3% (2016–2020) User Reviews

No expectations

[Lamborghini_Mercy · 7/10 · 30 November 2016]

As I'm scrolling around through Netflix trying to find something to watch I come across 3%. I think to myself 'Hm, that's an interesting title' and without hesitation I clicked on the link.

I really had no expectations and didn't even bother reading the plot. Immediately the cinematography caught my attention. The show had a unique style with the camera angles, lighting and theme.

I particularly like movies/shows with actors I don't recognize because I feel the character is more real for me. I liked how every character was different and each had their own story. The script was well written and I focused a lot on that because it is subtitles for this show (unless you know what they are saying, cause I sure as hell didn't).

There were a couple things here and there that I didn't like. For example, The acting can be a little dull at times. I didn't like the romance between two characters because it was hard to believe they were really in love. The show wasn't perfection and the overall look might not be for everyone. The story is what really kept me into the show and I was hyped up for the last episode. The ending was amazing and I hope the story continues on for a second season.

May surprise those who only know Brazilian Soaps

[refordgarry · 8/10 · 28 November 2016]

There's plenty to recommend this low-budget, futuristic Portuguese- Brazilian 8-episode SciFi teleseries. It has a gripping plot, the characters have plenty of magnetism and the situation of poverty versus privilege will ring true with many.

It's about a futuristic, real-life competition designed to choose the optimum 3% of new adults, who deem their skills sufficient to "pass" a truly grueling selection process. Successful candidates are rewarded with a life in a man-made paradise "Offshore", whereas the rest are doomed to continue living "Inland" - a huge poverty-stricken, environmentally degraded favela. There's plenty of sub-plot, social current and Machiavellian wickedness to keep viewers on the edge of their seats till the last episode. Despite the DIY feel of the close sets there are fortunately enough locations to relieve viewers of claustrophobia, that hampers many other cheap SciFi productions. I think this one (thanks to a good English dubbed version) will catch on with a wider TV audience than the normal Portuguese, homespun audience.

Tremendously Underrated

[ribeirojose-96669 · 8/10 · 30 May 2020]

I was really surprised by the fact that this show is really unknown. It is a great tv series that definitely deserves more recognition. Some of the reviews say that they couldn't get past the first episode. The show does get better. It is not perfect. It takes a while to get you hooked and it has a lower budget than other Netflix series. But overall, it is a clever and great series, with good themes, complex and grey characters, and an intriguing plot. It is a dystopian YA thriller with a lot of depth. At least, that is the case for seasons 1 and 2. Season 3 was a disappointment, which is the reason why I did not rate this show higher. Season 4 was intense and complex, and a great conclusion to this great tv show that will always be on my Netflix list

Definitely Recommend It

Some reviews are not fair...

[fernandopenafilho · 12 December 2016]

You don't review a show based on one episode. Most first episodes (of any series) are the pilot, and they don't tell much about the history, plot, acting quality. I'm not trying to defend it because I'm Brazilian, I just don't think some people are fair on their judgement (one user in particular even said he only watched the first episode, and gave it ONE star). Please guys, don't do that, reviews like that are not useful at all. I can't remember me watching a first episode of any show and thinking "wow, the best show ever".

To be honest, I didn't like the two first episodes, but I gave the show a chance and it proved me wrong. It really gets entertaining as you watch. The actors and plot are great and the history is quite original (besides some elements from other shows). I watched the full season in 3 days or less.

Just give it a shot, but please watch more than one episode.

Riveting!

[windcache · 9/10 · 28 November 2016]

First of all, watch it subbed, not dubbed! The acting is great! But it's tougher to look convincing when the words don't quite match up. In the original language, tone, pacing and inflection help complete the communication package.

The main characters all have distinct personalities, but while some are more likable than others, they all have a strong drive to do what it takes to progress.

The story has just enough mystery and plenty of twists. Don't expect a ton of special effects though. This isn't the sort of Sci-fi that's all lasers and robots, but it has just enough to remind you it's the future. I'm looking forward to finishing the series but dreading the end of season 1 before I get to watch season 2.

