Foundation Season 3 Episode 2 reveals the truth behind Gaal Dornick’s disappearance

Apple TV premiered Foundation Season 3 on July 11, 2025, the latest installment of its science fiction series, created by David S. Goyer and Josh Friedman. The new season featured a 151-year time jump, which saw drastic changes in the galaxy and the rise of Mule, a powerful Mentalist seeking conquest over both the Empire and the Foundation. Moreover, it also revealed that the Empire lost most of its control in the galaxy, with the Foundation taking over the control of the Outer Rim.

In addition to these drastic changes, it was also revealed that Gaal Dornick was put in a mysterious slumber for 146 years. The final moments of Foundation Season 3 Episode 1 saw Gaal waking up from her deep slumber to a changed galaxy.

Episode 2 finally solved the mystery behind Gaal's slumber, revealing that it was none other than her mentor, Hari, who put her in cryosleep without her knowledge.

Read more about this in our story.

Foundation Season 3 Episode 2 reveals Hari's shocking decision for Gaal

The Foundation Season 3 premiere featured a 151-year time jump, which had massive changes across the galaxy. In addition to a drastically changed galaxy and the looming threat of Mule, the episode also revealed that Gaal was in a deep slumber for 146 years, put into cryosleep by her mentor Hari.

While the Season 3 premiere concluded moments after Gaal woke up from her slumber, the latest episode finally revealed the truth behind her long cryosleep. Episode 2 took the viewers 151 years back in time, when Hari and Gaal were in the process of preparing the Second Foundation for the upcoming Crisis and to fight against Mule.

According to their arrangement, Hari and Gaal agreed to take turns in cryosleep, waking up for only a few weeks every year. While Hari taught psychohistory to the Mentalists, Gaal used her powers to teach them to fight against Mule.

However, as Foundation Season 3 Episode 2 revealed, this arrangement worked only for 5-6 years, following which, Hari made a unilateral decision that changed his relationship with Gaal forever. Despite promising to wake her up annually, Hari betrayed their arrangement and put Gaal in cryosleep for 146 years, during which he taught psychohistory to Mentalists.

Why did Hari make this controversial decision for Gaal in Foundation Season 3?

While Hari's decision was controversial and betrayed the sanctity of their teacher-student relationship, he had his reasons for putting Gaal in cryosleep for 146 years.

Hari was a visionary who knew that Mule's power would make him the ruler of the galaxy and that only Gaal could fight against him and save the Foundation. While teaching her powers to others was necessary, that would have worn her off. Hari was confident that Gaal's unique abilities and powers could defeat Mule alone, and he made the controversial decision to preserve her powers for the right time.

Even with this controversial decision, Foundation Season 3 Episode 2 proved that it was necessary. While Gaal was in cryosleep, Hari ensured that the Mentalists expanded their knowledge of psychological warfare and aided Gaal when the time came.

Gaal was the most important asset for the Foundation to fight against Mule, and Hari's decision will soon turn fruitful, after she woke up from her slumber in Episode 1. In addition to Gaal's unique abilities, Season 3 is also hinting towards a potential alliance between the Empire and the Foundation to win over Mule.

While the Empire and the Foundation were once enemies, eyeing the same prize, the inception of Mule's rule could threaten their future and result in a Third Crisis, as teased in the Foundation Season 3 premiere.

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