Empire has fallen, darkness has arrived, and new villains are stepping out from the shadows. It's safe to say, the finale episode of Foundation season 3 did not disappoint.
We've seen revelations, betrayals and major twists that have set the stage for what's to come if the show is confirmed for a season 4.
Foundation season 3 ending explained: Who is the Mule, actually?
In a stunning departure from Isaac Asimov's book, season 3's finale unveiled Bayta Mallow (Synnøve Karlsen) as the Mule.
Speaking exclusively to RadioTimes.com about that shocking reveal, Karlsen says: "Knowing that there was this twist that was going to come, it just made her even more of an exciting character.
"I think she can come off slightly kind of thoughtless or careless at the beginning so once I found that out, it was such an exciting element for me."
"I think it's just quite interesting that it's a woman, and I guess there is something about changing something from the original to surprise people, keep people on their toes."
"I think in that scene, [Bayta] could get away with quite a lot, because Dawn is also so out of it, and he's coming back from this epic journey and injury that he's had so she could get away with being a bit more explicit. I think if you watch that back, once you know, that'll be very obvious.
"She's genuinely in love with Toran [Mallow, played by Cody Fern], so it's not like it's she's lying to everyone all the time. It's just there's something that she hasn't quite said."
So, how did we get here? The episode begins with Gaal, Pritcher (Brandon P Bell) and co gearing up to assassinate the Mule. In her narration, Gaal says she's built her mind to be a fortress - with everyone she's lost, from Hari to Salvor, being the walls to that fortress.
Han splits off from the group to try to save who he can (including, ironically, Bayta), leaving Gaal to fight the Mule. Meanwhile, Bayta manages to escape, and is forced to leave Dawn (Cassian Bilton) behind due to the injury to his legs. Bayta encounters Pritcher, who promises to help her escape - but he soon realises the Mule is close and falls to his knees as his mind is taken over.
Elsewhere, though, finally Gaal and Asbæk's Mule come face to face as he tries to get inside her mind and taunt her for information on the Second Foundation's whereabouts. Gaal fights against him but the Mule pins her down, choking her.
Gaal soon realises that something's wrong - that she can still feel someone in her head, meaning the Mule isn't dead. Suddenly, she falls to the ground, with her mind being taken over once again, and the true identity of the Mule is revealed, as Bayta walks in.
"There were so many iterations of that [scene]," Karlsen explains. "It just got shortened and twisted and changed," adding that the final cut was the scene in its simplest form.
View Green Video on the source websiteBayta attempts to convert Gaal, ordering Magnifico to play to amplify her powers - but his music if off-key and Bayta's powers are thrown off, with Gaal revealing that she "tampered" with Magnifico, adding: "He only plays my song now."
But Hari also wants Gaal to free him from the Vault. In explaining why that can't happen, she's forced to admit that the real Hari is dead and has been for some time, and that she's been lying to him. The ship jumps, and Gaal has officially escaped the Mule - for now.
"The whole conversation that she shares with Demerzel, it's kind of an ode to that... She's thought ahead enough to escape, but I think she didn't expect The Mule, so it'd be interesting to see what she comes up with after this."
"Now she has to reassess everything that's happened."
"[Bayta] has one goal, and it's for the sake of a whole of humanity. I think she truly believes that if everyone is kind of under her control - that's a strong word that she wouldn't use. But [she believes] if everyone is acting towards the same shared goal and purpose, they will be sincerely happy.
Why did Dusk kill the Cleons and Demerzel?
The other horrifying thread that culminates in episode 10 is Brother Dusk fighting against his own mortality - which leads to him killing every other Cleon clone in existence as well as Demerzel.
The beginning of the episode sees Dusk (or, as he takes on his new moniker, Darkness) preparing to die, as his lifespan has come to an end. But he's not giving up that easily.
He makes his way to the clone tanks and, with the press of a button, blows them all up and brutally tears apart every Cleon there, blood dripping on his face and body parts gruesomely falling around him.
As Dusk places the baby down, ready for the beam to kill him, Demerzel's programming forces her to throw herself over him. While she saves the baby, Demerzel burns up in a fiery blaze - and there's nothing Day can do to save her.
Before she dies, however, Demerzel saves Ambassador Felice Quent, telling her to present a book to the librarian in the Trantor Library - which in turn, leads her to the hiding place of the Second Foundation.
How did Brother Day die?
Confirming that Brother Day had his Imperial nanites (the tech that allows the Cleons to heal) removed, Dusk shoots him dead.
But, after his devastating and murderous actions, has he any Empire left to rule?
What is the clasp?
Before her death, Brother Day presents Demerzel with the primitive robot head that he obtained after killing Sunmaster-18, telling her that, on Mycogen, they believe she can stop the darkness - and they've waited a long time for her.
Day attempts to get round her programming by convincing her it's not a choice and that she'd just be showing him how to do it. Before she can complete the clasp however, she senses what Dusk is doing in the clone tanks and her programming pulls her away.
The clasp is received, with the robot on the other end declaring that "all the pieces are in place" for them to enter the fray.
What is Earth's role going to be?
In Asimov's series, Earth is a radioactive and forgotten world, rediscovered by characters later on in the books, as they find out the reasons for humanity's exodus to the stars.
Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Hence then, the article about foundation season 3 ending explained cast break down shock mule twist was published today ( ) and is available on Radio Times ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Foundation season 3 ending explained: Cast break down shock Mule twist )
Also on site :