Mild spoilers follow for Foundation season 3 episodes 1 to 5.

Foundation is a show I've championed ever since its first season debuted in September 2021. Admittedly, it took a season to find its footing but, with Foundation season 2 righting the wrongs of ifs forebear, the sci-fi epic hasn't looked back since.

Foundation season 3 continues the space opera's upwards trajectory. Exhilarating and intellectually stimulating, the under-appreciated Apple TV Original ups the ante in spectacular and engrossing fashion, with a season that further cements my view that the show should be held in a higher regard.

Empires always fall

152 years have passed since the end of Foundation season 2. The Foundation now rules the entire Outer Reach and is slowly expanding into the Middle Band, a group of independent planets once ruled by Empire – also known as The Imperium – which has become a shadow of its former self. The Cleonic Dynasty, which rules Empire, still controls large portions of the galaxy, but no longer holds dominion over its own Galactic Council, and is subsequently positioned as something of an underdog this season.

Things are about to worsen for both parties, though. The next Seldon Crisis – events predicted by psychohistorian Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) that will test the entire galaxy – is fast approaching. Furthermore, The Mule (Pilou Asbaek), an incredibly powerful and dangerous Mentalic – individuals born with psychic abilities – aims to bend the galaxy to his will. If The Mule succeeds, and if his arrival and The Third Seldon Crisis aren't connected, humanity won't successfully navigate the latter.

Season 3 wastes no time introducing the demonstrably evil new player on the proverbial chess board. First teased in last season's finale, The Mule demonstrates his seemingly unmatched superhuman abilities by singlehandedly destroying an entire fleet of warships and killing numerous soldiers on the Middle Band world known as Kalgan.

It's a shocking sequence that proves how menacing this Machiavellian character is, and that menace is embodied in Asbaek's eye-catching performance. Asbaek only replaced Mikael Persbrandt as The Mule in a season 3 cast shake-up last February, but he's a delightfully wicked, chillingly commanding, and unpredictable on-screen presence. If you thought he couldn't play a character more monstrous than Euron Greyjoy in Game of Thrones, think again.

Season 3's early entries also do a largely good job of getting us up to speed on Foundation's wider universe, and the galactic checkerboard's current arrangement.

The biggest surprise – one hinted at in Foundation season 3's official trailer – is that a fragile peace now exists between The Foundation and Empire. Yes, they're still staunch adversaries, and events in this season's explosively epic fifth episode suggest that later chapters will pit them against each other once more. Nevertheless, seeing these long-feuding groups temporarily set aside their differences makes for a captivating watch as they navigate the galactic geopolitical minefield and try to combat a common enemy in The Mule.

Civil wars and familial frailties

The Apple TV+ show's latest installment also continues to explore key relationships that have defined its overarching story so far, albeit with varying degrees of success.

Gaal Dornick's (Lou Llobell) student-teacher dynamic with Hari has been an integral cog in the machine since Foundation premiered. I was disappointed, then, that this oft-fraught surrogacy-like relationship is given short shrift in season 3's first half.

In fact, I'd go as far as to say Harris is criminally underused. Hari and his digitized counterpart Doctor Seldon (Harris), the latter of whom dwells in The Foundation's mysterious artifact known as The Vault, exist on the periphery of storylines concerning Ignis and New Terminus, i.e., the worlds that The Foundation and its secret sibling Second Foundation are based on. I hope season 3 rectifies this oversight in its latter half.

At least Llobell gets more to do. As Second Foundation's self-assured yet flawed leader, she spends her time juggling the demands of Ignis' Mentalic colony, a romance with newcomer Han Pritcher (Brandon P. Bell), a hyper-fixation on tackling The Mule, and using her own psychic abilities to infiltrate Trantor to form a clandestine pact with one the Imperium's Cleonic rulers.

Speaking of the Cleonic Dynasty, this season's iterations of Empire's monarchic trio – Dawn (Cassian Bilton), Day (Lee Pace), and Dusk (Terrance Mann) – are dazzling and disturbing in equal measure.

