Bel Riose. Meanwhile, the digital manifestation of Hari leads Gaal and Salvor to Oona’s World, a desert and former mining planet, where a mystifying woman awaits, poised to shape his destiny.
Episodes: 1, 2, 3, 4 of Season 2.
Chapters: The New Terminus, Hober Mallow, Bel Riose and On Oona’s World
Foundation: The Sighting
Runtime: 2 hours 8 minutes
Plot & Episodes:
The seventh installment traces the journey of Hari, Gaal, and Salvor as they make planetfall on Ignis, where they encounter a distinctive community known as the Metalics, led by the enigmatic Tellem Bond. Meanwhile, at the Imperial Planet, Brother Day publicly declares the end of the Genetic Dynasty by announcing his marriage to Queen Sareth, as Hober Mallow approaches Empire’s navigators, the Spacers, with an intriguing offer. As the tensions escalate on Ignis, Tellem unveils her true motives, while the Foundation’s diplomatic endeavors flounder on Trantor, and Poly and Constant confront an ominous and uncertain destiny.
Episodes: 5, 6, 7, 8 of Season 2.
Chapters: Ignis, The Negotiation and The Peace Offering.
Foundation: The Second Crisis
Runtime: 2 hours 25 minutes
Plot & Episodes:
The eighth installment finds the Galactic Empire reduced to ruins in the wake of The Spirit Rising’s attack, as Brother Day makes the bold decision to embark on a journey to Terminus in an attempt to mend the deep wounds that divide the Empire and the Foundation. On Ignis, Gaal finally confronts Tellem, only to pay a heavy price for her courage, while Salvor must tap into the primal power of the Prime Radiant to save both herself and Gaal from impending doom. Meanwhile, Hober and Constant find themselves trapped as prisoners within the clutches of the 20th Fleet, while Brother Dusk and Enjoiner Rue at long last uncover the true nature of Demerzel’s elusive identity. Back on Terminus, the arrival of Brother Day brings tension, as the specter of war looms ominously on the horizon. As the situation on Ignis de-escalate, Hari and Gaal are faced with the daunting challenge of deciphering the Plan and confronting the enigmatic threat of the Mule.
Episodes: 8, 9, 10 of Season 2.
Chapters: Attack on Terminus, Ignis No More and The Forever Empress.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
As I mentioned earlier, any input from both book readers and fans of the show regarding the development of this project would be highly appreciated. On a more specific note, you can help by suggesting potential titles for upcoming films.
Stranger Things Film Collection
