3 Body Problem: A Fascinating Exploration of Science and Morality in a Distant Planet

Unique Points

• Netflix adaptation of wildly popular Chinese sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem has split opinions in China
• Reactions have been mixed on Chinese social media since the Thursday premiere of the eight-part, English-language series 3 Body Problem which is based on Liu Cixin's Hugo Award winning novel
• Liu's novel is one of China's most successful cultural exports in recent years and boasts legions of fans worldwide including former US President Barack Obama
• Among the country's more patriotic internet users, discussions on the adaptation turned political with some accusing Netflix of making China look bad
• The show opens with a harrowing scene depicting Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution which consumed China in bloodshed and chaos for a decade from 1966

Accuracy

• Some online commentators accused Netflix's producers of making a whole TV series just to paint China in a bad light

Deception (80%)

• The show opens with a harrowing scene depicting Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution which consumed China in bloodshed and chaos for a decade from 1966. However, this is not an accurate representation of what happened during that time.

Fallacies (75%)

• The show opens with a harrowing scene depicting Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution
• Some online commentators accused the show's producers of making a whole TV series just to paint China in a bad light.

Bias (80%)

• Some online commentators accused the show’s producers of making a whole TV series just to paint China in a bad light.
• The show opens with a harrowing scene depicting Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The article mentions that Alibaba Group Holding Ltd., which owns Netflix, is also involved in the production and distribution of '3 Body Problem'.
• The article mentions Tsinghua University in Beijing as a location where Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution took place.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The author is reporting for CNN which is an American news outlet.
• The author reports that Netflix's adaptation of Liu Cixin's novel, '3 Body Problem,' has sparked nationalist anger in China. The article also mentions Mao Zedong and Tsinghua University in Beijing which are both associated with the Cultural Revolution.

Unique Points

• Ken Liu received an offer from a Chinese company to translate 'The Three-Body Problem' in 2012.
• Liu was fluent in Mandarin, familiar with Chinese sci-fi tropes and culture, and a rising star in the genre at the time of translation.
• The novel is set on a distant planet and includes heady technical passages about quantum theory, nanotechnology, orbital mechanics and astrophysics intertwined with profound moral questions about humanity's place in the universe.
• Liu was confronted by what seemed like a more fundamental problem: The narrative structure didn't make sense. The story careered around in time.
• Studying the novel's chaotic timeline, Liu pinpointed what he felt was the story's natural beginning: scenes of political violence and oppression during the Cultural Revolution.

Accuracy

• Liu Cixin agreed to Liu's suggestion to turn these flashback scenes into the novel's beginning. The author had originally wanted them placed later in the narrative due to concerns about government censors.

Deception (50%)

• The story careered around in time, bouncing between present-day China, as a panic builds among scientists and government officials over a coming alien invasion, and Beijing in 1967,

Fallacies (85%)

• ]The Cultural Revolution had torn Liu Cixin’s family apart. He was just 3 when the political upheaval began, and still remembers hearing gunshots at night and seeing trucks full of men wearing red armbands patrolling the city where he lived in Shanxi province.

Bias (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Alexandra Alter mentions that Ken Liu wrote The Three-Body Problem and she describes him as 'a Chinese writer who lives in the United States.'
• The article discusses how Mao Zedong's revolution influenced Chinese science fiction, but it is not clear if Alexandra Alter has a personal relationship with this topic.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Unique Points

• The Three-Body Problem is a 2008 sci-fi novel by Cixin Liu.
• Netflix spent a fortune putting The Three-Body Problem in the hands of executive producers David Benioff, D. B. Weiss, and Alexander Woo.
• 3 Body Problem involves multiple narratives spanning decades and generations.

Accuracy

• The show emphasizes interpersonal drama over existential puzzle-solving.
• Netflix adaptation of wildly popular Chinese sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem has split opinions in China
• Some online commentators accused Netflix's producers of making a whole TV series just to paint China in a bad light
• The show is rooted in history with Ye Wenjie's storyline anchoring the present timeline to 1966, when her father was beaten to death by Red Guards during the Chinese Communist Revolution

Deception (70%)

• Netflix's main priority with 3 Body Problem seems to be selling it as the next Game of Thrones
• The show is a good one and very occasionally a great one

Fallacies (75%)

• The book is unfilmable due to its depth and complexity
• Netflix’s adaptation is leaner and more diverse than the book in a way that makes it a very different kind of story.

