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Foundation is a sci-fi series created by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman and is based on the series of stories by the same name by Isaac Asimov. Featuring Jared Harris, Laura Birn, Lee Pace, and others, the show is set in the distant future where the galaxy is ruled by the despotic triumvirate of Emperor Cleon’s clones-Brother Day, Brother Dusk, and Brother Dawn. This dynasty is administered by Lady Demerzel, and amidst all this, a young man called Gaal Dornick solves a complex mathematical proof and wins a contest devised by the psychology professor Hari Seldon. Gaal is soon caught between the Cleon dynasty and its conflict with Seldon’s psychohistory. The show has many important characters, but The Mule is one of the most enigmatic villains on the show. Here are some of his best moments.
The Mule’s carnage in Kalgan, his ability to manipulate Empire Gate access, and other important moments of The Mule in Foundation
1. The Mule’s commanding debut on Kalgan
Foundation Season 3 sets the tone for The Mule as a fully developed character. Played by Pilous Abæk in season 3 of the show, The Mule was a character that viewers of the series had seen through Gaal Dornick’s visions only in season 2. However, in season 3, The Mule becomes a present antagonist. In the first episode of the third season of Foundation, viewers immediately get to see The Mule, who appears on the planet of Kalgan. He uses his powers of compulsion to turn all the planet’s soldiers against each other and therefore uses mental rather than physical powers to get what he wants. The Mule also defeats Archduke Bellarion, and the scene is terrifying and a true display of The Mule’s power in the show. In the second season of the series, The Mule had learnt about the psychic ability of Gall Dornick, and season 3 of Foundation carries forward with this plotline. The new version of The Mule is more physically present than the one viewers saw in season 2 and has a lot of charm. The rapid and brutal manner in which he only uses his mental powers to assert dominance in Kalgan showcases the might of the character, who is a mental tyrant.
2. Toran Mallow flayed alive
Another horrifying scene in Foundation that involves The Mule is when he partially skins Toran Mallow with a potato peeler and mentally dominates him. This body horror scene happens in the show’s third season and the third episode, and is one of the most visceral and terrifying incidents involving The Mule. This one scene highlights the depths of depravity that the character has and the cruelty he can inflict upon others. According to Sean T Collins from Decider, there is an element of graphic and raw body horror to Foundation from the beginning. Viewers see this when in season 1, the android Demerzel rips off her own face over the grief of killing a Cleon. Therefore, the show has a history of putting in visceral moments in between. However, in season 3 of the show, the main antagonist is The Mule, and he proves that what he did to Toran is something that he can do to the whole galaxy. The scene mixes psychic mind control with physical torture and creates a villain who is sadistic and overbearing. Therefore, The Mule is one of the most important characters in the Foundation, and the show has many moments where it is proven that The Mule is one of the most significant dangers that the galaxy has seen.
3. Manipulation of Empire gate access
In Foundation Season 3 Episode 3, The Mule also shows his might by bypassing the Empire’s vast jump-gate network and physically getting control of the gate. Till now, viewers had only seen the psychic powers of The Mule, and this instance proves that he can use his tactical powers as well. The moment is important as it showcases an escalation by The Mule and his strategic need to get control. His presence is no longer confined to the shadows or mental powers, and he is not passive. The Mule is now active and is dismantling institutional control throughout the galaxy. By using infrastructure for his gain, The Mule showcases his ability and might over both minds and systems. He can mix gruesome and ruthless intimidation with cunning strategy, and this incident might not be full of action or gore, but it marks an important turning point in Foundation as The Mule expands his powers. Interestingly, Brother Dawn had offered The Mule access to the Empire’s jump gates for faster space travel, but The Mule forcefully wipes out everyone at the Kalgan jump gate after disabling the alarms, and he gets all the access he needs.
4. Casting switch raises stakes
Fans of Foundation know that The Mule was initially played by the actor Mikael Persbrandt, before the show made the switch and roped in Pilou Abæk. Pilou has appeared in Game of Thrones, and Mikael was a renowned Scandinavian actor. With a new actor in the fray, the Foundation is looking at a much wider role for The Mule, and a new actor will bring a new level of gravitas and menace to the character. Till season 2, The Mule was a character who was seen in the shadows and only talked about with fear. But in season 3 of the series, the character becomes an important part of the show. According to Decider, the recasting of the character could also have been done, as the American audiences are more familiar with Pilou than Mikael. Pilous definitely brings a more sinister quality to The Mule as he is not physically present on screen and unleashing his terror. A new actor makes the villain larger than before, and The Mule feels more commanding in Foundation. Casting decisions have a big role in influencing viewers’ perception of a character, and the switch from Mikael to Pilou has raised the stakes for a character such as The Mule in the show, and is an important moment.
5. Jedi-like mass destruction on the battlefield
The Mule has definitely captured the imagination of the viewers, and many fans of Foundation have taken to online platforms and shared their amazement at how brutal The Mule is as a character on the show. On the famous online platform Reddit, some fans commented on how The Mule eliminated an entire army without any effort in the first episode of the third season of Foundation. The fact that The Mule only had to use his psychic powers was a moment of awe and wonderment for the viewers, who took to online platforms to discuss how important a character The Mule has become and how such moments elevate the show. One user notes how The Mule used Jedi-like forces to destroy an entire battalion to death in just a few seconds and then walked off as if nothing big happened. This anecdote proves the power of the character within the show and how it is creating an impact on the viewers. The Mule’s power is not just psychic, but it is also visually arresting, and his supernatural abilities make him one of the most enigmatic characters on the series. Therefore, the character of The Mule has left a lasting impression on the viewers.
6. Magnifico and The Mule in disguise
Websites like TechRadar have made an important observation that could be true if the show follows the books from which it has adapted itself. The publication observes that Magnifico Giganitcus, the musician who works for The Mule, is against the villain because of how The Mule treats him. However, the character is important as he is a part of The Mule’s inner circle, and his music keeps The Mule calm. However, Magnifico flees Kalgan with Toran and Bayta, and the pair thinks that they can learn about The Mule from Magnifico. However, Magnifico is not a real person. In Asimov’s second novel, it is revealed that Magnifico is The Mule in disguise, and it’s all a façade so that The Mule can learn more about the Foundation. In the show, it seems that Magnifico is some sort of holographic projection created by The Mule, and this allows the warlord to be in two places at once. Therefore, if the show follows Asimov’s books, Magnifico could be The Mule, and this would be a shocking twist and an important moment in the series and for the character. While this is just a theory proposed by online media channels, it remains to be seen how the character of The Mule unfolds in Foundation.
7. The Mule dismantles Hari Seldon’s psychohistory
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In Foundation Season 2 Episode 3, it is underscored that The Mule has thrown Hari’s psychohistory into chaos, and the villain has become a strong and unpredictable force that Hari never thought could take shape. This is an important moment in the series as it shifts Foundation from a formulaic sequel to a wholly different and powerful chaos that is only governed by one man. The Mule is now one of the most powerful forces to contend with in Foundation Season 3, and the new season becomes dynamic in its own right. The Mule is not just a physical threat, but his power disrupts the whole narrative of the show, and he undercuts an entire system. The Mule challenges the premise of the show itself, and his introduction alone is something that makes him an important character and a pivotal moment in Foundation. Fans of the show must watch season 3 as the series fully delves into The Mule as a character and his ambitions and personality. The show is set on a vast, cosmic scale, and the power that The Mule wields is equally important and enigmatic—making him the perfect antagonist for such a show.
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