Warning: Spoilers ahead forFoundationseason 3, episode 3, “When a Book Finds You.“Foundationhas only ever lightly addressed Issac Asimov’s robot lore, but season 3 of Apple TV+’s adaptation of the sci-fi author’s world is starting to pay more and more attention to the positronic figures - and is even fleshing out Asimov’s original ideas. While otherlive-action Asimov adaptationshave included the Three Laws of Robotics and surrounding pieces of canon, those projects often leave certain elements unchanged.
With Laura Birn returning to play Lady Demerzel among theFoundationseason 3 cast,Asimov’s iconic take on robotics remains part of the story. However, rather than simply taking the author’s robot lore and translating it directly to the small screen, one ofApple TV+’s best sci-fi showshas made the thrilling decision to build on the source material.
Foundation Season 3, Episode 3 Introduces A New Robot-Centric Religion Called The Inheritance
Song’s religion places Demerzel at its center
“When a Book Finds You” sees Brother Day (Lee Pace) letting his new love interest, Song (Yootha Wong-Loi-Sing), in on the secret thatLady Demerzel is the last robot in existence. With the widespread belief that robots are long gone, it’s not surprising that Song is so shocked by the reveal. What’s unexpected is that Song essentially then sees Demerzel as a deity.
When Song next sees Demerzel later in the episode,Day’s paramour risks it all by performing a strange gestureto Birn’s character - touching her index and middle fingers to her opposite underarm. Demerzel’s reaction is uncharacteristically unreadable as a mysterious emotion flashes across her face.
As it turns out, Song is the follower of a movement that worships robots, called “The Inheritance.” They believe that robots will one day return, centuries after the artificial lifeforms fell to humanity.Demerzel is aware of the religion, but her beliefs do not align with Song’s, or any of those who follow the Inheritance.
Why The Inheritance Is Illegal In Foundation Lore
Humans waiting for the return of robots seems like temping fate
“When a Book Finds You” doesn’t just reveal the existence of the Inheritence, but also that it’s illegal for anyone within Empire to follow the religion. The most likely explanation for this is thatthe ban is a relic of the Robot Wars, which happened an incredibly long time beforeFoundation’s first episode.
Demerzel herself has spoken inFoundationabout her role in the conflictand how she is the last remaining member of her race after humanity emerged victorious. Despite being previously aligned with the war’s losing side,Demerzel’s programming has made her loyal to Empire, so she upholds the ban on the Inheritance with an iron fist.
For a group of humans to quietly wish for the robots to return and “remove all cruelty, injustice, and misery” is likely interpreted by Empire, and humanity at large, as tempting fate. So, it’s seen as safer to put an outright ban on the religion rather than to allow anyone to legally manifest the robots' resurgence.
The standard punishment for being a follower of the Inheritance is execution, butDemerzel is lenient with Song because of what she means to Brother Day. Instead, she has Song’s memory wiped, removing all recollection of her time with Day, and she’s sent back home to her people.
Robots Are Not Worshipped In Isaac Asimov’s Source Material
The Foundation books make no mention of the Inheritance
Foundationhas taken some understandable liberties with Isaac Asimov’s book seriesof the same name. The novels tell an epic tale over an incredibly long space of time that would have been difficult to directly adapt. That said, the author’s lore about robots has remained largely intact. So, the Inheritance’s introduction is surprising due to its absence from Asimov’s work.
Asimov’s series of robot novels, which are set within the same universe as hisFoundationbooks, also fail to mention the Inheritance.The Three Laws of Robotics are referenced several timesin both series, as is the war with humanity, but a cult that awaited the robots' return inFoundationjust isn’t part of the source material.
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Still, the Inheritance does slot surprisingly well into Apple TV+’s iteration of theFoundationuniverse, and by extension, Asimov’s robot saga. The religious movement feels like it could easily have been part of the original canon.The Inheritance doesn’t stick out inFoundationand comes across as a believable and natural extension of the existing robot lore.
The Inheritance Makes Lady Demerzel An Even More Important Foundation Character
Demerzel has always been a force to be reckoned with, but now even more so
Laura Birn’sFoundationcharacter has gradually become more important in the story. While it initially seemed like she was little more than a servant/advisor toFoundation’s Cleonic Dynasty, the space opera has since made it clear that she is the one who is really pulling Empire’s strings from the shadows.
I expect Demerzel to become even more central to the show’s sprawling plot.
So, she was already one of the most powerful and vitalFoundationcharacters. With the introduction of a sect that reveres her as the last of the robots,it feels unlikely that Song having her memory wiped will be the last we’ll hear of the Inheritance. So, I expect Demerzel to become even more central to the show’s sprawling plot.
“When a Book Finds You” doesn’t make it clear how widely Song’s faith is practiced. I doubt the Inheritance is only present on Trantor, but I suppose it’s possible. Even if it is, they’re probably in the most relevant place they could be, in such proximity to Laura Birn’sFoundationcharacter.
New episodes of Foundation season 3 release every Friday on Apple TV+ until the finale on September 12.
