The third season of Apple TV+’s ‘Foundation’ takes an unexpected turn when Day decides to leave the confines of his palace to venture into the enemy territory of Mycogen to find Song, the woman he loves. The seventh episode, titled ‘Foundation’s End,’ has him trying to convince Song and his partner that he comes to them in good faith. However, they are too cautious to trust anything he says, so they turn towards their leader to decide Day’s fate. This scene introduces a new character, whose presence in the story means a new turn in Day’s arc, though it remains to be seen whether it will be good for the Cleon or bad. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Sunmaster-18 is the New Threat to Empire
Before he is introduced in the seventh episode, Sunmaster-18’s name is dropped in various contexts throughout the third season. We know that he is the leader of a sect in Mycogen and has such a strong hold over the area that not even the Empire’s guard would dare venture there without being accompanied by a proper force. Later, it is revealed that Song, who also comes from Mycogen, is a follower of the Inheritance, it becomes clear that Sunmaster-18 is also the follower of this banned religion and holds a considerably higher position in the hierarchy, if not being the leader of the religion. Sure enough, when Song and her partner are faced with the impossible situation of having Day in their apartment, they call Sunmaster-18 to take stock of the situation and decide what to do next. It is even more important to do so in the light of Day’s claims about Demerzel being a robot.
While appearing in just one scene, Sunmaster-18 presents himself as an intimidating force. He carries a cane with a skull, which represents their robot god, the only one the Inheritance worships. The man tells Day, albeit in some cryptic ways, that he will be treated like everyone else is in their system of society, and that their god will decide what happens to him next. This does not bode well for Day, but it does exhibit the dark side of Sunmaster-18, and the fact that he and the residents of Mycogen, especially the followers of the Inheritance religion, aren’t exactly scared of Empire, and won’t hesitate to treat him as such.
Blake Ritson Brings Forth the Complexities of Sunmaster-18
The character of Sunmaster-18 in ‘Foundation’ is played by English actor Blake Ritson. He is best known for playing the role of the likable but troubled Oscar Van Rhijn in ‘The Gilded Age.’ He started acting at the age of 12, gracing the stage of the National Theatre. He received his education from Cambridge, where he joined the Cambridge Footlights Group, studied Medieval Italian, and furthered his interest in acting. In the span of his long career, he has appeared in several movies and TV shows, exhibiting the range of his talent through roles that challenge him to do something new.
His more notable roles include Andrew Gailey in ‘The Crown,’ Brainiac in ‘Krypton,’ Girolamo Riario in ‘Da Vinci’s Demons,’ and King Edward III in ‘World Without End.’ Playing Sunmaster-18 showcases his knack for inhabiting complex characters, who walk the morally grey line with the ease that makes the audience want to hate and love them at the same time. Apart from acting, he also works behind the scenes as writer and director, most often in collaboration with his brother, Dylan. Additionally, he also loves to make music, speaks three languages, and has an affinity for collecting and adorning his house with unique things from all over the world, which have their own story to tell.
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