The 3 Body Problem: A Sci-Fi Novel Adapted into a Successful Netflix Show

Beijing, China Puerto Rico
Liu's dark forest theory suggests civilizations are in constant conflict, making it impossible to establish long-term alliances or cooperation. This theory is relevant when considering the Fermi Paradox.
The 3 Body Problem is a science fiction novel by Liu Cixin that has been adapted into a successful TV show on Netflix.
The book was written with an awareness of the connection between sci-fi ambitions and Chinese history.
The 3 Body Problem: A Sci-Fi Novel Adapted into a Successful Netflix Show

The 3 Body Problem, a popular science fiction novel by Liu Cixin, has been adapted into a successful TV show on Netflix. The show is executive produced by David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Bernadette Caulfield, Alexander Woo, Rian Johnson, Ram Bergman and Nena Rodriguez among others and has been performing well in global charts holding the position of #1 in over 20 countries. The show is based on the book by Liu Cixin who is aware of the connection between sci-fi ambitions and Chinese history.

The great flourishing of science fiction in the West at the end of the nineteenth century occurred coinciding with unprecedented technological progress and popular press proliferation. However, British and American writers invented tales of space travel through an imperial appropriation lens, using extraterrestrials as a proxy for human beings of different creeds or races. For instance, M. P. Shiel’s novel ‘Yellow Danger’ is an example.

H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, which depicts Martians attacking Earth, was inspired by the violent struggle in early-nineteenth century Tasmania between Aboriginal people and white settlers resulting in near-complete obliteration of indigenous population.

Liu’s dark forest theory suggests that civilizations are in a constant state of conflict with each other making it impossible to establish long-term alliances or cooperation. This theory is relevant when considering the Fermi Paradox, which questions why we have not received any signals from extraterrestrial life.

The protagonist Ye Wenjie faced the choice to respond or ignore transmissions from an alien race called San-Ti in 3 Body Problem. She chose to respond despite knowing that continued communication would prompt the entire race to invade, indicating her hope for salvation or spite of wanting to see the world destroyed.

The show is currently the #1 show on Netflix’s Top 10 list and had 1.6 billion minutes viewed in its first full week according to Luminate at Variety making it the #1 streaming program out of any show for that week, indicating a strong possibility for season 2.


Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image
Article Image

Confidence

80%

Doubts
  • It is not clear if the show accurately represents Liu Cixin's original novel.
  • The connection between sci-fi ambitions and Chinese history may be overstated.

Sources

71%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

3 Body Problem stars on the show’s big question: would you push the button?

The Verge Ash Parrish Thursday, 04 April 2024 14:00
  • Unique Points
    • Ye Wenjie faced the choice to respond or ignore transmissions from an alien race called San-Ti. She chose to respond despite knowing that continued communication would prompt the entire race to invade.
    • Ye Wenjie was warned by a sympathetic San-Ti individual about the consequences of continuing communication with her people, but she still pushed the button.
  • Accuracy
    • Liu Cixin is aware of the connection between sci-fi ambitions and Chinese history.
  • Deception (50%)
    The article is deceptive in that it presents Ye Wenjie's decision to push the button as a neutral action when it clearly has both spiteful and hopeful motivations. The authors also present their own opinions on the matter without disclosing any sources or providing evidence for their claims.
    • The article states that Ye Wenjie pushed the button, but does not provide any context or explanation for her decision. This is deceptive as it implies that she made a rational and neutral choice when in fact her motivations were driven by both spiteful and hopeful intentions.
    • The authors present their own opinions on the matter without disclosing any sources or providing evidence for their claims. For example, they state that Ye Wenjie's decision to push the button was born of 'hope,' but do not provide any evidence to support this claim.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains an informal fallacy known as 'appeals to authority' when the author quotes Rosalind Chao and Zine Tseng without providing any context or evidence for their opinions. Additionally, there is a formal fallacy called 'dichotomous depiction' when Ye Wenjie is portrayed as both naive and hopeful at the same time.
    • Rosalind Chao: Naivety is what leads to her fateful act.
  • Bias (85%)
    The author of the article is Ash Parrish and he has a clear political bias. He questions Ye Wenjie's decision to respond to transmissions from the San-Ti, an alien race that have already made their hostile designs on Earth clear. The author also uses language that dehumanizes Ye Wenjie by describing her as naive and making it seem like she is a threat to humanity. Additionally, the article contains examples of religious bias as it mentions Mao's Cultural Revolution which was a political event with strong ideological undertones.
    • The author uses language that dehumanizes Ye Wenjie by describing her as naive and making it seem like she is a threat to humanity.
      • Ye Wenjie, when faced with the choice to respond or ignore transmissions from the San-Ti, an alien race, chose to respond. Throughout human history, first contact events rarely go well and go even worse when the two sides are technologically imbalanced.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
        The author of the article has a conflict of interest with one or more topics provided. The author is Rosalind Chao and Zine Tseng who are actors in the show '3 Body Problem'. They have financial ties to China's Cultural Revolution as they were born during that time period.
        • Rosalind Chao was born in Taiwan, which was under Chinese rule at the time of Mao's Cultural Revolution. She has spoken about her experiences growing up during this tumultuous period and how it shaped her life.
        • Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
          None Found At Time Of Publication