Bias (75%)

• Netflix’s main priority with 3 Body Problem seems to be selling it as the next Game of Thrones (Benioff and Weiss’ last series)
• often, it's a good one — and very occasionally a great one
• The book is unfilmable
• The Oxford Five are all friends (and former lovers in some instances) who quickly begin working together

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Charles Pulliam-Moore is listed as an executive producer on the show, indicating that he may have financial ties to Tencent or Netflix.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Charles Pulliam-Moore serves as an executive producer on Netflix's adaptation of The Three-Body Problem.

Unique Points

• Netflix adaptation of wildly popular Chinese sci-fi novel The Three-Body Problem has split opinions in China
• The show opens with a harrowing scene depicting Mao Zedong's Cultural Revolution which consumed China in bloodshed and chaos for a decade from 1966

Accuracy

• Many compared it to a Chinese television adaptation released last year which was highly rated on Chinese review platforms but ran for 30 episodes instead of Netflix's eight-part series, making the story less about China

Deception (30%)

• Foundation by Apple TV+ is more engaging than 3 Body Problem Netflix and there are at least three other sci-fi shows airing on Apple TV+ as we speak (Severance, For All Mankind and Silo)
• Netflix will likely greenlight an adaptation of the whole series but also acknowledges that many viewers may be uncomfortable with the show ending on such a huge cliffhanger with so much unresolved
• The series ends on a massive cliffhanger with no resolution which may make many viewers uncomfortable
• The Three-Body Problem should not be adapted into something like a movie or TV show
• 3 Body Problem Netflix is technically good but has some aspects that do not translate well from the books and other storylines seem hurried through

Fallacies (75%)

• The author uses an appeal to authority by mentioning the high-profile pair of showrunners and their previous success with Game of Thrones. This is not a valid argument as it does not necessarily mean that the adaptation will be successful or good.

Bias (70%)

• It's hard to view this as an outside observer, having read the books and understanding where this was going from the start.

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Paul Tassi has previously reviewed the work of David Benioff and DB Weiss on 'Game of Thrones'.
• Paul Tassi mentions David Benioff and DB Weiss by name while reviewing their TV series 'Foundation'.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Unique Points

• The show is a sci-fi adaptation of Liu Cixin's best-selling novel, The Three-Body Problem
• It lacks style but makes up for it with exquisite character work and deeper philosophical questions
• Evidence no interest in world building as we traditionally understand it
• The show is set mostly in the United Kingdom instead of China to appeal to Anglophone audiences, diluting cultural specificity

Accuracy

• Some online commentators accused Netflix's producers of making a whole TV series just to paint China in a bad light
• Many compared it to a Chinese television adaptation released last year which was highly rated on Chinese review platforms but ran for 30 episodes instead of Netflix's eight-part series, making the story less about China

Deception (90%)

• The series sketches out the emotional landscapes its characters occupy with astonishing speed and depth.

Fallacies (95%)

• > Evidence that “Game of Thrones” was a failure: The author cites several reasons why they believe the show failed, including its lack of character development and focus on shocking twists. They also mention how the series ended up punishing fans who took it seriously.
• Examples from “3 Body Problem” that demonstrate good drama: The author provides several examples from the show to support their claim that it is better drama than science fiction, including its exquisite character work and deeper philosophical questions. They also mention how the series handles complex themes such as climate change.
• The use of an Oculus-type helmet in “3 Body Problem”: The author mentions that the show uses this device to explain various theories of a hypothetical world, which is an example of how it simplifies complex concepts for audiences. This could be seen as an appeal to authority or a form of logical fallacy.
• The lack of cultural specificity in “3 Body Problem”: The author notes that the show's present-day timeline is set mostly in the United Kingdom and dilutes cultural specificity. This could be seen as an example of a dichotomous depiction.
• The use of historical events to anchor “3 Body Problem”: The author mentions that Ye Wenjie's storyline is rooted in 1966 and provides a specific sense of place. This could be seen as an example of how the show uses formal fallacies.

Bias (85%)

• I stood with the pessimists. Like most TV critics, I’ve had to write an enormous amount about “Game of Thrones.” My view (summarized) is that the show’s last half pivoted away from the rich dialogue, juicy political intrigue and careful character work that made the series great to favor shocking but underdeveloped twists
• More pertinently, given the prospect of committing to a new multiyear Benioff and Weiss project
• Peppery comparisons to “Game of Thrones” were inevitable

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

None Found At Time Of Publication