• WoodScientist@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Eh. I’ve been watching it, and I think it’s a decent adaptation. Entirely faithful to the original? No. But the core trilogy of was written in the 1950s, and it’s absolutely a product of its time. I for one am glad they left the misogyny back in the 1950s where it belongs. Also, the original books were very much in the “our friend the atom” era of nuclear power, the era where they were predicting power too cheap to meter and no one had ever heard of a nuclear plant meltdown. The inclusion of the genetic dynasty was an inspired choice. And frankly, I’m glad we’re not depicting a far future where everybody is white.

    But I think the TV series is faithful to the core themes of the books. It still explores the contrast between the “trends and forces” and “great man” theories of history. It still explores the fascinating concept of predicting the future mathematically. It still shows the slow and inexorable decline of a great galactic empire. And the Mule in the show is every bit a force of malevolent evil as the Mule in the novels.

    Overall, is it a perfect one-to-one adaption? No, but that was never going to happen for a book like Foundation. It was long considered unfilmable. But some minor adaptations have allowed them to create a good series that explores the core themes of Asimov’s work.

      • nagaram@startrek.website
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        5 months ago

        The fact that gods and magic also seemingly exist really fucks me up because its explicit in Tue original book that god is just a tool for smarter people (Foundation) to manipulate dumber people (everyone else).

        Obnoxious atheist take? Sure I guess.

        But it feels as if someone rebooted harry potter and made the kids saying something nice about trans people or Jews.

    • CybranM@feddit.nu
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      5 months ago

      Does it get any better after season 1? The terminus plot was just incredibly stupid so I lost all interest. Empire was great though, especially as he didn’t exist in the books

      • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        5 months ago

        It’s not a show that I wait for with bated breath, but I will usually watch the episodes and they’re alright. As someone who only read part of the first book, there’s nothing there to be ruined for me.

        The Mule stuff is kind of interesting. I think the genetic dynasty stuff is the coolest part, and apparently that wasn’t even in the books.