The season opens with Gaal Dornick awakening from cryosleep aboard the automated starship Raven, which was prepared by Raych. She discovers that Raych was executed for murdering Hari Seldon and that she is suspected of complicity. Gaal deduces the Raven is headed to Hari's homeworld, Helicon, where she finds Hari alive but wounded. Meanwhile, on Terminus, the Imperial ship Aegis arrives in orbit, carrying Commander Dorwin. Dorwin demands to speak with Phara, a captive Anacreon woman held by the Foundation. Phara disables Terminus City's defenses and reveals her intent to destroy the Foundation in revenge for the Empire's neutron bombing of Anacreon, which killed her family. Anacreon soldiers storm the city, and their flak cannon shoots down the Foundation's defenses, initiating a violent confrontation.

Following the Anacreon assault, the Foundation's leadership scrambles to organize a defense. Phara leads the Anacreon forces in a brutal urban battle, systematically targeting key Foundation infrastructure. The Foundation's defenders fight back with improvised tactics, but the city suffers heavy damage. During the chaos, key characters make critical decisions: some choose to evacuate civilians, others attempt to negotiate with Phara, but she remains resolute in her vendetta. The fighting culminates in a tense standoff where the Foundation's survival hangs in the balance.

The narrative then shifts to the emergence of the Mule, the telepathic mutant antagonist. Pilou Asbæk portrays the Mule with a menacing presence, marking a turning point in the story. The Mule's arrival introduces a new threat to the galaxy's fragile balance. His psychic abilities allow him to manipulate and control others, making him a formidable enemy. The season explores his strategic moves to undermine both the Empire and the Foundation. The Mule's influence spreads as he recruits followers and orchestrates political upheaval, forcing the protagonists to confront a threat unlike any before.

In parallel, the characters Toran and Bayta, reimagined as far-future social media influencers, become entangled in the Mule's machinations. Their journey involves navigating the complex political landscape while grappling with their own personal challenges. Their interactions with the Mule and other key figures reveal layers of intrigue and betrayal. Their decisions and alliances significantly impact the unfolding conflict, adding depth to the season's narrative.

Episode 9, titled "The Paths That Choose Us," focuses heavily on character decisions amid escalating tensions. Brother Dusk, facing his final hours, attempts to secure a legacy, making choices that reflect his desire for control and influence. Brother Day seeks to free Damisel, a character whose programming and loyalties are central to the conflict. Gaal prepares for an inevitable confrontation with the Mule, understanding the stakes involved. The episode balances moments of horror with tenderness, highlighting the emotional weight carried by the characters as they face their destinies.

Throughout the season, there are significant time jumps, advancing the story across centuries. This narrative device introduces new characters and settings while maintaining continuity through recurring figures like Hari Seldon, who ages in real time at the secret Second Foundation. The series portrays the Second Foundation as a hidden bastion of knowledge and power, preparing to counter the Mule's threat. Gaal Dornick's role as a trainer and guide for the Second Foundation is emphasized, showing her growth and the increasing importance of her mission.

The season's climax involves a large-scale confrontation between the Mule's forces and the combined efforts of the Foundation and the Second Foundation. Strategic battles unfold both in space and on planetary surfaces, with detailed sequences of combat, espionage, and political maneuvering. Key decisions by leaders on all sides determine the outcome of these conflicts. The Mule's psychic powers create unpredictable twists, forcing characters to adapt quickly. The resolution sets the stage for future struggles, with the galaxy's fate hanging in the balance.

In the final scenes, Brother Dusk's legacy and the fate of Damisel are revealed, tying together personal arcs with the broader galactic conflict. Gaal Dornick faces the Mule in a decisive encounter, showcasing her evolution from a disillusioned student to a pivotal figure in the galaxy's survival. The season ends with a mixture of victory and uncertainty, as the foundations of power shift and new threats loom on the horizon.

The ending of Foundation Season 3 culminates in a decisive confrontation with the Mule, revealing unexpected truths about his identity and setting the stage for the galaxy's future. Key characters face critical choices and fates as chaos unfolds across New Terminus and Trantor, with the Foundation and the remnants of the Galactic Empire poised for a final stand.

The final episodes of Foundation Season 3 unfold with intense, detailed scenes that bring the season's major conflicts to a head.

The penultimate episode, titled "Foundation's End," opens amid chaos and destruction raining down on New Terminus, the heart of the Foundation. Explosions and battles ravage the city, illustrating the Mule's aggressive campaign to seize control. The scene is visually striking, with fire and smoke engulfing the skyline, citizens fleeing, and the Foundation's defenses struggling to hold. Amid this turmoil, the camera shifts to Trantor, where Dusk and Quent, two key figures aligned with the Cleonic Dynasty, unite to assess the galaxy's deteriorating state. Their conversation is tense, reflecting the Empire's waning power and the growing threat posed by the Mule's forces.

