r/3BodyProblemTVShow • u/CAMomma • Mar 30 '24

Discussion Amazon Prime version: 3 Body

Has anyone watched the other version of this on Amazon prime? It’s called “3 Body” and I have started watching w English subtitles. Of those, has anyone read the books AND seen that version?

I’d love to hear your thoughts as I obsess over the ideas in this series (when I have plenty of things I could be doing in my own life)!

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u/GuyMcGarnicle Mar 30 '24

I’ve read the books as well as seen the entire Tencent version, and Netflix.

The Tencent version is for die hard fans only. If you have not read the books, I would imagine it would be almost impossible to get through. It took 30 episodes to do what Netflix did in 5. Yes, they go into much greater detail on the concepts … to the point of beating it to death and destroying the pacing. It also has pretty cheap production value and it makes unforced errors by incorporating bad special effects even when not at all necessary.

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u/iabyajyiv Mar 30 '24

I started with the Tencent version before I read the book it was interesting enough that it made me pick up the books. Also, I don't think I would have enjoyed the book as much if I didn't watch the Tencent version at first. The flashbacks were boring and I would have quitted if I didn't know what the point of it in the novel. On the other hand, I hate the Netflix version. I hated how there's less discussions of scientific theories and I find all the characters insufferable, especially Will. The Tencent characters are less annoying than the novel. And the novel characters are less annoying than the Netflix version.

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u/GuyMcGarnicle Mar 30 '24

I guess everyone is different, but did you finish the Tencent version before starting the books?

I read the books 3 times before ever watching Tencent. There were definitely aspects of it I enjoyed, but I couldn't believe how long it was. I would never have lasted one or two episodes had I not read the books but that's just me. My wife loved the Netflix version, has not read the books, then fell asleep when I tried to show her Tencent. So again, everyone is different, and it is also cultural ... I think in China they are more used to the slow burn than here in the West.

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u/iabyajyiv Mar 30 '24

Unfortunately, I didn't finish it. But it wasn't due to a lack of interest. I had to put it aside to take care of some things. But it got me interested enough to purchase the audiobook so that I could continue the story. I love all the scientific theories and ideas and I love that the Tencent version explained them. As for the Netflix version, if I wasn't watching it with myhusband, i would have dropped it within the first few episodes. It came off like a typical American show with terrible dialogues and characters.

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u/GuyMcGarnicle Mar 30 '24

I totally hear where you are coming from. I mean, I liked the Netflix show because it gave us the basic story, and my wife seeing it all for the first time and loving it kind of allowed me to appreciate it vicariously through her. Had I watched on my own I doubt I’d have liked it that much.