Warning: SPOILERS ahead for Foundation season 3, episode 1!Foundationseason 3 has only just begun, but the Apple TV+ sci-fi series is still living in the shadow of its biggest mistake from season 2. Taking place 152 years after the events of season 2,Foundationseason 3seesthe galaxy preparing for the arrival of the Mule, a powerful individual posing a threat to Empire and the Foundation.
Whilecharacters inFoundation, new and old, are going to be dealing with this new threat to galactic stability,the show is also still recovering from a major event in season 2. In particular,Foundationseason 2 endedwith a major mistake that, even as early as season 3, episode 1, still looms over everything happening in the show.

Foundation Season 3 Can’t Shake The Mistake Of Salvor Hardin’s Death
She Was A Core Hero Of Seasons 1 & 2
The biggest mistakeFoundationmade in season 2 waskilling off one of its main characters, Salvor Hardin. Salvor had been the core protagonist of season 1, helping Terminus through their first crisis and, with Hari’s assistance, giving the Foundation over 130 years to build without Empire interference. She’s also the daughter of Gaal Dornick.
However, despite her importance, she dies at the end of season 2,jumping in the way of a blaster shot that would have killed her. In thetimeline ofFoundationseason 3, this happened over 150 years ago, meaning the world has moved by generations since her demise. Even so, it feels like something is missing because of her absence.

Although season 3 is still establishing the new world after over a century and a half,it still feels like something is missing without Salvor at the forefront. Her leadership, resourcefulness, and gift for seeing the past were core aspects of the show. Without her around and these elements gone, a crucial part of the series feels lost.
How Foundation Can Resolve Its Salvor Hardin Problem
It Has Other Characters Now Who Can Take The Spotlight
AlthoughSalvor’s absence leaves a massive hole inFoundation, season 3 has already introduced some characters who can take her place. The most notable of these is Han Pritcher, a soldier in the Foundation Armed Forces who abandoned his post to investigate the Mule. This might put him in contact with Gaal and Hari, who already know about the threat.
It could also have other characters become recurring outside of Gaal and Hari, the only two left alive from season 1. Whether this is Han or someone else remains to be seen, butFoundationcould make the decision to have another character come back in multiple seasons to lessen the pain of Salvor’s passing.