It's interesting to see this triumvirate operate with a fraction of the power they've previously wielded, but it's even more compelling to see each actor infuse their respective characters with different personalities. Indeed, Foundation season 1 episode 9's revelation that Cleon I's genetic code was irrevocably damaged by rebels means each clone's DNA and personality become more distinct with every generation. Season 3's cocksure but naive Dawn, and outwardly pacifying yet internally sinister Dusk, then, allow Bilton and Mann to shine in ways they haven't before.

Pace benefits most from the diverging Cleonic bloodline, though. In what I can best describe as Pace's channeling of The Dude from The Big Lebowski, this season's neo-nihilistic, brutally honest, drug-addicted, and wisecracking Day is a scene-stealing delight. He's still got a nasty side, and an arrogance that offer reminders of the uncompromising and warmongering Day we've previously seen, but I was nonetheless enchanted by Pace's wildly different take on the character.

The variance is particularly visible when the Cleons gather for meetings with each other and/or alongside Empire's robotic majordomo Demerzel (Laura Birn), which often exude melodrama amid power struggles between the trio, and their individual and collective confrontations with Demerzel.

The final scene of this season's premiere is a perfect illustration of this. Not only does it reveal an unexpected inflection point in Hari's psychohistory calculations – remember, Demerzel (and, by proxy, Empire) came into possession of one of the two Prime Radiants in the season 2 finale – it also predicts humanity's total annihilation. Cue a tense debate as the quartet propose solutions to this calamity (or, in Day's case, choose to ignore it completely) and an existential crisis-fueled arc for Demerzel that Birn captures with dazzling nuance and heart-aching complexity.

Foundation's primary cast is aptly aided by Asbaek's fellow season 3 newcomers. The charismatic couple Toran Mallow (Cody Fern) and Bayta Darell (Synnøve Karlsen), whose influence steadily grows despite their initial reluctance to get involved in events, and Bell's swashbuckling Foundation operative in Pritcher, who's trying to prevent a group known as The Alliance of Traders from breaking away from The Foundation and exerting its influence on Foundation-ruled worlds, are standouts at this season's midpoint.

If I have one major gripe about season 3's first five episodes, it's that they spend an inordinate amount of time focusing on The Imperium storyline. It's certainly entertaining, but there's plenty of cat-and-mouse politicking and gripping subplots, and new characters to get to know, all of which deserve more screen-time. I hope they're not neglected as much in episodes 6 through 10 as Harris has been so far.

My verdict

Foundation season 3 proves that the sci-fi extravaganza not only deserves its spot on our best Apple TV+ shows list, but also confirms its position as the best show you're not watching right now. Its ability to constantly evolve from a narrative perspective, and keep me engaged through its seasonal time jumps, plus its capacity to maintain a high level of consistency in all areas of its production, make it an unrivaled spectacle in the genre space.

If episodes 6 to 10 can build upon the thrills that season 3's first half contains and address the problems I've outlined in this review, it might threaten Severance season 2 as my favorite Apple production of 2025. Foundation season 4 is only a rumor at this point but, based on the show's latest installment, it's a matter of when, not if, this space odyssey's next entry is confirmed by one of the world's best streaming services.

Foundation season 3 launches worldwide with a one-episode premiere on Friday, July 11. New entries will air weekly until its finale is released on September 12.

It's been three years since Severance captivated us with its mystery-filled plot. Apple's dark comedy thriller series rightly earned plenty of acclaim and awards for its debut season, but, amid the seemingly infinite unanswered questions its twisty-turny story posed, one in particular has stood out since season 1 ended in April 2022: could a second installment, which was greenlit days after season 1's final entry, live up to or even exceed fan expectations?

Despite a lengthy development cycle that was hindered by the 2023 Hollywood strikes, the answer is a resounding yes on both fronts. Season 2 is as tightly-paced and enthrallingly enigmatic as its forebear but, galvanized by an stronger emotional core, and a deliberate but methodical splicing of its real-world and Lumon Industries-set storylines, Severance's long-overdue return has been worth the wait.

