The San-Ti are on the way to Earth, but are they really the comrades they make themselves out to be? 3 Body Problem episode four, “Our Lord,” was written by Madhuri Shekar and directed by Minkie Spiro.
Content warning: please note that 3 Body Problem (and by extension this recap) includes discussion of suicide. You can reach the Suicide Prevention Lifeline by phone at: 800-273-TALK (8255).
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous episode of 3 Body Problem, “Destroyer of Worlds.”
“Our Lord”
A young Mike Evans (Ben Schnetzer) at a restaurant in London in 1982. He meets a young Ye Wenjie (Zine Tseng). Evans is surprised to hear from her. She says she’s in town for a conference. Evans says he knows about Ye Wenjie’s father (see “Countdown”). Ye Wenjie says she knows about Evans’ father, too, and the fact that he’s inherited the oil company.
Evans insists he’s the same man he was when they first met (see “Red Coast”). He says he could have saved the swallows, or he could use his resources to make a bigger difference. Ye Wenjie critically comments on his expensive watch and cufflinks. Evans asks why she wrote to him. Ye Wenjie tells Evans that at Red Coast Base, she “did something.”
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At the hospital, Will Downing (Alex Sharp) has been discharged after his tumor surgery. However, Jack Rooney (John Bradley) is an hour late to pick Will up. Furthermore, Jack isn’t answering his phone (as we saw last episode, that’s because he’s been murdered). Saul Durand (Jovan Adepo) arrives at the hospital. Will asks why Saul has come.
In the office of Thomas Wade (Liam Cunningham), Jin Cheng (Jess Hong) and Auggie Salazar (Eiza González) are horrified by the security camera footage of Jack being murdered by an apparently invisible assailant. Da Shi (Benedict Wong) stands behind them. Auggie concludes it must be the same woman she met who erased herself from security footage, Tatiana (Marlo Kelly). Da Shi suggests it could also be someone who works with her.
The Oxford Five
Wade recounts that Vera Le invited five geniuses to Oxford: Jin, Auggie, Saul, Jack and Will. But now, Vera and Jack are dead. He also knows about the invitation Jin received. Jin asks Wade how he knows that. Wade asks Jin if it matters. She hands him the invite for examination. Wade suggests that Jin can either wallow in sorrow for her friend, or do something to make it right.
At home later, Jin guzzles vodka. Auggie refuses to let her take any pills, but does suggest she drink her liquor. Jin tells Auggie that she tried to calm Jack, but he picked a fight with Tatiana.
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Jin tells Auggie that she believes the San-Ti are real, and that they’re coming. Auggie agrees and points out that humanity lacks the level of technology to explain the phenomenon that has transpired. Jin says she doesn’t know how to fight aliens. But Auggie points out that the people who work with the aliens are human, and they’ve both been fighting with humans their whole lives.
On a London rooftop, Da Shi brings Wade some good news. He’s located older Mike Evans (Jonathan Pryce). He’s aboard the Judgment Day, a modified oil tanker with a big satellite dish and potentially 1000 people living aboard.
Judgment Day
The deck of Judgment Day is teeming with life, including a playground filled with children. Also present is the black helicopter from “Countdown.” Inside the ship, Evans walks down a hallway. A child approaches and asks him if she’ll be alive when the San-Ti arrive. Evans tells her that if the San-Ti want them to be alive when they arrive, then they’ll make that possible. He tells her that the San-Ti can perform miracles. But if not, then that’s what’s best.
Felix arrives and informs Evans that they have the final roster for the summit in London the next day. Evans asked what happened to Jack. Felix informs him that Jack didn’t work out. He asks Evans if they should increase security. Evans asks what security could provide that the Lord can’t.
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In his office, Evans contacts the San-Ti. They inform him that his “enemies” are aware of the impending summit. Furthermore, they are watching him. The San-Ti tells him not to be afraid, as nothing will happen to “any of you,” given they are under the aliens’ protection. Evans looks relieved.
Elsewhere, Da Shi watches his son playing a fighting game. Da Shi asks when his son is getting a job. His son says he has a job: an entrepreneur. Da Shi tells his son he has terrible taste in men. His son says he takes after his mom. Da Shi’s son asks if Da Shi will still think he’s a loser after he has gotten rich and bought him a big house.
Amélie Box
At Jack’s house, Will and Saul prepare for the funeral. It’ll be a closed coffin, Saul says, prompting a shot of the puddle of blood where Jack died. Saul asks if there are sex toys or porn to get rid of before Jack’s family arrives. He finds a Transformers lunch box beside the bed and believes he’s hit paydirt. But it’s actually a box of sentimental mementos, including photographs, toys and a shot glass.
Meanwhile, Jin gets coached by Wade and Da Shi. She says she’s a scientist, not a spy. But Da Shi tells her she’s there for information, not confrontation. Her job is simply to gather intelligence and bring it back. But he suggests she pack a bag, in case she isn’t able to go home. Jin asks why she can’t go home. Wade points out “they” know where she lives. Jin asks if he really believes in aliens. He counters, “You don’t need to believe in Santa Claus to give gifts on Christmas.” She asks if he believes in Santa. “Ho ho ho,” replies Da Shi.
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Later, she drives to the location on the invitation. Her cell phone rings. It’s Wade. He tells her not to bring her phone inside the location. Back on the JD, Evans reads “Little Red Riding Hood” to the San-Ti. The San-Ti don’t understand subterfuge. They ask why the child would let the wolf inside, not understanding the function of the wolf’s grandmother disguise.
Evans explains how the wolf fooled the child, by concealing his intentions. This concept is unknown to the San-Ti. Evans further describes their enemies as “pests,” then has to explain that he doesn’t literally mean bugs, but rather is using a metaphor.
