Diksha Sundriyal
The third season of Apple TV+’s ‘Foundation’ introduces a new threat for the Foundation in the form of the Mule. The character was introduced in Season 2, where Gaal Dornick encounters him in a vision, which takes her about 150 years into the future. She is shocked by his strength and the carnage he is capable of, which leads her and Hari Seldon on a new path to consolidate the Second Foundation. The third season turns the Mule from a vision of the future to the terrifying reality of the present. Still, as he embarks on his plan to take over the control of the galaxy, many things about him are yet to be revealed. SPOILERS AHEAD.
The Mule’s Origins Remain Shrouded in Mystery
An enemy whom you know nothing about is an enemy more difficult to defeat. This fear of the unknown works exceptionally in favour of the Mule, which is why, perhaps, he chooses to go by a name he gave to himself. His true origins, which include his parentage and even his real name, are not revealed in Isaac Asimov’s Foundation book series, where he appears as a significant character in several story arcs. At first, little to no details about his origins are revealed. Eventually, however, the books reveal that he comes from Gaia. In the show, Gaia is presented as Ignis, where Tellem Bond sets up a community of Mentallics, people with the power to control other people and things with their minds, away from the scrutiny and danger of the Galactic Empire.
In the books, the people of Gaia have honed their abilities to such levels that they now act as a hive mind, not just with each other but also with the nature of the planet. This allows them to control weather phenomena and find out about catastrophic natural disasters in advance. The Mule is revealed to have hailed from Gaia, but unlike the others, he does not believe in being part of a group and working for a greater good. His ambitions are more individualistic, which is why he is seen as an aberration by the others. He leaves the planet in his early years and eventually finds his way to Kalgan, where his conquest of the galaxy begins in earnest.
With Ignis being the show counterpart of Gaia, it is expected that the Apple TV+ series might give more context behind the Mule’s origins and the reasons behind his bloodthirst and desire to end the Second Foundation. The books, however, never reveal his real name, and some theories question whether the Mule was originally from Gaia or if he hailed from somewhere else and briefly found a place within the Mentallics. This uncertainty about who he really is makes him shiftier and difficult to pin down, which is another hurdle in itself in defeating him.
The Mule’s Choice of Name Represents His Unique Nature
In the show, when asked why he is called the Mule, he says that his parents named him so because he is stubborn. However, as the true extent of his powers comes to light, a few details about him slip out, and it seems that his chosen name might have a deeper meaning. In the animal kingdom, mules are known for their stubborn and hard-working nature. They are also known for their strength and resilience. One could say that the villain of ‘Foundation’ identified with these qualities and chose to name himself after the animals.
Sure enough, his tenacious nature comes to the surface as he takes over one planet after another simply through the power of his mind. He is so capable by himself that he doesn’t need any army to launch his campaign of war and conquest, exhibiting the incredible nature of his power to manipulate people with a simple thought. Though there is another thing about mules that must be considered. By nature, they are infertile beings as their genetic constitution does not allow them to reproduce. In the books, the villain exhibits a similar genetic inability, though one could say that it is more in terms of the inability to leave behind a lasting legacy rather than actually having children.
The Mule that we see in the Apple TV+ series looks a lot different than the one described in Asimov’s books. Opposed to Pilou Asbæk’s well-built and good-looking Mule, the one in the books is described as a gangly man with a physicality that makes him appear distorted. This is why he might not come across as someone dangerous enough to crumble empires and take over a galaxy. The point about his genetic sterility is also mentioned in this context, and being a hyperaware person, one could say that this was yet another thing that made him go by the name the Mule.
Read More: Foundation Season 3 Episode 1 Recap: A Song for the End of Everything
