Warning: Spoilers ahead forFoundationseason 3, episode 3, “When a Book Finds You.“Foundationseason 3, episode 3, “When a Book Finds You,” introduces the concept of “flyting” to the show, and while it may seem like something that’s made up for the purposes of the space opera, it’s not. While the Mule isn’t one ofFoundationseason 3’s new characters, the villain now being played by Pilou Asbæk seem him like a fresh introduction.
Foundation’s sprawling timelineallowed the Mule to be previewed before making his full debut in season 3. Previously played by Mikael Persbrant, the powerful mentallic now exists in the show’s present-day scenes. Despite being set in the far future,Foundation’s connections to the real world are part of what makes it one of thebest sci-fi shows on Apple TV+.
“Flyting” Is A Real Thing - Foundation Season 3 Didn’t Make It Up
The Mule’s request to be insulted isn’t THAT unusual
When Toran Mallow (Cory Fern) approaches the Mule in “When a Book Finds You,” Asbæk’s character only entertains the exchange as far as offering Hober Mallow’s descendant to engage in a round of flyting.The Mule labels the practice as a tradition on his home planet, which makes it sound as though it’s made up for the purposes ofFoundationlore.
Neatly put by the Mule, flyting is a “game of insults,” where both competitors take turns to speak unkindly to the other.
However,flyting actually exists in the real world and dates back to 16th century Scotland. That said, the word shows up in literature as early as the 13th century, and is sometimes spelled “fliting.” Neatly put by the Mule, flyting is a “game of insults,” where both competitors take turns to speak unkindly to the other.
It stems from an old English word that means “to quarrel.“Flyting generally wasn’t carried out the way it is inFoundation. While Toran Mallow simply sits there hurling insults at the Mule, traditional flyters often arranged their insults into verse, making the practice a sort of distant predecessor to rap battles or a more artistic form of comedy roast.
The Endurance Of Flyting In Foundation Canon Is A Reminder That The Apple TV+ Show Is Set In “Our” World
Isaac Asimov’s space opera isn’t as removed from reality as some other sci-fi shows
Foundationis set around 50,000 years from now. One of the saga’s biggest appeals is that it’s supposed to be a semi-calculated prediction of how humanity will advance, making the show itself almost akin to psychohistory fromFoundationlore. With the advanced tech and telepathic powers entering the mix, it’s easy to forget thatFoundationis supposed to be relatively grounded.
Because the story takes place so far beyond the real present day, many human customs and traditions have either been lost, altered, or replaced with new ones. So, the reveal that, of all things, flyting has stood the test of time on the Mule’s home world - which isn’t Earth - reaffirms the show’s premise of not being set in a universe that’s intended to be entirely fantastical.
Plus, flying is a reference to ancient Earth culture that’s just obscure enough that it still fits within the bounds of the story’s grandiose sensibilities. If the Mule had challenged Toran Mallow to a game of Jenga, for example, it wouldn’t have slotted in quite as nicely withFoundation’s tone.
New episodes of Foundation season 3 release every Friday on Apple TV+ until the finale on September 12.
