3 Body Problem Review: Netflix's New, Immersive Sci-Fi Epic Might Be Its Next Flagship Series (2024)

There are many moving parts in Netflix's 3 Body Problem, but the series manages to make them all work, creating a complex, rich tapestry of events that make up an excellent first season for this sci-fi epic. The final seasons of Game of Thrones saw a quality dip from the series' heyday, and while some might be on the fence about watching 3 Body Problem due to how showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss handled Game of Thrones' ending, the pair, alongside 3 Body Problem's third showrunner, Alexander Woo, deliver a masterful journey into sci-fi with Netflix's new series.

4.5

3 Body Problem is a Netflix original series from Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, along with Alexander Woo. Based on the novel of the same name by Liu Cixin, 3 Body Problem centers on a detective who joins forces with a group of scientists after an unknown force begins killing scientists around the world.

Pros

• The Netflix series presents plenty of twists and turns
• 3 Body Problem's stakes are as high as they can be
• A well-rounded ensemble grounds the sci-fi series

Cons

• VFX looks wonky at times
• Some supporting characters get lost amid an expansive cast

See Also

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3 Body Problem is an adaptation of the first book in author Liu Cixin's "Remembrance of Earth's Past" series. The Netflix show carries the name of the first book in the writer's acclaimed series of novels: The Three-Body Problem. As they showed during their time on Game of Thrones, Benioff and Weiss excel at adapting existing source material into must-watch TV. With True Blood's Woo helping bring the Netflix series to life, 3 Body Problem succeeds in telling a story with time and space ramifications that leaves you questioning what it really means to be human.

3 Body Problem Manages To Make A Complex Story Exciting Without Dumbing It Down

A lot of movies and series these days try to make things exceptionally obvious for viewers to understand. While Netflix's latest major release could have easily opted to follow that path, as 3 Body Problem's story is dense and deals with a lot of scientific elements and dialogue, the series challenges its audience to keep up with the many geniuses at work on the screen. 3 Body Problem is made better for it, as it pushes the audience to truly get lost in the series' world and try to understand the sheer magnitude of the events presented by the show.

3 Body Problem introduces a series of mysteries throughout its first season, with twists and turns that keep the story engaging and make the audience fear for the show's core cast of characters at all times. While the series is deeply embedded in the sci-fi realm, inherent human emotions such as love, fear, and the need to try to understand where we belong in the world help keep 3 Body Problem's expansive ideas grounded in a sense of realism. The show's more quiet moments are just as engrossing as its major set pieces.

The Netflix series does fail in the VFX department at times, though most of the effects range from serviceable to visually astonishing. 3 Body Problem's more action-oriented elements work well and serve to showcase the urgency of the story's stakes. The show hinges on a group of scientists in the present who suddenly find themselves affected by one woman's decision in 1960s China. With a strong ensemble cast, the sci-fi epic manages to give each of its core characters their time to shine, with some players specifically becoming standouts.

Liam Cunningham & Benedict Wong Are 3 Body Problem's Stars

The Netflix series' cast delivers as a strong ensemble.

3 Body Problem features a great roster of characters, with two timelines informing the series' events. In the present, a group of tight-knit scientists serve as the main players in the series — Jovan Adepo as Saul Durand, John Bradley as Jack Rooney, Eiza González as Auggie Salazar, Jess Hong as Jin Chen, and Alex Sharp as Will Downing. All the characters get their chance to shine, going from the series' background to the foreground, and vice versa, as the story moves along.

While that helps rotate the focus of the story on what is truly an ensemble show, some characters end up being cast aside after the series had already done the work to make them matter. González's Auggie has a depth to her that many of the actresses' other roles had not yet shown so far, allowing the star to shine in key moments. That said, Hong's Jin Chen might be the best character out of the series' main group, with the actress delivering an emotional performance that helps propel the series to new heights.

While 3 Body Problem has an incredible ensemble cast, there are two stars who stand out throughout the season. Liam Cunningham takes control of every scene he is in as the to-the-point Thomas Wade, who wastes no time letting what he thinks get across and does so with captivating flair. Benedict Wong, most famously known as the Marvel Cinematic Universe's current Sorcerer Supreme, also delivers a compelling turn as the unorthodox Da Shi. After a season of major reveals and strong character development, 3 Body Problem's ending will likely leave viewers wanting season 2 instantly.