Three-Body

7.8
202343m

Nanotechnology researcher Wang Miao is taken to the Joint Operations Center by police officer Shi Qiang, who's investigating the mysterious suicide wave among scientists worldwide. He is recruited to sneak into an organization called the Frontiers of Science to help the investigation. When Wang Miao is contacted by the leader of the organization, Shen Yufei, she introduces him to a sophisticated VR video game called Three-Body, but soon he discovers that it's more than just a game.

Production

Logo for The Three-Body Universe
Logo for Tencent Penguin Pictures
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Available For Free On

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Trailers & Videos

Thumbnail for video: Official Trailer 2

Official Trailer 2

Thumbnail for video: Official Trailer

Official Trailer

Seasons

30 Episodes • Premiered 2023

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 1: Episode 1

1. Episode 1

6.9

Many scientists across the world commit suicide. Wang Miao, an applied physicist, is asked to do an undercover job in an organization called The Frontier of Science.

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2. Episode 2

7.1

Wang attends a conference held by The Frontier of Science. Later, he discovers a series of mysterious numbers appearing on his pictures.

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3. Episode 3

8.0

Wang finds a countdown in the middle of his sight. He goes to Shen for answers.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 4: Episode 4

4. Episode 4

7.7

Wang shuts down his experiment, and the countdown disappears. He visits Ye Wenjie in order to find a spot to observe the flicker of the universe.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 5: Episode 5

5. Episode 5

7.4

Wang witnesses the universe flicker for him. With encouragement from Shi and his family, he decides to fight against whoever is behind it.

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6. Episode 6

8.0

Sha presents the theory that shows the flicker could be faked. Wang and Shi look through Ye's files and learn of her tragic past.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 7: Episode 7

7. Episode 7

7.8

Wang decides to take on the undercover job. He is presented with a game that claims to showcase the world of a highly advanced alien civilization.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 8: Episode 8

8. Episode 8

7.0

The civilization is demolished in the game, leaving Wang overwhelmed by how real it feels. No one can find any information on the game developer. The General decides to put top scientists in military custody for protection.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 9: Episode 9

9. Episode 9

7.8

Hu Xiaoxi, who was Pan's messenger, turns himself in. Wang and Shi go to Shen's place seeking the truth.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 10: Episode 10

10. Episode 10

8.0

Shi suggests that the cause of Yang's death took place in the last three days of her life. Wang goes to Ye in order to learn more about her history.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 11: Episode 11

11. Episode 11

8.2

Ye was accused of reading a forbidden book and writing a letter that conveyed anti-revolutionary ideas. She was given a way out, but with one condition: to accuse her father as anti-revolutionary even after his death.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 12: Episode 12

12. Episode 12

8.2

Wang enters the game again and witnesses a model showing a possible structure of the universe. The civilization this time is destroyed with the sun approaching rapidly.

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13. Episode 13

6.6

Wang goes to Ye to learn more about Red Coast. Ye tells him about her experience of being selected as a member of the base.

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14. Episode 14

7.3

Yang tries his best to keep Ye away from the core of Red Coast. Lei personally engages Ye for unknown reasons.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 15: Episode 15

15. Episode 15

8.2

Wang gains insight from gaming with Dou. As "Copernicus," he presents a radical theory, facing danger but advancing understanding.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 16: Episode 16

16. Episode 16

8.2

Shi and Xu uncover Shen's husband's secretive calculations. In the Three-Body game, triple suns cause chaos, leading to civilization's destruction. Mu learns truths from Pan and decides whom to trust.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 17: Episode 17

17. Episode 17

8.2

Shi and Wang encounter a murder investigation on their train journey to Hailar, realizing Shen is targeted by another formidable force. Ye advises Shen's safety while sharing her past with Wang.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 18: Episode 18

18. Episode 18

7.3

Transferred to a secret department, Ye learns the truth about Red Coast with Yang's help. Despite the disappointment, she stays, driven by the pursuit of extraterrestrial life, bidding farewell to Wang.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 19: Episode 19

19. Episode 19

8.2

Wang and Shi regroup, sharing findings and returning to Beijing. Xu continues Shen's investigation. Ye confronts ETO leader Evans, revealing ideological divides. Wei seeks solace in mathematics amidst threats.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 20: Episode 20

20. Episode 20

7.3

Shen discovers Wei's Three-Body calculations at a temple, leading to their relationship. Despite threats, they seek refuge with Wang, who takes possession of a crucial USB containing their research.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 21: Episode 21

