Rosario Dawson as Ahsoka Tano inside her ship
By
Sean Morrison
Published 54 minutes ago
Sean is a senior writer for ScreenRant and has been writing about new TV releases since December 2023. He has received multiple advance screenings of popular shows and ideated his own coverage read by hundreds of thousands of readers.
Sean is a self-published author of a Western novel. Sean has also written award-winning opinion pieces related to local politics while getting his Bachelor's degree in journalism.
Sign in to your ScreenRant account
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
Apple TV+'s modern epic Foundation is a much better science fiction television show than almost every Star Wars show so far. There have been a lot of Star Wars shows over the years, from Ewoks in 1984 all the way to Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Since The Mandalorian debuted in 2019, the franchise took a renewed interest in telling the story of the galaxy far, far away in a serialized format, with new shows like Ahsoka, Skeleton Crew, and more joining the ranks.
But, for all of Disney and Lucasfilm's efforts, Star Wars television has long been outshone by other science fiction shows. The list of the best sci-fi shows of all time only includes one installment from Star Wars, after all. Now, Apple TV+'s Foundation, which just finished its third season this year, has become the perfect tool to explain why Star Wars' television efforts often fall short.
Apple TV's Foundation Has Become The Best Space Opera On Television
With the ending of Foundation season 3, it's safe to say it is now the best space opera on television. The title used to be held by The Expanse, though that ended in 2022. Based on legendary sci-fi author Isaac Asimov's books, Foundation presents a gigantic, wildly complicated world of the future full of intrigue, politics, fascinating sci-fi concepts, and a beautiful story. In short, Foundation is everything a space opera is supposed to be.
Foundation season 3 really helped the show earn that distinction. The introduction of the Mule and all the complications the villain brought with him upped both the stakes and the winding, fascinating plot of the show. Now, Foundation has proven itself worthy of the lofty bar set by Asimov, and it stands as an example of how to make a great sci-fi epic into a television show.
Most Star Wars TV Shows Can't Compete With Foundation
Temuera Morrison and Ming-Na Wen in The Book of Boba Fett
Foundation's massive success as a space opera television show also highlights how many of Star Wars' entries into the subgenre have fallen flat. So many Star Wars shows, like Ahsoka, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett, and even The Mandalorian simply pale in comparison to Foundation. None of them have the sheer scope, complexity, or intrigue that makes Foundation such a great space opera. Star Wars shows feel small in comparison.
Live-Action Star Wars Shows
The Mandalorian
The Book of Boba Fett
Obi-Wan Kenobi
Andor
Ahsoka
The Acolyte
Skeleton Crew
Most of Star Wars' relative smallness in comparison to Foundation is by design. These shows exist separately from the main Star Wars movies and the Skywalker Saga. Star Wars movies, not shows, are supposed to be sweeping explorations of a vast and vibrant galaxy. The shows follow less popular, less powerful characters going on more personal journeys. Boba Fett's search for redemption, for example, simply can't compare to the galaxy-wide stakes of Foundation.
Only One Star Wars TV Show Has Been As Good As Foundation
Cassian Andor and Luthen Rael riding on a speeder bike in Andor
Most Star Wars shows simply can't compare to Foundation, but there is one very notable exception: Andor. Unlike the rest of the Star Wars shows, Andor gets a serialized space opera right. It tells the story of the Rebellion and all the work and sacrifice that went into toppling the Empire. There are countless characters who all have an important role to play, all of them are mired in moral grayness, and it's the most complex Star Wars has been since The Empire Strikes Back.
Related
Foundation Season 4: Confirmation & Everything We Know
Here's what we know about the story, cast, and production of Foundation season 4.
Posts 1 By Charles Papadopoulos Sep 12, 2025Andor was the first and (so far) only time a Star Wars show has really earned a designation as a space opera. It's a beautifully written, acted, and produced show from top to bottom. Everything there is to love about Foundation is present in Andor. In fact, Andor is arguably better than Foundation, though it ended this year. Still, if Star Wars ever wants to make a show as good as Andor again, it would do well to follow Foundation's lead.
115
8.7/10
8/10
Foundation
10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-MA Drama Sci-Fi Release Date September 23, 2021 Network Apple TV+ Showrunner David S. Goyer Directors Alex Graves, Roxann Dawson, Jennifer Phang, Mark Tonderai, Andrew Bernstein Writers Jane Espenson, Leigh Dana Jackson, Liz Phang, Eric Carrasco, David Kob, Addie Manis, Marcus Gardley, Lauren Bello, Olivia Purnell
8 Images
Jared Harris looking concerned as Hari Seldon in Foundation
Foundation Stars Terrance Mann & Cassian Bilton Explain "Unrecognizable" Cleon Dynasty In Season 3
Jared Harris as Hari Seldon and Lou Llobel as Gaal Dornick in Foundation
Song touching her arm in Foundation
The Cleons sharing a drink in FoundationClose
Cast
See All-
Jared Harris
Hari Seldon
-
Laura Birn
Demerzel
Expand
Collapse
-
Foundation
-
Star Wars
-
Andor
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.Your comment has not been saved
Send confirmation emailThis thread is open for discussion.
Be the first to post your thoughts.
- Terms
- Privacy
- Feedback
1 day ago
Which Stranger Things Season 5 Episodes Will Answer Key Upside Down Questions After Vecna’s Return Confirmed
1 day ago
Evangelion Turned One of Its Underrated Stars Into a Secret Millionaire
20 hours ago
This Fan Favorite New Vegas Character Better Be In Fallout Season 2
1 day ago
Loki's Ke Huy Quan Has The Perfect Zootopia Character For Tom Hiddleston
More from our brands
The 40 Best TV Shows Of The 2000s, Ranked
The 33 Best Shows on Paramount+ Right Now
The 55 Best Shows on Disney+ Right Now
The 8 Best Sci-Fi Miniseries Streaming Right Now
8 Sci-Fi Shows Better Than The Expanse
35 Best Sci-Fi TV Shows, Ranked
Star Wars Movies And Shows In Chronological Order
Trending Now
Predator: Badlands VFX Team Explain In Detail The Challenges Of Creating First Yautja Protagonist
Stranger Things Still Won't Directly Confirm A Will Detail After Nearly A Decade
We Need To Talk About Vecna's New Look In Stranger Things Season 5
