Dan Cohen – Sense8
This is a show I’m not sure I would even recommend, but it’s worth talking about. Sense8 is the new Netflix show from creators of The Matrix, the Wachowski’s, and television seems to accommodate their style more favorably. Also along for the ride is J. Michael Straczynski, a very well known comic book writer. So what do I make of Sense8? To be honest, I’m not really sure yet. Keep in mind, I’m only seven episodes in, so I can’t fully evaluate it yet, but there’s plenty to digest in what I’ve already seen.
So why is it called Sense8, you ask? What’s up with the 8 in the title? The main idea is you have eight complete strangers from all over the world who start getting random visions. As the visions get stronger, they begin to realize they are experiencing each other’s worlds. For example, you got a guy in Africa who all of a sudden sees himself in London with another fellow sensate. Sounds like something the Wachowski’s would do, doesn’t it? As their powers develop, they even begin conversing with each other, and there’s plenty crazy discoveries along the way, but I won’t spoil anything. If you’re a stickler for diversity in television, you certainly won’t be disappointed here. This is one of the most diverse casts you’ll ever see. They go all over the world. If you decide to give this show a chance, you must understand the pace is slow. Really, really, really, really slow.
This would never work on regular television. While there’s a main thread developing throughout the series, it’s really eight individual arcs that sort of intersect here and there. I’m seven episodes in, and they’ve barely touched on the main plot. So if you’re annoyed by that kind of approach, I’d stay away. The best comparison I can make with this show is Heroes – character centric, a lot of reflection, and very visual. I’m not in love with Sense8, but the reason I keep coming back is because how well it delves into the lives of these people. And not just their day-to-day struggles, but unlike any show I’ve ever seen, you really get a sense of who they are from a psychological perspective, as you truly find out what makes them tick. They’re interesting enough that I don’t care too much about the main storyline, and that’s why I think the show works. The characters have all kinds of jobs and backgrounds, everything from DJ to scientist to computer hacker.
The problem is that it gets very repetitive. It hammers home a lot of the same situations and problems these characters constantly face. The social issues are also laid on a bit thick, and there’s a lot of crazy sex scenes and nudity. Sometimes they serve a purpose and add to the story, but other times it’s just there because they can (Hey, it’s Netflix).
If you have patience as a television watcher, I’d say give this a couple episodes, and see what you think. It’s a mixed bag, but when it hits, the material delivers great moments, including a very powerful musical number. Even though I can binge watch the episodes, I find myself only watching one at a time, but not because it’s boring, but because they take a lot out of you, and I need to digest. That’s definitely a good thing.
Read Marley Ghizzone’s original review of Sense8 on Pop-Break.com
https://youtu.be/riLgCIvE9aU
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