‘Chinese version wins’: Netflix’s version of 3-body problem heavily criticized in Beijing

#1 on Netflix, The 3-Body Problem is a new series from Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and DB Weiss in collaboration with writer and producer Alexander Wu (True Blood).

This ambitious work of fiction, which describes humanity’s first contact with an extraterrestrial civilization, is an adaptation of the famous work. 3 body problems by Liu Cixin, a masterpiece of science fiction.

What is a 3-body problem?

Rated 4 out of 5 by AlloCiné viewers The 3-Body Problem follows the research of a group of government-affiliated scientists to prevent an invasion by an extraterrestrial civilization called the San Ti, who have been contacted by a Chinese astrophysicist. In the 1960s.

The cast includes Eiza Gonzalez (Baby Driver), Benedict Wong (Doctor Strange), John Bradley, Liam Cunningham and Jonathan Pryce, all three seen on Game of Thrones, Rosalind Chao (Mulan), Ben Schnetzer (Y: The Last Man) and Eva Ridley (injured).

Also features Jowan Adepo (Babylon), Jess Hong, Marlo Kelly (Dare Me), Alex Sharp (Chicago Seven), Sea Shimuka (Arrow), Zine Tseng and Saamer Usman (Anna the Inventor).

The eight-episode first season of The 3-Body Problem, directed by Derek Tsang, Andrew Stanton, Minky Spiro and Jeremy Podeswa and enhanced by music by Ramin Javadi (Game of Thrones, Westworld), features a cast.

China did not like the 3-body problem

The 3-Body Problem Trilogy is a major literary work in China, for which Liu Cixin, a former computer engineer turned writer, was awarded the Hugo Prize (an American award given to the best works of science fiction and fantasy).

And it’s already been adapted in China as a 30-episode series available for free on a streaming site, but also as an unreleased feature film that was never released despite Prime Video’s failed bid to acquire the rights.

If the people of China already have the right to adapt the series, which is considered faithful to the books, they will not be able to legally discover the version of the creators of Game of Thrones. Indeed, Netflix is ​​not available in China due to foreign media regulatory policies imposed by the Chinese government.

But that hasn’t stopped some Chinese from illegally watching the American version of The 3-Body Problem, and the opinions are very clear. Reuters. As soon as the series was released on Netflix, some Chinese netizens watched its debut and shared their impressions on the social network Weibo, where the series was trending.

And the very first scene of The 3-Body Problem got a huge response – with over 21 million views! – and even caused A “Nationalist Rage” according to CNN. “The first scene left me speechless”Weibo user wrote, “Even though I expected it, the scene still surprised me.”

Let us remind you that the first series of the first episode of the 3-body problem will throw us in the middle of the cultural revolution of the 1960s in China, where the astrophysicist Ye Wenji helplessly witnessed the humiliation, torture and murder of his scientist father. Red Guards”, before being taken to a forced labor camp.

This movement, initiated by Mao Zedong and supported by the country’s youth, allowed the dictator to consolidate power and control the Chinese Communist Party. Tens of millions of people were persecuted and killed during this “cultural” but above all ideological and military revolution that brought China to the brink of civil war.

This transcription of this period of Chinese history, which is always subject to debate and controversy, was poorly received by Chinese audiences, who also did not appreciate the Westernization of the characters. The Netflix version includes a more diverse international cast and moves part of the story to London, while the novel takes place entirely in China.

The verdict of many Chinese who have looked at the American version of the 3-body problem is clear: “Chinese Version Wins”was a phrase trending on the social network Weibo.

“This is not a comment on cancellation culture”

Although some of the Chinese population who watched this episode of The 3-Body Problem did not appreciate the staging, The Hollywood Reporter reported comments from American conservatives and the political right wing across the Atlantic, who saw the scene as a demonstration of the “influence of woke culture”.

The term, used pejoratively by its detractors, refers to a state of “awakening” in the face of social, political, and racial injustice. Some other conservative commentaries also see the introductory scene of the 3-body problem as a parallel to “cancellation culture,” which consists of public condemnation of individuals, groups, or institutions responsible for actions, behaviors, or comments deemed unacceptable.

David Benioff, co-showrunner of the series along with DB Weiss and Alexander Woo, has already brought up the topic and answered the question to The Hollywood Reporter, who visited the set of The 3-Body Problem in 2022.

And for him, 3 body problems “No comment on cancellation culture”. But he admits that parallels can be drawn between Liu Cixin’s work and human history. “which develops cyclically” :

“We are now going through a certain period of the cycle. There are many very important differences between the present era and the Cultural Revolution. But there are also some similarities. But we never told ourselves we should. To explain the theme of this series, but it’s interesting to note that the parallels are there and hard to ignore.”

On the other hand, Rosalind Chao, who plays the adult version of Ye Wenjie in the series, believes that this sequence between the book and the series on China’s Cultural Revolution and Western changes is important to open the minds of the audience:

“I appreciate that the series is being adapted for a wider audience. I’ll probably get blacklisted in China for this, but I have a cousin who was isolated and lived with pigs for 10 years. He’s in America now. I only found out about him at Thanksgiving when he wouldn’t eat ham , they don’t talk.

It’s very important not to discuss that when it’s such a big part of the story, and the fact that it can be told here in a way that also embraces the sci-fi genre is pretty exciting. It is important for people to understand the history of the world and what makes people who they are. “

The series The 3-Body Problem is available on Netflix.