Netflix’s $233 Million Sci-Fi Epic Series Just Proved High-Concept TV Still Sells

At its inception, the science fiction genre was distinguished because of the “science,” as it generally tried to merge fantastical concepts with some degree of legitimate research. Contemporary sci-fi television is dominated by shows with fantastical elements, many of which could be deemed “escapism,” but 3 Body Problem is as ambitious as an adaptation can get for the genre. The novel series by author Liu Cixin, whilst beloved by fans across the world, dealt with highly specific processes of complex mathematics and theoretical physics that required an intense attention to detail on the part of the readers. The challenge of bringing the series to a visual medium seemed insurmountable, but David Benioff and D.B. Weiss created a show that combined the nuances of Liu's high-minded concepts with breathtaking viscerality. As easy as it has been to criticize Benioff and Weiss for the mistakes made with the final season of Game of Thrones, 3 Body Problem is a reminder that the acclaim they earned for the first few years of their George R.R. Martin adaptations was no fluke.

Liu’s novels had a terrifying twist on a premise that seemed fairly common within space operas; the series anticipated what an alien invasion of Earth would look like if it could be predicted many centuries in advance, even if mankind was helpless to stop it. The aliens featured in 3 Body Problem aren’t humanoid warriors, but an entirely different breed of extraterrestrials who communicate in unusual ways. 3 Body Problem not only gets into how humans might begin preparing for the scale of this event through virtual reality, but also examines the intersection between species during critical events in world history. 3 Body Problem isn’t short on entertainment value, but it's also not a series that viewers can watch when their brains are checked out.

‘3 Body Problem’ Adapts a Novel Deemed ”Unfilmmable”

Liu’s novels have an interesting perspective because the main character, Wang Miao, is a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and has knowledge about both his nation’s history and communication patterns within extraterrestrial species. Having an expert’s perspective was invaluable on the page, but the extent to which his interior monologue dominated the books would’ve been hard to translate to a series. 3 Body Problem made the brilliant decision to divide the essence of the novel’s protagonist into five main characters who make up the “Oxford Five”: the entrepreneur Jack Rooney (John Bradley), the researcher Dr. Saul Durand (Jovan Adepo), the nanotechnologist Dr. Augustine Salazar (Eiza González), the theoretical physicist Dr. Jin Cheng (Jess Wong), and the physics teacher Dr. Will Downing (Alex Sharp) are all drawn together by a mystery surrounding the suicide of top scientists. The expanded cast gives the show a means to explore different aspects of science.

3 Body Problem is a masterclass in how to tell a non-linear story. The series explores the evolution of how the Trisolarans impacted Earth’s trajectory through the course of dueling timelines set in both contemporary times and the 1960s. It not only offers insight into two different stages in history in which global politics had changed, but also shows how humanity’s development of new technologies has only allowed it to have short-term achievements while being ignorant of the looming threat of extinction. These two storylines are blended seamlessly by the character of Dr. Ye Wenjie, played by Rosalind Chao and Zine Tseng, an astrophysicist whose relationship with the Trisolarans takes a shocking twist. The reveal is well-orchestrated because of the show’s dedication to reflecting the realities of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, and for the added depth to Wenjie’s companion Mike Evans, played by both Jonathan Pryce and Ben Schnetzer.

‘3 Body Problem’ Deals With Both Philosophy and Science

Despite the jaw-dropping scale used to render the VR set pieces, 3 Body Problem raises compelling existential questions about the laws of nature and how they pertain to life on Earth. Although it's a show that deals with theoretical ideas, 3 Body Problem is ultimately an argument on behalf of persistence that examines how creativity has become as great of an asset as knowledge. It’s no coincidence that Clarence Shi (Benedict Wong), one of the main protagonists, is just as intelligent as he is compassionate.

As dangerous as it can be for shows to tease future installments when it’s not confirmed when they will return, 3 Body Problem is a smart adaptation that already began setting up later seasons. The creation of the Wallfacer Project, which is designed as a last resort to save humanity after the disastrous Panama Canal debacle, is set up by the end of the first season, even though it doesn't appear until the second novel within Liu’s series. The second book, The Dark Forest, is ripe for adaptation and has exciting potential, as the titular concept became so impactful that it influenced actual scientific theories about mankind’s lack of contact with alien species.

3 Body Problem doesn’t necessarily have a premise that can be easily reduced to a simple logline, but it's to the credit of Benioff and Weiss that they put faith in an audience to respond to the material. As massive as the show’s budget may seem, it’s hard not to look at the depth and scope of 3 Body Problem and see that the money was well spent. 3 Body Problem is not only valuable as a wholly unique work of sci-fi storytelling, but a rare piece of media that invites discussion and debate.