In Foundation 2×01 “In Seldon’s Shadow,” Salvor and Gaal finally meet, and by “finally” we mean finally for Salvor because Gaal is like wait my daughter what now, Hari Seldon is alive or not alive but he will never leave us, Brother Day is having some Brother Dawn and Brother Dusk issues and another Crisis is coming, even if it feels like we just averted the first one. On par for the course.
…but also, Lee Pace is naked. A lot. Right around the five-and-a-half-minute mark, Brother Day makes his first appearance. And it is, predictably, naked. In fact, he has a very intense battle with some would-be assassins, takes a nice bath (ok a healing…thing), and even orders some people around before he dons a single stitch of clothing. Oddly enough, the order is for “a damned blasted robe so [his] manhood isn’t flapping around.”
Which, in any remotely normal universe, that would not be an odd command to make…except this is Foundation, where Lee Pace is (apparently) contractually obligated to be naked. So…yeah. And even once he puts on the robe, Brother Day is showing off quite a lot of his chest. Talk about a plunging neckline.
What we’ve learned from this is that Cleon is fine with showing his boobs—just not the aforementioned manhood. And while, as our very own Lyra put it, we “support Lee Pace in all his eras, including the lounging about like a feed you grapes whore” one, we think we need to talk this whole thing through.
What does Lee Pace being naked have to do with being in Seldon’s shadow?
Lizzie: There’s a plot to this show, we promise. It’s not all about Lee Pace being naked. You’d be hard-pressed to find it if you stumbled upon this show and pressed play on the first episode of Season 2 without any context, but there is a plot! Even if this episode is just a lot of daddy issues from is-he-alive-or-dead Seldon and mommy-issues from definitely alive Salvor.
Shana: On the topic of Salvor’s mommy issues, I’d just like to point out that she tells Gaal, “tell me everything.” So, really, I feel like that’s our direct invitation from this series to tell you everything we think we think about this precedent for nudity. Also, the whole, “I was always yours, I think” discussion? That’s one thing Brother Day’s clothing will never say to him. But anyway.
Lizzie: And then Lee Pace is naked? Let’s not spend too much time on the plot when there is Lee Pace naked to talk about. And I really, really want to discuss how his only concern is that his manhood isn’t flapping around. Plus, he literally winks at Brother Dawn, who is technically both a version of himself and a younger brother of sorts, so there’s that.
Shana: Is he winking at Brother Dawn because he’s like, “yeah, you get to wear none clothes all the time when you’re older”? Because I could get behind that…and nothing else about that wink. Also, I still have no idea what’s going on in Foundation 2×01. Seldon’s yelling at himself in the dark because he’s a nothing who knows nothing. (Relatable.) Also something about being a peasant (same). But…what does it have to do with the man who loves to show (more than) a little skin?
Lizzie: I mean, I guess there’s also the second crisis. Trust Hari Seldon (and humanity) to never settle for just one crisis—always have to bring another one and make it worse. But the real crisis is the citizens of this Empire having to pretend to do other things while Brother Day walks around in that…robe? That cannot even be considered clothing. But he’s just…that’s normal stuff? He’s literally standing there as the ship that carries his future wife arrives. Those are his clothes!!
Shana: Yeah, about this future wife lady. When she mentioned something to Empire about “compensation,” it set off my brain’s alert system. I was legit afraid Day was going to drop his pants to prove her wrong, right there in front of everyone. It clearly wouldn’t have been the first time everyone saw it. Also. “I can see how threatened you both are by my impending marriage.” Are they threatened by a naked wedding, or do they have other fears?
…but anyway.
“There’s an old saying: Any man can be a success, but it takes a madman to be great.” Empire, however, can not be a success when he is wearing clothes. So true.
Lizzie: To be fair, he does put on his Empire uniform that looks like armor later, which is kinda sad, but even that is hilariously short-sleeved compared to what Dusk and Dawn are wearing. Ah, to be Lee Pace.
Shana: “The galaxy is breaking,” according to Seldon…and that’s probably because Brother Day has broken the laws of the universe via his body’s ability to automatically repel clothing. And then, Foundation 2×01 just…ends with the Seldon thing.
“It’s time you and I had a reckoning.” Oh, shit. Will pants and shirts be in Lee Pace’s future in the next episode?
Other things we kinda think about Foundation 2×01
- Lizzie: How is it that Day gets to strut around and show all of that, but Dawn and Dusk can’t show any skin?
- Shana: “Show your work” Math is so delicious.
- Lizzie: I bet next week Gaal gets to have some surrogate daddy issues.
- Shana: “If he asks, tell him I needed mending.” We caught that with the whole “missing half your head” part, Demerzel.
- Shana: “I was in one prison. Now, I’m in another.” Seldon 1) gets me. And 2) has possibly put into words how Lee Pace feels on the rare occasion he has to visit Wardrobe.
- Shana: “I have dreams sometimes. About things that will happen.” Do any of those things involve Lee Pace in clothes?
Thoughts on Foundation 2×01? Theories on this whole naked situation? Leave us a comment! And stay tuned for more naked Lee Pace, Fridays on AppleTV+.
