‘3 Physique Drawback’: What do the San-Ti aliens appear like?

[ad_1]

Netflix’s 3 Physique Drawback is a present that leaves us with plenty of questions on the finish of its first season. How totally different are Liu Cixin’s books, upon which the present’s based mostly? What does the joke that Dr Ye Wenjie (Rosalind Chao) tells Saul Durand (Jovan Adepo) actually imply?

However one of many largest query marks needs to be over the San-Ti themselves — the alien race making their gradual and regular solution to Earth to be able to discover a (gulp) new house. Though we hear them talking within the present (by way of a human voice and of their VR recreation), we by no means really see their true types. So what do the creatures coming to wipe out the human race really appear like? What clues are there within the present, and in Cixin’s novel trilogy?

The primary a part of this text comprises spoilers for Season 1, whereas the latter comprises spoilers for Cixin’s Remembrance of Earth’s Previous trilogy upon which any future season might be based mostly. Tread rigorously!

What are the San-Ti?

The San-Ti are a technologically superior alien race that reside on a chaotic, dying world. Their house is a part of a system of three suns, ensuing within the planet experiencing excessive climate circumstances every time it enters a couple of orbit at a time. Throughout these occasions, often called “Chaotic Eras”, the San-Ti have the power to dehydrate themselves to be able to enter a form of hibernation. When the planet is secure once more the surviving San-Ti can wake the others from hibernation by popping them right into a physique of water in order that they arrive again to life.

A man and a woman hold what looks like a shiny gold VR headset while sitting on a sofa.

Some characters see a human-looking model of the San-Ti in a VR recreation.
Credit score: Netflix

What do the San-Ti appear like?

Though numerous characters in 3 Physique Drawback communicate with and work together with the San-Ti by way of a digital actuality recreation, their true types are saved hidden.

In episode 5, Thomas Wade (Liam Cunningham) and Jin Cheng (Jess Hong) place on their alien VR headsets and are transported to a ruined desert world, the place they’re greeted by a warrior who seems as a consultant for the San-Ti within the recreation world. When Wade asks who the warrior is, Jin responds, “An AI. Or one in every of them.”

“They appear like us?” asks Wade.

“We do not look something like this,” responds the warrior. “That is all to your profit.”

“What do you actually appear like?” asks Wade.

“You would not prefer it,” comes the reply.

SEE ALSO:

‘3 Physique Drawback’: Why John Bradley’s character is the very best and worst a part of the present

This is without doubt one of the solely clues we’re given as to the San-Ti’s true kind. Mainly, nothing like people. So totally different, in actual fact, that even the sight of them may disturb us. We additionally know, from a dialog Mike Evans (Jonathan Pryce) has with the San-Ti in episode 4, that they impart via thought. Possibly this implies they do not have mouths, or maybe any recognisable facial options in any respect?

The one different clue we now have from the present is the dehydration factor. The San-Ti are in a position to dehydrate after which rehydrate, which suggests they should have a bodily physique of some form, proper? Apparently, there are literally some creatures on Earth which have the same capability: Tardigrades, that are microscopic eight-legged creatures, are additionally in a position to survive for years in a state of suspended animation in the event that they bear excessive dehydration. Possibly the San-Ti look a bit like them?

A large, oblong creature with eight legs and a single circular mouth.

It is a Tardigrade. It, too, can dehydrate right into a form of hibernation.
Credit score: Sebastian Kaulitzki / Science Picture Library

What do Liu Cixin’s novels inform us about what the aliens appear like?

When you’re hoping for a straightforward reply in Cixin’s novels, you are going to be disillusioned. Though there are a couple of hints dropped right here and there in regards to the aliens (often called Trisolarans within the books), they’re by no means described explicitly. The very best clue we get within the books, similar to in Season 1, is their capability to dehydrate.

It appears as if Cixin went with the philosophy that one thing imagined is commonly extra mysterious than one thing clearly described.

But when we’re going to think about them, then perhaps the standard Tardigrade is the very best place to begin.

How one can watch: 3 Physique Drawback is now streaming on Netflix.

[ad_2]

Supply hyperlink

Belkin Spring Sale brings as much as 70% off all merchandise

Welcome to AI: A Human Information to Synthetic Intelligence