Movies - TV
What The Aliens Are Really After In Netflix’s 3 Body Problem
By VALERIE ETTENHOFER
Unlike other alien invasion stories, “3 Body Problem” lays the groundwork for the audience to understand the San-Ti’s mission on Earth and their motivation.
The San-Ti live on a planet more susceptible to “chaotic eras,” including ice ages and warming periods. After being contacted by Ye Wenjie, they seek a new home on Earth.
Unfortunately, after abandoning their home planet for Earth, the San-Ti discover humanity’s ability to lie and become worried about being manipulated and controlled.
The San-Ti demonstrate their power by scaring Earthlings and declaring them “bugs.” The human attack on Judgement Day proves to the aliens that they are right to be concerned.
However, San-Ti could be lying since Ye’s initial message contained a sense of individuality that contrasted against the alien’s supposed collaborative brain.
The initial message reads, “You are lucky that I am the first to receive your message. I am warning you: do not answer. If you answer, we will come.”
The distinct use of “I” and “we” hints that one San-Ti member could lie or keep a secret from another, something their representative told Evans they didn’t know how to do.