The Netflix series 3 Body Problem, based on the Chinese novel The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin, has become a massive success for the streaming platform. Nevertheless, it looks like 3 Body Problem has prompted outrage in China.
The 2024 series is actually the second adaptation of the popular book. It was previously adapted in 2023 as a Chinese television series merely titled Three-Body. Unlike this predecessor, however, Chinese viewers are quite upset with the latest take on the beloved 2006 novel.
Obviously the original two iterations of the story had a large emphasis on using China as the setting. However, China is used much less frequently in the new Netflix series. Additionally, as shared via CNN, the new series takes a moment from the middle of the original novel and moves it to the opening.
This scene, which reveals the death of Ye Wenjie’s father in a “struggle session” during the Cultural Revolution, is being considered by Chinese viewers to be a negative perception of their country. However, as further noted by CNN, this is also the way the English translation of the novel opens as well. This version was also approved by the original novel’s author Liu Cixin.
Nevertheless, as further pointed out by Financial Times, one Weibo user shared the following:
“Netflix seems to deliberately want to convey a frightening message to its global audience: it is the Chinese who brought aliens to [Earth].”
An additional quote shares a similar perspective:
“Netflix’s adaptation cut the story out of Chinese cultural context and moved it to London.”
The new take on 3 Body Problem does intentionally remove China’s key setting in an effort to globalize the story. While this does appear to make it more appealing for some Western viewers, it does ultimately upset Chinese viewers that are familiar with their version of the material and want to see their country accurately represented.
Stay tuned to ScreenGeek for any additional updates regarding 3 Body Problem and any other Netflix projects as we have them. For now, subscribers can currently check out the show via Netflix.