Watch in Portuguese, not dubbed.

[ukdanielbentley · 9/10 · 31 August 2019]

The dubbed version is awful, always watch with subtitles, much better. Story development is excellent, the characters are deep and refreshingly multi dimensional. Can't wait for season 3.

Nice season 1, bad season 2, horrible season 3

[champetudo · 6/10 · 27 January 2021]

First season is OK, second season is just stupid, but season 3 is really the dumbest thing you can imagine....

A Rare Gem

[mckenzie-boyle · 10/10 · 11 June 2019]

3% is one of those rare shows that only gets better and better as it goes. Season 3, so far, is shaping up to be the most enthralling season yet, which, let me tell you, is absolutely saying something! The world continues to be fleshed out, and the already quite complex characters are only getting more interesting.

Do yourself a favor, watch at least to episode three before you pass judgement. You won't regret it!

Entertaining and Artistic!

[journeyousglory · 7/10 · 29 November 2016]

Cinematically and visually stunning, a political, hunger games-esque storyline with believable acting and I thought very interesting, life-like characters. The script is intelligent, the characters are strong, and the interaction is elegant in it's simplicity and natural air.

Excellent directing and cinematography here, a lot of subtle commentary in say a picture or shot (a thousand words). I believe it is the same cinematographer of City of God and the resemblance is there.

This won't have you walking away with too much feel-good or inspirational qualities. This does not much inspire you with it's beauty to be a better person, or help you in your struggles at an honest life, but it is a beautiful work of art that is gripping, entertaining, and has much fodder in the subtleties, particularly the social dynamics and the display of humanity in each of the varied characters. It is an exploration of psychology, social experiment, morality, and what humans are made of. It might make us ask along the way what we are made of.. but that is the extent of its ability to inspire.

If you believe we are heading into a 1984 era, you might welcome the realism in this work. Otherwise, it is a nice futuristic escape and exploration into what that might be like, while at the same time appreciating the human capacity in us all.

Stick with it! You'll be rewarded!

[cruzcontrol-55621 · 10/10 · 20 September 2020]

What a beautiful story. Intelligent social commentary with a plot that's not easy to guess. So glad I watched all the way through to the ending. One of the most rewarding endings I've seen in a long time. Fantastic series!

Updated review

[nancyldraper · 7/10 · 15 June 2019]

This is a Netflix series that drew my curiousity for it's interesting premise. It was filmed in Portuguese and I'm assuming those viewers who gave it rave reviews saw it in Portuguese, And those who felt the acting and dialogue were horrible saw it on Netflix, dubbed into English, which is how I first encountered it. And a horrible job of dubbing it was, causing many to abandon the series disappointed. However, I discovered you have the option, in Netflix settings, to choose Portuguese with English subtitles, and, voila, the acting and dialogue issues disappear (except for a few places when Brazilian passion for political speeches overtakes the moment). The pilot is available on YouTube, in Portuguese (no subtitles), so I couldn't start at the beginning of this tale (my Portuguese is non-existent). Netflix doesn't carry the pilot, only seasons 1-3. With the setting corrected, I found the series to be very enjoyable. I give this a 7.5 (really good) out of 10. I have always believed that the weakness of this show was its tendency to melodrama. The last three episodes of this 3rd season fell victim to this, which is why I rated them so low. But it seems it is all set up for a 4th season, so I'm settling into a wait and see position, but I've reduced my rating to a 7 (potential) out of 10. {Dystopian Drama}

Amazing

[mmarianne · 10/10 · 28 November 2016]

Here is the TV-show I've been waiting for. I didn't know that I was waiting for it of course, but I could not stop watching it, and there were many reasons to why not.

