Netflix’s 3 Body Problem Gets Surprising Reviews That Have Fans Worried
Ever since the upcoming Netflix original series 3 Body Problem was first announced, fans have been eagerly anticipating the science fiction series with cautious optimism.
The show, which was created by Game of Thrones creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, in collaboration with True Blood writer Alexander Woo, is slated to premiere on the streamer next week, with preliminary reviews just starting to roll in.
Unfortunately, critics have given the series mixed reviews, resulting in a 75 percent Rotten Tomatoes score at the time of this writing.
Mixed Track Record
David Benioff and D.B. Weiss have a mixed track record at this point, as their massive success on Game of Thrones gave way to one of the most controversial series finales of all time.
The pair were originally slated to helm an untitled Star Wars film in the aftermath of the hit HBO show’s conclusion, though the project died on the vine amidst Disney restructuring the franchise.
Now, the writing and producing duo have an opportunity to redeem themselves or solidify their status as television poison with the upcoming release of 3 Body Problem.
Pacing And Material
Unfortunately, things seem to be leaning more toward the latter, as 3 Body Problem‘s earliest reviews leave a lot to be desired.
One Rotten Tomatoes review left by a writer for the Chicago Reader states “The background material is weak, and the new ideas are virtually all depressingly familiar.”
Others have slammed the series for its pacing, stating “3 Body Problem moves at a brisk, often breakneck speed to convey a sense of spectacle and awe.
But in the process, it sacrifices the thing that made Three-Body so singular in the first place: the science.”
Based On The Novel
3 Body Problem is based on the Chinese novel of the same name, and has previously been adapted in the Chinese market under the title Three-Body.
The series centers on an astrophysicist named Ye Wenjie, who works for the military in a secret, highly remote base far from civilization.
Wenjie’s delicate work at the military base creates a powerful ripple effect, which echoes through space and time, all while she struggles to overcome the trauma of seeing her father brutally killed during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s.
Existential Threat To Humanity
In addition to focusing on Wenjie’s story in the late 20th century, the plot connects with a group of modern day scientists, who are facing an existential threat to humanity.
Current reviews of 3 Body Problem highlight details such as the series’ ambition, existential horror concepts, and scope as major successes, despite other significant issues.
One TV Guide reviewer said of the series “3 Body Problem functions perfectly well on a character level, so if you’re happy to accept a healthy dose of scientific malarkey, then you’re golden.”
Solid Series With Minor Issues?
By all accounts, 3 Body Problem is a solid series, which suffers from a number of minor issues.
If fans go into the Netflix original adaptation with an open mind they may find themselves enjoying the show, though furious Game of Thrones superfans will still have plenty of critiques to lob at David Benioff and D.B. Weiss for their wishy-washy leadership on the show.
3 Body Problem On Netflix
A Rotten Tomatoes review from IGN Movies perfectly summarizes this dichotomy, with an 8/10 review which reads “3 Body Problem reworks Cixin Liu’s mammoth book trilogy for a wider audience to great success, though it may annoy some viewers with its far-out sci-fi and speed-of-light plot machinations.
Likewise, a ‘rotten’ review from Rolling Stone says “Even with these various smart deviations from the source material, the show’s first season is middling drama at best. And while the interplanetary spectacle is meant to be grand, little of it comes close to replicating the awe [from Game of Thrones].
Luckily, the series is slated to premiere very soon, allowing fans across the world to form their own opinion, regardless of whether they’re still harboring a bad taste from the Game of Thrones conclusion. 3 Body Problem premieres on Netflix on March 21.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes
