Foundation Season 3 finally pulled back the curtain on one of its most intriguing mysteries: what exactly happened to Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell) during the massive 150-year time jump between seasons. Episode 2, "Shadows in the Math," delivers crucial answers about her extended absence and sets up what could be the most important alliance in the galaxy's fight against the looming threat of the Mule.
After awakening from cryosleep at the end of Season 3's premiere, Gaal finds herself in a drastically changed galaxy. The Foundation now controls the entire Outer Rim, and the psychic warlord known as the Mule has begun his terrifying conquest across the stars.
But Episode 2 reveals that Gaal's long slumber wasn't simply a matter of waiting out the decades. It was the result of a calculated decision by her mentor Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) that would prove both necessary and controversial.
Foundation stars Lou Llobell (Gaal Dornick), Jared Harris (Hari Seldon), Lee Pace (Brother Day), Laura Birn (Demerzelis), and more. It is currently streaming on Apple TV+.
What Happened to Gaal in Foundation Season 3?
The episode takes viewers back 151 years before the current timeline, revealing the complex arrangements Gaal and Hari made to survive and guide the Second Foundation through the coming crisis.
Initially, Hari and Gaal (returning from Season 2's cast) agreed to alternate their time in cryosleep, spending only a few weeks each year awake to guide the Mentalists on Ignis and prepare them for the eventual confrontation with the Mule.
During their brief periods of consciousness, the duo worked tirelessly to establish the Second Foundation's capabilities. Hari taught psychohistory to the Mentalists, while Gaal used her emerging powers to help prepare them for the fight against the Mule. This knowledge would eventually allow the Second Foundation to expand across the galaxy, creating a network of eyes and ears in every corner of civilization.
However, Hari made a unilateral decision that would keep Gaal in cryosleep far longer than originally planned. Despite promising to wake her annually, Hari betrayed their agreement and left Gaal in cryosleep for the next 146 years, believing that her time was more precious than his, given her crucial role in the coming battle.
Hari understood that Gaal's unique abilities and potential would be essential for defeating the Mule, and he was willing to sacrifice their partnership to ensure she would be ready when the time came.
This extended hibernation wasn't without purpose. While Gaal slept, Hari remained awake to accelerate the Mentalists' understanding of psychohistory and ensure they developed the skills necessary for the psychological warfare that would define the conflict with the Mule.
His sacrifice allowed the Second Foundation to mature and prepare, even as it meant Gaal would awaken to find her mentor significantly aged and their relationship fundamentally changed.
The Setup for a Galaxy-Changing Alliance
Episode 2's conclusion hints at an unprecedented development in the Foundation universe: a potential alliance between the Empire and the Foundation to combat the Mule's growing threat. This represents a seismic shift in the series' established dynamics, where these two powers have been locked in conflict since the show's beginning.
The Mule's influence already demonstrated its terrifying reach, with his mentalic abilities allowing him to control minds and bend entire populations to his will. The episode showcased what may be one of the series' scariest scenes yet, revealing just how powerful and dangerous the Mule became as his dark influence spreads across the galaxy. This existential threat appears significant enough to force traditional enemies to consider working together.
Gaal's emergence from her extended cryosleep comes at a critical moment. With the transition of leadership potentially seeing Gaal rise to become the new leader of the Second Foundation, she finds herself positioned to navigate the delicate balance of power as the galaxy faces its greatest threat.
The episode's ending suggests that Gaal’s awakening marks not just a personal journey to catch up with a changed galaxy but also the beginning of what could be the most important diplomatic and strategic endeavor in the Foundation timeline.
As Foundation Season 3 continues to unfold, Gaal's extended cryosleep positioned her as perhaps the only figure capable of uniting the galaxy's fractured powers against a common enemy.
Her sacrifice of nearly 150 years of life, orchestrated by Hari's difficult decision, may ultimately prove to be exactly what the galaxy needed to survive its darkest hour. The question now becomes whether the Empire and Foundation can set aside their differences long enough to face the mentalic storm that threatens to consume everything they've built.
While waiting for the next Foundation episode to drop, check out Apple TV+'s other highly anticipated shows for the year!