1. The acting is superb. 2. The characters are well thought out, each character gets his or hers own personality, quickly, with what feels like no effort at all. 3. The story-line. Oh wow. A world dying, poverty, hunger and greed. Criminal activities and children being left to fend for themselves. And of course, a group of revolutionaries. Love it. And then we have the process. At your 20th year, you get to try out for becoming one of the 3% of the year, who will get to go to an island of luxury and safety. The process is made so that there will be justice done for all. Everything is measured and directed to perfection. The technology makes sure that everything about each individual is known. The tests are extensive and utterly scary. And everything is filmed and processed under loop. Some tests are individual and some tests are in groups. People are being killed by the others in the groups and some people are even the revolutionaries who've got themselves infiltrating the process. The story is nothing less than brilliant.

4. We've got the godlike entity of the boss of the process. We have the underdogs, which are the 20-year olds, trying to change their lives for the better, without knowing a thing about the place they're trying to get to.

5. There are so many surprises in this TV-series, and I hope that everybody sees it.

That's all from me.

First Season was captivating. Second season, I quit watching before the second episode.

[paul-2148 · 6/10 · 29 April 2018]

I thought the first season was interesting. It's played out like a video game where you go room to room and solve puzzles. I also liked how you didn't really know who was good and who was bad. The show didn't seem to take a side. You didn't know who to pull for. That was appealing. I saw the parallels between the poverty of Brazil vs the their wealthy resort areas, which I interpreted as a commentary on its leftist government, but I was wrong. It seems to be about class envy.

Season 2. All that mystery and ambiguity is out the window. The 3 main characters are all determined to destroy the Offshore and the 3% process. So the show has taken sides and the idea is that the offshore is the villain. But why? It's never really explained. They show a slum, very much like the slums of Brazil, and in season 2 you finally see the Offshore which looks like Hawaii. What you don't see is the rest of the mainland where clearly there is a military; a police force, food producers, doctors, auto production, lawyers etc. In otherwords there is a functioning economy somewhere or everyone in the slums would die off. So they create this idea that 97% of the world lives in a slum, and the rest on fantasy island.

The 3% refers to the percentage of people that get to live on the island. The process is a way of determining who qualifies for life on the island, because they only want the best. So it's very much like the military, law school, medical school, or joining a country club. There's a lot of competition and they only want the best. That seems like a valid idea to me. You can't let the other 97% live on the island because the island seems to be about the size of Key West.

Now I feel this way because the show never establishes a connection between the awful life in the slums and the people that live Offshore. It's just pure envy. To use my country club example, it's like people who don't play golf and can't afford to join Augusta, wake up one day and say "let's kill everyone at Augusta. This will solve the economic problems of Atlanta" The show never makes the case for what the Island has to do with the 97% on the mainland.

Why doesn't the Cause, which is a terrorist group, set on destroying the Offshore, spend some time cleaning up the slums. Starting businesses to employee people. Why don't they work on the problems of the mainland instead stewing with class envy about some distant Island.

Which brings me to my last point. None of these people have jobs or careers. The members of the cause just seem to lie around all day and worry about the Offshore. The only ones that work are the people that work for the Process. They all take great pride in their work and they seemed quite skilled at it. The people applying for the Offshore are boring wastes of humanity that seem to have never worked in their lives. Even the "blue blood" boy who's whole family has been accepted to the Offshore does not have a career, and it's unclear how the family made its money. By the way, the way we know the blue bloods are well off is that they have a servant. But their house is pretty run down too. So the idea seems to be that if you are rich you live in a crappy house. If you're poor you live in a crappy shack.

Oh and here's the kicker. People on the Offshore are steril. There are not any children. They can't sustain the race of the Offshore, because they can't reproduce. So what's the problem? You want to end the Offshore. Just convince people not to apply to live there. They will all die off on there own. End of conflict. End of story.



So I gave up on season 2 because of some of the reasons stated above, but mostly it was because the first episode was just awfully boring and sinfully slow, especially compared to the rapid fire pace of season 1. It was really bad television. I felt like none of the writers ever even thought there would be a season 2, so they never developed a Plot line . They just seem to be winging it.

