The Mathematician's Ghost

**The Mathematician's Ghost** is the third episode of *Foundation*'s first season on Apple TV+. It aired on October 1, 2021. The episode was written by Olivia Purnell based on the novels by Isaac Asimov. Alex Graves directed the episode.

## Synopsis

*Brother Dusk reflects on his legacy as he prepares for ascension. The Foundation arrives on Terminus and finds a mysterious object.*

## Plot

Four hundred years earlier, Cleon I prepares for his death and the start of Imperial cloning that will begin the Genetic Destiny. Demerzel assures him his legacy will live on, but he is regretful that he will not see the completion of the Star Bridge.

Nineteen years after the bombing of the Star Bridge, Brother Dusk prepares for his final day before his ascension. Dusk wonders about his legacy and what has become of Cleon I's dream now that the Star Bridge orbits Trantor in a decaying orbit. Reminded by his brothers that they are the true dream and legacy of Cleon I,  is destroyed to prevent it from threatening the planet. At his ascension, Brother Dusk proclaims Brother Dawn to be Brother Day, with Brother Day becoming Brother Dusk. The newly born Brother Dawn is present to Dusk, now termed as Brother Darkness. As the ceremony takes place, Darkness hears Dawn's crying and believes something is wrong with the child. Despite his apprehension, Darkness ascends, leaving the Genetic Dynasty with three members once more.

The slow ship eventually arrives at Terminus. The colonists begin to settle the planet and discover the Vault. When they try to approach it, the null field incapacitates them. As Terminus began to grow, the settlers avoided the Vault and myths grew around it: an alien artifact, or a surveillance post established by the Empire. Eventually it became mundane to the growing colony. As the decades pass, Mari and Abbas have a child; Salvor Hardin, who grows to fulfil the role of Warden of Terminus, protector of the colony.

Salvor discovers that the null field projected by the Vault is expanding. Taking her findings to her parents, Salvor is worried that if the field keeps expanding, it will endanger the colony. Guided by visions of a mysterious boy running around, Salvor discovers that they are not alone on Terminus -- a band of Anacreons have also made planetfall.

## Cast

### Starring

* Lee Pace as Brother Day (Cleon XIII)
* Lou Llobell as Gaal Dornick
* Leah Harvey as Salvor Hardin
* Laura Birn as Demerzel
* Terrence Mann as Brother Dusk (Cleon XI & Cleon XII)/Cleon I
* Cassian Bilton as Brother Dawn (Cleon XIV)

### Guest Starring

* Elliot Cowan as Lewis Pirenne
* Daniel MacPherson as Hugo Crast
* Sasha Behar as Mari Hardin
* Kubbra Sait as Phara Keaen
* Pravessh Rana as Rowan
* Jairaj Varsani as Poly Verisof
* Buddy Skelton as Keir
* Chloe Lea as Gia
* Joni Morris as Laylo Fulham

### Co-Starring

* Clarke Peters as Abbas
* Kim Adis as Lowre
* Johanna O'Brien as Shivaughn
* Nikol Kollars as Jacenta
* Ben Bazell as Dusk Double
* Matt Gavan as Jord Hasp
* Stuart McQuarrie as Lunden
* Catriona Loughlin as Vreede
* Garry Mountaine as Master Ilan
* Pius McGrath as Encyclopedist
* Slaney Power as Daia
* Isaiah Chambers as Mystery Boy
* Nikhil Parmer as Freestone

## Appearances

**By type**

Characters

* Cleon II (First mentioned)
* Cleon XI
* Cleon XII
* Cleon XIII
* Cleon XIV (First appearance)
* Hugo Crast (First appearance)
* Daia (First appearance)
* Demerzel
* Gaal Dornick
* Raych Foss
* Freestone (First appearance)
* Laylo Fulham
* Gia
* Abbas Hardin
* Mari Hardin
* Salvor Hardin
* Jord Hasp (First appearance)
* Ilan (First appearance)
* Phara Keaen (First appearance)
* Keir
* Lowre
* Lunden (First appearance)
* Lewis Pirenne
* Jacenta Rov (First appearance)
* Rowan (First appearance)
* Hari Seldon (Mentioned only)
* Shivaughn
* Poly Verisof
* Vreede (First appearance)

Creatures

	+ Maybel (First appearance)
* Ice lune (Mentioned only)

Events

Locations

* Hesperus (First mentioned)
* Irina Four (First mentioned)
* Outer Reach (Mentioned only)
	+ Anacreon (Mentioned only)
	+ Terminus
		- Salvor Hardin's home
		- Terminus City
			* Foundation Tower (First appearance)
		- Vault
	+ Thespis (Mentioned only)
* Trantor
	+ Imperial Palace
		- Mural of Souls
		- Principium Tower
	+ Star Bridge
* Weaver's World (First mentioned)

Organizations and titles

	+ Warden
* Galactic Empire
	+ Genetic Dynasty
		- Brother Darkness (First appearance)
		- Brother Dawn
		- Brother Day
		- Brother Dusk

Sentient species

	+ Clone
* Robot

Vehicles and vessels

* Hover car
* Shuttle
	+ Imperial Shuttle
	+ STO Transport
* Slow ship
	+ Imperative-class
		- *Deliverance*

Weapons and technology

* Communications buoy (First mentioned)
* Ion pistol (First appearance)
* Larken Keaen's Bow
* Null field
* Perimeter fence
* Prime Radiant

Miscellanea

* Korellian chocolate (First appearance)
* Psychohistory

## Behind the scenes

* There are six members of the initial landing party on Terminus. Clearly seen are Lewis Pirenne, Abbas Hardin, Mari Hardin, Shivaughn and Lowre. The sixth member appears to be Briwan, which would make sense as she is training with Gaal's team in the previous episode. If it is Briwan, her actress, Florence Ordesh, was not credited in the episode.