Netflix’s 3 Body Problem features TWO surprising celebrity cameos

Netflix‘s new series 3 Body Problem features a surprising celebrity cameo from two comedy actors. 

The League Of Gentlemen stars Mark Gatiss and Reece Sheersmith both make appearances in the science ficton series.

The crime-science flick – which is based on the Chinese bestselling novels and reportedly had a budget of £125million – begins in Communist China during the height of mad despot Chairman Mao’s genocide in the 1960s.

It then leaps forward to Britain in the present day where scientists are being driven out of their senses, and killed, by unexplained phenomena.

Mark portrays celebrated polymath Isaac Newton while Reece stars as computer scientist Alan Turning. 

Fans hoping for regular appearances by the pair will be disappointed however as they both appear in just one episode. 

Those who were quick off the mark to watch the show on Thursday were full of praise as they said it was the ‘peak of TV this year so far’ – after it was mostly panned by critics.

Controversy has also arisen amid the release after one of the actresses in the show  Eiza Gonzalez was roasted over her claims she was ‘too pretty’ to secure acting roles.

Fans said on Twitter: ‘3 body problem is kinda excellent….’, 

‘If ever there was a moment for Netflix to break with its ‘release all episodes at once’ model it’s the 3 BODY PROBLEM this show was absolutely tailor-made for week-to-week discussion/analysis/obsession.’,

‘I felt wow this show feels refreshing compared to so many another generic shows.’,

‘I dare to say Netflix’s 3 Body Problem undoubtedly has the best depiction of the craziness of China‘s cultural revolution in the entire history of film making.’, 

‘I’m really invested in #3BodyProblem.’,

‘The Cultural Revolution scene deserves a round of applause. #3BodyProblem.’,

‘one thing is certain: this is the peak of television this year so far. #3BodyProblem.’,

‘I’m finishing 3 Body Problem by tonight this show is fire.’,

‘Got chills watching the first episode of 3 Body Problem. Haven’t felt like this watching something new in a while.’

‘Just finished episodes 1 & 2… No spoilers. It’s even better than I hoped it would be. The end of Epi 2 was really frightening but understandable given the hopelessness of the Cultural Revolution #3BodyProblem.’,

‘I really liked the pilot of #3BodyProblem. I just glad that Ye Wenjie storyline is adapted very well. There some changes in the characters on the present, but the show respect the mythology of the book and focus on the key elements. The end was awesome. Great pilot!!!.’,

‘Just finished binge watching #3bodyproblem on Netflix, what a show!! They really did justice to the book. Lot of great sci fi shows have come out recently, and this one is probably one among the best if not the best.’

Computer engineer and science fiction writer Liu Ciux’s The Three-Body Problem – the first in a trilogy of novels called Remembrance of Earth’s Past – was firmly placed in the ‘unadaptable’ category due to being filled to the brim with scientific jargon.

But it is a challenge Game of Thrones duo David Benioff and DB Weiss were determined to conquer.

However critics have certainly not been as impressed as the fans with reviewers saying it has managed to be both be dull and too confusing.  

Writing for the Daily Mail, Christopher Stevens said: ‘Like a rocket disintegrating on lift-off, the show promptly hurtles off in several directions at once – with some parts ploughing straight into the ground. Benioff and Weiss have no idea whether they’re making a philosophical thriller, a historical epic about the cultural revolution, a bog-standard crime drama (complete with shambling, chain-smoking maverick copper who has one last chance to save his career), a rom-com, a horror movie or a trailer for a video game.

‘The result is that everything looks derivative and unconvincing. Worst of all, as the British researchers tell each other repeatedly that ‘science is broken’, there are long stretches of teeth-grinding boredom.’ 

The Independent’s Louis Chilton echoed his sentiments with a damning review, writing: ‘No book is really unadaptable; the problem is that rendering it on screen will simply be too dull, or confusing and 3 Body Problem is somehow both. Benioff, Weiss and Woo made radical and transformative changes to the source material, but lost something integral in the process. 

‘We’re left with a series that’s full of bluster but no vibrancy – a body devoid of life.’

Writing for The Guardian, Lucy Mangan slammed the writers’ attempt at emulating their Games Of Thrones success. She wrote: ‘There are puzzles to solve, if you are capable, but nothing and no one to root for. 

‘Even its design as a metaphor for the climate crisis and human inertia in the face of potential doom doesn’t give it enough heft – in fact, such is the way of these things, it may even serve to alienate us further from emotional engagement. It won’t be Netflix’s answer to Game of Thrones.’

And Dan Einav of the Financial Times said: ‘While the series initially manages to offset early confusion with gripping suspense, slick pacing and well-timed reveals, it becomes unwieldy as it progresses. 

‘Characters saddled with explaining abstruse mechanical theories, meanwhile, never really seem to have more than one dimension themselves.’ 

Not all critics were underwhelmed, however, with several commending the much-anticipated series.

The i’s Emily Baker applauded the series, writing: ‘It’s fast-paced, zooming through storylines and ideas at breakneck speed. Thankfully, the whole season is available to binge – I don’t think I could’ve stood to wait a week for each chapter. It’s not just mind-bending, it’s mind-melting – in the most enjoyable way.’ 

Although its plot complexity was heavily criticised, Empire’s John Nugent felt the weaving of storylines was successful.

He wrote: ‘It is part police-procedural potboiler, part historical-fiction epic, part puzzle-box mystery, part scientific-discovery adventure, part alien-invasion sci-fi. That it feels coherent at all is an achievement. At its heart lies the question of what it means to be human.’

And writing for The Irish Independent, Pat Stacey firmly placed himself as a roaring fan, saying: ‘Brilliantly produced, pacy and featuring excellent performances, it provides food for the brain as well as a feast for the eyes. It also has something you don’t always find in the sci-fi genre — real heart and characters it’s easy to become invested in. 

‘3 Body Problem doesn’t lend itself to binge-watching; it’s so packed with ideas and intrigue, it deserves to be savoured.’

As it was released Eiza insisted her natural good looks have held back her acting career because she has been told she is ‘too pretty’ for certain roles.

Eiza indicated that her good looks have harmed her career, though many fans seemed to think the lackluster opportunities had more to do with her talent.

In a new interview with InStyle Eiza said: ‘I remember being [told for] so many projects, “She’s too pretty for the role. She’s too hot for the role.”

‘Then I’d just be like, What is Margot Robbie? She’s the hottest, most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life!’

She said Latinas are held to a different standard, and claimed she had an ‘identity crisis’ and even considered shaving her head in a bid to boost her prospects.

But after the interview, many skeptical fans took to social media to express their surprise, writing: ‘She can’t act her way out of a paper sack!’

‘Naw she just stinks at acting.’ and ‘Damn, just like act better.’

‘I have another idea why she didn’t get roles,’ another person chimed in.

A number of comments brought up the fact that Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson’s careers seemed to be thriving, despite their good looks.

‘Yeah I’m sure that’s the reason’ and ‘Glad she thinks so much about herself.’

Many had trouble believing that was the reason for her missing out on roles: ‘That probably never happened.’

Yet another commentator called the actress ‘vain’ while someone else pointed out that she also probably ‘got a bunch of roles because she’s pretty’, not in spite of it.

In the interview Eiza spoke about how she considered shaving her head.

‘I was like, “Do I shave my head? Do I make myself less attractive? Do I make myself more attractive? Do I not dress super-hot or do I cover myself all the time?”‘

Despite her claims, Eiza secured a role in 3 Body Problem where she portrays Augustina ‘Auggie’ Salazar.