The first episode of 3 Body Problem unfolds in Beijing in 1966, delving into the harrowing re-education program and the defiance of a physics professor as he and his wife face the authorities. Their daughter, Ye Wenjie, witnesses the tragic events, her grief turning into a potent desire for vengeance. Fast forward to London in 2024, where a chilling murder mystery involving Dr. Mohammad and a cryptic countdown takes center stage, setting the stage for an ominous message that resonates with the past.
Experience the thrilling tale of Saul and Vera as they confront the mysterious and unexpected at the Oxford University Particle Accelerator. Join them in their race against time as they unravel the secrets that defy the laws of science and physics, leading to a shocking and tragic turn of events.
Discover the intricately woven narrative of scientists Auggie and Jin, exploring inexplicable phenomena in the world's accelerators. As they grapple with the unexplainable particles and witness Auggie's strange 'infection,' a mysterious countdown unravels. Uniting these scientists is Detective Clarence Shi, shrouded in an enigmatic haze as he delves into their interconnected stories following Vera's demise.
Explore the dynamic new character, Jack Rooney, a former scientist turned rockstar who attends Vera's funeral as a friend. Meanwhile, Auggie is struggling with her mental state and begins seeing a mysterious countdown timer everywhere, despite finding no medical explanation after consulting a neurologist.
Discover the thrilling tale of Clarence as he embarks on an investigation following the funeral. Uncover the mysterious activities of Mike Evans, a key figure in the renowned Evans Energy company. Join Clarence as he captures intriguing moments through compelling photography, leading to a suspenseful encounter in a vast field and a dramatic helicopter escape. Brace yourself for the unfolding of this captivating narrative as Clarence's pursuit unravels the significance of Mike Evans in the compelling storyline.
As for the others, they all crowd round in a small pub and discuss Vera’s death – and what seems to have happening to Auggie. Auggie leaves when Jack cracks a joke about Saul, whom we learn there’s history between the pair. It looks like they used to be a couple and have broken up but we don’t know the full extent of their history yet.
Auggie heads out for a cigarette, where a strange woman arrives and smokes with her. She mentions the countdown and asks her how much time she has. “That’s not much,” She says, asking Auggie to shut down all her work and stop with the nano-fibers. The next day, at midnight, she’s then to go and look at the stars. “You don’t want it to get to zero. Nothing good happens at zero,” She says, and then leaves. She does hand over a strange token and also mentions the stars “winking” but all of this is rather ominous.
We then jump back to Inner Mongolia in China, 1967. Soldiers nearby at a base up on the hill, complete with a huge satellite dish, have apparently been working on something top secret. Nothing good happens up there. The place is shrouded in secrecy while the numerous workers down below get to work destroying the land, chopping down trees. Ye Wenjie is here among them, secretly learning English. Unfortunately, she’s caught by the guards, and Commander Song demands she head off to Division Headquarters.
While Ye Wenjie sits freezing in her cell, cuddling a thin blanket for sanctuary, a woman named Ten Lihua shows and tries to talk to her. Ye Wenjie’s told to read a document so she can return to the Construction Corps. Her task is to testify against her father’s associates, who, they intend to track down and, presumably, kill. Ye Wenjie refuses outright and as a result, gets a bucket of cold water thrown on her and her bed for good measure.
Time passes and Ye Wenjie’s work from behind bars garners interest from the scientists up at the Military Base on the hill. The research there is of the highest security classification, but she’s allowed to rehabilitate herself there instead given her brilliant mind. Ye Wenjie accepts, and makes a bold statement that she’ll spend the rest of her life there.
Back in London, we jet off to the Headquarters of the Strategic Intelligence Agency. It’s called The Black Palace and it’s where Clarence Shi has been investigating what he’s dubbed the “Oxford Five”. He’s been fired from basically every law enforcement and this is his last chance to get his career back on track.
Speaking of investigating, Jin heads off to see Vera’s mother, who we quickly learn happens to be Ye Wenjie. She explains that Vera never left a note or anything during her death but seems to have been working with a “games console”.
Jin grows curious and puts the headset on. Just like that, she’s transferred inside some sort of videogame. In the distance is a temple, and as the sun suddenly lifts into the air, a skeleton is revealed out the sand and Jin screams, eventually ripping her headset off.
The fateful day for Auggie rolls round and she encourages Saul to come join her as she waits for the “universe to wink at her”. Saul explains that the token she was given by that strange woman apparently stopped being made in 1963. There’s a bit of banter between them… until they look up at the sky and watch the stars.
In this thrilling sci-fi novel, Auggie and Saul are left amazed and perplexed when the stars in the sky suddenly light up then blink in and out at midnight. Upon realizing it is Morse Code, Saul sets out to decode the message, discovering that it corresponds to Auggie’s countdown. The suspense builds as everyone becomes aware of the mysterious phenomenon.
