If you’ve been scrolling through streaming platforms wondering what to watch next, you might have overlooked one of the most ambitious sci-fi series currently running. Foundation, now in its third season on Apple TV+, has quietly become a phenomenon among fans of the genre. Based on Isaac Asimov’s celebrated novels — first published as short stories in the 1940s and later compiled into the classic Foundation Trilogy — the show tackles nothing less than the fate of civilisation itself.
At the centre of the saga is mathematician Hari Seldon, who develops “psychohistory,” a theory that can predict the future on a grand scale. His calculations foresee the collapse of the Galactic Empire, an eternal dynasty of cloned rulers determined to maintain their grip on power. Furious at his prediction, the rulers exile Seldon and his followers to the far reaches of the galaxy. Their mission: to build a Foundation on the planet Terminus, preserving knowledge so that humanity can one day rise again.
Why fans call it the best sci-fi series ?
On review site Rotten Tomatoes, Foundation has been showered with praise. Viewers call it “visually breathtaking” and “the best science fiction on streaming right now.” One fan went so far as to say the special effects are so seamless they forget they’re not looking at real footage from the future. Others who grew up reading Asimov’s novels are delighted with how the series honours the books while giving them new cinematic life. The performances, the production design and the scope of the storytelling have all been singled out as reasons it stands apart from the pack.
It’s rare to find a show that combines philosophical depth with spectacle, but Foundation manages to do both. Between the political intrigue, the moral dilemmas and the jaw-dropping visuals of galaxies and starships, it offers the kind of layered experience that keeps fans debating long after each episode ends.
Apple TV+ scores another hit
After two critically acclaimed seasons, Foundation returned on 11 July for season three, with new episodes released weekly. It hasn’t just impressed loyal fans; it has climbed straight to the top of Apple TV+’s most-watched list, edging out big names like Jason Momoa’s Chief of War and The Buccaneers starring Leighton Meester.
For a platform often underestimated against its streaming rivals, Apple TV+ has built a reputation for high-quality originals, and Foundation is one of its crown jewels. With the story expanding further into uncharted corners of the galaxy, it’s no wonder many are calling it the must-watch science fiction series of the moment.
So if your watchlist feels a little too Earth-bound, perhaps it’s time to let Foundation carry you across the stars.
