There are spoilers because it is what this show is about.
…
Final warning. Spoilers.
…
…
As the title says, “Strangers Again”, so you shouldn't be surprised what the story is about: break-up.
This is a very rare topic in TV series, after all, who wants to be reminded of their painful memories? Thus, I applaud the entire team for taking on this project even though there is risk it may, or may not, become a success, maybe forgotten after a few months.
However, it is important to note that there are lessons in this story, and here are some of it:
1. Love is not as simple as we assume it to be.
2. People are unique.
3. Relationships are not easy to handle.
4. Yes, break-ups are painful, but how you handle it defines if you are a mature adult.
5. Moving on is not about hating each other, not wanting to see each other's shadows, rather it is about if you can become “Strangers Again”.
Another winning aspect of this show. It is rare to see the Second Leads end up happy and the Main Leads go on their separate ways. In many stories, not only K-dramas but in other countries as well, the title points to one thing then still end up with “they happily live ever after”.
This show? The title is what it is about, “Strangers Again”. Huge plus for me.
If you want to learn something about life, love, relationships, breaking-up, and moving on, then put this show in your list. However, if you are looking for a fantasy, this is not it.
Wow, I can't believe they showed in a TV drama how to plant suggestions in a person, without properly explaining the dangers about it. That was very careless and irresponsible of them.
I don't know. As far as the three-body problem is concerned, it makes it hard scifi. The three-body issue is real,…
Re: Flying daggers, at least in Tencent's adaptation, no, nothing much was explained about it other than it's nano technology. In the book, not sure. But since the novel was written in 2008, I wouldn't hope much about it having explained nano technology, other than the basics, probably more fiction.
The universe flickering, yeah, that one is totally fiction. I agree with the scientist, if the universe does flicker that way, the universe is dying, LOL.
Although, I think it was also faked even in the story, probably produced by the satellite of Evans. Or, they hacked all the other satellites, thus creating a global phenomenon which allowed all other observation stations to witness it.
The radiation affecting only a small area is possible. I think they implied that they tested everyone, and those below a certain threshold were given free rein to walk, or go to prison. However, if they did not imply that, then that was a very weird SOP. If there's a radiation leak, everyone has to be tested first.
What's questionable is a small-size nuke. I'm not too sure any military even bothered developing a small-size nuke. Not even terrorists. AFAIK, small-size nukes are only seen in fiction. It's doable, but I'm not sure if anyone even bothered creating one. They (military and policies) all love a MOAB instead. (Then again, I'm glad no one bothered, the scariest thing is seeing small-size nukes sold in the underground.)
> you can't simply sit next to a radioactive patient and cut apples for them
No idea. Hehe. If I will take a guess, the Captain was probably no longer radioactive. We actually use small doses of radioactive materials in hospitals. Considered generally safe because they maintain it at a certain level, which doesn't make a person radioactive.
So, just a guess, the Captain was probably no longer radioactive. Unfortunately, his massive dosage of radiation already damaged his cells.
This is so much fun. I know that most of the science in this drama heavily in favor of fiction, or in other words…
I don't know. As far as the three-body problem is concerned, it makes it hard scifi. The three-body issue is real, and most of the conditions and issues raised in this series (I don't know about the novels), were based on real theories and attempts to solve the three-body problem.
The only thing that is not real is Alpha Centauri. Alpha Cen is a very stable three-body system, it is actually more stable than the Earth-Moon-Sun three-body system. And of course, we've discovered more planets around Alpha Centauri since the novel was written (2008).
The idea of extra dimensions, those are not hogwash. The most accepted and common version of the String Theory requires 10 dimensions. While the M-theory needs 11 dimensions.
Currently, the most stable dimensions are spatial -- x,y,z (width, length, height, if you will). The fourth dimension is time (t). Recently, well not exactly 'recently' but mathematical equations only appeared 'recently', time apparently have three dimensions, too (tx, ty, tz).
If what we know about spacetime dimensions is incomplete, and it means spacetime is actually composed of 6 dimensions.
