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I notice that most males will forgive a pretty dumb plot in a movie if the action scenes are compelling. Likewise, many females are obsessed with bad Hallmark movies (particularly during Christmas time) because such movies appeal to feminine feelings even when the movie is utterly dull.
There are similar patterns of bias when it comes to science fiction. The genre is notoriously divisive as it tends to minimize character development to instead focus on how science effect society. This is especially the case with harder science fiction. In fact, science fiction fans often complain that mainstream critics just don’t appreciate science fiction.
After watching The Three Body Problem on Netflix, I realized that I was one of those science fiction fans. Throughout the series I felt myself wanting to yell at the screen, “Get rid of all those useless feelings and give me the aliens and the crazy science stuff.”
There is a love triangle and some drama with corporate greed and some sad sack gets cancer in the later parts of the first season and I just don’t care. The world is at stake, so unless you have a really interesting character arc, let me get back to the science and the aliens and the life-and-death struggle going on with all of the human race.
I like the politics in this movie. Firstly, this t.v. show has some of the most anti-Mao anticommunist scenes in any TV show. This is surprisingly brave for a Netflix show. The brutality and stupidity of Mao’s Cultural Revolution are unsparingly shown in the first two episodes.
The show also explores how humanity will react to the threat of an alien invasion which is very fascinating. Some fight and some despair and some worship the aliens as a new G-d. Watching it all play out reminds me of a good Star Trek episode.
Stand-out performances are Benedict Wong and Liam Cunningham. They are always funny and always drive the story forward. I note that the most masculine and aggressive of the male characters are constantly compelling to watch, but the effeminate and supportive men in the show are pretty dull.
Noticeably, my favorite female character is the most feminine female in the show. Maybe it’s just a personal bias or maybe shows are better when men are manly and women are feminine. I’ll let the viewer decide.
So all in all the Three Body Problem is a very mixed bag. I will watch the second season, but I wish they would cut the fat.
Discussion (23)
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I like your review, Henry! I especially appreciate the humor and whimsy you included. Well done!
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I concur, Henry. There is a good balance to be struck on these things. Take Arthur C. Clarke, for instance. I've read a couple of his novels and several of his short stories. Clarke was great at explaining science and technology, but his characters are one-dimensional. A book where I care nothing about the characters because they all have the personality of a manikin is not something I am going to re-read. In the novel Three Body Problem, I don't recall much about the characters, so it was good that they were given personalities for the show. But I think the writers largely over-corrected and spent so much time on the personal drama that it distracts from the actual plot of the story.
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