Three-Body Episode 8 Recap
> Three-Body Recap
Eight nights into a new Chaotic Era, the sun has vanished. Inside the Three-Body game, Ji Chang (King Wen of Zhou) observes three flying stars, a sign of an impending brutal winter capable of pulverizing stone. In response, King Zhou of Shang orders everyone to dehydrate for survival. Wang Miao continues playing through the event, witnessing a single night that lasts forty-eight years.
As the temperature drops to absolute zero, the atmosphere freezes and falls as snow of dry ice and solid nitrogen, obliterating Civilization No. 137, which had reached the Warring States Period. Though the civilization is destroyed, the game announces its "seed" remains, ready to restart. Forced out of the game, Wang Miao is deeply shaken by the complete annihilation of a civilization.
A bewildered Shi Qiang asks how he "died," and Wang Miao explains that during dehydration, his body would have shriveled into a piece of human skin. Shi Qiang suggests they re-enter the game to defeat King Zhou, but Wang Miao clarifies that, according to King Wen, the game's true objective is not combat but deciphering the sun's erratic movements. Wang Miao and Shi Qiang discuss the game's alarming realism.
Wang Miao highlights details like the scientifically accurate composition of the multi-layered snow and the buried pyramid, suggesting the game's purpose transcends entertainment. As they prepare to play again, they are interrupted by a call for a meeting. Meanwhile, journalist Mu Xing sarcastically confronts Shi Qiang about a fabricated hit-and-run, probing him for information about the Frontiers of Science. Shi Qiang dismisses her and instructs his subordinate, Xu Bingbing, to continue investigating Mu Xing’s motives.
Concurrently, Sha Ruishan, a student of Professor Ye, summons Wang Miao to the observatory. Obsessed with the universe flicker they previously witnessed, Sha has meticulously recreated every detail of that day, including his meals and a minor injury, hoping to trigger the event again. He shows Wang Miao the radio telescopes, complaining about ground interference. Wang Miao states with certainty that the universe will not flicker.
When the countdown ends with no result, a distraught Sha bizarrely blames the failure on Wang Miao's black socks. Sha passionately argues they were "chosen," like Newton, by a divine power, and that he wants to understand this phenomenon, which he compares to God parting the Red Sea. Wang Miao, whose vision still shows the faint image of a countdown, coldly replies that he has no such desire.
At the war room, General Chang Weisi proposes placing top scientists under surveillance and implementing protective measures if they are contacted by the Frontiers of Science, which he deems a critical step to preserve intellectual assets. Later, Shi Qiang presents Wang Miao with a detailed report on the Three-Body game compiled by Xu Bingbing, who played all night. Xu explains that while they observed the random, unpredictable shifts between extreme cold and heat, they could not decipher a pattern.
She notes how "mire fish" survive by burrowing into the mud, a method similar to lungfish dormancy but impossible for humans. Both agree the game's incredible detail is abnormal; Xu theorizes that unlike normal games that add details for immersion, Three-Body compresses immense amounts of information, hinting at a hidden truth. Unable to find the game's developer, Xu suggests consulting top domestic game companies.
Shi Qiang reveals the game has existed for a while, popular among scientists and intellectuals, including many Frontiers of Science members. However, none of the deceased scientists, like Yang Dong, had played it. Xu Bingbing speculates the game is a test for Wang Miao's admission into the organization. Later, Shen Yufei praises Wang Miao's progress and invites him to another gathering to discuss the "shooter and farmer" parable.
Meanwhile, General Chang provides Shi Qiang with a list of top international scientists, noting more recent suicides. He tasks Shi Qiang and Wang Miao with identifying those who have had contact with Shen Yufei for protection. Shi Qiang theorizes that those who engage with the Frontiers of Science either end up cooperating or, unable to handle the truth, commit suicide.
With help from Shi Qiang and Xu Bingbing, Wang Miao identifies several scientists from the gathering, including quantum optics specialist Pan Jianzhong, fluid dynamics expert Cheng Yuan, quantum dynamics expert Zhai Yiming, and atmospheric physicist Zhang Jiuchao. In a separate interview, Mu Xing discusses environmental crises with Pan Jianzhong, who laments that people ignore problems that don't directly threaten them and suggests hope lies in individuals asking what they can do.
Based on the intelligence, General Chang’s team places nine scientists with close ties to Shen Yufei under protective surveillance. Shortly after, one of them, Zhai Yiming, experiences a sudden vision impairment, describing it as flashing "sparks and fireworks" without any numbers. He is immediately hospitalized. Mu Xing, who was tipped off, is caught by Shi Qiang while covertly filming the scene. She accuses the authorities of detaining scientists and claims it's connected to the suicides.
At the police station, Shi Qiang interrogates her about her source, suggesting she is being manipulated to create panic, but she insists she is spreading the truth. After being treated, Zhai Yiming confirms his vision has returned to normal and that a doctor diagnosed his episode as a case of severe eye floaters.
