Three BIG REASONS why Three Body Problem on Netflix is so watchable
- Three Body Problem on Netflix has more DNA from Jonathan Nolan’s HBO Westworld than any other series I know of. Even tho I loved Jonathan Nolan’s Person of Interest series, I did not care for the Westworld series. Why? It seemed pretentious; and, its narrative was disjointed to no benefit for viewers. These are typical signs of a project which has some good ideas and a big bugget; and yet, no deeply held conviction nor point of view.
1899 (2022) was an expensive Netflix flop. it basically repeated the same errors as Westworld.
Three Body Problem on Netflix has learned from Westworld and 1899 and corrects these exact errors. Thanks to the author Cixin Liu, the seemingly separate, disjointed storylines of the original novel can and do come together into a coherent whole. Success. It’s very watchable.
2) A second big problem Netflix’s Three Body Problem solves is the problem of Asian actors having insufficient emotional range and nuance to engage Western audiences. Have you noticed this? Many not all Japanese, Korean and especially Chinese movies and actors have no problem with anger, grief and sadness. However more nuanced emotions between and above these basic emotions often escape them. This review is not the place to compare-contrast the strengths and weaknesses of Eastern and Western European cultures.
Suffice it to say, ALL the leads in Three Body Problem do express a range of emotional nuance Western which can and does engage Western audiences. We even have two actors playing against type. BD Wong a hero in Marvel’s Dr. Strange, plays a shlubby detective. BD has always had good range; he fits into this part very well. John Bradley, who played the comical conspiracy theorist 1899 (2022) was an expensive Netflix flop. it basically repeated the same errors as Westworld.
Three Body Problem on Netflix has learned from Westworld and 1899 and corrects these exact errors. Thanks to the author Cixin Liu, the seemingly separate, disjointed storylines of the original novel can and do come together into a coherent whole. Success. It’s very watchable.
Eiza González, a Mexican actress, Jess Hong, a New Zealand actress of Chinese descent; and, Rosalind Chao (born in California of Chinese descent) are all more than capable of expressing a depth of feeling and nuance Western audiences are used to and will engage with.
3) The VFX for Three Body Problem display Netflix’s usual high standards for both creativity and quality.
