Three Body.

In physics, the "Three Body Problem" describes the attempt to find a formula that predicts what three bodies in space will do if their initial position, mass and speed are known.

Considering all we assume that the white coats know about stuff like this, it sounds simple enough and we can easily envision a bunch of brush-cut 1960s NASA guys in a smokey room pouring over pages of data and triumphantly finding the answer.

Turns out that the reality is far less obvious and somewhat disturbing.  Despite all we are able to do, all our computer power and the brilliance of our scientists, calculating the future of 3 mutually gravitationally attractive bodies from known positions and speeds is essentially an unsolvable problem.

Don't ask me to explain why.  I am still stuck in that room at NASA.  I can't quite get my head around the idea that such a simple sounding proposition doesn't have a physics formula that we can apply. 

Chinese author Liu Cixin uses this scientific conundrum as the backbone of his widely acclaimed novel, The Three Body Problem, and its sequels.

I tried reading it a while back, but it is translated from the Chinese and I just couldn't get into it.  I've had similar problems reading other translated works and it always feels like I'm missing out on something wonderful when it happens.

Thankfully, there's a television adaptation that has helped me.  The Chinese language adaptation of the novel is supposed to run 30 (!) episodes and is spooling out on YouTube.  Episode 1 is here.  The whole thing is available to members, but they're releasing episodes on YouTube as they air in China and so far 12 are available.  I've watched 3 and find it fascinating.

Compared to trying to read the novel, the subtitled episodes are a breeze.  

There's some puzzling dialog choices, some "not quite what North Americans expect" directorial choices and the story is taking its bloody time unfolding.  You definitely get that this is made for an entirely different audience with different cultural touchstones and structures.  Still, it's science fiction of the "low key, respectful of the genre" type that I enjoy when it's done right.  So far, this is done right. 

I also really like the parable of the turkey scientist.  That's some sci-fi from another country gold right there.

Being on YouTube, it's there for you at your convenience.  It's worth the time and if you're like me, you'll enjoy the change from the sameness of North American television.  

Fancy restaurants serve sorbet between courses to cleanse your palate and delight you with an unexpected sweet before you bite into the next savoury treat.  I'm trying to parse it out in 3 episode chunks, viewing it like a television sorbet.  Sometimes it's nice to watch something that messes with my expectations.

There's a Netflix adaptation of the same novel on the way.  Somehow, I doubt it'll be a sorbet and I'll be shocked if they keep the turkey scientist.