21. Episode 21

7.3

Police find Shen's death a suicide, clearing Pan. Wang attends a Three-Body game meetup where Pan reveals extraterrestrial existence. Meanwhile, global preparation against the aliens begins as mistrust spreads.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 22: Episode 22

22. Episode 22

7.3

Ye mourns Shen and suspects Pan's involvement with ETO. Wang and Shi observe ETO's internal divisions. The Operations Center locates the game server, while Pan shuts it down calmly. Wang learns of Three-Body's departure.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 23: Episode 23

23. Episode 23

7.5

Wang receives an invite to the ETO meeting. Clues reveal Chen as an ETO member. Wang prepares for the meeting, knowing it implicates Ye.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 24: Episode 24

24. Episode 24

7.7

Ye proposes using the sun to send signals into space, facing opposition. Despite risks, she conducts the experiment secretly. Years later, she receives three ominous messages from space.

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25. Episode 25

7.7

Ye learns of Trisolaris and decides humanity's fate. She reveals the significance of Wang's research. Shi takes action against Chen, averting disaster.

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26. Episode 26

8.2

Ye learns of her pregnancy just before Lei's attempt to monopolize the Trisolarian message.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 27: Episode 27

27. Episode 27

8.0

Ye's interrogation of former Red Guards yields no remorse. Wang joins her team. Ye meets Evans, who, disillusioned with humanity, builds "Judgment Day," inheriting wealth but not his father's business.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 28: Episode 28

28. Episode 28

8.0

Ye reveals Trisolarans sent sophons to halt human science. Wang learns about Yang's suicide.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 29: Episode 29

29. Episode 29

8.0

Shi proposes using Wang's flying blade to slice Judgment Day, aiming to secure Trisolarian data.

Still image for Three-Body season 1 episode 30: Episode 30

30. Episode 30

6.5

Shi and Wang continue the game, uncovering the Trisolaran monitoring stations akin to Red Coast Base on Earth, receiving awaited messages from space.

Cast

Photo of Zhang Luyi

Zhang Luyi

Wang Miao

Photo of Yu Hewei

Yu Hewei

Shi Qiang

Photo of Chen Jin

Chen Jin

Older Ye Wenjie

Photo of Wang Ziwen

Wang Ziwen

Young Ye Wenjie

Photo of Lin Yongjian

Lin Yongjian

Chang Weisi

Photo of Li Xiaoran

Li Xiaoran

Shen Yufei

Photo of He Dujuan

He Dujuan

Yang Dong

Photo of Eric Wang

Eric Wang

Ding Yi

Photo of Zhao Jian

Zhao Jian

Wei Cheng

Photo of Kou Zhenhai

Kou Zhenhai

Ye Zhetai

Photo of White-K

White-K

Bai Mulin

Photo of Kong Lianshun

Kong Lianshun

Sha Ruishan

Photo of Guo Jingyu

Guo Jingyu

King Zhou of Shang

More Like This

Reviews

M

MovieGuys

4/10

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.

D

Amos Burton

10/10

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.

S

Sejian

2/10

I've watched ONE episode of this. I have no idea if I will watch any more because this is... ♪ Whoa Nelly!

From episode 1, I gather there's a shadowy international cabal of scientists doing nefarious deeds and the military are the good guys who need to recruit the non-threatening scientist to spy for them in order to save the world from the worst calamari you ever done did see. Also, there's a woman who talks to god (Buddah) and ants, and can make cracks in glass windows for her ant friends. Trust her bro, she can do the ♪ Abra, abracadabra! She's gonna reach out and- She also makes scientists go mad and kill themselves by showing them test results she can't possibly have because the tests haven't even been run yet. She's either a prophet, a psychic, or she's a sexy time-traveling space goddess here to eat your giblets.

What is this garbage and how does it have such a high rating and so much critical praise?

I don't need my series to spell out everything in the first episode, but I need them to not be utterly stupid.

If this isn't some anti-science, pro-military propaganda nonsense, then I'm not the Queen of England reincarnate.

P.S.: I also started watching episode 1 of the Netflix production and it's equally ridiculous.

Are people watching this just to see how dumb it is or is it because they're all science deniers who want to believe us science boys are in a cult and we do the blood sacrifice to our science god every 6 days?

There's more here right? There must be more here to warrant all the praise these 3BODY series get.

P.P.S.: I only just read the TMBD synopsis for this show. Are you kidding me? I'm done.

You've reached the end.