As the episode progresses, the narrative intercuts between the desperate defense of New Terminus and strategic discussions on Trantor. The Foundation's leaders, including Gaal Dornick and other Second Foundation members, prepare for a critical counterattack. The tension is palpable, with characters showing a mix of determination, fear, and resolve. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, with the fate of New Terminus hanging in the balance.

Moving into the final episodes, the story deepens the mystery surrounding the Mule. The AI hologram of Hari Seldon, a central figure in the Foundation's philosophy and planning, voices skepticism about the Mule's backstory, stating, "His story doesn't add up." This line signals to the audience that the Mule's true identity is more complex than previously believed, hinting at a major revelation to come.

In the last episode, the various factions--Gaal, the Second Foundation, allied Traders, and remnants of the Empire--converge for a decisive confrontation with the Mule. The scenes are charged with strategic maneuvering and personal stakes. Characters confront their fears and ambitions, with some making sacrifices to protect the future of the galaxy.

The Mule's true identity is revealed to be a disguise, consistent with the original novel's twist but adapted for the show's narrative. This revelation reframes the conflict, showing the Mule not just as a warlord but as a figure manipulating perceptions and reality through telepathic powers. The final moments focus on the resolution of this conflict, with the fate of the Mule and the galaxy's future left poised on a knife's edge.

Regarding the main characters:

• Gaal Dornick emerges as a key leader in the fight against the Mule, her resolve and intelligence pivotal in rallying allies.
• Hari Seldon's AI continues to guide and question, providing insight but also uncertainty about the unfolding events.
• Dusk and Quent represent the Empire's last hope, their alliance symbolizing a fragile unity amid collapse.
• The Mule faces exposure and defeat, his carefully constructed identity unraveling in the final scenes.

The season closes with a mixture of victory and uncertainty, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for control and the unpredictable paths that shape history.

This detailed, scene-by-scene narrative captures the complex interplay of characters and events at the end of Foundation Season 3, highlighting the show's focus on identity, power, and the fate of civilizations amid chaos.

There is no information in the available sources indicating that Foundation Season 3 (2025) has a post-credit scene. The detailed recaps and reviews of episodes, including the season 3 finale (episode 9), do not mention any post-credit scenes or additional footage after the credits.

Therefore, it appears that Foundation Season 3 does not include a post-credit scene.

The Mule is introduced as a fearsome warlord whose goal is to rule the universe through physical force, military power, and mind control. He represents a major threat to both the Foundation and the dwindling Cleonic Dynasty's Empire, setting up a high-stakes conflict that drives much of the season's tension and plot development.

Season 3 is set 152 years after the events of Season 2, which results in a new era where the Foundation has grown significantly beyond its origins, and the Empire has weakened. This time jump introduces new characters and circumstances while continuing the arcs of key figures like Hari Seldon and Gaal Dornick, who remain central through mechanisms like cryosleep and the secret Second Foundation.

Hari Seldon is depicted as aging in real time at the secret Second Foundation, while also existing as a complex program stored in a vault at the First Foundation. Gaal Dornick wakes periodically from cryosleep to help train the Second Foundation in preparation for the arrival of The Mule. Their intertwined roles are crucial to the Foundation's survival and the unfolding of the psychohistorical plan.

The Foundation and the Cleonic Dynasty's Empire form an uneasy alliance as both galactic powers face the threat posed by The Mule. This alliance creates a complex political and strategic backdrop, with characters like the Cleons and Demerzel engaging in a dangerous game of intergalactic chess alongside Hari Seldon and Gaal Dornick, impacting the power dynamics and conflicts throughout the season.

Following the destruction of Terminus in Season 2, the citizens survive and continue to play a pivotal role in the Foundation's story. In Season 3, they face the threat of The Mule's conquest and the broader galactic instability. The Foundation's expansion and survival amid these threats, including internal and external political struggles, are central plot elements.

Foundation Season 3 (2025) is a visually impressive and intense sci-fi series that is generally not considered family-friendly for young children due to its mature themes and content. It contains scenes of violence, including military conflict and physical combat, as well as some intense psychological elements such as mind control and power struggles. The show also features complex political intrigue and moments of tension that may be upsetting for sensitive viewers.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects include:

• Violence and action sequences involving warlords, battles, and physical confrontations.
• Psychological intensity related to mind control and manipulation.
• Dark themes such as the fall of civilizations, power struggles, and existential threats to humanity.
• Some scenes may be emotionally intense or suspenseful, with cliffhangers and dramatic stakes.

There is no indication of explicit sexual content or strong language being a primary focus, but the overall tone is serious and mature, making it more suitable for older teens and adults rather than children or sensitive viewers.