This review is for the series overall.
An exceptional series from the Wachowskis as long as you're not homophobic.
1. The writing is on point most of the time. Main characters and supporting characters shine.
2. The cast is fantastic.
3. The multiple shooting locations around the world was a boon to this series.
4. Bug is best buddy.
Honestly, Bae Doona, the Wachowskis, and talk of this series having LGBT characters and being pro-LGBT were what piqued my interest in it. I'm glad it I eventually watched it. There's so much humanity on display here and it's beautiful to watch. It's a shame that Netflix didn't let it run it's course more naturally. The series finale feels rushed as a result, but it ends the series fine enough.
It was nice to see Lost alumni Naveen Andrews again. Capheus is recast in season 2. I was sad to see Aml Ameen not return, but Toby Onwumere filled the role well.
**Sense8 was an epic disappointment and waste of time.**
I dedicated an entire weekend binge-watching every episode from season 1 to the end of season 2, and it was beyond awful.
To be fair, the show did have one redeeming quality - the concept of the 'clusters' and the extraordinary 'Homo Sensorium' individuals fighting against BPO. Had Sense8 stuck to this compelling storyline and focused on its potential, it could have been so much better. Additionally, the cinematography across various global locations was visually appealing, at least initially. However, this effect quickly lost its charm.
Where did it all go wrong? Let me break it down for you:
Firstly, the show became a platform for excessive and forced LGBTQ+ representation. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with LGBTQ+ inclusion, but Sense8 took it to the extreme and sacrificed the actual narrative for this agenda.
Secondly, there were far too many unnecessary 'music video' moments. Almost every episode was plagued by these pointless segments, and it even reached a point where one episode featured two drawn-out sequences. The viewer is expected to pay attention to a song while trying to find any connection to the story, but in reality, it adds nothing but a waste of time. By the start of season 2, I had become savvy enough to recognize these filler moments and skipped ahead until the real dialogue returned.
Moreover, the excessive nudity and orgies were truly nauseating. It was clear that they were desperate to push boundaries but only succeeded in making the entire ordeal feel cheap and ridiculous. This obsession with gratuitous sexual content may also explain why a main character left after the first season, essentially being replaced in the second.
On top of all this, the pace of the story crawled slower than a snail. Countless side stories dragged on, scenes were needlessly repeated, and countless irrelevant moments cluttered the plot. It felt as though they had no real story to tell, simply winging it to stretch limited material across two seasons. By the conclusion of this mess, I can understand why it was ultimately cancelled.
It's such a shame that the show creators couldn't have focused on the genuinely intriguing story instead of relinquishing it to serve as an afterthought to the non sci-fi aspects. Perhaps if they had cut out the excessive nudity, overblown sexuality, pointless side stories, and heavy-handed political correctness, they could have crafted an amazing narrative within two seasons. Instead, we were left with a story meant for half a season that was forcefully expanded into a painfully lackluster two seasons.
As someone who adored the Matrix, it deeply saddens me that the filmmaker's success ended there. Trust me when I say that Sense8 is an utter waste of time. If you're seeking a quality sci-fi series with a captivating story, do yourself a favor and steer clear of Sense8.
