How does a decision made in rural China in the past affect the evolution of the entire human species? Netflix’s 3 Body Problem episode 2, “Red Coast,” was written by Rose Cartwright and directed by Derek Tsang.
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous episode of 3 Body Problem, “Countdown.”
Content warning: please note that this series (and, by extension, this recap) includes a discussion of suicide. You can reach the Suicide Prevention Lifeline by phone at 800-273-TALK (8255).
“Red Coast”
At her home, older Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao) watches a BBC World News report about the flickering stars. She’s interrupted by a knock at the door. She opens it to reveal Saul (Jovan Adepo), who bears takeout bags. Saul pays his respects at the shrine to her late daughter, Vera Ye.
Ye Wenjie asks Saul if he has a theory about the blinking stars. Saul says his theory is the flickering stars are bullsh*t. He cites that none of Earth’s satellites observed the phenomenon.
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Outside the Nanotechnology Research Centre, Jin (Jess Hong) tells Auggie (Eiza González) that whatever she decides is the right thing to do. Then, Auggie enters the NRC. Inside, many of the employees watch news reports about the flickering stars or gossip about the inexplicable phenomenon among themselves.
Next, she approaches a group of scientists preparing to test her nanofiber. The now-omnipresent countdown in front of her eyes displays less than nine and a half minutes remaining. She puts a synthetic diamond into place and raises it through a nanofiber lattice.
The Future, Cubed
Auggie enters the experiment chamber and taps the synthetic diamond. It separates into pieces, cleanly sliced by the nanofiber lattice. Her coworkers applaud her success. But Auggie’s countdown has dropped below seven minutes. She demands the lab be shut down, declaring the project over. As she walks outside, the countdown dips below two minutes. However, the next the countdown vanishes. This comports with what Tatiana (Marlo Kelly) told Auggie in the previous episode.
However, a nearby Da Shi (Benedict Wong) advises her to keep moving, as her coworkers will soon follow her out. Da Shi walks beside Auggie, giving her his card. Auggie says she doesn’t think he can help her, but then Da Shi asks if she doesn’t want to know why the stars flickered for her.
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Flashback to 1968: inner Mongolia, China. The antenna at Red Coast Base broadcasts a message into space. The message declares that humans wish to work with these civilizations to build a better world.
A young Ye Wenjie (Zine Tseng) asks Yang Weining, the base’s Chief Engineer, how long they have been broadcasting the message. He says a few years, but the Americans and Russians have been broadcasting similar messages for longer than that.
The Fermi Paradox
Ye Wenjie cites the Fermi Paradox. She explains the concept’s origin and its basic premise to an ignorant Yang: “There are a hundred billion stars in our galaxy. Many of these stars must have planets similar to our own. And many of these planets must have developed intelligent life. So where is everybody?”
She hands Yang a report by Dr. Peterson and asks Yang to connect her with the author. Ye Wenjie advises him to keep it a secret. Later, Ye Wenjie monitors comms for messages from space. She eagerly reads Dr. Peterson’s response.
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Soon, Ye Wejnie explains that on June 12 of the previous year, Peterson’s team in California observed bursts of electromagnetic radiation from Jupiter. The same day, Red Coast Base picked up an intense radio burst.
However, the RCB detection occurred 13 minutes after Peterson’s observation of the em radiation from Mt. Wilson. Furthermore, the RCB radio burst did not originate from Jupiter but from the sun.
She Simplified the Math
Ye Wenjie explains that it took 43 minutes to reach the sun from Jupiter. The sun didn’t just reflect the energy from Jupiter — it amplified it. Yang realizes what Ye Wenjie is suggesting: by aiming the antenna’s signal at the sun, the signal will be both reflected and amplified. While it might take many years to receive a reply, it means China will be leading the world in interstellar communication. Ye Wenjie says she wants to take the idea to Lei Zhicheng, Red Coast Base’s Political Commissar.
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Once Yang has described the idea to Lei, Lei declares it a radical idea. However, Yang states he has been working on it for a very long time, taking credit for the idea. Lei calls in Ye Wenjie to verify the concept. Ye Wenjie verifies it is conceptually sound. However, Lei states the idea is politically untenable. This is because “in the heart of the People,” the “Red Sun” is Chairman Mao, whose portrait is hanging on the wall behind Lei. Furthermore, Lei says Ye Wenjie should have warned him of how politically dangerous this suggestion was.
Later, Ye Wenjie takes advantage of a system test combined with a distraction caused by a housefly. Thus, she clandestinely conducts the signal broadcast without authorization.
The Black Palace
In 2024, at “The Black Palace,” the headquarters of the Strategic Intelligence Agency in London, Da Shi asks Auggie what she knows about older Mike Evans (Jonathan Pryce). Da Shi explains that he owns Evans Energy, Earth’s largest privately held oil company. He asks Auggie if it surprises her that Vera had a friend like Evans.