        62%

        The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
        (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

        A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

        There’s Some Good News For ‘3 Body Problem’ Season 2

        Forbes Magazine Paul Tassi Thursday, 04 April 2024 00:00
        • Unique Points
          • 3 Body Problem is currently the #1 show on Netflix's Top 10 list
          • 3 Body Problem has been performing well in global charts and now holds the position of #1 in over 20 countries
          • According to Luminate at Variety, 3 Body Problem had 1.6 billion minutes viewed in its first full week, making it the #1 streaming program out of any show for that week
        • Accuracy
          • Ye Wenjie faced the choice to respond or ignore transmissions from an alien race called San-Ti. She chose to respond despite knowing that continued communication would prompt the entire race to invade.
          • Liu Cixin is aware of the connection between sci-fi ambitions and Chinese history.
        • Deception (50%)
          The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that he has been skeptical of 3 Body Problem's prospects for renewal and adaptation into multiple seasons. However, this contradicts his own reporting on the show's performance metrics such as its position on Netflix's Top 10 list and global viewership numbers which suggest a positive outlook for the show. Secondly, the author uses quotes from Luminate at Variety to support his claim that 3 Body Problem had 1.6 billion minutes viewed in its first full week, making it the #1 streaming program out of any show for that week. However, this quote is not accurate as per Luminate's own data which shows a different number of minutes viewed for the show during that time period.
          • The author claims to have been skeptical of 3 Body Problem's prospects but reports on its positive performance metrics such as its position on Netflix's Top 10 list and global viewership numbers which suggest a positive outlook. This is an example of deceptive reporting.
          • The author uses quotes from Luminate at Variety to support his claim that 3 Body Problem had 1.6 billion minutes viewed in its first full week, making it the #1 streaming program out of any show for that week. However, this quote is not accurate as per Luminate's own data which shows a different number of minutes viewed for the show during that time period.
          • The author uses quotes from Collider to support his claim about future seasons and Netflix's decision-making process regarding 3 Body Problem. These quotes are taken out of context and do not accurately reflect what was said in the interview, making them misleading.
        • Fallacies (85%)
          The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the showrunners have said they would not do a season two or three in one go but rather one at a time. This is presented as evidence for why Netflix will likely commit to doing both seasons, despite the fact that this statement does not necessarily reflect what Netflix's decision-making process will be. Additionally, the author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that 3 Body Problem has been performing well and could potentially become a hit show on Netflix. This is presented as evidence for why Netflix should commit to doing both seasons, despite the fact that this statement does not necessarily reflect what Netflix's decision-making process will be.
          • The author uses an appeal to authority by stating that the showrunners have said they would not do a season two or three in one go but rather one at a time. This is presented as evidence for why Netflix will likely commit to doing both seasons, despite the fact that this statement does not necessarily reflect what Netflix's decision-making process will be.
          • The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that 3 Body Problem has been performing well and could potentially become a hit show on Netflix. This is presented as evidence for why Netflix should commit to doing both seasons, despite the fact that this statement does not necessarily reflect what Netflix's decision-making process will be.
        • Bias (85%)
          Paul Tassi has expressed skepticism about the prospects of a renewal for Netflix's adaptation of Liu Cixin's Three-Body Problem. He cites high costs and competition with other shows as potential barriers to continued production. However, he also notes that 3 Body Problem is currently performing well on Netflix and globally, which could indicate its success in the future.
          • Despite this good news, I'm still not convinced that the future of 3 Body Problem is wholly secure.
            • I have been a bit skeptical of 3 Body Problems prospects for not just renewal, but the idea that Netflix would commit to finish adapting the entire three book series in three or four seasons when the cost would likely run them upwards of half a billion dollars.
              • It reminds me a bit of what Amazon did by saying that The Rings of Power would get five seasons to finish its story no matter what.
              • Site Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication
              • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                None Found At Time Of Publication

