‘Flat and shallow’: Netflix’s 3 Body Problem divides viewers in China

Netflix's expensive interpretation of Three-Body Problem, which is a collection of stories composed by Liu Cixin, a Chinese writer, has triggered mixed feelings on social networking sites in China.

On Thursday, the complete eight-installment show of 3 Body Problem was launched on Netflix. The series is an adaptation of Liu’s trilogy, an elaborate science-fiction tale that follows the development of society from the 1960s to the ultimate extinction of humanity.

The popular Netflix show was developed by a team consisting of David Benioff and DB Weiss, who previously worked on Game of Thrones, Alexander Woo of True Blood fame, and director Derek Tsang.

The response in China to the news has been diverse but extensive, despite Netflix being blocked by the government's internet censorship system. As of Friday morning, there had been over 2.23 billion views of the hashtag for "The Three-Body Problem" on the social media site Weibo, generating 1.424 million conversations.

Several people have expressed their disagreement with Netflix's adaptation of a primarily Chinese narrative, as the storyline has been relocated to the United Kingdom and features a diverse cast. Additionally, certain individuals have criticized the modification of the protagonist's gender. However, according to GQ, it has been reported that this idea was actually recommended by Liu to those in charge of the show.

The people who made the series have stood up for their decision to choose certain actors. Netflix has explained that 3 Body Problem was created to represent a wide range of people from many different parts of the world, with different backgrounds and from different eras.

Benioff stated that they aimed to include individuals from various regions of the world. They made sincere efforts to compile an extremely diverse and multinational team to convey the message that combatting the crisis is not an obstacle for only one nation, but for the entire world.

There has been some negative feedback that stems from political tensions towards the United States, resulting in a patriotic response and claims that the story is being Americanized.

One person commenting on Weibo claimed that science fiction is a complex idea that has been simplified into a flat and superficial visual display. They accused the creators of culturally stereotyping the Chinese background and turning it into a western heroism focused Hollywood storyline.

A lot of Chinese audiences are saying that a 2023 version of the show is made by a Chinese tech firm named Tencent, which is quite similar to the Netflix adaptation. People who support Tencent's version have referred to Netflix's work as "General Tso's chicken," which is a Chinese dish that is not popular in China. Rather, Tencent's version is described as a "banquet."

Last month, Tencent released a series in the US for streaming viewers. This version is believed to be more accurate to the original books, although it is quite long at 30 episodes.

People on social media were talking about how Netflix has greater freedom in terms of creativity and politics. Someone mentioned that the major plus point of Netflix's Three-Body Problem is that there are no restrictions or controversial topics being censored, unlike the version in their own country.

The Netflix show begins with a harsh scene, where the protagonist's father is the target of a Communist party struggle session during the Cultural Revolution. On the other hand, the Tencent adaptation portrays the same era, but in a less forceful manner.

According to Radio Free Asia, the individual responsible for overseeing the Netflix series disclosed that depicting the era of the Cultural Revolution within China has grown to be more challenging.

Tsang emphasized the significance of this historical phase, and acknowledged that acknowledging its absurdity could offer lessons for everyone. Shedding light on the ridiculousness of that era is crucial.

The subject matter is approached in a contrasting way in the various books. In the initial book's English translation, the fight session is the opening scene, whereas the Chinese version positions it in the middle. It has been reported that this was a deliberate choice by Liu and the publishers to minimize the book's political sensitivity in China.

Many people are pleased that the story has been made available to a wider group of people. Mtszimu, a review website for Chinese films, described the adaptation as not just a fresh take on Liu Cixin's initial creation, but a vital addition to the world of science-fiction writing on a global scale.

A person commented on Weibo saying that everyone has their own idea of what the interpretation should be like. They personally feel more positive about it because Three-Body Problem is something that the Chinese people have created and it's now being recognized worldwide. They hope that it'll have an even bigger impact and be well-received by everyone.

This report was authored by Chi Hui Lin.