March 27, 2024

Netflix Sci-Fi Series 3 Body Problem a Controversial Topic in China Despite Not Being Released There

Despite the lack of an official release in the country, Netflix series 3 Body Problem has been an instant hit in China, sparking numerous discussions regarding the series and a similar 2023 adaptation by Tencent. By: Kritchanon Tan Kian Wei.

China - Released on March 21, Netflix’s 3 Body Problem, a Chinese science fiction series based on a classic Chinese novel trilogy, has been the subject of many conversations in China, despite the series not being released there due to Netflix not being officially accessible in the country.

The series, which stars British actor Benedict Wong who is best known for playing the character named Wong in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, was an instant hit with audiences in China, who mainly watched the show through piracy or the use of a VPN.

The eight-episode series was so popular in China that it trended on Chinese social media platform Weibo the day after its premiere, with over 20 million views so far. 3 Body Problem also ranked first on the platform’s “top hot” trend rankings.

The video unit of the Chinese conglomerate Tencent Holdings had previously released a 30-episode, Chinese-language adaptation of the bestselling book trilogy in 2023. However, seeking to capitalise on 3 Body Problem’s popularity, Tencent Video also released a streamlined version on March 18, triggering more online discussions regarding the two series. Many online users agreed that Tencent’s version was superior to Netflix’s, leading to the tagline “China version wins” becoming a trending topic on Weibo on March 22.

All eight episodes of 3 Body Problem are now streaming on Netflix. Though the book trilogy is currently planned to be adapted into three or more seasons, a second season of 3 Body Problem has yet to be confirmed.

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