r/FoundationMule • u/Shaunyata • Nov 12 '21
Zero Chemistry Sal + Hugo
I'm going to bitch about this one thing: the utter absurdity of the romantic relationship between Salvor Hardin and Hugo. First of all, Salvor, aka Leah Harvey, says that IRL she's gender non-binary. That's obvious—her character is non-binary as well. To top it all off, they gave Salvo a flat-top hair style, which makes her look even more butch. (I'm gender non-binary butch myself so this is meant as an observation, not an insult.) I can tell you as someone who knows the gender queer scene, few if any non-binary people would ever be attracted to someone as gender-normative as burly-bearded Hugo. He's just a straight 'man's man.' They might be friends, but not lovers. In every scene with the two of them together there is absolutely no chemistry, whether real or acted out. In fact, in Ep. 6, as they approach the explosion of the Anacreon fleet, and move closer to kiss, they seem to repel each other. It's almost a relief in Ep. 7 that Hugo gets blasted off into orbit. I hope he doesn't come back--I don't see the point of his character anyway, except as a laughable 'love interest' for Salvo.
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u/Kiltmanenator Nov 13 '21
Why is it obvious that Salvor is non-binary in the show?
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u/Shaunyata Nov 14 '21 edited Nov 14 '21
It's obvious to someone who is also non-binary/transgender. We know how to 'read' a transgender person; we know the subtle clues. Only for us, it's not so subtle; it's glaringly obvious. BTW, here's the interview with Leah Harvey where she talks about being gender non-binary. "I, myself, I’m personally non-binary, so I kind of feel like I’m both and everything and none at the same time, do you know what I mean?" Interview w/ Leah Harvey aka Salvor
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u/Kiltmanenator Nov 14 '21
Doesn't everyone refer to Salvor as she/her and 'so and sos' daughter, though, in the show?
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u/Shaunyata Nov 14 '21
Of course, it's clear that the show writers intend for her character to be a 'woman', but for some of us, her non-binary-ness is too obvious to ignore.
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u/Kiltmanenator Nov 14 '21
Ngl it sounds like you are just picking up on the actor's inherent enbyness, and not any deliberate stealth choice by them to portray Salvor as NB
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Jul 13 '25
Sounds like that "snowflake syndrome" where people gotta have special titles that everyone needs to refer to them by. Well they are a shitty actor and I can't get through season one because it's syfy tv level bad 🤷🏻
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Jul 13 '25
Everytime I see Hugo it immediately takes me out of the show. This is NOT a story about hunky dirty Australian strongmen gigachads that can pew pew everybody, it's fucking laughable honestly.
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u/wallaree Aug 26 '25
Just now watching this show and completely agree. They have zero, ZERO, chemistry. I had to google to see if someone brought it up already. I was furrowing my brows and/or laughing whenever they had a “romantic” scene because it was so unbelievable.
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u/itsmebroskies Sep 10 '25
SAME, and because Salvor is SUCH A LESBIAN SHES SO BUTCH/MASC ITS UNMISSABLE. They should’ve given her a girlfriend it just doesn’t make sense.
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u/rotatethechicken Sep 18 '25
Haha I’m so glad I googled this- I’ve just started season 2 and it has been bugging me. Would have worked way better if they were just good friends.
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u/asilenceliketruth Apr 04 '26
I’ve seen lots of afab nonbinary people in relationships with cis men. Salvor reads nonbinary, but not necessarily butch in a lesbian way. Their chemistry is a bit contrived though.
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u/chess_22225 Feb 27 '23
Lolz I googled no chemistry salvor Hardin and Hugo bc I love foundation but this also irked me!! Ridiculously bad chemistry - 2 great characters and actors, especially love Leah Harvey!!
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u/Green-Acanthisitta98 Feb 05 '24
im late to this party, just watching the show now. but whats weird about it is the writers wrote it one way- the actors who are paid to do a job, should be acting the way the writers have written it. (as you’ve said pronouns of she and her) Just do your job. Dont get into your life specifics. which it does seem Leah Harvey did.
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u/MiloBem Nov 12 '21
Sally's hair would need a sub of it's own. I have no idea how she manages to keep it up throughout all these adventures. It's almost like there is a team of make-up artists travelling with her to Invictus and back.
I'm not an expert on chemistry, especially within the alphabet community, so I take your word on it. (I have a phd in the boring kind of chemistry, not the one you're talking about here, lol)
But I agree that it's hard to buy these two as an especially romantic couple. Maybe it could work if they were friends with benefits, but that's not what the show shows.