It wasn’t until recently that Chinese science fiction has become popular, as plenty of the stories can now take flight through non-traditional internet channels and the translation work of Asian Americans like Ken Liu. 3 Body Problem by Liu Cixin is one of those translations, and with the Game of Thrones showrunners along with Alexander Woo, Netflix has created their own take on the ambitious, innovative sci-fi novel. It doesn’t quite match up, but the show is able to take the novel’s unique blend of abstract theoretical physics with intriguing mystery and meditations on how scientific exploration is driven and stopped by religion and politics. The multiple storylines and times that can get confusing, but ultimately, the show is still able to sustain its tension through great world building and intimate drama. With the source material fully completed, we’re hoping that the showrunners don’t run into the same snafus that plagued Game of Thrones’ ending, but so far, Netflix’s take on the 3 Body Problem is a decent introduction to Liu’s sci-fi masterpiece.
"It’s well paced, generally compelling, and completely committed to being the most TV version of itself it can possibly be. If only more Netflix dramas did the same."
— Kathryn VanArendonk
"At the same time that “3 Body Problem” grounds its story in a crew of curious young people, the show also imbues a sense of geeky grandeur."
— Alison Herman
Across continents and decades, five brilliant friends make earth-shattering discoveries as the laws of science unravel and an existential threat emerges.
After seeing her father brutally murdered during the Chinese Cultural Revolution, astrophysicist Ye Wenjie gets conscripted by the military for a secret project centered on searching for extraterrestrial life. Present day London, a group of brilliant scientists joins forces with an unorthodox detective to confront Ye’s decision, and humanity’s greatest threat.
Western adaptations of Asian works don’t all work out, but 3 Body Problem works because Ye Wenjie’s 1960s timeline still remains in China, while the present timelines are spread internationally around the world. Netflix’s take thankfully doesn’t remove the Cultural Revolution, the harrowing introduction that was initially placed deeper in the original Mandarin novel but is moved earlier to explain Ye Wenjie’s distrust and despair towards humanity. It’s also not a terrible idea to make the present timelines international– it naturally intensifies the stakes of Ye’s decisions, but it would definitely divide some viewers, especially book purists and those who were a fan of the Tencent Chinese adaptation already created.
For those burned by the Game of Thrones ending, hopefully the fact that the source material is finished would encourage you to give this show a chance.
Did not like it but then again I’m not a big fan of SF.
Much prefer a good drama.