Have you heard of the Fermi Paradox? It goes something like this: given the unimaginable vastness of the universe, the likelihood of the existence of extraterrestrial life is highly likely, so how come we haven’t been contacted by these extraterrestrials? Where is everybody?
“3 Body Problem,” adapted from Cixin Liu’s “Remembrance of Earth’s Past Trilogy”, is an eight-episode sci-fi thriller that captures the audience in a riveting, multifaceted story about the looming threat of advanced aliens, science, mortality, and the consequences of war.
The first two episodes flawlessly set up the mystery that would eventually unravel. Following two timelines, one in the 1960s in China, and the other in modern day England, we see how the stories of each character converge.
The cast of characters was wonderfully diverse, each of who created some sort of reaction out of me; all the way from crying on the floor to laughing to flipping off my tv. The characters we see most prominently throughout are Dr. Ye Winjie, Mr. Wade, Clarence, Saul, Jack, Jin, Auggie, Will, and Tatiana.
My favorite characters were, without a doubt, Clarence and Will. Clarence is the primary detective or spy who follows all the main characters. He’s funny, often overlooked, and has a layer of complexity in his relationship with his son that isn’t quite fully fleshed out, but nonetheless, made his character captivate me.
Will, another funny character, is put into a situation that adds another important theme and conflict to the storyline and, for me, really grounded the show, to make it more relatable and realistic… even though it’s ultimately about aliens potentially coexisting with humans.
One of my favorite aspects of the show that I hope to see more of in the next two seasons, was the “video game” (comparable to our modern day virtual reality) that Jin and Jack were invited to play. This game ended up being a critical clue for the mystery of the plot and comes back around even after the mystery of the game is solved… perhaps implying that there’s more to it.
In addition to compelling characters, a plot that forces you to binge watch the show, and extremely convincing CGI, I found that with each web that was satisfyingly untangled from within the plot, it was impossible to keep my mind from thinking about the deeper meaning behind the story as a whole and the reaction of the society who were living in the story.
Honestly, I’m not an avid sci-fi fan, but this show is for anyone. I couldn’t find one aspect that wasn’t enjoyable, but more importantly, I think there’s something we can all learn and take away from the characters and situations they overcame, as well as the situations they didn’t.
Have you read our other reviews?
- The Clarion Reviews: Annie Bot
- The Clarion Reviews: Helldivers 2
- The Clarion Reviews: Bridgerton Season 3
- The Clarion Reviews: Dune Part 2
(Featured Image from Netflix)
Written by Macey Heys, Managing Editor
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