Foundation season 3 episode 3 promises chilling showdown in first-look clip

The clip opens with Dawn – stepping in for Brother Day, who has shirked his duties as Empire – negotiating with The Mule over a hologram call over his occupation of Kalgan and offering up protection.

But The Mule, who has flexed his terrifying mind control powers over the past couple of episodes, isn't having any of it. "You already failed to protect Kalgan. I am the proof," he says.

A blood-curdling scream then pierces through the call, which the Mule plays off, telling Dawn to continue.

While Dawn threatens war if The Mule refuses his terms, The Mule is unmoved, telling the youngest clone: "What do you know about war? You are a boy."

Alluding to his widespread power and influence, he then threatens: "While you learned to snap open your napkins, I learned to kill. You have lived comfortably. War isn't comfortable."

The unsettling clip paves the way for The Mule to continue his rampage across the stars, enlisting planets and populations to his cause against their will. And it seems there's not much Empire can do to stop him – unless Gaal Dornick (Lou Llobell) can intervene.

Indeed, the end of episode 2 saw Gaal seemingly attempt to strike an unexpected alliance with Brother Dawn, so are we about to see Foundation and Empire join forces against The Mule, putting aside their many differences to take down the larger threat? Stranger things have happened – but it certainly won't be an easy road ahead.

The Mule actor Asbæk recently teased that there will be a way to take down The Mule, however, telling RadioTimes.com: "He's got a lot of weakness. Maybe his ego is his weakness. Power corrupts – the more power you get, the more it will corrupt you...he's a product of other people's decisions."

Foundation season 3 is released weekly on Apple TV+.

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