Apple TV+ Foundation The show began as a series of books by legendary science fiction author Isaac Asimov, but another project from the streaming platform could be part of the same larger shared universe as Asimov’s space opera. Although the Foundation The books were drastically changed to create the show, yet it is somehow recognizably the same story. Asimov’s world-building and extensive knowledge allowed for great flexibility during Foundationadaptation process, and Apple TV+ has applied a large portion of Asimov’s canon to another project on its platform.
With Foundation season three has been confirmed and on the way, the series’ next series of episodes will continue the centuries-old saga of war between the Empire and Hari Seldon’s titular organization. Even among the large number of science fiction shows on Apple TV+, Foundation stands out for its brilliant aesthetic and cerebral premise. The scope of its fictional universe is so vast that it can incorporate events from the very distant past, which could very well be what the series is doing with an underrated Tom Hanks film from a few years ago.
Jeff In 2021’s Finch is strongly suggested to fulfill Issac Asimov’s three laws of robotics
Tom Hanks’ character builds a robot with very familiar rules
Apple TV+ little bird is a touching story of Tom Hanks’ titular character teaching a robot how to care for his dog when he inevitably passes away. In terms of tone, it’s almost nothing like it. Foundationbut much of the robot’s design originates in the pages of Isaac Asimov’s work. The author first included his famous Three Laws of Robotics in his 1950 book. I, robot book, and also started using them in his Foundation series. Although Finch does not reference the Laws by namethe first of four “First Guidelines” that he installs in Jeff is identical to Asimov’s First Law.
“A robot may not harm a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.”
Asimov’s Second Law states: “A robot must obey orders given by humans, except where such orders conflict with the First Law,“and the third is,”A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.“Hanks’ character never explicitly says these two Laws, but Jeff’s behavior and storyline make it very clear that the first three his Prime Directives are the same as Asimov’s Laws of Robotics.
Jeff’s Fourth Directive is the only other one that is spoken out loud in little birdand states: “In Finch’s absence, [a] robot must protect the well-being of [Finch’s] puppy.
Jeff’s Fourth Directive is the only other one that is spoken out loud in little birdand states: “In Finch’s absence, [a] robot must protect the well-being of [Finch’s] puppy. This directive replaces all other directives.” This is a new addition that never appears in Asimov’s work. However, it could be included in the author’s canon in two ways. The first option is that the Fourth Directive is also the Fourth Law, but because Finch’s dog (Goodyear) is such a specific subjectnever interferes with the other Laws of Robotics – except in Jeff’s case.
Alternatively, Jeff could be the first robot in Asimov’s universeand although it may have been used as a model, the Goodyear Law was simply eliminated so as not to influence later models of robots and their decision-making capabilities. Either theory could be valid, and both make interesting additions to Asimov’s Laws of Robotics, whether there were ever only three of them, and whether the rule about how to care for Goodyear was specific to Jeff’s programming.
Apple TV+’s Finch Movie Using the Three Laws Implies It’s a Prequel to The Foundation (And I, Robot)
The foundation was set long after Finch
Robots are not a big part Foundationstory, but Laura Birn’s Lady Demerzel is a great connection to Asimov’s larger universe. As the last remaining robot, Demerzel is the only one Foundation character restricted by the Three Laws of Robotics. Even if there secretly exists a Fourth Law about Goodyear, as is implied in the little birdThis does not eliminate the possibility that Hanks’ character was the creator not only of Jeff, but, by extension, of all the robots in Isaac Asimov’s shared canon. However, little bird is not defined anywhere near the Foundation timeline, as the two stories are centuries apart.
A specific year is not mentioned in little birdbut certain clues suggest that the story takes place in the near future. Then, little bird could be a very distant prequel to FoundationAdditionally, Apple TV+’s Space Opera implies a generalized version of the events of Asimov’s opera I, robot book is also canonical in Foundation. Will Smith in 2004 I, robot the film is set in 2035, which wouldn’t line up with the state of Earth in little bird.
Finch being part of the Foundation Canon would explain why the show isn’t set on Earth
Humanity left Earth a long time ago in Foundation (and Finch can explain why)
Foundation is set centuries in humanity’s future, so although the race still originated on Earth, humans are now essentially unaware of where they came from and how and why they headed for a life on distant worlds. little birdThe film’s post-apocalyptic setting provides a perfect reason why humanity left its home world behind. As Tom Hank’s character so eloquently explains in little bird, A solar flare left Earth’s ozone layer looking like “Swiss cheese.”
While Earth may not be salvageable, there could easily be enough resources for a planet-wide evacuation of the remaining population.
little birdHanks’ ending proves that it’s not the entire planet being roasted to death, as Hanks’ character assumed. Near San Francisco, Finch is able to venture outdoors without getting burned. Therefore, it is likely that there are other parts of the world still habitable, in addition to other ingenious engineers like Finch. While Earth may not be salvageable, there could easily be enough resources for a planet-wide evacuation of the remaining population, and if Jeff went with them, that would make it even more likely that he would base the robots on Foundation.
Isaac Asimov’s series of novels comes to life in Foundation, a television adaptation of the epic sci-fi saga created for Apple TV+, but it deviates slightly from the source material. The show follows a group of exiled humans who see themselves as the last chance to save the Galactic Empire – from itself.
- Cast
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Jared Harris, Leah Harvey, Lou Llobell, Lee Pace, Troy Kotsur
- Release date
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September 24, 2021
- Seasons
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2
- Streaming Services
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AppleTV+
- Presenter
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David S. Goyer
A solar flare has made Earth practically uninhabitable and there doesn’t seem to be much hope for its future. The Foundation books say that humans are vaguely aware of Earth, but not by name, and it’s been so long since our “present day” that it’s basically become a footnote in ancient human history. Finch could easily be one of them.