There is a very interesting character in Apple TV+’s live-action adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s Foundation book series whose very presence in the show pretty much confirms that more of the sci-fi author’s literary works are part of the same canon. The figure in question has been part of the story since the show began in 2021, and is confirmed to be returning as part of the Foundation season 3 cast. Not only have they been at the heart of some of Foundation‘s best scenes so far, but they are also one of the most pivotal characters in the entire saga.
Foundation‘s ambitious attempt to bring Asimov’s legendary space opera to the small screen has gone well so far, and I would place it in the list of the best shows on Apple TV+, regardless of genre. The show isn’t quite a faithful adaptation of the source material, as it would have been incredibly tricky to directly translate Asimov’s work into a TV show that tells a cohesive story in the saga’s new medium. That said, huge amounts of the lore have remained intact, including a character who connects Foundation to more sci-fi tales from Asimov.
How Laura Birn’s Lady Demerzel Connects Foundation To Asimov’s Robot Series
Demerzel’s origins date all the way back to a classic Asimov war
Foundation‘s Lady Demerzel is the last surviving member of the Robot Wars. Although her robotic nature only ever occasionally influences Foundation‘s story, it’s something that absolutely cannot be ignored. As is the case with other Isaac Asimov robots, Laura Birn’s Foundation character is beholden to the author’s Three Laws of Robotics. These same laws can be found in other areas of Asimov’s work, such as in the 1999 adaptation of Bicentennial Man and 2004’s I, Robot. The author’s Foundation books are set centuries after Asimov’s Robot Series, but they are still part of the same canon.
There’s no reason to believe that the many stories from Asimov’s Robot Series aren’t also part of Apple TV+’s Foundation universe, but happened so long ago that they have slipped into borderline irrelevance.
The Robot Wars happened so long ago in Foundation that no human character can possibly remember it, so it has mostly been relegated to a footnote in the history books. However, Demerzel’s artificial nature means she has survived the huge gulf in time that separates the two stories, and still has memories of the conflict. So, there’s no reason to believe that the many stories from Asimov’s Robot Series aren’t also part of Apple TV+’s Foundation universe, but happened so long ago that they have slipped into borderline irrelevance.
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Apple TV+’s live-action take on Asimov’s Foundation books has adopted several changes, but there’s one alteration that stands out among the rest.
There are some arguments that suggest Birn’s Demerzel does not come programmed with Asimov’s Three Laws. For example, she kills Brother Dawn (Cassian Bilton) at the end of Foundation season 1, which would seemingly contradict the First Law of allowing a human to come to harm. Interestingly, many of the author’s Robot books explore the Laws and how they interact with one another and can be interpreted in alternative ways, which could allow a robotic character like Demerzel to technically break a Law, without actually doing so. Plus, she has a Fourth Law, which makes her loyal to the Empire.
There’s Another Apple TV+ Project I’m Convinced Is Part Of Foundation’s Canon
Finch’s “directives” sound very similar to Asimov’s Three Laws
At present, Apple TV+ hasn’t yet officially taken on an Isaac Asimov adaptation other than Foundation. That being said, the platform released a Tom Hanks movie named Finch in 2021, which I am almost certain is intended to be interpreted as part of the Foundation universe. Just as Demerzel comes equipped with Asimov’s Three Laws, Finch‘s robotic character, Jeff, is also strongly suggested to boast the same restrictions. Hanks’ titular character openly states that Jeff’s first “directive” is that “A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.”
Isaac Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics
- A robot must not harm a human, or allow a human to be harmed through inaction.
- A robot must obey orders from humans, unless those orders conflict with the First Law.
- A robot must protect its own existence, unless that protection conflicts with the First or Second Law.
Jeff’s first directive is pretty much a word-for-word lift from Asimov’s First Law, which feels like too much of a coincidence to ignore. Of course, Finch is set a very long time before Foundation would be, but that actually makes canonical sense. Compared to Demerzel, Jeff is a pretty basic robot, so it would take centuries for her kind to reach the level of sophistication achieved by Birn’s character. By the time of Foundation, the story of Finch and Jeff would have been long forgotten, and it would only be a very soft prequel, if it’s a prequel at all.
After Foundation, I’d Love To See Apple TV+ Adapt More Isaac Asimov Books
Foundation seemed impossible to adapt, but Apple TV+ has done an incredible job
Considering how many books Isaac Asimov wrote, I find it very surprising how few of his stories have been the live-action adaptation treatment. Furthermore, choosing Foundation to adapt was probably one of the most shocking decisions Apple TV+ could have made. The sprawling space opera is told over such a long period that I was unsure how an adaptation would look, but I’ve been very pleasantly surprised by how beautifully it has come out so far. So, now Apple TV+ has pulled off such a tricky task, I’d trust the platform with any Asimov project.
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Foundation’s Biggest Book Change Copied A Controversial Star Wars Twist – But Did It Much Better
Apple TV+ made many changes while adapting Isaac Asimov’s Foundation books, but one new addition to the show was used by Star Wars first.
What would be especially exciting about more Isaac Asimov adaptations from Apple TV+, especially ones taken from the author’s Robot Series, is that Laura Birn could reprise her role as Lady Demerzel. The character is incredibly old, so even a show set hundreds of years before Foundation could bring Birn back to play the part again. Plus, learning more about her past would add fascinating layers of depth to her story in Foundation.
Foundation
8/10
- Release Date
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September 24, 2021
- Showrunner
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David S. Goyer
- Directors
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Rupert Sanders
- Writers
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Isaac Asimov
