Apple TV+’s flagship sci-fi show, Foundation, isn’t a strict adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s novels – the same author who wrote I, Robot. While praised for its impressive visuals and strong writing, the series makes Asimov’s complex ideas more accessible to a broader audience. As it heads into its fourth season, Foundation is quickly becoming a standout success for Apple TV+.
It’s common for TV and movie adaptations of beloved books to make changes, and the Foundation series is no different. While the show generally follows the plot of Isaac Asimov’s original story, it does take some significant creative risks. One major change alters how the story unfolds and focuses on a key character—a twist that book readers will notice, but might be lost on those new to the Foundation universe.
Foundation Changes a Major Character From Asimov’s Book
A major change in the series is the character of Gaal Dornick. The show reimagines Gaal as a woman, a departure from the male character in the original books. Actress Lou Llobell portrays Gaal, reshaping the character and her connections with other important figures. While several characters have had their genders switched, Gaal’s transformation is the most significant during the first three seasons.
Changing a character’s gender when adapting a story is often debated. Some fans dislike altering established characters, while others believe it’s important to include diverse representation in updated versions. It’s worth noting that Isaac Asimov was unusual for his time in often featuring strong female characters. This is still apparent in adaptations of his work, like the gender-swapped Salvor Hardin in the television series, alongside characters like Hari Seldon.
In Isaac Asimov’s original book series, Gaal Dornick functions primarily as a viewpoint character, allowing readers to experience the expansive sci-fi world. However, some readers have noted that Gaal doesn’t actively drive the plot and mainly serves as an observer. The Apple TV+ adaptation significantly expands Gaal’s role, making him a key participant in the story’s events from the beginning.
Although Gaal Dornick appeared in the original television series, the show ultimately served her well. Isaac Asimov’s books primarily focused on other characters, leaving Gaal underdeveloped. However, the new Foundation series reimagines her completely, and rightfully so. The show builds her into a fully developed character whose actions are crucial to the story.
Do Foundation’s Book Changes Work?
It’s always challenging to bring popular books to the screen. Filmmakers have to reimagine a familiar story for a new format while pleasing both dedicated fans and new audiences. Foundation presents a unique challenge because it explores complex ideas that might not immediately grab everyone, but are central to the plot. Consequently, the series takes several liberties with the source material, and the results are mixed.
Beyond changing the genders of some key characters, the Foundation series also makes some adjustments to the original story details. The show streamlines the history of the Galactic Empire and the Cleonic Dynasty to create a clearer timeline. Certain plotlines are also shortened to maintain a fast pace, and some mysteries, like the one surrounding the Vault, are resolved much earlier than in the books – or even before the books address them at all. As a result, the Foundation series isn’t a direct adaptation of Asimov’s novels.
Even with all the updates and changes, the series remains true to the core ideas of Isaac Asimov’s original novels – and that’s the most crucial thing for any adaptation. Foundation brilliantly captures Asimov’s complex exploration of how history, science, politics, religion, and humanity intersect. While the series aims to appeal to a broader audience, it still retains the elements that made Asimov’s story so compelling. This is why Foundation is a successful adaptation, even if it doesn’t perfectly mirror the books.
The Apple TV+ series Foundation will keep evolving and adapting the story from Isaac Asimov’s book trilogy. While further changes are likely, the show aims to continue covering the core ideas and themes present in the original novels.
Foundation is available to stream on Apple TV+.
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2026-01-22 17:09