3Body Problem: What Do San-Ti Look Like? All the clues so far

March 25, 2024, 8:47 p.m.

An alien civilization called San-Ti is at the heart of 3 Body Problem’s storyline – but what do they actually look like? Here’s what’s been revealed so far.

So you’ve watched all 8 episodes on Netflix. 3 Body Problem and now you are wondering what the San-Ti aliens look like? You’re not the only one.

The brand new sci-fi series has become a huge hit on the streaming service, with many people diving headfirst into Liu Cixin’s incredible original story for the first time. The Netflix adaptation is the first English-language version of the saga to be made.

3 Body Problem follows a group of scientists who begin to investigate the shocking results of a fateful decision made by astrophysicist Ye Wenjie in the 1960s, involving an alien civilization called San-Ti.

But what do they actually look like? Do the San-Ti look like humans, or something completely different? Here’s everything revealed in the Netflix series, the original books, and beyond.

WARNING: Major spoilers ahead for 3 Body problem.

What do the San-Ti aliens look like in 3 Body Problem?

The San-Ti’s true appearance is not revealed in season 1 of the Netflix series. This is, however, alluded to in episode 5.

When Wade and Jin enter the VR game, they are greeted by Sophon, the AI ​​figure who serves as an ambassador between the San-Ti and humans on earth.

While they are in the game, Wade asks if the San-Ti “look like us”. “We’re nothing like that. This is all for your benefit,” Sophon responds. When Wade asks what they look like, Sophon responds menacingly, “You wouldn’t like that.”

Based on information shared in the VR game, the San-Ti are also capable of dehydrating and rehydrating themselves, suggesting that they do indeed have a physical body.

Unfortunately, there is also no solid explanation of what the San-Ti/Trisolarans look like in Liu Cixin’s novels. There is also no reveal about their appearance. This is left to the imagination of the reader/viewer.

There is a fourth unofficial fan-written book, titled The Redemption of Time, written by Baoshu which continues the saga after Liu Cixin’s third book and “considers the consequences of the conflict between humanity and the extraterrestrial Trisolarians”.

The book was published with the support of Liu Cixin, but was not written by him and is not considered part of the original saga canon.

That said, some fans envision Trisolarans as they are described in this book: small insectoid creatures that are about the size of an ant or a grain of rice.

But until Liu Cixin clearly explains what they look like, we won’t know for sure. It’s unclear if the Netflix series will also reveal what she looks like in future seasons.

LEARN MORE: 3 Body Problem Cast: All the Characters Explained and Who Plays Them

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