Toran and Bayta Are the Most Fun ‘Foundation’ Characters Yet

With the Season 3 return of Apple TV+’s epic science fiction series, Foundation, viewers finally saw the Mule (Pilou Asbæk) in action. With little effort, the malevolent villain seized control of Kalgan using only his mind. With an army now under his thumb and an entire planet he can bend to his will, Empire and the Foundation have suddenly been presented with an impossible situation. Since Kalgan is an independent planet in the middle band, beyond the reach of Empire or Foundation rule, any response to the Mule could be seen as a territorial claim. In short, any attempt to oppose the Mule could trigger a war between Empire and the Foundation.

While the Mule’s ever-increasing threat remains front and center, some new Season 3 characters were introduced, and they are exactly the kind of characters I want to see more of as the season progresses. Audiences first encounter Toran (Cody Fern) and Bayta (Synnøve Karlsen) during their honeymoon on Kalgan, indulging their hedonistic lifestyle. They bring a fresh energy often missing from science fiction. Seemingly superficial, however, it doesn’t take long for the pair to showcase their smarts. After all, looks and brains aren’t mutually exclusive traits. That being said, viewers should ready themselves for what this alluring power couple is likely to achieve in Foundation’s third season.

Toran and Bayta Add a New Component to ‘Foundation’

They Embody a Pop-Cultural Element That Science Fiction Often Lacks

Apple TV+

Epic science fiction stories rarely explore the popular culture within their own universes. If there are celebrities, movies, or something similar to social media, the audience doesn’t usually get a glimpse of what that looks like. With the introduction of Toran and Bayta in Foundation’s third season, there’s now a fun and glamorous component to the series as it relates to the show’s own pop culture. They are essentially famous for being famous, which is a concept every viewer can understand in today’s world.

Beautiful, rich, and renowned across the galaxy, they are the first characters who are well known for something other than politics or science. Sure, Hari Seldon (Jared Harris) and Gaal Dornick’s (Lou Llobell) names are known across the galaxy, but they aren’t celebrities in the same way. Toran and Bayta have what appears to be a reality vlog that documents various aspects of their lives. They’re a desirable couple with a lavish life and fans who adore them.

The pair embodies a pop-cultural element that science fiction often lacks. Because of that, their introduction in Season 3 adds a new flashy aspect that offsets much of how the show’s previous seasons have been. Seemingly flippant in the beginning, it doesn’t take long for viewers to see that their celebrity exterior is merely a buffer for what lies underneath. They may enjoy the finer things, but there’s clearly more under the surface, and I’m eager to see what they bring to the story.

Toran and Bayta Might Seem Shallow, But That Couldn’t Be Further From the Truth

They’re Actually Informed About What’s Happening Across the Galaxy (And They Care)

A descendant of Hober Mallow (Dimitri Leonidas), the rogue trader and con man who played a vital role in Seldon’s Season 2 plan, Toran has surprisingly removed himself from the family business. Nevertheless, he and his new wife know exactly what’s happening across the galaxy. The pair indeed appears obtuse at first, but it doesn’t take long before they show viewers their true colors. They’re far sharper than they initially seem. It’s clearly some sort of act for their videos, and they are relatively well-informed and aware of what’s unfolding across the galaxy and on Kalgan.

To be clear, that doesn’t mean they want to interject themselves in the chaos and partake in any sort of revolution, at least not right away. However, when an opportunity presents itself to gather information and make decisions that might benefit their self-interest, as well as the galaxy’s, they don’t shy away from seizing the moment. Their seemingly flippant exterior is just that, an exterior that doesn’t reflect who they are. As such, they shouldn’t be underestimated. They’re Mallows after all, which means they’re smart and cheeky when the time calls for it, but at the end of the day, Toran and Bayta care about people.

Toran and Bayta Will Likely Play a Vital Role in Stopping the Mule

This Makes Them a Valuable Asset to the Entire Galaxy

Synnove Karlsen as Bayta Mallow smiling as Tómas Lemarquis as Magnifico Giganticus at the bar in Foundation — Apple TV+

Having stolen away the Mule’s hypnotic musician, Magnifico Giganticus (Tómas Lemarquis), during the show’s third episode, it’s clear Toran and Bayta will play a major role in helping to stop the new villain. What that looks like remains to be seen, but they clearly aren’t the type to be relegated to the sidelines. Seeing as they now have such a powerful asset at their disposal, they’ve positioned themselves in a way that makes them valuable to everyone who wants to see the Mule’s demise.

A clever duo, they’ve already proven themselves as key players. They might be fun and alluring characters who lean into their indulgences without hesitation, but they still want good things to unfold across the galaxy. Their wealth and frivolousness don’t take away from their empathy, and they are precisely the kind of characters I want to see more of as Foundation Season 3 takes shape. Foundation is currently streaming on Apple TV+. New episodes arrive every Friday, and the Season 3 finale will be available on September 12, 2025.