3-Body Problem

[Repdetect]

I read about 1/3 of the first book, fond it too slow, never finished.
I had read all the Hugo & Nebula Award winners while in college, no problem.
Started watching the version (Chinese) on Amazon, way too boring and I thought acting wasn't very good (could be a cultural issue).
Started Netflix version, first episodes a bit slow, but by the 3&4th episodes I liked it a lot and loved the last episodes. More poignant than GOT.
Highly recommended... to the end.

 

[holdingpants01]

I finished it yesterday and it was worse than I thought at first, obvious plot holes in the main story, cringy characters, wooden dialogs, cheesy ending, I'm not waiting for another season and hopefully I will erase it from my memory in a week

 

[ExPerfectionist]

theres one bit that had me incredulous

to avoid spoilers they had to retrieve an article from an enemy ship and they go about it in any extremely novel and violent manner that results in huge loss of innocent life and materiel

also the name of the ship is hugely 'on the nose'

in a normal world they would rappel in seal team six off a stealth blackhawk or use rubber zodiacs with machine guns to intercept in the dead of night but these guys???

let us use some space age tech to annihilate a ship and everyone on board... in broad daylight

ALSO Auggie is the only one who objects to this apparent war crime which is odd...

As with everything, this part is much more in-depth in the book. But they deliberated a lot over the plans because unless they were able to get everyone quickly and silently and without alarm, there was the risk of someone destroying (with 1000~ people on the ship) the hard drive before they could get to it. The spacing of the wires was even so that it wouldn't miss anyone even if they were laying down asleep. In the book I think they were probably a foot apart, not like 3~ feet on the show.

Also FYI, there's a

Spoiler: spoiler tag

spoiler tag

you can use to write things out and hide them. In the bar at the top of the reply box, it's on the right side, the eye with the line through it, between the quote mark and the Insert Table icon.

 

[Mr_RGB]

I'm a big fan of the book Trilogy. I think they did very well with humanizing the characters from the books that were rather one dimensional and not very sympathetic. I'm glad they seem to be including most of the crazy thought experiment level "science" like the "Sophons". This makes me hopeful that they will keep in some of the even crazier science fantasy found in the 2nd and 3rd books. Overall I was impressed with the adaptation.

 

[FrantzM]

Not started it yet, I’m currently watching Constellation on Apple TV, up to episode 7 with final episode this Wednesday and it’s quite a mind f**k but worth watching, kinda similar premise to 3body problem I expect.

Started watching it last Friday. May have to open a thread on "Constellation".. I am at Episode 4, refusing hard to binge..
It is very, very good.
People! Do take notice, in spite of spiking cost of Video Streaming, we are living still in a golden age of Video Shows.. Call it "TV" if you will..
Triple Wow for "Constellation:, so far..
Acting seems to be well above 3-Body's. Yes a mind-f**#k

Peace

 

[eddantes]

Did not enjoy it. Didn't connect with any characters. Didn't get hooked by the story. Nice production, but ultimatly found it boring.

 

[Somafunk]

Started watching it last Friday. May have to open a thread on "Constellation".. I am at Episode 4, refusing hard to binge..
It is very, very good.
People! Do take notice, in spite of spiking cost of Video Streaming, we are living still in a golden age of Video Shows.. Call it "TV" if you will..
Triple Wow for "Constellation:, so far..
Acting seems to be well above 3-Body's. Yes a mind-f**#k

Peace

Have you watched DEVS - quantum bit computing, the many worlds scenario, keeping you glued till the end then rewatching again

 

[ryanosaur]

1 episode in. I’m intrigued and will continue. The Lady, not so much.

 

[Multicore]

In the end Gav and I concluded:

- the Netflix version is somewhere between Friends and Kingsman
- the Chinese version looks better, is unbelievably slow, which Gav likes, but I got frustrated with in ep3, might give it another go since the sfx are wonderfully low budget
- the German radio adaptation is very good
- Gav says the books are a good read, and I believe him, and put them in my todo
- the best thing about the Netflix version is that after introducing these enormously annoying Friends it kills most of them. Unfortunately we have to endure the survivors being sad after each death/failed-brain-launch.

 

[WillBrink]

Hi

Watching this new series on Netflix. Trying hard not to binge watch, something I don't usually do. I read the book a while back and don't remember it very well.... I find the show very, very , very good... even superb, yet, the reviews are .. well ... not that enthusiastic.. It seems that the Show/Series/Movies must stick to the book to be deemed good... This series doesn't, but stands on its own and is a must watch... So far at episode 5, I looove it..

What do you think People!

Peace

I didn't make it passed E4. As a scifi nerd all the way, I was really hoping for a new series to enjoy. I may try another go at it, but I found the characters annoying and not believable and the suspension of disbelief pushed too far.

