Director: David Benioff
3 Body Problem is a 2024 science-fiction series that traces humanity's reaction to a confirmed signal from a distant alien civilization, moving between a scientist's past and a present-day investigation that spans several countries.
What is 3 Body Problem about?
The narrative begins in 1960s China, where a young astrophysicist witnesses a period of upheaval that shapes the choices she makes at a remote radio observatory. A decision reached there sets in motion consequences that surface decades later. In the present day, a circle of accomplished scientists in London and beyond notice that colleagues are behaving strangely, that experimental results no longer hold, and that a numeric countdown appears in their field of vision without any physical source. A weary detective begins connecting a string of unexplained deaths within the scientific community, while a mysterious immersive headset draws certain players into a world governed by three suns whose motion cannot be predicted. As the threads converge, the characters realize the anomalies point toward a contact event with an outside intelligence, and that the timeline for humanity to prepare is far longer, and stranger, than they expected.
Cast & crew
The ensemble includes Jess Hong, Jovan Adepo, John Bradley, Alex Sharp, Eiza González and Marlo Kelly as the interconnected group of young scientists at the center of the story. Rosalind Chao appears in the historical timeline, and Liam Cunningham plays a senior figure coordinating the response to the unfolding crisis. The cast is international, reflecting the show's movement across multiple settings and eras.
Context & significance
The series adapts the novel The Three-Body Problem by Chinese author Liu Cixin, the first book in his Remembrance of Earth's Past trilogy, which received the Hugo Award for Best Novel. It was developed for television by David Benioff and his creative partners, the team previously known for a large-scale fantasy adaptation. The 1960s sequences are presented as historical setting for the plot rather than commentary, and the wider story leans on ideas drawn from astronomy, particle physics and game theory. Episodes run roughly an hour, and the show carries an IMDb rating of about 7.5.
Where & how to watch
3 Body Problem is available to stream on K-Time with a free account login; this page is free to read without signing in. The title is offered with a Persian dub and Persian subtitles, and the K-Time interface is built in Farsi for viewers across the Iranian diaspora, so the series can be followed comfortably in Persian.