'Welcome back, Mark... been a minute'

After a brief audio montage of the season 1 finale's bombshell moments plays over a black screen, Severance season 2 opens on Mark Scout's (Adam Scott) surprisingly swift return to Lumon. Episode 1's cleverly-executed 'one-shot' reintroduction sequence, which is essentially an extended version of Severance season 2's first teaser, shows Mark's 'innie' – i.e. Mark S – racing through the shady institution's maze-like corridors to seemingly reunite with his colleagues Helly R (Britt Lower), Dylan G (Zach Cherry), and Irving B (John Turturro).

Or so he thinks. Eventually finding his way back to the Macrodata Refinement office, Mark S is unexpectedly greeted by some unfamiliar faces, including the Severed Floor's new deputy manager Ms Wong (Sarah Bock).

Seth Milchick (Tramell Tillman), who's replaced Harmony Cobel (Patricia Arquette) as the the floor's head honcho, then appears to reveal that five months have passed since Mark and his fellow 'innies' carried out their Overtime Contingency stunt. That prison break-style quest, dubbed the 'Macrodata Uprising', saw the 'innies' successfully – albeit temporarily – merge with their 'outies' in the real world and almost expose Lumon's nefarious working practices to the unsuspecting public. That incident, Milchick claims, led to 'Severance Reform', a supposedly radical overhaul of Lumon's working conditions and employees' rights.

But it's not all good news. Per more succinct story exposition, Milchick claims that Helly, Irving, and Dylan decided not to rejoin Mark at Lumon, hence the aforementioned strangers being hired to replace them.

This specific revelation cleverly reimagines the show's very first episode, which saw Mark S welcome chaotic newcomer Helly to Lumon. This time, Mark is positioned as the group's rebel-in-chief, with his attempts to sabotage his new colleagues and reunite with his previous workmates bringing the series' pleasing blend of absurdist humor and disquieting drama to the fore mere minutes into season 2's premiere.

Peculiarly, this nascent team restructuring is a short-lived affair as, spoilers notwithstanding, it isn't long before Mark S is reunited with his Lumon peers. Given the slick and sharp chemistry between the show's main cast, I understand why creator Dan Erickson and director/producer Ben Stiller waste little time in reconnecting them. Nevertheless, I would've liked to have seen more of Mark butting heads with his new co-workers, and raging against the megacorporate machine over their hiring to humorous and dramatic effect before being reunited with the aforementioned trio.

Getting the band back together

That reunion, which occurs just before episode 1's midpoint, is necessitated by season 2's overarching plot, and the inter- and intrapersonal relationships that make the Apple TV Plus show tick.

Severance's strength lies in the friendships, and the budding romance between Mark S and Helly, that were established in season 1. So, while there's a need to fill in the narrative gaps between last season's cliffhanger and this season's premiere – a series of episode 2 flashbacks get us up to speed on what's happened in the interim – expanding on those key relationships and other character-driven aspects is vital to Severance's ongoing success. It's not a complete shock, then, that Mark S is reunited with his buddies as early as possible.

But things aren't hunky dory upon the group's reformation. Whether it's Helly's reluctance to tell the others that her 'outie' is none other than Helena Egan, aka the daughter of Lumon's current CEO, or other spoiler-filled subplots which I can't expand on, season 2 does a upstanding job of putting its core characters through the psychological and emotional wringer. Much of that stems from their individual and collective decision-making in last season's finale, the ramifications of which are keenly felt in this season's early episodes and make for engrossing viewing as Mark S and company grapple with the severity and significance of their so-called uprising.

Those problems also bring the conflicting ideals, motives, and desires of each individual's 'outie' and 'innie' into sharp focus. As the show's protagonist, Mark's intrapersonal dynamic was examined extensively throughout season 1, but, as he wrestles with new and long-standing issues this season, there's a gratifying evolution to his character arc that puts a distinct spin on the series' exploration of morality. Indeed, whether it's his desire to quit Lumon, ensure his 'innie' succeeds in rescuing Ms Casey (Dichen Lachman) – remember, she's the 'innie' version of Mark's deceased, real-world wife – or take an experimental, life-threatening leap into the unknown, the moral complexities of Mark and his 'innie' character feel more substantial this season.

