Liam Cunningham as Wade, Jess Hong as Jin Cheng and Sea Shimooka as Sophon in 3 Body Problem. (Ed Miller/Netflix © 2024)
A young woman’s fateful decision in 1960s China reverberates across space and time into the present day. When the laws of nature inexplicably unravel before their eyes, a close-knit group of brilliant scientists join forces with an unorthodox detective to confront the greatest threat in humanity’s history.
Chinese author Liu Cixin’s novel The Three-Body Problem is a widely praised work of science fiction that has enjoyed popularity globally and at home. The book’s English translation helped boost its success and international recognition. Though labelled unadaptable, Chinese filmmakers and showrunners have still used the novel as inspiration; a 2023 series was released in the country and was warmly received.
The new Netflix series about Cixin’s book has also proven to be a hit with audiences. The show is undeniably entertaining but is riddled with flaws in its writing and direction. It clumsily tries to deliver sharp commentary on topics like religion, philosophy, politics, humanity, science, etc. But instead of being genuinely intelligent, the show feels more like a shallow spectacle.
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