Apple TV's adaptation of Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" is being highlighted as an ideal watch for fans of both "Star Trek" and "Star Wars", since Asimov's original novels helped inspire foundational concepts in both franchises. The article argues that the series lets viewers trace the genre's roots back to Asimov's work while also seeing how those ideas have since been reshaped by decades of subsequent science fiction.

Asimov's Foundation novels were first serialised between 1942 and 1950, drawing on the historical decline of the Roman Empire to imagine the fall of a galaxy-spanning empire; further instalments followed for the rest of his life, though the material was not adapted for screen until this decade. Apple TV's version premiered in 2021 and has since aired three seasons, with a fourth in production; the article notes echoes of Asimov's work in later franchises, such as Star Trek's space travel and communication concepts, and the telepathic "Second Foundation" order, which resembles the Jedi of Star Wars.