              76%

              The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
              (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

              A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

              Liu Cixin’s War of the Worlds

              The New Yorker Magazine Jiayang Fan Friday, 14 June 2019 00:06
              • Unique Points
                • Liu Cixin is aware of the connection between sci-fi ambitions and Chinese history.
                • , The great flood of 1975 in Henan, China killed nearly a quarter of a million people. Liu Cixin recalls his experience as a twelve-year-old witnessing this event.
                • The flourishing of science fiction in the West at the end of the nineteenth century coincided with unprecedented technological progress and popular press proliferation.
                • , British and American writers invented tales of space travel through an imperial appropriation lens, using extraterrestrials as a proxy for human beings of different creeds or races. M. P. Shiel's novel 'Yellow Danger' is an example.
                • H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds, which depicts Martians attacking Earth, was inspired by the violent struggle in early-nineteenth century Tasmania between Aboriginal people and white settlers, resulting in near-complete obliteration of indigenous population.
                • , Lu Xun, a writer considered the father of modern Chinese literature, greatly impressed by Wells' science fiction.
              • Accuracy
                • The great flood of 1975 in Henan, China killed nearly a quarter of a million people. Liu Cixin recalls his experience as a twelve-year-old witnessing this event.
                • H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds was inspired by the violent struggle in early-nineteenth century Tasmania between Aboriginal people and white settlers, resulting in near-complete obliteration of indigenous population.
              • Deception (30%)
                The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author claims that Liu Cixin's War of the Worlds was inspired by the violent struggle between Aboriginal people and white settlers in Tasmania. However, this claim is not supported by any evidence or citation from Liu himself.
                • The article states that H. G. Wells' The War of the Worlds was inspired by the violent struggle in early-nineteenth century Tasmania between Aboriginal people and white settlers, however this claim is not supported by any evidence or citation from Liu himself.
              • Fallacies (85%)
                The article contains several examples of informal fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing Lu Xun's positive reception of H.G. Wells' science fiction as evidence that the genre is engaging and has value in China.
                • > Liu Cixin’s War of the Worlds
                • > M. P. Shiel’s novel “Yellow Danger” (1898)
                • < H.G. Wells' science fiction greatly impressed Lu Xun, a writer who is considered the father of modern Chinese literature
              • Bias (85%)
                The author uses the example of Liu Cixin's experience during the great flood in Henan to connect science fiction and Chinese history. The author also mentions how British and American writers used space travel as a lens for imperial appropriation, with extraterrestrials often being a proxy for human beings of different creeds or races. Additionally, the author uses H. G. Wells's 'The War of the Worlds' to connect science fiction to violent struggles between indigenous populations and white settlers.
                • British and American writers used space travel as a lens for imperial appropriation, with extraterrestrials often being a proxy for human beings of different creeds or races.
                  • H. G. Wells's 'The War of the Worlds'
                    • Liu Cixin’s experience during the great flood in Henan
                    • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication
                    • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication

                    72%

                    The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                    (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                    A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                    3 Body Problem: Does The 'Dark Forest' Theory Solve The Fermi Paradox?