Little Red Lying Hood
The San-Ti reveal that they are unable to lie, so much so that the concept is foreign to them. Furthermore, they seem to believe the story of “Little Red Riding Hood” is nonfiction. Evans explains that it’s just a story. The San-Ti interpret this as “a lie about a liar.” Evans affirms this. The San-Ti state that they need to consider this. After a few moments, they believe they understand. Evans says this is why the San-Ti need their human helpers, in order to better understand humanity as a whole.
But the San-Ti states that a liar is someone who says false things. They say they cannot coexist with liars. They state that they are afraid of “you” (either Evans or humans in general). And then they discontinue communication.
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In England, Jin is still driving. From his office, Wade watches her progress on a tablet. Her destination seems to be a road in the middle of nowhere. Then she spots a black SUV nearby. She’s watched by someone with night vision goggles as she approaches. Da Shi watches and listens in from another location. A person in a suit checks Jin for weapons and then confirms her identity by cell phone-based retinal scan. They get in the car and drive away.
As they drive, Jin asks practical questions. She’s told that “Our Lord” will take care of them. The SUV reaches an abandoned and remote but reasonably well-illuminated warehouse. Inside, a crowd mills around in an environment decorated with projections on freestanding screens. Tatiana warmly welcomes Jin. She tells Jin she’s sorry about Jack (somewhat ironic, as she killed him).
Ye Wenjie WHAT?
Da Shi recognizes Tatiana’s voice from having met her at the graveyard in “Red Coast Base.” Jin tells Tatiana she wants to know how the universe works. Tatiana tells Jin that the Lord has the answers.
According to Tatiana, these people have been her family since she was a little girl. She further says their founder is attending the meeting. Wade asks how Evans could have gotten off the JD without them knowing. A man takes the stage at the event and calls for attention. He says the rumors are true and the founder of their movement is present. Then he introduces Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao).
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This is not what Wade, Da Shi or Jin expected. Ye Wenjie specifically welcomes the bewildered Jin, speaking in Mandarin. Da Shi asks how they could have been fooled. Wade says they’re controlling what they see and hear. So Da Shi asks why they’re letting them hear this.
Ye Wenjie takes the stage and begins to speak. She says when she was young, she saw her country torn apart and lost her family. Ye Wenjie says she witnessed much human treachery in the name of progress. She asks what’s changed on Earth in the intervening years. However, she expresses her belief that the San-Ti will deliver humanity to salvation when they arrive in four centuries. Ye Wenjie states that humanity must prepare future generations to welcome the San-Ti. She says she, co-founder Evans and “our Lord, the San-Ti” all thank those present.
Raid
Ye Wenie concludes that they will give the San-Ti the Earth, so they can do better with it than humanity managed. But that’s when the cops blow up the wall and come pouring in. Ye Wenjie tells the crowd not to resist and states that this must be the will of the San-Ti if it is happening. Everyone sits down, including Ye Wenjie. The cops start zip-tying people.
Tatiana sees them begin to extract Jin. She stands and shoots one of the cops escorting Jin out. The warehouse erupts in chaos and gunfire. Ye Wenjie remains seated on the stage. Many of the San-Ti true believers are shot by police. Jin falls to the ground, allowing her to escape unscathed. But Tatiana spots her and advances. Da Shi enters just in the nick of time, incapacitating Tatiana with a shot of his own. Wade listens to the chaos on his tablet.
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Later, bodies are removed from the warehouse on stretchers. Surviving San-Ti believers are loaded into a paddy wagon. Jin is checked by a paramedic. Da Shi arrives and tells her she and Auggie are being put in protective custody. Tatiana has evaded the police.
Will arrives back at his house. He looks at a photo of himself and Jack, then he puts the shot glass and toy he took from Jack’s Transformers lunch box and puts it beside the photo. Next he pulls a copy of Fairy Tales from his shelf. He reads the inscription, which is from Jin.
Judgement Day II
Jin’s cell phone rings in the ambulance. It’s Will. He says he wanted to check in on her. Will says that after Jack’s funeral, he thought they could all use a break. He tells her he’s rented a beach cabin and invites her. He also invites Raj, but Jin says, “Maybe it should just be us chickens.” Will is fine with this development.
Jin says she has to tell her something true that’s happening. She begins that it started a long time ago, before they were born.
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The North Atlantic Ocean, 1984. Young Ye Wenjie and Evans arrive at the JD via a silver helicopter. Ye Wenjie compares seeing the dish to seeing an old friend. The helicopter lands and both Ye Wenjie and Evans get out. Evans says this will be their own private research lab, one free of borders and politics. Inside, Ye Wenjie marvels at the equipment. Ye Wenjie says it took eight years to get a response last time. But Evans reveals they have continued to send messages in the intervening years. A computer screen displays line after line of text.
Evans informs Ye Wenjie that the San-Ti are coming. He tells Ye Wenjie she has brought them hope. They begin to make out. In the present day, Ye Wenjie is in an elevator with Wade. He leads her to a room filled with intimidating shadowy figures. Wade begins questioning Ye Wenjie about what’s on JD. She says if he keeps acting so clumsy he’ll never find out.
“They”
Wade points out they got Ye Wenjie. She says this is because “they” allowed it. Wade says the dead people at the warehouse suggest they didn’t “let” them do anything. But the “they” to which Ye Wenjie refers are the San-Ti. She tells Wade he has no idea of what they are capable, in spite of their belief to the contrary.
RELATED: Read all of our 3 Body Problem recaps by clicking here.
Ye Wenjie states that they’re coming, and there’s nothing that can be done to stop them. She further says that when they arrive, “you will be so grateful.” The ominous music suggests otherwise.
All 8 episodes of 3 Body Problem are currently available for streaming on Netflix.
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