The Enigmatic Origins and Anticipated Evolution of Lady Demerzel: Unveiling the Secrets Behind Foundation's Remarkable Robot

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Foundation season 2, episode 10.

Summary

Lady Demerzel's true purpose and background came to light during the second season of Foundation. Cleon I, on one hand, freed Demerzel from captivity, yet on the other hand, he subjected her to a state of servitude. He programmed her to adore him and obey his every command, ensuring her eternal attachment to the Galactic Empire as its guiding force for generations to come.

Demerzel, the true power behind the Empire, manipulates the Cleons, using them as mere puppets. She goes to the extent of hiring assassins to thwart Cleon XVII's marriage to Queen Sareth.

In season 2 of Foundation, Lady Demerzel's backstory and true purpose are unveiled, solidifying her position as the real "Empire." Based on a robot character from the Foundation prequels, Demerzel (portrayed by Laura Birn) has been a prominent figure in the show from the very beginning. Serving every Cleon in the Genetic Dynasty, from the original Cleon I to Cleon XVII, Demerzel's influence has always been evident. However, it is only now that the show unveils her true mission and programming.

Lady Demerzel, created long before Cleon I, predates the Galactic Empire. Only the Cleons are privy to her robot identity. Until the conclusion of Foundation season 2, it was assumed that Demerzel's purpose was to serve all Cleons across generations. However, she is more than a mere assistant. Rather, Lady Demerzel is an embodiment of Cleon I's ultimate design. As Brother Dusk, portrayed by Terrence Mann, aptly expressed, Demerzel has been the true mastermind behind the scenes, despite her own confinement.

Foundation’s Lady Demerzel Is The Last Survivor Of The Robot Wars

Lady Demerzel, the last surviving robot from the Robot Wars, predates Cleon I's Empire by thousands of years. During this period, a massive conflict erupted between humans and robots, driven by the robots' growing resentment towards their mistreatment. The breaking of the First Law of Robotics, which prohibited harm to humans, sparked a lethal war that ultimately ended in human victory. Consequently, all remaining robots were eradicated, and artificial intelligence was outlawed throughout the galaxy. Miraculously, Demerzel, of unknown origin, managed to survive and was apprehended, becoming a prisoner under Emperor Aburanis.

Aburanis subjected Demerzel to unspeakable torment, disassembling her mechanical form and concealing her from the outside world. He derived pleasure from her suffering, exposing Demerzel to the inherent cruelty of humanity. Her existence remained shrouded in secrecy as she endured 5,000 years of captivity. However, everything changed when a young Cleon stumbled upon Demerzel's hidden chamber. Although he initially refrained from liberating her, he dutifully visited her and engaged in conversation daily. This marked the beginning of a profound connection that would shape the destiny of the Galactic Empire.

Lady Demerzel Was Freed (& Slaved) By Cleon I

Eventually, an older Cleon I agreed to release Demerzel from her prison, granting the robot a sense of wholeness after thousands of years. However, Cleon I also subjected Demerzel to enslavement. By implanting a chip into her computer, he not only stripped away some of her free will but also programmed her to love him unconditionally and obey his every command. While Demerzel would no longer be bound by the Three Laws of Robotics, she would be forbidden from causing harm to Cleon I. Furthermore, her programming would prohibit her from permanently departing Trentor, forever assigning her the role of loving and caring for Cleon.

Unlike Demerzel, Cleon I, as a human, did not possess eternal life. Nonetheless, the Genetic Dynasty ensured that the Galactic Empire would always be under Cleon rule. Demerzel's programming would remain unchanged, forever tying her to the Empire. Although every Cleon understood Demerzel's origins as a robot who once served the original Cleon, this knowledge remained unknown to the rest of the galaxy. With her vast knowledge and centuries of experience, Demerzel's guidance would shape the Empire for generations to come. Throughout the events depicted in Foundation season 2, Demerzel has played a crucial role in upholding the Genetic Dynasty for the past 600 years.

Lady Demerzel Is The Real Empire In Foundation

The final episodes of season 2 of Foundation shed light on a long-established plot: Demerzel is the true ruler of the Galactic Empire. The subsequent Cleons were mere puppets, while Demerzel operated behind the scenes as the real immortal successor to Cleon I. This hidden plan involved Demerzel overseeing every aspect of the Cleons' lives, ensuring that they carried out her wishes. However, not every Cleon has always made decisions to Demerzel's liking. Cleon XVII's desire to marry Queen Sareth and break the Genetic Dynasty was secretly thwarted by Demerzel, who orchestrated an assassination plot against Cleon, intending to frame Sareth. The death of Brother Day during the battle on Terminus was seen as a failure by Demerzel, prompting her to start the cycle anew.

Demerzel Now Has Hari Seldon’s Prime Radiant

Demerzel accomplished the elimination of Brother Dusk, the current Cleon who had discovered the truth about Cleon I's plans and the hidden intentions of the robot. In a similar vein, Brother Dawn (Cassian Bilton) and Sareth (Ella-Rae Smith) fled from the city of Trantor, as they became aware that Demerzel intended to have them both killed. As a result, Demerzel has now produced three new Cleons, marking the first instance where all three Cleons needed simultaneous replacement. In Foundation season 3, Demerzel's influence over the Empire will be even more substantial, guaranteeing that none of the new Cleons cause the same amount of turmoil as their predecessors did. Despite the gradual decline of the Galactic Empire, Demerzel's Genetic Dynasty perseveres.

Demerzel now possesses the Prime Radiant, formerly housed within the Vault alongside Hari Seldon. This marks the first instance where someone other than Hari Seldon's consciousness, Gaal, or Salvor has full access to the Prime Radiant. Acting as the physical embodiment of Hari Seldon's calculations, the Prime Radiant encompasses all of his predictions for the future of humanity. Within its vast confines lie every conceivable outcome and crisis. Serving as both a repository for Seldon's Psychohistory research and a continuously updating predictive computer, the Prime Radiant transcends the limitations of the three known dimensions.

Demerzel now possesses the most crucial object in the entire galaxy. While the Empire has been aware of Seldon's predictions since the very beginning of Foundation season 1, Demerzel has only just comprehended the full extent of Seldon's plan. Despite the destruction of Terminus, a second Foundation is currently in the process of being forged. It should be emphasized that the Prime Radiant exists simultaneously in two locations, granting Demerzel the ability to perceive and interact with whomever is utilizing the other Prime Radiant. In Foundation season 3, Demerzel will likely encounter Hari Seldon and Gaal Dornick, paving the way for the next phase of the Foundation vs. Empire conflict.