"Three-Body" is the new sci-fi series based on the Hugo Award winning novel "The Three-Body Problem" by Liu Cixin. The 30 episode Chinese series is subtitled and accurately follows the book, I'm going back and forth between reading the novel to watching an episode.
The story starts at the beginning of China's Cultural Revolution in the 1960's and continues into the far future, often described as a history of humanity from the point of first contact with an alien civilization all the way to the end of the universe. The series starts at around page 50 in the book, then goes back in time. It is a little confusing but go with the flow, all will explained, usually many times.
The acting is a bit stilted by US premiere series standards but on par for Chinese blockbusters like "The Wandering Earth" (the sequel is coming soon). I am about halfway through the series, it has lots of thoughtful, puzzled looks along with math and science theories, it's a thinking persons sci-fi series. I'm at episode 16 and so far no car chases, ray guns, scary aliens, explosions or anything else that is a common element in American Hollywood science fiction films.
The series does have excellent episodes during which the characters play "Three-Body," an immersive 3-D game that is integral to the story line.
Three-Body has elements of the Southern Reach Trilogy By Jeff VanderMeer (Annihilation, Authority, Acceptance). How to discover and fight a superior alien species that can't be seen except through their actions.
Read the novel and watch the series to be totally immersed in another time and place. My book review:
https://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=134848.msg1940371#msg1940371NY Times has a review of the Chinese series:
‘Three-Body’ Review: A Chinese Series Beats Netflix to the ScreenA 30-episode adaptation of the celebrated science-fiction novel “The Three-Body Problem” is premiering simultaneously in China and on the American streamer Rakuten Viki.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/03/arts/television/three-body-review.htmlWatch the trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqK2oDPzfx4"Three-Body." In Chinese with English and other subtitles
https://www.viki.com/tv/39255c-three-bodyand youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrLompD6e_kRotten Tomatoes is so behind the curve that the series is not on their website.
Another reason to read the books and watch this series is Netflix is currently making their blockbuster version due out sometime in 2023. Made with a mix of white and Asian actors, the Netflix series will probably have more car chases, ray guns, scary aliens, and explosions.
The Netflix blog has more info
https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/three-body-problem-first-look
