Apple TV+’s Decision To Alter This Iconic Sci-Fi Book Character Gives Its Show The Perfect Chance To Copy A 25-Year-Old Star Trek Episode

Warning: Spoilers ahead for Foundation season 3, episode 2, “Shadows in the Math.”The Star Trek franchise has influenced countless sci-fi properties that have followed in its wake, but Apple TV+’s space opera has source material that predates Star Trek – yet is still perfectly primed to pay homage. The Star Trek timeline is so vast that it can be tough to keep up with events or even remember notable characters.

However, with all Star Trek shows sharing the same canon, along with the movies, they’re all equally relevant when it comes to the larger story. The other space opera in question hasn’t been running for anywhere near as long as Star Trek, but has quickly become one of the best sci-fi shows on Apple TV+.

There Is Only 1 Hari Seldon In The Foundation Books (& He Barely Features)

Isaac Asimov used the original Hari Seldon very differently

Apple TV+’s Foundation is based on a series of novels by Isaac Asimov. The adaptation isn’t especially faithful to the source material, but the books are still heavily utilized when reshaping the story for its new medium. As such, the same characters tend to appear in both, even if they’re very different. One of those characters is Hari Seldon.

Played by Jared Harris in the Foundation TV show, Seldon is very important in both versions of the sci-fi saga. That said, his book counterpart is barely in the story – physically, at least. He is already around 80 years old in the source material and dies shortly after the First Foundation is established.

Harris’ Seldon is about 15 years younger than the original version of the character, and tales of his death are greatly exaggerated. Not only does he escape his demise, but Harris also plays a sentient, holographic iteration of Hari Seldon in Foundation. Inversely, the character in the book only leaves behind pre-recorded messages of himself for his future followers to observe.

How Apple TV+’s Hari Seldon Changes Set Up An Homage To Star Trek: Voyager’s “Life Line”

Hari’s hologram could now meet his older, organic self – just like Voyager’s Doctor

Star Trek: Voyager season 6, episode 24, “Life Line,” aired in 2000. The story’s premise involves Voyager’s holographic Doctor (Robert Picardo), coming into direct contact with Dr. Lewis Zimmerman (also Robert Picardo), the man who designed and programmed him. Foundation fans may find this vaguely familiar, as something very similar lurks as a strong possibility in the show’s immediate future.

Foundation season 3, episode 2, “Shadows in the Math,” ages up the human Hari Seldon, making him more authentic to the book. Obviously, his holographic self remains unchanged, but the two could easily cross paths in the coming episodes – especially with Human Seldon’s mysterious journey in “Shadows in the Math.”

If both versions of Harry were to meet, then it would feel like a direct reference to the Doctor meeting Zimmerman in “Life Line.” Both holograms inherited their personalities and physical appearances from their respective creators. With Zimmerman also looking older than Picardo’s main Star Trek character, just like Human Harry and his hologram, the comparison will feel unavoidable – if it happens.

New episodes of Foundation season 3 release every Friday on Apple TV+ until the finale on September 12.

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  Star Trek: Voyager
  

  
  

  8/10

  Release Date

  January 16, 1995
  

  Network

  UPN

  Showrunner

  Michael Piller, Jeri Taylor, Brannon Braga, Kenneth Biller

  Directors

  David Livingston, Winrich Kolbe, Allan Kroeker, Michael Vejar

  Writers

  Rick Berman, Michael Piller, Jeri Taylor