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TV Shows - 3 Body Problem VIII

Episode six is a key episode when you think about everything that’s still to come.

What keeps coming to my mind while watching this episode is the question of how we, as humans in the real world, would react. A negative reaction is briefly shown at the end of episode five, and then we only see it one more time when Will, Saul, and Auggie try to buy alcohol. I thought it was really fitting because people start panic buying, even though the San-Ti won’t arrive for another 400 years. I find that realistic, because after such news, we might see a similar reaction here. But would it also work on the scientific side? Despite the difficulties and the fact that no real progress seems possible, would some people still not give up and try to keep advancing humanity?

I believe the author of the books really did his homework here, as with many other topics and areas, and thoroughly researched what might happen. There’s a part, which should be covered in the second season, where humanity goes through a major collapse, wiping out a large portion of the population before any real development takes place. No matter how it’s portrayed in the series, I recommend looking at the book because the future described there is really well done, with many innovations that make sense when you look at today’s developments.

Operation Staircase basically starts here, and I find it fascinating how its development is shown. You have all these scientists who live in their own world and don’t look beyond their own fields. Thomas Wade knows exactly who he needs to listen to and how to motivate them to get a decent result. Jin, on the other hand, thinks outside the box and isn’t discouraged by certain limitations. She works with the resources she has and builds on them, instead of just hoping that the right technology will be developed in a few decades, as suggested.

But Operation Staircase also lays the foundation for another event that fully unfolds in the third book. Spoiler warning! When we lose Will Downing, he is miraculously found by the San-Ti and turned back into a human. In the distant future, Jin and Will meet again, talk, and Will tells her three fairy tales he came up with. These three tales lead humans to develop a kind of faster-than-light drive, but it seems they stop before finishing it.

I’m particularly excited about these three fairy tales because I really enjoyed them in the book, and, as I’ve mentioned many times, I’m very curious to see how they will be portrayed in the series. Especially since they play a crucial role in a later catastrophic event.

The purchase of the star might seem a bit over the top, but it’s also an important event. Later, Jin and her friend will travel to that star to meet Will there. However, Jin won’t find Will, and everything that happens in between and afterward really blew me away. This will likely be one of the most challenging parts to adapt. There are so many events that need to be “checked off” before everything in the last third of the third book can make sense. And will Saul really become the Archivist?

My mind is racing because I’m being flooded with memories from the books, which are mixing with the visuals from the series. I recently read an article that said the creators are already working hard on seasons two and three. They now have a good idea of the cast’s abilities and can better judge who is capable of what. But the next two seasons will be so different that it might feel like they’re almost casting new actors and creating a new show, even though it’s the same cast.

Here’s the article

This makes me feel very hopeful because the books are very different from each other, and if they’ve already understood this for the planning of the next seasons, they’ve already overcome a big hurdle.

I just remembered another difference that was portrayed much more emotionally in the series than in the book. This is because, in the series, we have this small group that doesn’t exist in the book in the same way, and there’s a strong friendship bond. We see a tearful farewell between Saul and Will, and Jin, who arrives too late to say goodbye after she finds out that the star is from Will. I have to admit, I got a bit emotional here, too—it was pretty intense. Especially since I think she already noticed that there was something between them, even before Will told her that he loves her. (And here I’m getting a bit ahead of myself because that happens in the next episode! But what does time even mean?)

The next two episodes tighten everything up, and as mentioned before, we also get to see the Wallfacers, although the information is a bit sparse, which I think I’ve mentioned before. Maybe I’ll talk more about that later.

Sweater town

TV Show - The Fall of the House of Usher II

In this episode, it quickly becomes clear that Roderick Usher isn't as sharp as he might have once seemed. At the same time, a mysterious woman is introduced—she’s appeared before, but oddly always in different forms.

The focus, however, is on Perry, who has been rejected by his father and aunt when he pitched what he believed to be a brilliant idea for a club. At first, their harsh response seems unfair, because from a distance, Perry's idea, though elitist, flashy, and a bit perverse, somehow fits. You’re left wondering why they dismissed him so brutally.