Da Shi tells Auggie there’s something that surprises him. He shows Auggie security footage of the alley where she spoke with Tatiana. However, the footage shows Auggie sitting alone, “talking to no one.” Auggie insists Tatiana was present. Da Shi believes her. To demonstrate why, he shows her the point in the footage where the invisible person lights her cigarette.
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Da Shi concludes that someone scrubbed Tatiana from the footage. They know it was manipulated but can’t find any trace proving it was. Da Shi deduces this reveals Auggie is an important person. Da Shi notes that her creation of the nanofiber is pretty important. He says it must be dangerous to someone, possibly a competitor. Auggie is skeptical. Next, Da Shi asks if Auggie was close to Vera. Auggie believes Vera was disappointed when she transferred from theoretical to practical work.
It Follows
Da Shi wonders if that’s why Vera killed herself. He confirms the countdown Auggie saw concluded when she closed the lab. Auggie asks if anyone else has seen it. Da Shi lists several scientists. He says they either like Auggie or Vera.
Elsewhere, Jin leaves Auggie a voicemail, citing that Auggie was supposed to call. Then, Jin puts on Vera’s VR helmet. Again, she finds herself on “Level One,” wearing historical clothing. However, the location is now a snowscape. Two other figures approach her, also wearing historical clothing. The older one introduces himself as the Count of the West. When she tries to touch him, he derides her for daring to touch someone of noble blood. Jin tries to clarify whether he’s an NPC in the game or another player. The Count introduces Follower (Eve Ridley).
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Jin calls herself Copernicus. The Count welcomes her to Civilization 137. He tells her they are going to the pyramid to meet Emperor Zhou. The Count explains it is a chaotic era. At the arrival of a new era, the emperor “consults great minds” about the sun’s movements. They must decide if an era is stable or chaotic. If the emperor is wrong, the entire civilization will be destroyed.
The sunrise interrupts them. The Count says there is only enough shade under the rock for two people, so he sends Follower out into the sun.
3 Body Problem’s Slicin’ Sophon
As Jin watches, Follower dehydrates into a husk. Jin asks if she’s dead. The Count says no. Those who dehydrate fast enough can be preserved to be rehydrated during a stable era. The Count states if one of them survives, they all survive.
At a bar, Saul discusses the possibility that it could have been god who flickered the stars with several women. He ignores a call from Auggie.
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Jin shows Jack Rooney (John Bradley) the VR helmet. He’s perplexed by the lack of a screen, headphone jack and logos. Jack dons the helmet. Like Jin, he’s now wearing historical clothes amid a barren landscape. He can taste the sand.
However, the arrival of Sophon (Sea Shimooka) interrupts his experience. She tells him he’s not invited and decapitates him with a katana. He pulls off the helmet in a panic. Jack postulates the video game is 50 to 150 years ahead of the video game art. Jin wonders if the game had anything to do with Vera’s suicide. Jack says that’s absurd and puts the helmet back on. Immediately, Sophon slices his neck from behind. He removes the helmet and says he could taste blood that time. He puts the helmet on—another decapitation.
Jennifer Shi
Jin puts the helmet on instead. Jack is bitter that she can play without getting decapitated. Da Shi listens them via surveillance. Elsewhere, Saul, sleeping on Auggie’s doorstep, wakes up by her leaving her house.
Da Shi cleans leaves from Jennifer Shi’s grave. He sniffs as he takes out and places a red velvet cupcake, wishing her a happy birthday. Tatiana interrupts her, who says she thought she was the only one. She explains she brings her father coconut cake on his birthday.
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Tatiana asks what happened to Da Shi’s wife. Da Shi says breast cancer. Tatiana says her father was shot in the head. She says this was a good way to go, as it’s quick. Da Shi is unsettled as he leaves the cemetery. Tatiana walks away from Edith Marsh’s grave. Probably not her father’s grave.
At his home, Jack finds a sleek package with his name on it. There’s no explanation for how it arrived on his coffee table. Inside is a VR helmet with a card inviting him to play. He dons the helmet and is transported to “Level One.”
Other Worlds Than These
Jack’s wearing historical clothing. Judging by the castle on the horizon, the game now takes place in England. He’s approached by Sir Thomas Moore, whose introduction is interrupted by Jack punching him in the jaw. Follower looks on, mortified. Jack attempts to grope Moore’s face. Moore is offended. Jack introduces himself, and Moore tells him he needs to choose a better name. Jack punches him again.
Meanwhile, Will Downing (Alex Sharp) lectures a class of students on the “many worlds” theory. This means there could be an infinite number of any individual across the multiverse. As the lecture’s audio continues, we see Will get bad news from his doctor. The lecture speaks of an individual’s consciousness continuing in other timelines, even if they’ve died in this one.
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Soon, Jack explains the Three Body game to a dejected Will on a park bench. Will tells Jack he has stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which has spread to his liver and lungs. There’s an estimated two to six-month survival time window. Jack suggests a second opinion. Will says he’s too far gone, and all they can do is make him comfortable. They’ll operate on the tumors, but it’s just delaying the inevitable. Jack refuses to accept Will’s terminal diagnosis.
