Sense8 is a Netflix show that was released in 2015. The first episode of season 2 will be released on December 2016 for a Christmas special. For those unfamiliar with the show, Sense8 is about eight people from different parts of the world (Seoul, Nairobi, London, Berlin, Chicago, San Francisco, Mumbai, and Mexico) that share a supernatural bond with each other allowing them to connect physically and mentally, called “sensate.” Here are the reasons you should be watching this show!
1. Written, Produced, and Directed by transgender women.
The writing of the show is split between Lana and Lily Wachowski and J. Michael Straczynski. Lana Wachowski, a trans woman, wrote a lot of the episodes and the character of Nomi Marks is her first transgender character in which she uses her own experiences to develop her story line. Lily Wachowski (previously Andy) also came out as transgender this year and begin her transitioning process but remained low-key about it.
2. Diverse cast.
The main cast is absolutely huge, but there are eight main actors and it’s very balanced with races, sexualities, and nationalities. While five of the main characters and actors are white, the other three are poc such as Sun Bak (from Seoul) played by Korean actress Doona Bae, Kala Dandekar (from Mumbai) played by Indian actress Tina Desai and Capheus (from Nairobi) played by British actor Aml Ameen, whoever the casting directors for the show made sure to add a cast of international actors that matched the nationality of their respective characters as much as possible and actors of color to be part of the regular characters. For example, as regulars we have Alfonso Herrera and Erendira Ibarra (playing Hernando and Daniela), both successful actors from Mexico. Ness Bautista (from Puerto Rican and Dominican parents) playing Diego. Freema Agyeman, black actress playing Amanita. Purab Kohli and Anupam Mann successful actors from India and Naveen Andrews, Indian actor born in London. Paul Ogola, Kenyan actor, playing Jela. And, Cha In Pyo, Youn Yuh Jung, Lee Geung-young, Ma Dong-Seok considered one of the best actors in Korea. Also note that Remelt, Desai, and Bae are from Berlin, Mumbai, and Seoul like their respective characters, Wolfgang, Kala and Sun.
4. Portrays the struggles of people from the LGBT community and the media.
One of the others sensates is called Lito Rodriguez, originally from Spain but living in Mexico City. He is a closeted actor and biggest movie start in Mexico who has to keep his relationship with his boyfriend Hernando in secret, while having a fake relationship with a woman called Daniela. Lito and Hernando besides being in this secret relationship are without a doubt the most solid couple (apart from Nomi & Amanita) and surprisingly share a good friendship with Daniela besides their situation. This whole character dilemma is how he wishes he could came out but is undecided because gay actors don’t get good roles and aren’t treated fair in the industry.
5. Representation about different religions and backgrounds.
Kala Dandekar is a university-educated pharmacist and devout Hindu from Mumbai who is engaged to a man. I absolutely love Kala, she defies the stereotypes. Yes, she is engaged to an Indian man however she made sure to tell her family she wants to have an education and a career before even thinking about marriage. One of the most important traits about Kala is not only how smart and kind she is but how devoted she is to Ganesha (best-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon). One of her best moments is when Wolfgang (sensate from Berlin) asks her why she believes in Ganisha while still being a scientist, she answers: “For me, science is another language we use to talk about the same miracles faith talks about.”
We have Capheus from Nairobi, Kenya. Even though his background is filled with very unfortunate situations and violence, he honorably works as a bus-driver while trying to earn money to buy AIDS medicine for his mother. One of the best moments is how the show speaks about the stigma that HIV/AIDS has all over the world. He is one of my favorite characters because even with his situation he is full of life, positivity and hope. “I feel like today is going to be a good day” being his mantra.
Sun Bak is the daughter of a rich business man on Seoul, South Korea. Her life has been totally downplayed to just “the daughter” living in the shadow and dealing with sexist remarks from her father and brother. To scape, she participates in underground kickboxing. Sun is a fighter, a warrior, reliable and kind. She represents all the strength all the other sensates need.
To the other white characters I didn’t mention there’s Will Gorski, a Chicago Police Officer. He sometimes feels like the typical white cop stereotype, whoever, one of the things I like about the writing of this character is how even if he has the most traditional trappings of masculinity, he doesn’t really fix the category of “white male protagonist” you actually like the fact he is respectful (particularly about Nomi & the use of right pronouns), resourceful and willing to help anyone of the sensates. Wolfgang Bogdanow, from Berlin, a locksmith and safe-cracker who has unresolved issues about abuse with his father and participates in organized crime. This a character you find yourself liking without any reason. I feel like the trait he possesses is courage and the ability to be loyal at whatever cost. And finally, Riley Blue, a DJ, originally from Reykjavik but living in London to escape her past life in Iceland. While talking about her background will be a spoiler, the first thing we notice about her is how compassionate, understanding, and lost she is, which actually helps to create balance with all the personalities of the eight of them.
6. Not everyone is really straight.
While the canon non-heterosexual characters are Lito, Hernando, Amanita and Nomi, Sense8 plays with the narrative of how all the sensates are one. (“You are no longer just you” is the slogan of the series). Without giving any spoilers about a ‘controversial’ scene, the show started to play with the audience on how certain characters could be non-heterosexual. According to the actor playing Will, who’s character was low-key hinted as ‘bi’ by implying he used to date men on one of the scenes, told in Twitter that Lana (writer) thinks Will is pan-sexual as well as the other characters so it is all about the characters accepting that as a part of themselves. By the promotional pictures from season 2 it looks like they are exploring the sexuality of all the characters not just the non-het canon ones.
If you are not watching, you should be. The writing is clever, interesting, and they take time to write about every single character while exploring the dynamics, interactions and the shared experiences from each character not matter race, background, gender, religion or sexuality. And for everyone who’s very interested in actions scenes, this show is incredible at those! They manage to create amazing action sequences that involves more than two characters in different locations plus the romance is on point.
