“3 Body Problem” Debuts on Netflix
Showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are making a return to television with 3 Body Problem, a sprawling ensemble cast sci-fi which debuted on Netflix this week. The series was co-created with writer Alexander Woo and based upon the Chinese novel The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin. Benioff and Weiss face high expectations following their monumental success as the showrunners for HBO’s Game of Thrones – and monumental controversy as the architects of the show’s poorly-received final season. With 3 Body Problem, the collaborators angle for redemption by tackling another epic genre series adaptation. It is unclear whether the series will continue to follow Cixin’s Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy going forward.
What to Expect
3 Body Problem delivers dark, cerebral drama for fans of grounded science fiction. The story follows an ensemble cast whose connections become increasingly clear; a political prisoner in 1960s China, a brilliant inventor plagued by visions, a detective trying to piece together the seemingly connected deaths of the world’s best scientists. Fans can expect significantly less sex and violence than Game of Thrones, though squeamish viewers be warned there are several graphic depictions of suicide. The series touches on a variety of hot-button issues, including politics, religion, and environmentalism,
In one major departure from the book, 3 Body Problem shifts the modern-day timelines from the original setting in China to England. The series has garnered some criticism for white-washing characters who were originally written to be Chinese. The cast includes Game of Thrones alumni Liam Cunningham, Jonathan Pryce, and John Bradley, as well as Eiza González, Alex Sharp, Jovan Adepo, Jess Hong and Doctor Strange star Benedict Wong.
3 Body Problem is available for streaming on Netflix starting March 21st.