I Ching
Jin is playing Three Body. She is at the entrance of an impressive temple and knocks at the door. Inside, the Count speaks to the emperor. The Count declares he has created a code for the universe that can predict the sun’s movements. Jin declares the Count’s methods constitute prophecy, not prediction: it’s the I Ching, not something that follows the laws of physics.
The emperor is confused. Jin clarifies that physics governs the physical world. The Count states that his code is complete. He predicts the current chaotic era will end in eight days, followed by a 63-year-long stable era. A skylight opens.
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The Count directly addresses Jin and tells her that putting her hand on the ground will speed up time. The sun flashes past the skylight chaotically. Then, stability arrives. The emperor gives the order to rehydrate the masses.
Lines of soldiers march toward towers where dehydrated husks are kept. These are thrown into water, where they rehydrate into living people. Jin places Follower into the water, and she regenerates as well. Follower emerges and embraces Jin.
“No” Smoking
However, the stable era immediately ends. The newly rehydrated look fearful. A blizzard engulfs the crowd. Follower calls for help. While Jin attempts to do so, the panicked crowds make reaching her difficult. By the time she reaches Follower, Follower has frozen. She crumbles before Jin’s eyes.
The wind subsides. Jin stands among the frozen piles of bodies. Sophon appears. She states, “Civilization #137 was obliterated by extreme cold. You did not save them. But you did establish the superiority of science over mysticism. In level two, you must use science to save the next civilization.” Jin looks up to see the three stars aligning in the sky. It is revealed that someone is watching this on a video screen. The screen is one of several screens being monitored.
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Elsewhere, Da Shi passes a security clearance eye ID scan to enter an elevator. He enters the office of Thomas Wade (Liam Cunningham). Wade informs Da Shi that he’s received a complaint about Da Shi smoking in his office. He further states he fired the security officer who made the complaint because if he’s worrying about Da Shi, he’s not worrying about their enemies.
Wade asks Da Shi what he’s learned about Evans. Da Shi states that Evans likes funding anti-science propaganda and politicians worldwide. Wade thinks Evans may be behind the other events. Da Shi asks if he paid to have the stars blink. Wade says there’s someone behind everything if you do the digging.
The Wow! Signal
Da Shi has been doing some digging for himself. The file he’s holding is a 72-second sequence detected by Ohio State University in 1977: it’s the Wow! signal. The signal remains a mystery. No one else detected it. Da Shi asks Wade to guess where Evans lived in 1977.
Flashback to 1977 China. Ye Wenjie comes across young Mike Evans (Ben Schnetzer) living in a cabin. Soon, Yang and Ye Wenjie interview Evans, who has a copy of Silent Spring. Communicating in English, Ye Wenjie learns that Evans’ goal is to save a species of sparrow. He plans to accomplish this by planting trees. Ye Wenjie says the land belongs to the People and will be used to build a new lab. Evans counters the stupidity of the People will destroy an entire ecosystem. Evans tells them to go.
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Before she leaves, Ye Wenjie quotes Silent Spring to Evans. Yang watches them converse. Ye Wenjie tells Evans she will try to stop them. Later, Ye Wenjie campaigns for an alternate location for Site 2. Yang accuses her of trying to help the American.
Yang offers to help her another way. The Commissar gave him a list of new arrivals at a nearby camp to determine if any could prove useful to RCB’s mission. While no scientists are among their number, Yang has identified a former Red Guard, one of the four responsible for Ye Wenjie’s father’s death.
Do Not Answer
At the camp, Ye Wenjie confronts Tang Hongjing. In the intervening years, Tang has visibly changed. Among other things, she no longer has most of her right arm below the elbow. Tang says it is a new era, and the past is finished. Ye Wenjie says the past is not finished. Tang asks if Ye Wenjie expects her to repent.
Ye Wenjie asks her if she thinks she should. Tang asks who will atone for what she has lost. She tells Ye Wenjie of where she was sent in the years between the gangrene that led to the amputation of her arm. Tang says she was just a child. Ye Wenjie says she was just a child when she saw Tang kill her father.
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Later, Ye Wenjie monitors comms at the station. Signal detected. The signal’s coherence rating is AAA. It is almost certainly intelligent communication.
The message: “Do not answer” three times. “I am a pacifist in this world. You are lucky that I am the first to receive your message. I am warning you: do not answer. If you respond, we will come. Your world will be conquered. Do not answer.” Ye Wenjie leaves the monitoring station. She walks outside and stares at the horizon.
The Message
Ye Wenjie points the antenna at the sun. She painstakingly enters a message into the computer: “Come. We cannot save ourselves. I will help you conquer this world.” Ye Wenjie transmits the signal, bouncing it off the sun so it will be reflected and amplified.
RELATED: Read all of our 3 Body Problem recaps!
All eight episodes of 3 Body Problem are now streaming on Netflix.
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