The reason why scientists continue to take their own lives is a mystery to everyone. This is the core enigma that is introduced at the beginning of the new Netflix series 3 Body Problem, which is based on a trilogy of science fiction novels written by Cixin Liu, a Chinese novelist.
However, it quickly develops into something far more significant: There are flashbacks to revolutionary China, shadowy millionaires, and odd cults, as well as a virtual reality video game that is shrouded in mystery.
In all honesty, however, it is all about physics. In China, Liu's novels are extremely well-liked, and among English-language readers, they have a smaller but equally devoted following. However, these novels are classified as hard science fiction, meaning that they are heavy on concept and weak on character.
More than once in the series, someone resorts to bringing out a chalkboard in order to make their point, and there are scenes in the books that appear to be impossible to film. These scenes include multidimensional structures collapsing in on themselves, a computer made up of millions of soldiers, nano-wires cutting through steel, diamond, and flesh.
When it came to adapting The Three-Body Problem for the big screen, showrunners David Benioff, D. B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo faced a different kind of obstacle than they had faced before. Benioff and Weiss are most well-known for their work on Game of Thrones, while Woo appeared as a writer on the HBO series True Blood.
The television series Thrones, which is based on the fantasy saga A Song of Ice and Fire written by George R. R. Martin, became a once-in-a-decade phenomenon, but it did not quite make it. In certain parts of the internet, the names Benioff and Weiss are on par with those of Joffrey Baratheon.
As a result, folks who are contemplating whether or not to watch their new show can feel some form of apprehension. However, 3 Body Problem contains all of the elements that contributed to the riveting nature of the first few seasons of Game of Thrones: jaw-dropping set pieces, a web of interpersonal turmoil, and an existential threat that is slowly making its way toward the gates.
Benioff, Weiss, and Woo were interviewed by WIRED to discuss the difficulties associated with adapting a series that was previously considered to be unadaptable.
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