3 Body Problem

[BusSport]

3 Body Problem is based on a series of science fiction novels by Liu Cixin called Remembrance of Earth's Past that was originally published in Chinese and then translated into English. The book series is highly-acclaimed, with the first book, The Three-Body Problem, after which this show is named, being the only foreign-language novel to ever win the Hugo Award for Best Novel, the most prestigious award in science fiction (along with the Nebula).

I've read the books, and the novels are incredible and extraordinary. However, I'm wary toward this television adaptation because it's being adapted by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the same pair that adapted Game of Thrones, and we all know how that series turned out.

All 8 episodes of the first season were released last week on Thursday, March 21, 2024. I'm going to try and watch this series later this week if I have time and hope it turns out better than GoT did.

Teaser:

 

[BusSport]

Trailer:

 

[BusSport]

Final trailer:

 

[BusSport]

Eye poster:

 

[BusSport]

Antenna poster:

 

[selkies ftw]

Anybody watching this? It’s probably my favorite sci fi series I’ve ever read but I’m hesitant to trust anything made by D&D or really any major book series after the abomination that is the Amazon Wheel of Time show.

 

[selkies ftw]

There is already a Chinese version of the show that came out last year and while I haven’t finished it, I found the characters to be exceptionally well cast and the show enjoyable. If the Netflix one sucks then you can always try it.

 

[TKOSpikes]

I very much enjoyed the Netflix version.
The difference here being that this series is complete, so D&D don't have empty space to work with.

 

[Sparhawk]

Finished the season over the weekend.
Great concepts and ideas.

As far as Benioff and Weiss, @TKOSpikes nailed it with GoT.
Things fell apart when they ran out of source material in those later seasons.
3BP is complete, so this is all about adaptation which is where B&W excel.

I have not read the books or read up on it, so I don't know what happens.
Just sucks that we have to wait a few more seasons (years) to see how this all plays out.

For the old timers out there, I was getting Last Starfighter vibes from this, but I guess in reverse?

 

[BusSport]

This adaptation is excellent. I will echo what others have said in that it appears Benioff & Weiss do amazing as long as they have written books to work with; things just fall apart for them when they run out of books and have to make up their own fanfiction.

I do think Netflix made a mistake in releasing the entire season at once. I think they would have been better off it they released it week by week to build up fan discussion and weekly word-of-mouth like Shogun and Game of Thrones.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

I've just started with this series and like it a lot. Great concepts in this show, I enjoy a good Sci-fi series/movie/book and this deliverers.

 

[flyerhawk]

I enjoyed this show. A little loosy goosy with their show logic but interesting ideas.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

Trailer:

They make fat lips smoke, and she shouldn’t smoke because she doesn’t smoke, and she looks like a fool trying to fake it.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

I’ve watched all eight episodes now. I’m still waiting for something to happen. Something monumental.

 

[Locke888]

Looks like we have to wait 400 years for season 2

 

[BusSport]

Renewed! (Though it's unclear whether this will be a full season or a miniseries or even a one-shot special as happened with Sense8.)

 

[calsnowskier]

Renewed! (Though it's unclear whether this will be a full season or a miniseries or even a one-shot special as happened with Sense8.)

It did good numbers, didn’t it? And the first season pretty much hit the entirety of the first book, right? I don’t see why they would continue the format and do book 2 for season 2.

Keep in mind that I have not read the books. I have been VERY minorly spoiled on some yet-to-come aspects…

Spoiler

I know that the aliens are essentially insects and I know that they alter their course to pick up Will’s brain.

But outside of that, I have no idea if the next books will translate well to a show or not.

Sense8 was given a final “movie” because there wasn’t a lot left to tell, and Netflix, politically, wanted to do right by the Wachowski siblings. I don’t think any of those issues are at play here.

 

[BusSport]

It did good numbers, didn’t it? And the first season pretty much hit the entirety of the first book, right? I don’t see why they would continue the format and do book 2 for season 2.

Keep in mind that I have not read the books. I have been VERY minorly spoiled on some yet-to-come aspects…

Spoiler

I know that the aliens are essentially insects and I know that they alter their course to pick up Will’s brain.

But outside of that, I have no idea if the next books will translate well to a show or not.

Sense8 was given a final “movie” because there wasn’t a lot left to tell, and Netflix, politically, wanted to do right by the Wachowski siblings. I don’t think any of those issues are at play here.

You've seen it now? Awesome! What'd you think of the show?

Unfortunately, the numbers for 3BP actually weren't great, hence why renewal was in some doubt. The ratings by themselves would be fairly decent except that the show is extremely expensive, the highest per-episode average for Netflix at $20 million per episode. By comparison, the other two hyped prestige shows already released this year, Amazon's Fallout and FX/Hulu's Shogun, each only cost $10-15 million per episode, and both have absolutely crushed 3BP in streaming views and social media presence.

Netflix usually gives some indication of the size of the renewal when they announce a renewal. They gave no such information this time with 3 Body Problem, which is what has led to speculation that it will be a reduced/short order.

 

[calsnowskier]

You've seen it now? Awesome! What'd you think of the show?

Unfortunately, the numbers for 3BP actually weren't great, hence why renewal was in some doubt. The ratings by themselves would be fairly decent except that the show is extremely expensive, the highest per-episode average for Netflix at $20 million per episode. By comparison, the other two hyped prestige shows already released this year, Amazon's Fallout and FX/Hulu's Shogun, each only cost $10-15 million per episode, and both have absolutely crushed 3BP in streaming views and social media presence.

Netflix usually gives some indication of the size of the renewal when they announce a renewal. They gave no such information this time with 3 Body Problem, which is what has led to speculation that it will be a reduced/short order.

I enjoyed it. It dragged a little at parts, but not enough to really complain. I will certainly watch a S2.

 

[BusSport]

Netflix usually gives some indication of the size of the renewal when they announce a renewal. They gave no such information this time with 3 Body Problem, which is what has led to speculation that it will be a reduced/short order.

Size of the renewal now clarified: the show will get 3 seasons total, thus presumably adapting each book in the main series!