I went into it expecting it to have nothing to do with the books. I found all the characters’ behaviors irrational and frustrating, with the exception of the emperor.
And I’m getting really sick of incompetent protagonists and impossibly flawless antagonists. I think that’s just a reflection of the zeitgeist of the world’s masses, but that’s another discussion. Suffice to say I’m tired of it being the only trope used in SciFi TV anymore.
I don’t think the novels would’ve worked regardless of time. The whole point of Foundation as a series was that there’s no real protagonist in the series; the society as an aggregate works in a certain way as dictated by the rules of psychohistory. The concept wouldn’t have translated into a good TV show.
The show that we got is more of a generic space action, which has some interesting parts, but meh for most of it.
My conspiracy theory is that the writers had an idea for their own show, but execs made them slap on the Foundation label for notoriety. Because the parts that aren’t in the books, like the Genetic Dynasty, are great – probably the best parts. It feels like that was the actual story here, then everything else had to be put in after the fact to justify the universe they put it in.
I stopped watching after season 1 because the “special powers held by individuals” angle felt like a slap in the face to the theme of the books. Apparently season 2 is better but I’m still a lil bitter so I don’t think I can do it lol
This is brilliant, and it would explain so much! And I agree that the most interesting story arch is the one that has nothing to do with the novels (and the entire show shared very little with the novels, outside of some names).
I said that I liked few of the characters; I don’t know if that improves after the first season, but like you, I’m traumatized enough by S1 to be uninterested in watcing S2. I realized I’d spent the last 3 episodes literally shouting at the TV because of characters being so unreasonably stupid, and if there’s a literary sin I can’t forgive it’s characters doing stupid things as a plot device. “We need tension in this scene, so we’ll have this character refuse to get in the escape pod until the last minute, for some trivial reason.” It is infuriating, sloppy, weak writing, and I refuse to watch it.
Foundation. Such awesome design, great acting… but such awful writing.
Maybe its because i’m not a fan of the books, but I really like Foundation, it has weak points, but overall I’m enjoying it.
I went into it expecting it to have nothing to do with the books. I found all the characters’ behaviors irrational and frustrating, with the exception of the emperor.
And I’m getting really sick of incompetent protagonists and impossibly flawless antagonists. I think that’s just a reflection of the zeitgeist of the world’s masses, but that’s another discussion. Suffice to say I’m tired of it being the only trope used in SciFi TV anymore.
From what I’ve heard, it literally flips the premise of the novels.
I like both. The novels are good, but would not work today - they have been writen in the 50s and it Shows.
The series might have slow points, but I really like the emperors and the genetic dynasty, great storytelling device.
I don’t think the novels would’ve worked regardless of time. The whole point of Foundation as a series was that there’s no real protagonist in the series; the society as an aggregate works in a certain way as dictated by the rules of psychohistory. The concept wouldn’t have translated into a good TV show.
The show that we got is more of a generic space action, which has some interesting parts, but meh for most of it.
I think it’s just easier to write the hero’s journey instead of systems. GoT was good at the latter.
“Her breasts were a smaller version of the woman herself – massive, firm, and overpoweringly impressive.” -Isaac Asimov
sex bad
TIL making fun of writers for talking about women as sexual objects is ‘sex bad.’
I love the show. The best part of the show, far and away, is the part that isn’t in the books — the Genetic Dynasty.
My conspiracy theory is that the writers had an idea for their own show, but execs made them slap on the Foundation label for notoriety. Because the parts that aren’t in the books, like the Genetic Dynasty, are great – probably the best parts. It feels like that was the actual story here, then everything else had to be put in after the fact to justify the universe they put it in.
I stopped watching after season 1 because the “special powers held by individuals” angle felt like a slap in the face to the theme of the books. Apparently season 2 is better but I’m still a lil bitter so I don’t think I can do it lol
This is brilliant, and it would explain so much! And I agree that the most interesting story arch is the one that has nothing to do with the novels (and the entire show shared very little with the novels, outside of some names).
I said that I liked few of the characters; I don’t know if that improves after the first season, but like you, I’m traumatized enough by S1 to be uninterested in watcing S2. I realized I’d spent the last 3 episodes literally shouting at the TV because of characters being so unreasonably stupid, and if there’s a literary sin I can’t forgive it’s characters doing stupid things as a plot device. “We need tension in this scene, so we’ll have this character refuse to get in the escape pod until the last minute, for some trivial reason.” It is infuriating, sloppy, weak writing, and I refuse to watch it.
I knew I wasn’t crazy. I just can’t get into that series.