Foundation 2×06 doesn’t feature much naked Lee Pace—although, he does wear his naked-armed “armor” at one point. But that’s ok. Or, well, is it ok? We don’t actually know for sure, but what we do know is the episode features a lot of backstory for Hari Seldon. Which, ok. That’s fine. Having a plot and getting insight into main characters is how all of this is supposed to work. The episode even manages to humanize our frenemy Hari a bit and actually does a fairly good job of answering the constant “why is he like this” refrain that keeps running through our heads.
The thing is, while “Why the Gods Made Wine” seeks to make us have a lot of feelings about the love a younger Dr. Seldon found and lost, all it does is make us realize Scream 3 doesn’t exist in this universe, somehow. Because there’s no way anyone would even try that haircut—specifically with those bangs—after learning the legend of Courteney Cox and how no one ever let her live her terrible Gale Weathers bangs down. Then again, maybe Hari did know there had been an ancient film with such a terrifying haircut, and he was trying to pay homage. If that’s the case, he really is a sick individual and has been since long, long before losing Yanna.
It’s distracting, ok? And not in a good, “hey, check out how Lee Pace arranges himself just so while he’s trying to look seductive in his robe” sort of way. It’s more of a matter of “ok but was this a cry for help” issue. Possibly even a “is the universe fucking with us” issue. It’s hard to say.
Quick thoughts on Foundation 2×06
- Have we given our spiel about how we support the WGA and SAG-AFTRA yet? No? Well. Consider yourself notified that corporate greed is killing the industry, and these writers and actors, without whom we’d have exactly zero shows and zero movies, deserve a fair deal. Now, back to your regularly-scheduled WTF-fest.
- I just think that if wine is in the title, it should mean I’m sipping a fine wine and enjoying the scenery. Instead, we got…this.
- Also, if I comment on the crashing waves that opened this episode, in the context of how these posts are normally themed…
- “There’s lots of talking, just unvoiced. Doing it aloud is kind of rude.” Tired: STFU. Wired: I’m a Mentalic, and it’s actually rude to speak out loud around me.
- “We’re treated as gods among men or wolves among sheep. The gods thing gets old, trust you me, and the wolves thing gets you killed. Mobs form quick. Call you ‘Devil,’ call you ‘Space Fiend.’ And then they bleed you, like Josiah.” No, but seriously. Writers.
- “And you feel like you should love her, and it feels strange that you’re not sure. Fruit of your loins and all. That is sticky.” There’s so much to be said about new mothers, whether in a bizarre situation like the one Foundation gives us or even so many real-life experiences, and how so many of them struggle with the connection they’re “expected” to feel. Instead of being able to give a deep dive on that, though, we have to sit here and be wary of Tellem. (And Hari’s bangs.)
- “I can’t accept an inescapable future, and neither should you. Our actions have to mean something.” It’s giving “if nothing we do matters, then all that matters is what we do.”
- “That distinction belongs to a supermassive black hole.” I can not escape this song.
- “Do you think Empire will be receptive to our mission?” “Best to assume we’ll be met with resistance.” Understatement of the millennium, Poly.
- “Sometimes, being angry is easier than facing the truth.”
- “Old homes open old wounds, and you seem to have wounds aplenty.” And you are out here pouring salt in them for your own purposes and pleasure, huh?
- “What the fuck is that?” Uh, indeed. Hober Mallow continues to be a whole mood, and I bet this is exactly what he’d say if he saw young Hari’s bangs.
- I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but listen to Hari, Gaal. What are you doing.
- “I don’t think I have the strength.” “You asked me. I’d say that’s strength enough.” I can’t even begin to explain how powerful this moment was. But Brother Constant is 100% correct. It takes so much strength to even think about admitting you have a problem, much less asking for help. And then to actually do both the accepting and the reaching out? Huge.
- “That’s the difference between belief and faith. I believed what I saw, but faith is a bigger commitment. And you’ve always had faith, Constant, and it puts my belief…to shame.” In love with this dialogue…until the moment gets ruined, of course.
- Empire is out here, bragging about statues while he’s exposing those bare arms of his. And the crowd goes wild! But, uh. Sareth, once again, outsmarted him. Queen (literally).
- “You study patterns; you know what your kind does. Violence against any deviation from the majority. Exploitation, cruelty, secrets, murder.” When you’re right, but you’re making yourself into a villain that’s…basically doing the exact same thing.
- So, yeah. Foundation 2×06 has all this fantastic content, and then…the flashback hair. It is 100% impossible to take any of Hari’s history seriously with those bangs. Sorry, not sorry to this man.
- “It’s an opportunity for you to fuck the fuck off!” …but this line will always be famous.
- This one, too: “The gods made wine to compensate those who can’t afford revenge.”
- Beautiful performances from Jared Harris and Nimrat Kaur. But what is this hair.
- “She resisted, she provoked.” Sounds like every shitty cop’s shitty excuse for murdering unarmed people for existing while Black. Hm.
- “Revenge. This isn’t in your nature.” “No, it was in Yanna’s. This is for her.” Soooo, I guess Hari didn’t need the wine.
- At this point, every single love story in this universe is tragic. Just…not as tragic as the hair.
- Did…did he finally drown because he remembered the terrible hair he used to have?
Thoughts on Foundation 2×06? Leave us a comment!
