3 Body Problem is a grand and humane sci-fi epic

Adapted from the colossal trilogy of books by Liu Cixin, 3 Body Problem was already one of my most anticipated series of the year.

The books are a dense mosaic of humanity facing an unimaginable threat that spans from our recent history to eons into the future. But, above all, they’re deeply humane, and full of memorable characters who you come to care about.

They’re not easy adaptations, though. Cixin’s prose is tech-heavy and dense, and the further the story gets, the more abstract its depictions of time and space become. Any adaptation has to first build a solid foundation of realism and humanity before attempting the wild, mind-bending futurism that’s in store.

Luckily, that’s exactly what the new series by D.B. Weiss, David Benioff, and Alexander Woo nails perfectly. For every bit of eye-popping insanity, 3 Body Problem delivers genuinely compelling human drama that made me well up more than once. Propelled by a winning cast of soon-to-be-stars and some returning faces from Game of Thrones, this is a big, brilliant, and beautiful sci-fi epic that was worth the wait.

Smartly blending in plot threads from all three books, 3 Body Problem is a continent-hopping mystery that unfolds on a global, yet surprisingly intimate scale. It begins in the chaos of the Chinese Cultural Revolution and continues to present day, where it becomes clear that thinking of time on a scale of one human lifespan simply won’t do anymore.

At the heart of the thriller is the heartbreaking story of friends coming together, drifting apart, and changing drastically as global events thrust them into historic limelight. As third-party viewers, we obviously get more of the bigger picture than they do, which sometimes makes for frustrating viewing. I wanted to yell at the characters to forget their petty grievances, there is an entire universe to uncover!

But Weiss, Benioff, and Woo understand the dramatic irony, and they mine it superbly. As humans, we’re prone to missing the woods from the trees. By the time we do, it’s usually too late. These little tragedies, happy accidents, and fleeting moments of tenderness become lighthouses in time, as the world suddenly is a far larger place than anyone could have anticipated.

The MVPs are easy to spot. John Bradley and Alex Sharp are the huge beating heart of the series, delivering some of the biggest tearjerkers and laughs. Liam Cunningham lets loose as the mysterious Wade, who is so many steps ahead of everyone else that it annoys him. Benedict Wong lends his scruffy charm to a surprisingly tragic and tender role, and Jonathan Pryce is deliciously evil, at which he always excels.

If there’s one complaint that I can’t shake, it’s that at just 8 episodes, 3 Body Problem moves a bit too fast for its own good. Some plot points go by so quick, they lack the room to really breathe. It feels intentional, though. As if to make a point about how time has become a commodity we suddenly don’t have. In retrospect, I’ve come to appreciate it more.

Yet that’s not how most will view the series. Especially those who will binge it in a few sittings. For them, the breathless pacing can feel overwhelming. In a different world, 3 Body Problem would unfold on a weekly basis. Forcing us to converse and speculate about the future. I can’t help but imagine that as a far better way to experience the series.

That said, in the scope of things, these complaints are minor.

I’ve now watched the entire season twice, and returned to my favorite parts more times than I can count. I love the books, and the series captures the vivid portrait of our past, present, and future better than I could have dared to hope.

It’s a stunning achievement that showcases the best of both Cixin’s prose and the natural crowd pleasing style of Benioff and Weiss. I can’t wait for a second season.

3 Body Problem premieres on Netflix on March 21, 2024.