String theory needs 10. While M-theory needs 11. And those were based on a 4-dimension spacetime. If time indeed has 3 dimensions, then the String theory actually needs 12, while the M-theory needs 13 dimensions.
Now, in episode 28, the show posited that the two “protons” sent by the Trisolarian civilization could have been working in 10–13 dimensions.
From a three dimensial viewpoint, those two protons were simply, well, “protons”. However, there are other dimensions in it that is what's actually causing physics to fail. The “protons” were simply a carrier. When it reached Earth and started to interact locally, it became a bridge. Think of a human cell carrying viruses. Whatever 'virus' are inside those two protons, it started to replicate itself within the bounds of planet Earth. Hence, physics started to fail.
Also noticed, at least as far as the live-action adaptation is concerned, the two protons arrived two years prior to the current timeline. It was only more or less a year from the present timeline that scientists started to notice that physics is failing. The two years gap, that was when the two protons started to invade the Earth “ecosystem”, much like how viruses do inside our bodies (it usually takes 14 days before the disease shows up).
---
Using our star as humongous radio antennae. Well, that, I agree, is totally fiction. At least, I am not aware of anything in that line of thought.
If that is real, then it means we are alone in the Milky Way Galaxy. LOL.
There is also the “Type-II Civilisation”. It's not new to this story. It's called the Kardashev scale, and planet Earth is not even a Type-I civilisation. Of course, it's hypothetical, but still, it isn't something invented by the author of Three-body.
As for humanity being able to move micro objects at the speed-of-light, I haven't heard or remember anything like that in reality. However, we've been moving micro objects, or particles, close to the speed of light for a few decades now. One such example is CERN.
So, the Trisolarian civilization sending two protons to Earth at the speed of light, or very, very, close to the speed of light, is real science, too. ^_^ The only question is, how did they calculate two two protons will arrive on Earth, because as the scientist in the show said, there are far too many variables to calculate between Alpha Cen and Sol System.
If we currently have a machine that can throw protons out to space, then we can do something what the Trisolarians did. Unfortunately, we can only move protons at that speed in circles … currently. Remember, the Trisolarians are far advanced. They probably figured out a way to make their own version of CERN into a canon or something.
1 
^_^
Majority of people in the world give great advises to other people, but can not apply those same advises to themselves. ;)
There are spoilers because it is what this show is about.
…
Final warning. Spoilers.
…
…
As the title says, “Strangers Again”, so you shouldn't be surprised what the story is about: break-up.
This is a very rare topic in TV series, after all, who wants to be reminded of their painful memories? Thus, I applaud the entire team for taking on this project even though there is risk it may, or may not, become a success, maybe forgotten after a few months.
However, it is important to note that there are lessons in this story, and here are some of it:
1. Love is not as simple as we assume it to be.
2. People are unique.
3. Relationships are not easy to handle.
4. Yes, break-ups are painful, but how you handle it defines if you are a mature adult.
5. Moving on is not about hating each other, not wanting to see each other's shadows, rather it is about if you can become “Strangers Again”.
Another winning aspect of this show. It is rare to see the Second Leads end up happy and the Main Leads go on their separate ways. In many stories, not only K-dramas but in other countries as well, the title points to one thing then still end up with “they happily live ever after”.
This show? The title is what it is about, “Strangers Again”. Huge plus for me.
If you want to learn something about life, love, relationships, breaking-up, and moving on, then put this show in your list. However, if you are looking for a fantasy, this is not it.
The universe flickering, yeah, that one is totally fiction. I agree with the scientist, if the universe does flicker that way, the universe is dying, LOL.
Although, I think it was also faked even in the story, probably produced by the satellite of Evans. Or, they hacked all the other satellites, thus creating a global phenomenon which allowed all other observation stations to witness it.
The radiation affecting only a small area is possible. I think they implied that they tested everyone, and those below a certain threshold were given free rein to walk, or go to prison. However, if they did not imply that, then that was a very weird SOP. If there's a radiation leak, everyone has to be tested first.
