'It was a shock to me': The cast of Foundation reacts to that huge plot twist in the Apple TV show's season 3 finale

Exclusive: "I understand some people might feel bitter about it"

· TechRadar

News By Tom Power published 12 September 2025

Foundation star Lou Llobell didn't initially know about the season 3 finale's big plot twist (Image credit: Apple TV+)

  • Foundation season 3 makes a major change to a big reveal regarding The Mule
  • Two of its cast members have discussed why it's such a shocking moment
  • One of the Apple TV+ show's stars says it'll spark a huge debate among fans

Foundation star Lou Llobell has revealed she had no idea about the show's reimagining of a big reveal concerning The Mule.

Before Foundation season 3 episode 10 made its Apple TV+ debut today (September 12), I sat down with Llobell to discuss the series' latest finale, titled 'The Darkness', including that hugely surprising moment about this season's primary villain.

Full spoilers immediately follow for the season 3 finale and Isaac Asimov's 'Foundation' book series. Turn back if you haven't watched its latest entry and/or don't want to know about the story depicted in the novels.

This season's finale confirms Pilou Asbaek wasn't actually The Mule (Image credit: Apple TV+)

One of the biggest questions concerning Foundation season 3 was whether the shock reveal about The Mule's true identity would play out in the same manner in Apple's TV adaptation as it does in the books. As I discussed in an article about Foundation season 3 newcomer Magnifico Giganticus, this weak and timid individual is eventually revealed to be The Mule in the source material.

Foundation's TV retelling takes a different approach – one I expect to be controversial among long-time fans of Asimov's works – to this grand reveal. Indeed, as I cover in my Foundation season 3 ending explained piece, Bayta Mallow is seemingly unveiled as the real Mule.

'The Darkness' indicates Synnove Karlsen's Bayta is The Mule (Image credit: Apple TV+)

It's a blindside that was withheld from Foundation's cast for some time. Llobell told me nobody knew Bayta was The Mule until they received the season 3 finale's script, which they didn't get until 'The Darkness' was about to be filmed.

"All of the scenes were drip fed to us," Llobell admitted. "But, it was still a shock to me because, while I knew there was some form of reveal, I didn't know it was going to be that.

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