As the Usher family's story unfolds, you start to understand the reasoning behind this rejection, even though Roderick has already told Perry straight to his face. Either you change the world or your idea goes straight to the trash—anything less is unworthy of an Usher. Is this the secret to the family's success?

We also learn in this episode that there’s a mole in the legal case against the Ushers, led by Auguste Dupin, who is leaking information to the prosecution. Naturally, the Ushers won't stand for this. Their lawyer, Pym, immediately drafts new confidentiality agreements, which all family members and their partners must sign. This plot line alone is powerful, showing both how the Ushers operate and the wealth they use to protect themselves.

As for the mole, I have a theory, but I'll wait until I have more evidence. Now, back to Perry!

Determined to prove his father wrong, Perry throws an extravagant, orgy-like party. But just as he aims high, he falls just as hard—poor Icarus, metaphorically speaking. It fits perfectly with what happens: while the acid may have physically killed him, it was his hubris and ego that were the real culprits. Too bad for him that his brother’s wife, the person he was trying to get back at, survives, and I’m sure her story isn’t over yet.

I like how this episode focuses on Perry, while still giving us glimpses of the others—there's some crazy stuff happening, but it’s not shoved in your face. That’ll sure come later, but for now, we’re just getting small bites. The scenes with Auguste, Roderick, and Madeline working in the basement add even more intrigue.

Another aspect I appreciate is the deeper exploration of Roderick and Madeline’s past—how they became such a powerful family and built their wealth. The way this is woven into the present-day storyline adds the right amount of context just when it’s needed.

The episode also touches on the painkiller Ligadone, its supposed side effects, and how addictive it can be. I wonder if this is another reference to the opioid crisis in the U.S., where drugs like Oxycodone and Fentanyl have caused widespread addiction.

Many doors have been opened, and I’m eager to see what paths, obstacles, and dark secrets lie behind them. I’m also hoping we’ll learn more about the mysterious woman, who keeps appearing in different forms.

I’d love to see the visuals continue to evolve—the series' style, especially how it portrays different time periods, is something I really enjoy. On the surface, it might seem lavish and exaggerated, but when you look closer, you find something distinctly Edgar Allan Poe-like. I wish more shows would dare to take these kinds of creative risks.

Let's see what the latest Ghibli Film has to offer!

TV Shows - 3 Body Problem IV

At the end of the second episode, I wanted to make a separate post.

The reason is that I’m wondering if this is just a dramatic portrayal in both the series and the book, or a form of social criticism. I mean, Ye Wenjie, due to all her experiences, believes that humanity is so messed up that it’s not worth continuing.

I also wonder how Netflix will handle these questions and reflections that come up repeatedly in the book. I don't want to say that this becomes tedious in the book, because I think it’s important to think about such things. But a voice inside me says that it could become tedious in the series. Especially when I recall some critiques of the series, saying that they had never seen a series where so little happens. I’m sorry, but I think those critics lack any understanding and ability to process events that go beyond the usual standards of today's series.

In the books, an important point is that characters think far beyond their own lifetimes and make decisions based on that. The author consistently paints a very interesting picture of the future and spends a lot of time explaining it. This is another balancing act the series must manage, because in the third book, the scope of this becomes even greater, and I feel that this could easily ruin the tension and structure of the whole story.

I also hope that the cast remains the same and that no one has to be replaced due to any foolishness. I've already pictured some actors in certain scenarios while reading, and I can hardly wait to see these in motion.

And yes, as I write, I realize that the next two seasons could be challenging. The line between disappointment and fascination is very thin, and I need to make sure my own expectations don't get in the way. A disappointment might not necessarily be the series' fault but rather due to my high expectations.

Yes, it remains exciting, and I've already written so much, even though we’ve just finished episode two. This could turn out to be a longer project than I initially thought.

Hopefully, Netflix won’t take too long and will quickly produce the next two seasons. Right now, we can see with Marvel that the long wait between series and movies doesn’t do the overall experience any good.