I don’t usually write TV or film reviews too often. To be honest, I don’t like to. However, I watched Sense8 this past weekend on Netflix. It’s a really really good show, with excellent actors. It’s an interesting spin on the sci-fi genre. If you haven’t watched it, it’s about a group of people who are suddenly linked mentally. They have to find out why they’re linked and in the process protect one another. What’s really great is that they got a solid mix of people. They could have easily just done eight people from the U.S. Instead they picked people from across the world, of different cultures and origins.
The one issue I have with the show is the amount of sex in it. Sex, like foul language, can be a crutch or used for shock factor far too easily these days. Those devices should only be used to further the story. To tell more about the character and have them grow. I did not feel like this was so in Sense8. The characters Nomi (played by Jamie Clayton) and Amanita (played by Freema Agyeman) play lovers. Nomi is a trans woman and lesbian. When we are first introduced to them they are having sex. From that point on, for what felt like more than half their scenes, they are either having sex or making out. I’m not fond of watching anyone make out on-screen, no matter the orientation. None of these scenes progressed their characters. There is a scene where they are at a Pride celebration that much more effectively shows their love for one another.
I feel that the writers should have taken a page out of Orphan Black’s handbook. Cosima, as we all know, is a lesbian. But it is not the most interesting thing about her. She is multidimensional. Much like Cosima, Nomi has other things going for her, other than her sexuality. Nomi is an intelligent woman. She’s a computer hacker, a blogger, and when called upon she’s more than willing to help out the other people she’s linked with. All of these things are much more compelling.
The only character that’s sexuality does progress his storyline is Lito Rodriguez (played by Miguel Angel Silvestre). Without giving too much away, the fact that he’s in a gay relationship shapes his actions later in the series. I am absolutely fine with this as it’s progressing and furthering his character development. The one scene that was absolutely unnecessary was the orgy scene. We already know the eight are linked, there was no reason to diverge from the story and have them all have sex together. It didn’t further anything in the plot.
All in all I think Sense8 is worth a watch. I do hope that if it gets a second season that they lessen the amount of sex and keep up the character development. These characters are already interesting, there’s no reason to ‘sex it up’.
Your Friend, Elle
Leave a Reply