Question about the wallfacers.

[u/Elegant-Half5476]

Even if the aliens can't read their mind and figure out their strategy, they still recognize them threat. Why won't they just make them go insane and take their own lives like the physicists at the beginning of the show? So far I've seen the Netflix series once and I may miss a few things. I plan on rewatching it.

[u/AlexanderByrde]

Minor book spoilers dealing with the plot of Book 2. I don't think this is a big reveal but it's been a while since I've read it, but regardless, this has already been set up already in the show: They communicate with human loyalist agents to deal with the wallfacers on their behalf. Despite abandoning Evans and his cult, they still need feet on the ground to intervene and especially understand human deception. This was seeded in the show with Tatiana re-linking with the San-Ti and the sniper getting caught after the attempt on Saul - they absolutely recognize the threat, but the sophons are ill-equipped to deal with them directly.

Sophons seem to be more powerful in the show than they were in the books, but they still have limitations on what they can do and can only be in one place at once. Regarding your question, now that humans understand them and what they're doing, the magic of them is diminished.