Cassian

Lore & Background

In the 2021 television series adaptation Foundation, the 12,000-year-old Empire has been ruled for 400 years by a revolving triumvirate of Cleon I clones: Brother Day, Brother Dusk, and Brother Dawn. Dawn is a young Cleon being trained to succeed Brother Day. In season one, Dawn conceals his color blindness, an anomaly among the Cleons, from Day and Dusk. He and Day also exhibit signs of unprecedented emotions, making them less detached and cruel than their predecessors, which Dusk believes will spell their doom. It is eventually revealed that the rebel movement has tampered with the Cleon genetics, facing the current Day with the fact that the bloodline is now tainted. Dusk insists that Dawn, who was easily manipulated by the rebels, be destroyed, but Day shows compassion. Demerzel, however, recognizes the danger that Dawn now poses to the dynasty, and kills him.

In Their Own Story

In 'The Emperor's Peace', Hari Seldon's predictions of the Galactic Empire's imminent fall are dismissed by Brothers Day, Dawn and Dusk. In 'Preparing to Live', the Empire investigates the Star Bridge attack. In 'The Mathematician's Ghost', the Genetic Dynasty undertakes its next traditional transfer of power: a new Dawn is decanted, the current Dawn is elevated to Day, the current Day retires as Dusk, and Dusk assumes the mantle of Brother Darkness before being euthanized. In 'Barbarians at the Gate', a charismatic religious leader revives an orthodox dogma that asserts clones do not possess souls. In 'Death and the Maiden', Dawn pursues a romance with Azura Odili, a palace gardener, and bares his deepest secret: he inexplicably has minor genetic traits, such as color blindness.

Reader's Guide

Brother Dawn is a young clone being trained to succeed Brother Day. His arc in season one involves concealing his color blindness, an anomaly among the Cleons, and exhibiting unprecedented emotions. He is easily manipulated by the rebels, leading Dusk to insist he be destroyed. Day shows compassion, but Demerzel kills Dawn to protect the dynasty. In season two, a subsequent Day decides to halt the degradation of the bloodline by marrying Queen Sareth of Cloud Dominion. Demerzel is revealed to be the real power behind the Imperial throne, guiding humanity on a millennial scale. The genetically corrupted Cleons increasingly veer from the path she has set for them, and she begins to act more overtly autonomous, thwarting their choices and actions, and even killing and replacing them with new copies as necessary.

Did You Know?

• Cassian Bilton was cast as Brother Dawn in December 2019.
• Cooper Carter plays Brother Dawn as a child in season one.
• In season one, Dawn conceals his color blindness, an anomaly among the Cleons.
• Dawn is killed by Demerzel, who recognizes the danger he poses to the dynasty.
• Sean T. Collins of Decider described Bilton's Dawn as 'seemingly aroused equally by the gorgeous Sareth's unabashed come-ons and their secret rebellion against his older bro.'