Great then not

[mary-179-677383 · 5/10 · 4 October 2021]

So I watched season 1 and loved it. I was excited when season 2 came out. Unfortunately it was a let down. I could not get into season 2 at all. I felt season 2 the storyline didn't have a good flow and it wasn't clear what was happening. It just jumped around too much and there wasn't the same excitement at season 1. I'd recommend watching season 1 as that's a great show worth the 9/10 but the rest is a snooze.

Brazilian Utopia

[deloudelouvain · 8/10 · 30 August 2018]

I don't think I ever watched another Brazilian show before so to me this was a first and I can't say I'm disappointed about the quality of 3%. It has a good interesting plot, with enough twists and turns to keep you interested. I watched the first two seasons in less than a week and never got bored. Once you're in the story you want to know what's going to happen, and that's a good sign. I wouldn't say the acting is Oscar winning performances but it's certainly not bad at all. Each character brings something to the story, and that if you like him/her or not. For a sci-fi it has interesting gadgets, but don't expect high budget special effects. It's simple, low cost but effective. I'm looking forward to the third season of this Portuguese spoken series.

Brazilian through and through

[nemesis-88 · 8/10 · 10 September 2020]

What do we know about Brazil? Beautiful country. Gisele Bündchen. TV shows with less than 2,500 episodes are considered mini-series. Oh, and Embraer. And it's actually spelled Brasil.

This show delivers on all fronts. From the first minute you are thrown into an endless kaleidoscope of hotties of both genders who look GORGEOUS in their slum-rugs, obviously designed by someone with only a first name. (Did you know that Kenzo's last name is Takada?) I bet even the dirt smeared on them was imported from some exotic place. A cross between steam punk and Victoria's Secret. The looking-good box ticked BIGLY. The production design team has done an amazing job. Total success - the show looks A-mazing! The set decorations, the costumes, make-up, accessories - CHEF'S KISS!!!! Well done!

The plot is interesting enough to keep the intrigue going. Something very social and very progressive. And, eventually, very Embraer-esgue-ly high-tech. As in all Brazilian telenovellas, it is both incredibly naive, borderline primitive, and even more incredibly twisted. Artificial selection process, some rebels group, power struggle on both sides, hatred, betrayal, and love polygons of all shapes.

The plot develops nicely and gradually. Secrets are revealed in their own time, but you are not left scratching your head for too long on any mystery. Every once in a while the writers drop back to their roots, and you get a strong dose of telenovella in the form of an out-of-character tantrum or a sudden burst of guilt/shame/fear/joy/all-of-the-above. But they quickly course-correct and off we go again.

All-in-all, it looks both very familiar and surprisingly fresh. If you liked City of God and Sandpit Generals, you will like the long form Brazilian cinematography.

Very good

[damianmaslej · 2 February 2021]

Very good show, but in my opinion most of the characters are highly unlikable because of there behaviors or illogical flaws. Besides that its an awesome study of human pshlychology and utopia concept.

Should have quit while ahead

[jasper-31 · 7/10 · 21 June 2019]

Season 1 was riveting. Original, scifi without pretense. Low budget, high quality. Really enjoyed it. Season 2 was still exciting. A lot of twists, still good acting and nicely done. Unfortunately they decided to do a third season. It crashed and burned. It's now more a childish highschool drama. Especially the group acting is really poor. They ran out of concepts, are running around in circles (literally) and it just got worse and worse. Season 1 was 9/10, season 2 was 7/10 but season 3 was 4/10. Such a shame.

Do People Like Ezekiel as Much in The Portuguese Version?

[tvdefrancesco · 9/10 · 21 February 2021]

I think he's pretty great. I can't tell if it's the combination of the voice over actor and the actor on screen. I have no idea how he really sounds. I'm only on the 10th episode of season 2. I was mad they killed him off halfway through this season because he was definitely the best character up to this point. I understand why they did it, he was playing a dangerous game and got burned. I definitely like this show.

