I was unaware of this attempt to adapt Liu Cixin's Dark Forest until it was referenced on Reddit in a post containing vicious reviews from Chinese viewers. At first, I took this with a grain of salt, as Chinese fans of Liu's work generally impugn on any adaptation that doesn't follow the book to the letter.
I was wrong. These reviewers are spot on.
First, the animation is decent - not the best - definitely underwhelming for something produced in 2022, but was not a barrier for me to enjoy watching.
The problems start in the earlier episodes where small plot points not germane to the larger story are dragged out and expanded to ridiculous lengths. A plot line that should eat up no more than a few minutes somehow monopolizes the better part of some episodes.
The entirety of the final third of the 15 episodes is focused on a ridiculous manufactured subplot that is not in the original books, and can't possibly serve to advance the story in any meaningful way.
The most agreed upon weakness (at least in Western circles) of the original book is not only adapted, but expanded on to nauseating effect.
The cerebral and thought-provoking source material written by Liu being adapted into this cringeworthy amalgam of action and romantic comedy leaves no doubt why the wider fanbase of the Three Body trilogy - Chinese and Western alike, have disowned this monstrosity, and rightfully so.
