Foundation Season 3 Theory Claims The Biggest Threat To Empire Has Already Been Introduced In Apple TV’s Sci-Fi Epic

Summary

• Foundation
  Season 3 will likely introduce new characters while wrapping up compelling loose ends from the previous installment.
• The time jump of 152 years in Season 3 may bring descendants of Cleon VXIII’s child to challenge the Cleonic Dynasty.
• The Genetic Dynasty’s degradation and erratic behavior of the Cleons may force a change in leadership in
  Foundation
  Season 3.

Foundation tells the generations-long tale of a skirmish between Empire and Hari Seldon’s titular organization, but the main threat to the Imperial effort could come from elsewhere. So far, the victory of the battle of wits between Seldon’s psychohistory-led plan and the brute force of Foundation‘s Genetic Dynasty has depended on both sides trying to stay one step ahead. However, Foundation season 3 could present Empire with a new kind of threat, and one that’s already been introduced in the show.

Just as the Foundation season 2 cast was a blend of faces old and new, the cast of Foundation season 3 will introduce new characters as well as bring back many of the show’s regulars. The ending of Foundation season 2 left many compelling loose ends that the coming installment needs to tie up. As with the destiny of the Foundation, Empire’s fate also hangs in the balance, due in part to the reckless actions of its leader. However, Demerzel and the Cleons could be taken down by an enemy much more subtle than Seldon’s Foundation.

Cleon VXIII’s Child Could Return In Foundation Season 3 To Claim Their Place As Emperor

The Cleonic dynasty could have created its own downfall

A huge storyline in Foundation season 2 involved Cleon VXII, the serving Brother Day, attempting to father a biological heir in the traditional manner. However, Cleon XVIII, the era’s Brother Dawn, co-opted the plan of his fellow emperor and made some drastic changes. After impregnating Queen Sareth himself, Dawn fled Trantor with the former leader of Cloud Dominion to raise their child away from the clutches of the Genetic Dynasty. The story may not have concluded at the end of Foundation season 2, as the child’s descendants could appear in season 3 to claim the throne intended for their ancestors.

Foundation‘s season 3 time jump is confirmed to be 152 years long. As such, Cleon XVIII, Queen Sareth, and their child are all likely to be long gone. However, any descendants of the as yet unnamed child would be of the same Imperial bloodline. Therefore, they would be well within their rights to challenge the Cleons for the throne. So, although Brother Day’s original plan was to father an heir to replace him, Dawn’s intervention may have simply delayed the inevitable.

In addition to descending from the Cleonic bloodline, the descendants of Dawn’s child will also have royal ancestry due to Queen Sareth being the mother. As such, any challengers to the Imperial throne could arguably have an even more legitimate claim to power due to their background and ties to Cloud Dominion. Whichever way it’s viewed, it’s clear there’s a very real threat to the Cleonic sovereignty in Foundation season 3.

After Cleon VXIII fled Empire, a replacement clone was decanted to replace him. Therefore, it’s likely that a version of Cleon VXIII still served as Brother Day and Brother Dusk.

Foundation Season 3’s 150-Year Time Jump Means The Genetic Dynasty Will Have Degraded Even Further

Cleon XVII’s actions are the best example yet of the genetic drift

Ever since the ending of Foundation season 1, it’s been known to the audience and the Genetic Dynasty that Cleon I’s DNA has been sabotaged. The result of this act is that each new clone is further and further from the original Cleon, and this genetic drift has resulted in erratic behavior from various iterations of the clone emperors. As such, Foundation‘s season 3 time jump of 152 years will result in the passing of the torch several times, and each new Cleon will be even more different than the last.

Ever since the ending of
Foundation
season 1, it’s been known to the audience and the Genetic Dynasty that Cleon I’s DNA has been sabotaged.

Generally, a new clone is decanted every 30 years. When this is carried out, the current Brother Dusk “ascends” to the status of Brother Darkness just before the end of their life. If this 30-year schedule continues to be observed during the time jump, the middle throne will likely be filled by Cleon XII by the time Foundation season 3 begins. If the current trend continues, Cleon XII’s demeanor will be even more unpredictable than the warmongering acts carried out by Cleon VXII in the final episode of Foundation season 2.

The Genetic Dynasty May Have No Choice But To End In Foundation Season 3

A change in leadership may be inevitable for Empire

Although Cleon XVII’s original goal was to end the Dynasty, the erratic nature of the Brother Day in Foundation season 3 may not agree with the plan put in motion by his predecessor. In addition, the clones will have strayed even further from the original Cleon due to the DNA sabotage, so they could be unrecognizable – even if they still look physically identical. Foundation season 2 reveals that the DNA’s degradation is being kept at bay, although it is generally unstoppable.

A lot can change in 152 years, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Cleons become even more unreasonable, especially with the plot twist that Lady Demerzel is actually the one pulling Empire’s strings. Therefore, the best way to stabilize Empire, and to increase its chances of success during its war with the Foundation, could be to install the descendants of Cleon VXIII’s child as the sole Imperial leader in Foundation season 3.

Foundation
seasons 1 & 2 can be streamed now on Apple TV+.
Foundation
season 3 has been confirmed but is yet to receive an official release date.