Sense8, the new Netflix original series, is a near masterpiece of balanced characterization in contemporary television — a fundamental element that many storytellers still struggle with (Jaime and Bronn in Dorne, anyone?). And because Sense8 is on Netflix, you have the choice to either run the entire series straight through, or pace yourself as you see fit. It can be a difficult decision to make: the cast of Sense8 is so easy to root for you want to see them episode after episode as they move forward in their collective adventure. But then you run the risk of burning out the journey too fast, and what’s left to do after that?
This should be mentioned from the onset: it is a simple assumption to throw out there that Sense8 is just another sci-fi/comic-book show flaunting globe-spanning super powers. And yes, such elements are present, but they are what infuse the first season’s strongest scenes with major doses of adrenaline. None of this would matter if there were no resonance with the identifiable “sensates” that inhabit the show. Thankfully, executive producers, creators, and writers J. Michael Straczyski and Andy and Lana Wachowski are aware and give us what we need to make something like this enjoyable: friends to take a ride with.
Who are these lovable psychics? Well, we’re introduced to:
— Will (Brian J. Smith), a Chicago cop and all-American guy
— Riley (Tuppence Middleton), an Iceland-born DJ and damsel-in-distress who has fled to London
— Capheus (Aml Ameen), a van driver in Nairobi who eats and breathes everything Jean Claude Van Damme… including a cinematic sense of justice
— Nomi (Jamie Clayton), a transgender woman with the spirit of an activist and the skills of an expert hacker
— Lito (Miguel Angel Silvestre), a closeted actor in Mexico City that has bafflingly flawless good looks; seriously, this guy is a near-perfect specimen of the human male physique
— Sun (Bae Doona), a South Korean businesswoman with very understandable anger issues she channels into violent underground kickboxing tournaments
— Wolfgang (Max Riemelt), a dreamy German bad boy who isn’t afraid to both work for and against the organized crime underworld of Berlin
— Kala (Tima Desai), an Indian chemist and psychic love interest to one of the other sensates
The suicide of another “sensate” (sensate, Sense8 — get it?) named Angelica (and played by Daryl Hannah) awakens the latent psychic connection in the show’s primary cast. This moment is heralded by a visit from Angelica after she looks down the barrel of a gun. From this point forward a “cluster” of eight people share experiences and emotions, communicate over global distances, and tap into everyone else’s knowledge, skills, and strength.
The show’s plot is structured into two sections: characterization and narrative hyperbole. At times it is masterful in its craft when we catch glimpses of the characters in their lives, and how those occurrences appear to the other sensates who can experience the happenings as if they are physically present (allowing the actors to interact with one another in beautifully structured scenes).
There are some tremendous examples of this. When Capheus finds himself in hot water with some Nairobi thugs, Sun (who is living in South Korea) can sense his plight and forms a one-on-one connection with him, allowing Capheus to tap into her kickboxing skills to pummel his aggressors (not unlike downloading abilities and knowledge before hopping into the Matrix to kick some ass — thank you Wachowski Siblings!)
And with some humor, another instance of this happening deals with Chicago-based cop Will finding himself in a gunfight, all to the benefit of Mexico City-based actor Lito, who kills his performance while unwittingly channeling Will’s very real and very deadly situation.
And then there’s the homoerotic four-way sex scene between Wolfgang, Nomi, Lito, and Will — but I’ll leave that for your viewing pleasure.
All of this is astoundingly balanced in its presentation. Are some characters more interesting than others? Sure, but no one is neglected (except maybe Wolfgang, but I suspect he’s a character on a slow-burn plan). A little bit of a gender problem arises here and there — some of the damsel-in-distress crap gets tiring — but it is vastly overshadowed by everything Sense8 does right with its characters — the ass-kicking Sun and the brilliant hacker Nomi, for example, steal the screen whenever they appear. The show doesn’t flinch at showing us what diversity looks like in 2015.
The show flounders somewhat when it hammers us with the conspiracy surrounding Whispers, a cookie-cutter villain who struts around the world of Sense8 as the heir apparent to Mr. Smith and Colonel Stryker of Weapon X. None of this did much for me, as it only diverted from the artistry spent on defining the loveable inhabitants of Sense8. I suppose an antagonist was needed, but when reflecting on how this matter was handled in other Netflix shows like Daredevil, House of Cards, and The Fall, I’m far from impressed.
A bump in the road is a bump in the road, but Sense8 is still absolutely not to be missed, especially if you’re already a Netflix subscriber. I’m confident in my recommendation, as I missed the characters when the first season ended, and that’s always my litmus test for something worth watching.
