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3 Body Problem review: Cixin Liu's masterpiece arrives on Netflix

Cixin Liu's novel The Three-Body Problem has been turned into an eight-part series for Netflix by the Game of Thrones team. There is much to admire so far, but will the adaptation stay on track, wonders Bethan Ackerley

By Bethan Ackerley

20 March 2024

3 Body Problem. Sea Shimooka as Sophon in episode 103 of 3 Body Problem. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix ?? 2023 — VR allows characters to visit fantastical worlds, such as a fiery wasteland
Netflix

3 Body Problem
David Benioff, D. B. Weiss and Alexander Woo
Netflix

ADAPTATION is the backbone of the modern TV industry. It is also one of the toughest jobs in the business. Done right, it can lift a lacklustre novel or dated comic book to new heights. Done wrong, it is the lowest form of dreck, unable to hide its rough edges behind an original concept.

What to do, then, when tasked with adapting one of the most acclaimed…

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