Pleasingly, this exploration also extends to Helly, Irving B, and Dylan G, how the choices made by their 'innie' personas impact their 'outies', and the growing unease and/or anger over the lack of autonomy that these 'innies' have compared to their 'outie' counterparts.

Just as season 1 did with Mark, season 2 analyzes who these people are outside of Lumon, including the struggles they face – yes, even someone as emotionally manipulative and callous as Helena is confronted with everyday challenges – and the real-world relationships they maintain. Examining the lives of each character's 'outie' humanizes (or, in Helena's case, dehumanizes) them in enlightening ways and occasionally made me re-evaluate who I was rooting for as new light was shed on the moral ambiguity of, and internal battles taking place within, each character.

Out of office

Following on from the embryonic blending of the real-world and Lumon narratives in last season's finale, Severance's second chapter slowly and deliberately continues to merge its dual storylines together, oftentimes to devastating effect. From episode 4's real-world company retreat for the 'innies', which adds a deliciously novel layer of trippy horror to proceedings, to Lumon's unsevered higher-ups wilfully seeking out the Macrodata Refiners' loved ones, such as Mark's sister Devon (Jen Tullock) for devilish reasons, the interweaving of the 'innie' and 'outie' worlds triggers some blindsiding character incidents that' I suspect will reverberate through season 2 and beyond.

Season 2's much-needed exploration of the wider threat posed by Lumon is most welcome, too. The Egan family-founded organization's questionable practices have been notable from the outset, but there was the inherent belief among audiences that their operation was restricted to the US. Season 2 heavily implies that this isn't the case, however, and I'm certainly intrigued to see how big Lumon's global reach is as this season and the overall series progresses, and whether Mark S and his cohorts stand any chance of tearing it down from the inside.

Severance's ability to dangle mysteries right in front of our noses without offering much, if anything, in the way of explanations is equally riveting. Season 2 maintains the show's puzzle-laced aura and penchant for 'new weird' storytelling with mesmeric effect, and I'm convinced an immeasurable amount of new fan theories will be born out of the latest secrets and enigmas it presents. Oh, and for anyone besotted by season 1's baby goats, you'll be pleased to learn that, even though they were teased in Severance season 2's official trailer, their reappearance isn't superficial. Just don't expect any of your most pressing questions about them to be answered (there is, though, an amusing season 1 call-back as part of this installment's goats-based subplot, which I appreciated).

As for this season's fledgling new dynamics, Milchick and Ms Wong's is the most worthy of being highlighted. The introduction of other enigmatic characters, such as Mr. Drummond (Ólafur Darri Ólafsson), certainly add sinister weight to one of the best Apple TV Plus shows' sophomore outing. Nevertheless, the addition of a pre-teen in Bock's Ms Wong to Lumon's ranks underpins the clandestine organization's iniquitous nature and only intensifies the unease I felt every time she appeared and/or was chastized by one of her superiors. Her hiring as Milchick's junior and questioning of his true aspirations, though, ruffles her supervisor's feathers, and I'm fascinated to see how this dynamic evolves as season 2 progresses.

The only minor issue I have with this dynamic is it deprives us of season 1's tetchy and enthralling Cobel-Milchick partnership. In fact, Cobel is largely relegated to the sidelines in season 2's early entries, which greatly disappointed me. I've no doubt that Arquette's cryptic individual has a bigger role to play in Severance's sequel season, but I would've loved to see more of her verbal bouts with Lumon's hierarchy and Mark, especially in the wake of last season's fiery finale.

My verdict

If Severance wasn't already one of Apple's best TV Originals, I'd say it deserves a promotion. Season 1 positioned it as a whip-smart program that poked fun at office culture and the power that multinational companies wield, and that helped to differentiate it from the crowd.

I'd argue, though, that its follow-up is a darker, more unsettlingly comedic, oft-times saccharine, and intelligently assembled season that's equal parts a coming-of-age story and corporate retelling of the classic David versus Goliath tale. Truth be told, there's very little about Severance season 2 that made me want to *ahem* sever ties with it. Simply put, it's the first unmissable show of 2025.

Severance season 2 premieres on Apple TV Plus on Friday, January 17. New episodes air weekly.