Brother Dawn

Lore & Background

Brother Dawn is one of the three Cleon I clones who have ruled the 12,000-year-old Empire for 400 years. The trio consists of Brother Day, a Cleon in his prime; Brother Dusk, a retired and aging Cleon who serves in an advisory role; and Brother Dawn, 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 and he, his successors, and likely a number of his predecessors have irrevocably diverged from the original Cleon. 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 season two, a subsequent Day decides to halt the degradation of the bloodline by marrying the newly crowned Queen Sareth of Cloud Dominion and fathering an heir with her. The genetically corrupted Cleons increasingly veer from the path Demerzel 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 to preserve her grand scheme for humanity.

In Their Own Story

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. 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, that differ from the original Cleon. 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 and he, his successors, and likely a number of his predecessors have irrevocably diverged from the original Cleon. 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 season two, a subsequent Day decides to halt the degradation of the bloodline by marrying the newly crowned Queen Sareth of Cloud Dominion and fathering an heir with her. Displeased, Demerzel feigns acceptance, but schemes to prevent the marriage and be rid of Sareth. 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 to preserve her grand scheme for humanity.

Reader's Guide

Brother Dawn is portrayed by Cassian Bilton in the 2021 Apple TV+ television series Foundation. Cooper Carter plays Brother Dawn as a child in season one. 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. 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, that differ from the original Cleon. 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 and he, his successors, and likely a number of his predecessors have irrevocably diverged from the original Cleon. 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. 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."

Did You Know?

• Brother Dawn is portrayed by Cassian Bilton, with Cooper Carter playing him as a child in season one.
• Dawn conceals his color blindness, an anomaly among the Cleons, from Brother Day and Brother Dusk.
• Dawn pursues a romance with Azura Odili, a palace gardener, and reveals his genetic anomalies to her.
• Dawn is killed by Demerzel, who recognizes the danger he poses to the Genetic 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.'