I am surprised about it being fascinating. Is there any other way to read these beyond politial allegory?

I mean, at one point they put together a crack team of international experts and the countries chosen include Venezuela, the EU (with a side of Japan), the US and China. How do you even read any part of it besides an assessment of political stances via national stereotypes?

I mean, sure, later on the whole thing goes off the deep end and steps into properly Asimovian big cosmic stuff, but the big hook of the series is seeing geopolitics from a Chinese perspective via sci-fi.

Maybe I'm just attuned to it because it's how every piece of pop culture from the US has felt since the 80s?