Netflix went too far with the changes to this sci-fi masterpiece!

"Regardless, everyone should read the novel to appreciate its depth, beauty, and multidimensionality, and also to recognize just how remarkably creative someone, the writer in this case, can be."

This comment on YouTube emerged as one of the most liked after Netflix released the latest trailer for "The Three-Body Problem" among countless praises like "The best sci-fi novel I have ever read", "I'm glad this book series is getting the hype it deserves" and others…

Written by Chinese novelist Liu Cixin, "The Three-Body Problem" trilogy is a science fiction epic that spans multiple eras and spaces. It revolves around the war between human civilization on Earth and the Three-Body civilization, delving into profound questions about human civilization, technology, and morality.

This internationally recognized book has been honored with the Hugo Award, the highest prize possible for a sci-fi work. It’s recommended by Obama and Zuckerberg, winning more attention and popularity for it.

However, upon noticing that the caption of “From the creators of Game of Thrones” precedes that of “Based on the global best-selling novels”, I realized significant changes must have been made to the original work. After all, the scripts were crafted by screenwriters rather than the novelist.

As a fan of the novel, I noticed many differences from the original work in the trailer, ranging from character changes to alterations in the storyline. Let's take a look in detail.

Addition of Characters

The biggest change is that the number of protagonists has changed from one to five.

Each of them is a blend of certain elements of the original protagonist, Wang Miao, and some other character. They used to be in the same university, as the screenwriters portray, and now form a team to address a series of mysterious events. Below is a list of them and who in the novel they borrow elements from.

• Jin Cheng (Wang Miao & Cheng Xin): played by Jess Hong, a genius theoretical physicist with an insatiable curiosity about the mysteries of the universe.

• Saul Durand (Wang Miao & Ding Yi): played by Jovan Adepo, a research assistant in physics, exceptionally talented but not concentrated enough on it to reach full potential.

• Auggie Salazar (Wang Miao): played by Eiza González, a pioneer in nanotechnology, focusing on solving practical problems rather than theoretical ones.

• Jack Rooney (Wang Miao): played by John Bradley, a bold and straightforward foodie with great physics talents.

• Will Downing (Wang Miao): played by Alex Sharp, a physics teacher whose life takes a transformative turn with a mysterious message.

I can't quite figure out why they turned one main character into five. Perhaps it's for the sake of diversity, given their diverse skin tones?

Apart from the protagonist, other roles underwent significant changes, too. For instance, the leader of the team of five in the Netflix version, who is originally a Chinese, is adapted into an intelligence agency director called Veed played by Liam Cunningham. The same happens to the impressive police "Da Shi" from the original, who is portrayed by Benedict Wong in the Netflix adaptation.

From Hard Sci-Fi to Soft Sci-Fi

Mysterious assassination of scientists, the countdown in the eyes, the shimmering universe… Everything remarkable is visualized as seen in the trailer, grand and well-produced. Yet I feel oddly that they somehow diminish the original's sense of mystery grounded in hard sci-fi. These visual effects make Netflix's adaptation lean more toward soft sci-fi.

Hard and soft sci-fi are two distinct styles of science fiction with notable differences in their approach to scientific elements and technical details. The former attempts to present a realistic future align with known scientific principles. It delves into technical details, aiming to convey the rigor and possibilities of science.

On the other hand, soft sci-fi focuses more on creativity and imagination, often basing itself on fictional scientific principles and being less restricted by the physical laws of the real world. It prioritizes character emotions, societal issues, and philosophical reflections.

In the Netflix adaptation, for example, the mysterious countdown seen through Auggie Salazar's eyes is formed by the high-speed movement of particles that is supposed to be simple. However, in the Netflix version, it appears complex, resembling a screen saver with Photoshop-like effects. Another example is the shimmering universe, visible to the naked eye in the trailer. In the original work, this phenomenon results from the influence of solar wind and planetary magnetic fields on photons, causing subtle deviations and interference in the light's propagation. In simple terms, in the original work, specialized instruments are needed to observe this phenomenon.

I understand these visual changes by the creators; they showcase more spectacular scenes to stimulate viewers' interest. However, the introduction of imagination undermines the rigor of the original. Just from the trailer, I've felt an excessive use of visual imagination. I hope the full series will contain fewer of these animated special effects because, for me, the hard sci-fi scenes grounded in common sense are what make the original so appealing.

My Thoughts

I think Netflix´s adaptation might have been more outstanding if it could break a new storyline on the profound foundation of the original. It would be a story within the Three-Body universe, unrelated to the Chinese characters but cleverly integrated into the plot. This subplot could potentially be explored through the perspective of Veed, verifying that world through his eyes and narrating his life story.

Or perhaps there could be a daring interpretation that sharply contrasts with Liu Cixin's communist ideas, projecting a Western perspective onto this challenging and strange universe. Such collisions might spark ideological sparks and provoke contemplation from different angles.

Clearly, "the creators of Game of Thrones" didn't venture into these bolder attempts, opting instead for significant modifications to the original story, which has significantly lowered my expectations for this series."