 

[Multicore]

I didn't make it passed E4. As a scifi nerd all the way, I was really hoping for a new series to enjoy. I may try another go at it, but I found the characters annoying and not believable and the suspension of disbelief pushed too far.

As a scifi nerd, you may like the Chinese version. You gotta deal with subtitles but otherwise it has the advantages of not being set in England but in China, being closer to the book, and lacking the monumentally annoying quintet of English Friends and their long-form pro-forma emoting.

 

[TonyJZX]

there's this:

THREE-BODY DISEMBIGGENED - 6 Hour fan-edit video of The Three Body Problem

i personally feel even trudging thru this is quite an ordeal

 

[Multicore]

there's this:

THREE-BODY DISEMBIGGENED - 6 Hour fan-edit video of The Three Body Problem

i personally feel even trudging thru this is quite an ordeal

well, yeah, the Chinese TV version is 30 episodes of 45 minutes each and that just does the first book. but if, like me, you like a daily dose of anesthetic TV before bedtime ... and it might save you having to dredge for something else to watch too soon.

 

[thegeton]

"...but if, like me, you like a daily dose of anesthetic TV before bedtime..."

Love this phrase! Gonna introduce it to Mrs. Thegeton...

 

[kemmler3D]

In the books, the slow burn mystery really works in its favor and makes you want to read on to find out what happens. The way Liu writes works well in this regard, even translated. That vibe didn't translate well to the show IMO. I don't think the Netflix adaptation was bad compared to the books per se, but I agree that they didn't nail the pacing.

 

[Multicore]

In the books, the slow burn mystery really works in its favor and makes you want to read on to find out what happens. The way Liu writes works well in this regard, even translated

Gav said in our ep on the phenomenon that the books have good characterization, often not there in scifi and better than in the Netflix adaptation, and that the hard scifi technical exposition was actually interesting, and Gav's a professional musician who failed o-grade arithmetic: as non technical as it gets. That all sounds pretty enjoyable to me.

 

[ExPerfectionist]

I've only read the first book so far. I enjoyed the story and premise a lot, but found it dry and clinical, not much emotion or human connection, tension. I felt the Netflix adaptation added in some humanity and connection between characters, less dry than the book. (and some of the human characters in season 1 were pulled into S1 from later books, to tie things together more, apparently). So I find it interesting to see people here complain about the Netflix show having feelings and emotions and showing people that act like humans with feelings...

 

[Multicore]

I've only read the first book so far. I enjoyed the story and premise a lot, but found it dry and clinical, not much emotion or human connection, tension. I felt the Netflix adaptation added in some humanity and connection between characters, less dry than the book. (and some of the human characters in season 1 were pulled into S1 from later books, to tie things together more, apparently). So I find it interesting to see people here complain about the Netflix show having feelings and emotions and showing people that act like humans with feelings...

Feelings and emotions are good in literature and drama. I thought those added to the Netflix version were pro forma, written by committee, and rote, iow, badly written, directed and acted.

 

[tmtomh]

The books are far better than the Netflix show. But I still enjoyed the Netflix show for what it is: a distillation and simplification of the book, with the obvious added benefits of jumping off the page with sight and sound. Personally I think it's a more competently done show than what seems to be the consensus here, but to each their own.

I would say that if you have not read the books and are really into sci-fi, then this show is an extremely poor substitute. But as a supplement if you've already read the books, or as an appetizer to get you into the books, I think it works nicely.

 

[Piraya]

I viewed the Tencent production early on, and while I had some problems with initial episodes, I stuck with it.
Far as I know, it is still on YouTube (4K) with excellent subtitles.
My review from 2023 09 23

Three-Body - 2023 - China​

Three-Body - 2023 - 7/10
AKA - San ti // 三体

Across the globe, leading research scientists are committing suicide.
Police officer Qiang is assigned to protect nanoscientist, Wang Miao.



Which draws both men into a clandestine organization, the Frontiers Of Science.
Into conspiracy, ultimately an invasion.
Very heady SciFi series from China demands an early degree of patience.
Thirty episodes, of which the first 10 feel padded.
Why show a 30 second scene, when you can stretch it to 2 minutes?
Likewise repeat a scene over and over, with various angles, so the audience "gets it".
The characters are somewhat over-the-top and unlikable at this point, too.
Trust me here, the show settles down and the narrative tightens considerably.
Especially whenever the focus shifts to the Cultural Revolution and the Red Coast base.


Therein lie the seeds for human annihilation.
There is VR gameplay involved and the retro flat CGI is fun.
Science, math, physics and equations throughout.
Outstanding adaptation of Liu Cixin’s novel.
The entire S01 is currently available from Tencent in 4K, with excellent subtitles.