WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Foundation season 2, episode 10.
Summary
In Foundation season 3, Lady Demerzel wields the formidable Prime Radiant of Hari Seldon. This powerful tool grants her access to Seldon's vast array of predictions and calculations regarding the future of the Galactic Empire. With the ability to test various scenarios and forecast the galaxy's responses to significant events, Demerzel becomes a formidable and perilous force.
The Prime Radiant, possessed by Lady Demerzel, allows for communication between the real Hari Seldon and Gaal Dornick in two simultaneous locations. Following the conclusion of season 2 of Foundation, the Prime Radiant of Hari Seldon falls into the possession of Lady Demerzel. The adaptation of Isaac Asimov's Foundation novels on Apple TV+ alters elements of the source material, such as the earlier introduction of the Prime Radiant. Additionally, Foundation season 2 incorporates the concept of a second Foundation at an earlier stage compared to the original books. The series weaves together various storylines from the novels to create an enthralling original narrative, featuring significant roles for characters from the Foundation prequels.
The character Lady Demerzel in Foundation presents a stark contrast between her portrayal in the books and the show. These alterations prove to be effective, positioning Demerzel as one of the standout characters in the Foundation series. Notably, Demerzel's storyline in season 2 of Foundation delves into her intriguing past and unveils her true motives. The finale of Foundation season 2 solidifies Demerzel's significance to the overarching narrative, culminating in her obtaining Hari Seldon's Prime Radiant.
Demerzel Got The Prime Radiant From Hari Seldon's Vault
Demerzel and Brother Day both entered Hari Seldon's Vault, which has been situated on Terminus since the inception of the Foundation. As Cleon stated, the Prime Radiant was originally created by Seldon at Trentor University and therefore belongs to the Empire. Both Demerzel and Cleon were willing to destroy Terminus and its inhabitants, although Demerzel had to leave the planet to attend to more pressing matters. However, before leaving Hari Seldon's Vault, Demerzel took the Prime Radiant with her. Surprisingly, the Vault, an extension of Seldon's consciousness, did not make any effort to hinder Demerzel's departure with the artifact.
It is difficult to determine if the A.I. Seldon could have taken action to prevent Demerzel from taking the Prime Radiant, as the full capability of the Vault is yet to be seen. For instance, the Vault successfully rescued all the citizens of Terminus before the planet was destroyed. This uncertainty leaves us unsure whether Seldon's consciousness was incapable of stopping Demerzel or if he intentionally allowed her to steal the artifact. Nevertheless, Foundation's Lady Demerzel, the true ruler of the Empire from the very beginning, now possesses one of the two Prime Radiants in the galaxy.
What Demerzel Having The Prime Radiant Means For Foundation Season 3
The crucial aspect of Hari Seldon's prediction is that the Galactic Empire will eventually collapse, causing ongoing tension between the Empire and the Foundation. Seldon's predictions suggest that the Empire will cease to exist, and Demerzel now possesses all the calculations underlying these forecasts. In addition, Demerzel can utilize the Prime Radiant to experiment with various scenarios and foresee the galaxy's reaction to significant forthcoming events. With possession of the most significant object in the galaxy, Lady Demerzel becomes even more formidable in Foundation season 3.
Although technically, there is only one Prime Radiant, it can exist simultaneously in two locations, effectively creating two versions. These interconnected versions of the Prime Radiant facilitate communication between Salvor Hardin and the other Hari Seldon. In essence, Lady Demerzel now has the means to contact the real Hari Seldon and Gaal, who possess the other Prime Radiant. As both the Empire and the soon-to-be Second Foundation have access to Seldon's calculations, an intense face-off is imminent in Foundation season 3.