What's questionable is a small-size nuke. I'm not too sure any military even bothered developing a small-size nuke. Not even terrorists. AFAIK, small-size nukes are only seen in fiction. It's doable, but I'm not sure if anyone even bothered creating one. They (military and policies) all love a MOAB instead. (Then again, I'm glad no one bothered, the scariest thing is seeing small-size nukes sold in the underground.)
> you can't simply sit next to a radioactive patient and cut apples for them
No idea. Hehe. If I will take a guess, the Captain was probably no longer radioactive. We actually use small doses of radioactive materials in hospitals. Considered generally safe because they maintain it at a certain level, which doesn't make a person radioactive.
So, just a guess, the Captain was probably no longer radioactive. Unfortunately, his massive dosage of radiation already damaged his cells.
I wouldn't hope much with Netflix. ;)
The only thing that is not real is Alpha Centauri. Alpha Cen is a very stable three-body system, it is actually more stable than the Earth-Moon-Sun three-body system. And of course, we've discovered more planets around Alpha Centauri since the novel was written (2008).
The idea of extra dimensions, those are not hogwash. The most accepted and common version of the String Theory requires 10 dimensions. While the M-theory needs 11 dimensions.
Currently, the most stable dimensions are spatial -- x,y,z (width, length, height, if you will). The fourth dimension is time (t). Recently, well not exactly 'recently' but mathematical equations only appeared 'recently', time apparently have three dimensions, too (tx, ty, tz).
If what we know about spacetime dimensions is incomplete, and it means spacetime is actually composed of 6 dimensions.
String theory needs 10. While M-theory needs 11. And those were based on a 4-dimension spacetime. If time indeed has 3 dimensions, then the String theory actually needs 12, while the M-theory needs 13 dimensions.
Now, in episode 28, the show posited that the two “protons” sent by the Trisolarian civilization could have been working in 10–13 dimensions.
From a three dimensial viewpoint, those two protons were simply, well, “protons”. However, there are other dimensions in it that is what's actually causing physics to fail. The “protons” were simply a carrier. When it reached Earth and started to interact locally, it became a bridge. Think of a human cell carrying viruses. Whatever 'virus' are inside those two protons, it started to replicate itself within the bounds of planet Earth. Hence, physics started to fail.
Also noticed, at least as far as the live-action adaptation is concerned, the two protons arrived two years prior to the current timeline. It was only more or less a year from the present timeline that scientists started to notice that physics is failing. The two years gap, that was when the two protons started to invade the Earth “ecosystem”, much like how viruses do inside our bodies (it usually takes 14 days before the disease shows up).
---
Using our star as humongous radio antennae. Well, that, I agree, is totally fiction. At least, I am not aware of anything in that line of thought.
If that is real, then it means we are alone in the Milky Way Galaxy. LOL.
There is also the “Type-II Civilisation”. It's not new to this story. It's called the Kardashev scale, and planet Earth is not even a Type-I civilisation. Of course, it's hypothetical, but still, it isn't something invented by the author of Three-body.
As for humanity being able to move micro objects at the speed-of-light, I haven't heard or remember anything like that in reality. However, we've been moving micro objects, or particles, close to the speed of light for a few decades now. One such example is CERN.
According to CERN, they can make trillions of protons move at 99.9999991% the speed of light. See: https://public-archive.web.cern.ch/en/lhc/Facts-en.html
So, the Trisolarian civilization sending two protons to Earth at the speed of light, or very, very, close to the speed of light, is real science, too. ^_^ The only question is, how did they calculate two two protons will arrive on Earth, because as the scientist in the show said, there are far too many variables to calculate between Alpha Cen and Sol System.
If we currently have a machine that can throw protons out to space, then we can do something what the Trisolarians did. Unfortunately, we can only move protons at that speed in circles … currently. Remember, the Trisolarians are far advanced. They probably figured out a way to make their own version of CERN into a canon or something.
^_^
HHAAHAHA. I totally did not expect that. HAHAHAHAHA. You definitely got me there. 100/10!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Check my review (or forum post), I explained it there. :)