                    ScienceAlert The Conversation Thursday, 04 April 2024 02:35
                    • Unique Points
                      • The Fermi Paradox is a puzzle proposed by physicist Enrico Fermi in the 1950s, which questions why we have not received any signals from extraterrestrial life.
                      • Liu's dark forest theory suggests that civilizations are in a constant state of conflict with each other, making it impossible to establish long-term alliances or cooperation.
                    • Accuracy
                      No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
                    • Deception (70%)
                      None Found At Time Of Publication
                    • Fallacies (85%)
                      The article discusses the Fermi Paradox and how it is addressed by a theory called 'the dark forest'. The author explains that this theory suggests that civilizations are in an ongoing battle for survival, which leads to them hiding from each other. This explanation is used as a solution to the Fermi Paradox, but it has been criticized because there is no evidence of such behavior among alien species. Additionally, the article mentions how some scientists believe that this theory may be wrong and that natural selection does not operate in the same way in space as on Earth.
                      • The universe is a dark forest. Every civilisation is an armed hunter stalking through the trees like a ghost, gently pushing aside branches that block the path and trying to tread without sound.
                    • Bias (85%)
                      The article presents the idea that aliens may not exist or if they do, they are hiding from each other due to a fear of being attacked. The author uses Liu's dark forest theory as an explanation for this phenomenon and suggests that it is possible in our universe. However, the author also acknowledges that there is no evidence about alien behavior and argues that natural selection may not operate at group level in space like on Earth.
                      • The universe is a dark forest. Every civilisation is an armed hunter stalking through the trees like a ghost, gently pushing aside branches that block the path and trying to tread without sound.
                      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)
                        The Conversation has a conflict of interest on the topic of Fermi Paradox as they are reporting on an article written by Cixin Liu who is known for his work in The Dark Forest Theory. This theory proposes that advanced civilizations tend to avoid contact with each other and may even destroy their own technological capabilities, which could explain why we have not encountered any extraterrestrial life yet.
                        • The article discusses how advanced civilizations tend to avoid contact with each other and may even destroy their own technological capabilities, which could explain why we have not encountered any extraterrestrial life yet.
                          • The article mentions Cixin Liu as the author of The Dark Forest Theory.
                          • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                            None Found At Time Of Publication

                          90%

                          The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
                          (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

                          A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

                          3 Body Problem

                          Rotten Tomatoes Thursday, 04 April 2024 18:19
                          • Unique Points
                            • The show is based on the book by Liu Cixin
                            • David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Bernadette Caulfield, Alexander Woo, Rian Johnson, Ram Bergman and Nena Rodriguez are the executive producers of the show
                            • 3 Body Problem has been performing well in global charts and now holds the position of #1 in over 20 countries
                          • Accuracy
                            • Ye Wenjie faced a choice to respond or ignore transmissions from an alien race called San-Ti
                          • Deception (100%)
                            None Found At Time Of Publication
                          • Fallacies (85%)
                            The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by mentioning the names of well-known individuals involved in the production of the show. Additionally, there is a dichotomous depiction of China and its past decisions as being both fateful and echoing across space and time.
                            • > 3 Body Problem: Season 1 Final Trailer <
                            • > Executive Producer David Benioff, D.B. Weiss, Bernadette Caulfield, Alexander Woo, Rian Johnson, Ram Bergman <
                          • Bias (85%)
                            The article contains a statement that implies the show is based on Liu C Six Harmonies trilogy. The author does not provide any evidence to support this claim and it's unclear if they have read or seen the books. This could be considered an example of ideological bias as it suggests that the show is superior because it's based on a popular book series.
                            • A fateful decision in 1960s China echoes across space and time to a group of scientists in the present, forcing them to face humanity’s greatest threat.
                            • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
                              None Found At Time Of Publication
                            • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
                              None Found At Time Of Publication