3 Body Problem was delayed for months to add one crucial scene to make Netflix’s sci-fi series better, co-showrunner Dan Weiss reveals.

One scene in 3 Body Problem delayed the show for months, co-showrunner Dan Weiss reveals. An adaptation of Liu Cixin’s novel of the same name, the new Netflix sci-fi series follows a fateful decision made in 1960s China that reverberates across space and time and forces a group of scientists in the present day to face a great threat to humanity. The 3 Body Problem cast includes Jovan Adepo, John Bradley, Rosalind Chao, Liam Cunningham, Eiza González, Jess Hong, Marlo Kelly, Alex Sharp, Benedict Wong, and Jonathan Pryce.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Weiss and Netflix executive Peter Friedlander revealed that one 3 Body Problem scene caused a months-long delay. The show was finished and ready to be released in the middle of 2023, though the showrunners, which also include David Benioff and Alexander Woo, thought the first episode moved too quickly and was confusing, so they wrote a new scene to be added near the beginning. However, the actors strike prevented them from shooting it. Read their full explanation below:
Weiss : We got the scene written the day before the strike. It was literally five pages, but we really thought it was worth doing. Netflix was great about it. It would have been very easy for them to be like, “You have a finished show that is ready to air, for us to hold that [for a scene that’s] five minutes of two people in a bar … that it took some fortitude for them to just say, “Yeah.”

Friedlander : I want to tell the best version of this story, and if there’s a critical moment that the producers want to capture and we have the time and resources to do it, I want to figure it out with them. They were total professionals, total collaborators, and very clear what their vision is. I don’t want the audiences to miss out on that. So it was not a hard decision for me.

How 3 Body Problem’s Bar Scene Benefited The Show

If this crucial scene at the bar hadn’t been added, the episode would have transitioned directly from Vera’s suicide to the Oxford Five attending her funeral with Auggie already aware of the countdown, which would have been clunky and confusing.

The scene in question occurs near the very beginning of 3 Body Problem episode 1 as Auggie (Gonzalez) and Jin (Hong) are having drinks at the bar. In just five minutes, the scene provides a lot of much-needed characterization and exposition. It effectively introduces the two aforementioned characters and allows them to discuss their respective professions, prompted by drunken flirtation. The scene also offers the first glimpse into Auggie’s romantic life as she receives a call from Saul (Jovan Adepo).

Perhaps most importantly, the scene provides insight into the breakdown of science in the world of 3 Body Problem. This establishes a connection between the duo and Vera’s suicide and initiates Auggie’s countdown clock. If this crucial scene at the bar hadn’t been added, the episode would have transitioned directly from Vera’s suicide to the Oxford Five attending her funeral with Auggie already aware of the countdown, which would have been clunky and confusing.

The scene seems to have benefited the show, with 3 Body Problem reviews being mostly positive. This has resulted in strong 77% and 78% scores on Rotten Tomatoes from the critics and audiences, respectively. 3 Body Problem has also climbed up the viewership charts, suggesting it might become Netflix’s new flagship series.