3 Body Problem: 7 Things you should know before binge-watching the Netflix series

Despite a relatively lacklustre premiere on Netflix, 3 Body Problem has steadily climbed to the top of the global streaming charts. The streaming giant is reportedly heavily invested in the success of the series as they have ambitious plans to release multiple seasons in the future. So before you start binge-watching this gripping narrative that will keep you interested in a complex sci-fi thriller, here are seven things you should know.

1. 3 Body Problem is based on Chinese author’s Liu Cixin's acclaimed trilogy of novels, Remembrance of Earth's Past. The three novels are titled, The Three-Body Problem, The Dark Forest, and Death’s End. The first season of the Netflix series is inspired by all three novels, and follows a more linear storytelling unlike the novels.
2. The series is helmed by David Benioff, D. B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo. Benioff and Weiss, popularly known as D and D, are best known for helming HBO’s hit series, Game of Thrones. Several notable Game of Thrones stars including John Bradley, Liam Cunningham, and Jonathan Pryce, play prominent characters in 3 Body Problem. Jovan Adepo, Rosalind Chao, Eiza González, Jess Hong, Marlo Kelly, Alex Sharp, and Benedict Wong among others play other prominent roles in the new series.
3. The showrunners and writers of 3 Body Problem have opted to set the story across various parts of the globe, with London being the primary setting. However, the novels feature a predominantly Chinese setting.
4. The narrative revolves around the Oxford Five - five physicists who are inexplicably at the centre of mysterious deaths of fellow colleagues and other renowned scientists across the globe. The story also focuses on an impending alien invasion.
5. The story explores several themes such as humanity's reaction to potential extraterrestrial threats. Some of the other prominent themes include religion, political divide, trauma, and redemption.
6. The series features a mysterious VR headset and incorporates real science concepts like the three-body problem and the Dark Forest Theory. These are also the titles of the two of the three novels.
7. The novels have garnered an immense global following in recent years. They include a few notable fans like the former US President Barack Obama and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

• Written by Ryan Gomez

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