It’s been 2 months since the final episode of the Netflix’s original series Sense8 aired, and if you’re already a fan then you know how amazing this show is and on August 3rd there will be a Sense8 Global Re-Watch (#Sense8BdayRewatch) of the final episode “Amor Vincit Omnia” before what would be the birthday of our favorite Cluster on August 8th.
The fans were influential enough to convince Netflix into bringing the show back temporarily to tie up as many loose ends as they could in a two-and-a-half-hour movie. And that strength has inspired the Sense8 fandom to start an online campaign where they will unsubscribe from Netflix on August 8th, the birthday of the Cluster, if the show isn’t brought back (#NoSense8NoNetflix.) With actors and crew moving on to other jobs, how feasible a full return is dubious. As fans, the best we can hope for is the occasional 2 hour movie, giving us a chance to check in on our favorite cluster now and then.
If you have never seen it before, using the characters of the Cluster, here are 8 sensible reasons to watch, re-watch, and hope for a long shot return of this binge worthy work of fantastical science fiction that is so beloved by fans worldwide.
Will Gorski (Brian J. Smith) Leadership
If you’re a behind the camera kind of person, the importance of their vision and the superb execution of this mammoth production can’t be understated of the leadership of show creators, The Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski. From the sweeping cinematography and the global musical influences, to remembering the characters existing in different time zones, shot with an international cast and crew on location across the globe, nine cities in eight countries, this show by its very nature was a hydra like monster with a multitude of moving parts to control and produce.
Capheus “Van Damn” Onyango (Aml Ameen (season 1) / Toby Onwumere (season 2)) Heart/Warmth
This show can be very dark at times, but it pulls the viewers through with its’ themes of connection and empathy with a humor that is organic and fun. Along with the humor, the bravery that the Cluster members had to summon individually, be it facing the local gang leader or coming out to the world, the heart and courage of this show is truly inspiring.
Sun Bak (Doona Bae) Action
The brilliance of the fight choreography and action pacing is what you’d expect from the makers of The Matrix. This show has everything, hand to hand, blazing shootouts, a jailbreak or two, and a few car chases, all of these scenes are made all the more impressive by the actors who had to duplicate the movements of the others to create seamless actions on film.
Kala Dandekar (Tina Desai) Science, Religion, and the Metaphysical
This wouldn’t be a sci-fi show without the other worldliness of the Sensorium, think Star Wars midichlorians but way, way cooler, everything that the prequels got wrong Sense8 gets right. The science and tech that permeates the show is Sense 8’s “McGuffin” pushing the story forward by peeling away at the Sensates history, abilities and culture with a blend of philosophy and biochemistry. And it never dodges or belittles religion, while at times championing it.
Wolfgang Bogdanow (Max Riemelt) Drama
The complexity of this shows story isn’t for the faint of heart, and here’s where you can see JMS influence layering the show in such a way that each side story connects like the Cluster. From redemption to revenge to romantic entanglements, the structure of the show is such that if you separated the various plot lines they could easily be their own show. But together the heavy tone of the main storyline moves along like a shark with the subplots riding along like lampreys, leaving the viewer waiting for its moment to payoff.
Lito Rodriguez (Miguel Ángel Silvestre) Sexy
Like the action sequences, Sense 8 doesn’t shy away from sex, creating erotic and exotic scenes with multiple orientations and partners, this could easily have gone down a bad road into the valley of C level skin flicks. Instead this show raised the bar for the audience, giving them a fantastical sensuality to entice and chew on.
Nomi Marks (Jamie Clayton) Diversity
As viewers we are always looking for ourselves on screen, be it through race, gender, social status or sexual orientation, and in a very Star Trek way, Sense 8’s strongest selling point is its divergent viewpoints that come together showing us that we exist and have a voice through this international cast, spotlighting the multiple facets of the Homo Sensorium and their human brethren, on a planet that isn’t as big as we all think it is.
Riley Blue (Tuppence Middleton) Community
Whether it’s Riley about to kill herself or Wolfgang facing off against another cluster, the Cluster is the core of the show that showcases building a community makes us all stronger. Capheus puts it best in S2:E10 “…the future I hope for is the same as yours. A future where our children grow up never knowing love as a wall, but as a bridge.”
Whatever your choice is on August 8th, remember to wish Wolfgang, Capheus, Sun, Nomi, Lito, Kala, Riley, and Will a Happy Birthday.
I’d like to watch it through for the first time, just waiting for dvd release in Australia. Totally respect the talent involved here and what they’ve respectively done in the past.
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