The latest venture from David Benioff and DB Weiss, renowned for their work on Game of Thrones, has landed on Netflix with the adaptation of Liu Cixin’s intricate sci-fi masterpiece, “The Three-Body Problem,” the inaugural installment of the “Remembrance of Earth’s Past” trilogy. Renamed “3 Body Problem” for the screen, this eight-part series kicks off with a gripping portrayal of a Maoist struggle, where a distinguished physics professor faces the wrath of Chinese Cultural Revolution zealots for espousing Western scientific principles. The brutal scene unfolds with his wife’s denouncement as he is fatally attacked on stage, witnessed by his horrified daughter and protégé, Ye Wenjie (played by Zine Tseng).
The narrative unfolds across timelines, tracing Ye Wenjie’s journey from a forced labor camp in Inner Mongolia to a secretive scientific project on the outskirts, where her astrophysical expertise becomes indispensable. Meanwhile, in the present day, global particle accelerators defy established physical laws, leading to a wave of mysterious deaths among eminent scientists. Investigating these apparent suicides is ex-cop Da Shi (portrayed by Benedict Wong), reporting to the enigmatic Thomas Wade (played by Liam Cunningham), affiliated with a clandestine authority determined to safeguard humanity’s future, or so it seems.
A pivotal death reunites five former students of the deceased professor, including underachieving genius Saul (Jovan Adepo), groundbreaking engineer Auggie (Eiza González), theoretical physicist Jin (Jess Hong), former lover Will (Alex Sharp), and wealthy entrepreneur Jack (John Bradley). The late professor’s connection to Vera Ye (Vedette Lim), daughter of the slain physicist, sets off a chain of interconnected events, blending past traumas with present enigmas.
As the story unfolds, Auggie confronts visions foretelling her demise unless she abandons her groundbreaking nanofibre research. A complex virtual reality game emerges, entwined with the deaths of Vera and other scientists. Characters with uncanny knowledge and mysterious motives add layers of intrigue, alongside explanations of esoteric physics concepts, orbital mechanics, and enigmatic signals.
Despite its compelling narrative and visual appeal, “3 Body Problem” struggles to bridge the emotional gap inherent in its source material, revered for its abstract complexity. While the series delves into themes of human resilience and the looming climate crisis metaphorically, it occasionally falters in establishing relatable emotional anchors. Nonetheless, with stellar performances, including Jonathan Pryce’s entry as reclusive tycoon Mike Evans, the series maintains a steady pace of revelations, unraveling the motives of extraordinary forces and their summoners.
In conclusion, “3 Body Problem” showcases Benioff, Weiss, and collaborator Alexander Woo’s mastery in adapting intricate narratives, proving once more that no literary challenge is insurmountable for skilled storytellers, even if it falls short of becoming Netflix’s next Game of Thrones-esque phenomenon.
