Season 01

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Awesome series!

If you are familiar with physics, astronomy, mathematics, theories, you will recognise a lot of stuff used in this show. I'm not sure about the novel, so I'm only referring to the show.

* Some were asked before.
* Some are still being debated.
* Some still being proven.
* Some already possible mathematically.
* Some observed in real life.

The philosophical questions are also relevant, and many have been asked before, and many were recently asked.

I can't believe they were able to combine these different school of thoughts into one cohesive story. I haven't seen a story like this before. Usually, sci-fi authors would only focus, at most, 5 to keep it simpler for the audience, but in this show, it's out-of-this-world.

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The animation part was also great. They combined two types of art, and that was amazing. Also, some would probably critic how the movement of the animated characters are not fluid, but that's the whole point, it was intentional. It captured the 'game feel'.

Overall, from episodes 1 to 16, each episode felt like watching a 45-minute movie. They spent a lot. It wasn't half-baked. They were consistent in quality every episode.

Highly recommended!

Detailed, obsessively. dedicated to the book.

If you haven't read the book (and I had not) then this series will need a second watch before it starts to make sense.

There is such a lot to take in, and it's told in a flashbacks jumping across time.

When I watched it the first time I missed so much detail - and still enjoyed most of it. Watching it again after a few months and so much slots into place this time.

It's well-acted (except for the western parts) and well-written... but it really does show that adapting a book for the screen does involve making changes. The written word allows you to go into more detail, slowly. The screen batters you with information at the same pace for all.

So either, read the books first or be prepared to watch the series again to get the full enjoyment of it.

As for its faults - it does feel like the timing is off. The series is very slow-paced until the 20+ episode and then seems to race for the finished.

Nevertheless it is worth the effort. They truly made the effort to pack everything in from the book (30 episodes of it).

Having read the trilogy, I have small runts regarding the adherence to the book (from what I've seen so far it tracks the first book of the series, or part of it). Seen around 7 episodes, so here goes nothing:

Basically, I'm being let down by certain cinematic selections:

* Actors seem to act in this theatrical way. From what I've seen in the last 10 years, in Chinese movies (also Korean and Japanese) this is some sort of de facto way to play on screen. Personally, it alienates me. Would love to see those people talking/acting like actual people. The hardened cop in the book becomes almost a comic relief element. FFS, there is no need to insert to a sci-fi story with a huge drama element these shots of witless humor.

* The books are gloomy. The music fails to reproduce this, having even happy sing-along songs about the end of the world as we know it. Most of the episode duration is dressed with some sort of anxiety-raising beat. Seriously, silence can speak volumes

* Finally there's a lot of scene repeats. Pretty useful for thick-heads like me, since I totally forget what I've seen some episodes ago, but the level of repetition is too much.

Three Body is, simply put, boring.

Initially, Three-Body offered up conceptualisations and ideas about the nature of the universe and understanding, that were philosophically interesting but like a lecture that goes on too long, for its own good, viewer fatigue, eventually sets in.

I managed four episodes before I'd finally, had enough. I have no idea if, at a certain juncture, this series actually gets exciting and I never will. That's the danger of letting intrigue and mystery run on, far too long.

In summary, capably acted but painfully drawn out. Conceptualisations and intrigue that take the viewer nowhere terribly interesting or exciting over multiple episodes. One for those with saint-like patience only.

Contrary to the other review, I just finished episode 5 and I'm eager for more!

It's a solid show so far with an interesting premise and fairly decent plot. The biggest pro I have though is that after watching the first episode for maybe 20-30 minutes I realized it was giving me something that I've been lacking from American shows - an entertaining plot.

I say this as someone who was born and raised in the US. Don't get me wrong, there are a few decent shows out right now, but it's few and far between. Three-body focuses on an entertaining plot and leaves out real-world issues, politics and "lessons" that are over-saturating most shows. Also, after roughly 5 hours in, I haven't heard any insults against, well, anyone. It's nice not hearing pot shots and snide remarks directed at my race or men in general.

This is my first Chinese show and one of maybe a handful of things I've watched that were not english language. I thought subtitle fatigue might set in but they were never an issue other than rewinding maybe 2 times when the dialog was moving too fast for me to read.

So far the show has me interested in the plot and while the style and acting are just a minor bit different than in the west, it was never an issue for me. I'm looking forward to more of this show and this will likely have me branch out into other Chinese shows and those from other countries as well.