3 Body Problem Season 1 Episodes 7-8 Review: Only Advance/Wallfacer

Ask and you shall receive. 3 Body Problem Season 1 Episode 7, “Only Advance,” and 3 Body Problem Season 1 Episode 8, “Wallfacer” show the importance of Saul and Will for the future. The show’s next chapter and the world’s next steps need them.

“Only Advance” convinces you of Will’s importance. Before this episode, he feels underdeveloped and lacks key components that make a compelling character, such as backstory, interests, hopes, dreams, and so forth.

Yes, you sympathize with him because cancer is devastating, and death so young is tragic. But what do we know beyond his love for Jin, his job, and his importance to these friends? In “Only Advance” and 3 Body Problem Season 1 Episode 6, “The Stars Our Destination,” the character begins to come more into focus.

He’s more than a man hopelessly in love with Jin.

The future depends on him. However, a glimpse at Will’s past provides important insight into him. Despite his brilliance, ability, and how fiercely his friends love him, Will considers himself worthless and inadequate.

This knowledge makes us understand him.

Why Will doesn’t tell Jin he loves her makes more sense now. Why he accepts his death easily makes sense.

Will’s slight reputation as someone who just accepts things becomes so clear.

Because of our newfound knowledge, he’s not aimlessly floating in these episodes. Not getting more of Will’s story sooner makes his death more tragic.

He’s a supporting act to the stars of the series but he could have been a star himself if given a spotlight.

This also may be one of the points of the series. Some characters need to play supporting roles while others take charge.

Now that we know him, it feels too soon for goodbye. The show ends the season on both a sad and hopeful note. Will may be floating in space now but it doesn’t seem like the end of him.

3 Body Problem will find a way for his return. It seems the series wants to leave us with Will at a low point just for him to return as Will 2.0, an upgraded, confident version.

We’ll have to wait to see if that theory develops in a potential future season.

Saul also finally shines. We don’t know his purpose but now we know that he’s important enough to attempt to assassinate. Saul and Will both represent untapped potential as show characters and as people.

We’re starting to see their purpose but not fully, which makes their storylines exciting. If you read deeper, this could showcase how no one should feel insignificant to this world.

They may have a purpose. It just hasn’t been found yet.

This concept also nicely ties into the bug image and comparison at the end of 3 Body Problem Season 1. Bugs are more powerful than they are credited.

Individuals are as well. Even if their contribution to this world seems small, it may matter in the grand scheme of things.

The final episode feels not like a conclusion but just a beginning. Clearly, the show hopes to have many seasons. As the intro season, 3 Body Problem does a good job of making you care about these characters and this world. We’re invested.

It’s not quite a smooth ride as the show has some things to fix for next season, but it does enough to make you want to return.

That’s sometimes the best sign of a strong opening.

What did you think of these episodes of 3 Body Problem? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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3 Body Problem is available to stream on Netflix.

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