Decent dystopian series

[roxmewild · 7/10 · 9 September 2020]

I watched all 4 seasons with subtitles which can be challenging sometimes when the actors speak fast as I tend to get halfway through reading what they are saying when the subtitle changes but generally I managed I thought it was a great story concept which if honest could have been told in 3 seasons

I really enjoyed the series although I was honestly disappointed at the end I felt that was a cop out that did not befit the series but other than that and a few minor plot holes I thought it was good

Much Better than Expected

[gigi-39236 · 9/10 · 10 January 2017]

I came across this show accidentally on Netflix, and wasn't expecting much from it as it was subtitled and appeared to star teenagers. I ended up riveted to the screen, and viewed the entire series over the course of two days. It was a cross between Lost and the Hunger Games, but intellectually better than both. If you are looking for a show that you can't predict from beginning to end, if you like solving tricky puzzles, and/or wonder why odd characters behave the way they do, you'll enjoy this series tremendously. You'll be thinking about it for a long while after you finish watching. There was some violence and limited sex/nudity, but not as much as other Netflix shows. (There was one section in Joanna's story however, that I did not watch.) Recommended for ages 16 and up. Do NOT read any spoilers.

Plausible premise and plenty of drama

[manuel_medeiros · 7/10 · 30 October 2018]

3% introduces a time where there two worlds - one Inland where people are poor and resources are scarce, and the High Sea which is like Heaven on Earth, everything is available and life is perfectly sustainable.

So what is the catch?

Only 3% of people can be allowed to live in the High Sea, and the others are doomed to roam in the precarious Inland.

The 1st season is about the brutal process you undergo at 18 years old to decide whether or not you are able to move to the sought after High Sea.

As discussion about overpopulation, polution, lack of food emerge in the real world, 3%'s premise is actually not as farfetched as the scyfy genre label may suggest.

The show is brutal in showing what the promise of a better life can lead some to do, and it has plenty of twists and unexpected turns and the characters go throught the selection process.

If oyu think Brazil is all about soap novelas, this is a very good place to start.

One of the best dystopian series

[grdonat · 10/10 · 8 November 2022]

Wow I cannot believe this isn't rated way higher.... I can only assume it's because non English language series tend to be rated lower for some weird reason. This is truly an outstanding dystopian / post apocalyptic series. The acting, the shots, the pace, the character development, the storyline.... Everything is on point! Seasons 1, 2 and 4 were for me all riveting. I wasn't as convinced by season 3, but the quality really came back for the last season. I definitely recommend giving it a try. As other reviewers have pointed out though, do use subtitles rather than dubbing. Dubbing is just annoying when audio and visuals don't match up.

It is going down

[czombosistvan · 6/10 · 28 July 2019]

The concept and the visuals are both great, and it looks really promising for first, then it is slowly getting more and more annoying, thanks for example to the two really annoying main chatacters Michele and Gloria. It has started as a nicely formed utopia and became in the 3rd season a boring and annoying, stupid soap opera. And I am having a laugh on those complaining on the show speaking non-english. Open up silly ones, try to get to know people different from you...

Logical thinkers will not enjoy

[Otte1 · 4/10 · 4 January 2021]

I enjoyed the concepts and someidealology of this series. I did not enjoy the too many plot devices to keep the story going.

There are too many 'I'm your friend today, enemy tomorrow scenarios'. In one episode people are trying to kill each other, in the next they are banding together and by the 3rd they are trying to kill each again. To use that trope once or twice fine, but when that is essentially happening in each episode you wonder why these people do not remember that so-and-so tried to kill everyone.

Essentially this is a sci-fi soap opera.

Other problems is realism....you take a leap of faith with all of these sci-fi/ fantasy movies but there are still some very basic rules you should follow. There is surveillance in dark alleys that are watched 24/7 but no surveillance or security at areas holding the the most valuable computers or people. If a character wanted to get access to most important technology or specific person, all they had to do was stand around a corner for a few minutes and sneak past one guard. Again, it this was once or twice no problem, but this was happening in almost each episode.

If you like just intense drama and not much else...you will enjoy. If you like logical reasons for why people are doing what they are doing...skip