I gotta hand it to Sense8. I’m still not 100% sure what’s going on, but I enjoyed “I Am Also a We” far more than the premiere “Limbic Resonance,” and I think a lot of that has to do with the presentation. “We” is a quieter, more intimate, more human episode, and the show is well served by it. There are none of the flashy set pieces that made the premiere feel slightly overstuffed, i.e. Wolfgang’s safecracking or the murder witnessed by Riley. The Wachowskis have never been particularly warm filmmakers – was anyone really convinced by the Neo/Trinity love story in the Matrix films? – but it appears they’ve found a story to really open their hearts to.
Look, for example, at Nomi’s story, by far the most potentially tragic in Sense8. Jamie Clayton’s performance is vulnerable and tough in equal measure, and it’s the powerful delivery of her own writing that gives this episode its title (this is also a strangely funny episode, and Nomi gets the first laugh of the hour by closing her piece with “So go fuck yourself, Aquinas”). It should be obvious to anyone with a brain that the sensitive, admiring portrayal of Nomi, a transgendered woman, is due in no small part to the fact that Lana Wachowski is transgendered herself (by the way, if I’m not using the right pronouns or nomenclature, please chalk it up to the benign kind of ignorance). It’s this personal connection that gives Nomi’s story so much heft, which is good, because two episodes in, she and Will Gorski are becoming Sense8‘s ostensible protagonists. By creating a character that hits so close to home, the Wachowskis are able to access a heretofore unseen level of filmmaking for them; “We” is impressively restrained, and while the visuals are often striking – look at Capheus’ exultant smile when he’s transported to the Pride Parade – they’re not always so flashy, which, again, works in Sense8‘s favor.
Nomi’s story is a familiar one, but that doesn’t soften the blow. After fainting at the parade, she’s admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with UFLS, undifferentiated frontal lobe syndrome. Dr. Metzger wants to operate on her, which both Nomi and the audience know is tantamount to lobotomizing her. Writing and acting aside, some of this hospital story hits pretty rote beats, I’m sorry to say. Nomi’s mother is something of a caricature, and insultingly continues to refer to Nomi as Michael. The hospital won’t let Nomi’s girlfriend in to see her, a fact that Nomi’s mother delights in telling her daughter. Luckily Sense8 is able to spice up the proceedings by virtue of its bizarre conceit; a visit from Jonas, where he implores Nomi to escape, is a highlight, and Clayton’s skill as an actress ensures that the plot is still worth visiting. I understand the importance of Nomi’s stay in the hospital, but if Sense8 wants to do something new, which it clearly does, it’d be best to get her out of there as soon as possible.
For a show about connection, secrets are a big theme here. Kala is hiding from her fiancee the fact that she doesn’t love him; Lito is hiding his sexuality from an increasingly amorous costar. Her attempted seduction of him leads to one of “We”‘s funnier scenes, proving that maybe the Wachowskis have finally found a sense of humor.
Capheus is barely glimpsed; ditto for Sun. Wolfgang “sees” Kala at an Indian restaurant, and Riley and Will “see” each other in their mirrors (a great shot), but so far Sense8 isn’t doing a great job of justifying its eight-person leading cast. I have no idea what part Capheus will play in the overall proceedings, for instance, and I only know the character’s name because I looked on Wikipedia.
Sense8 is finding its footing, to be sure. With a concept – and a cast – this big, I expect the show to falter in certain places, but there’s really nothing like this on Netflix right now. That alone will keep me watching.
A Few Thoughts
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So obviously I’m not sticking to my normal Netflix routine of one review a day. I’ll try to review Sense8 with more regularity, but with three classes on my schedule, and Orange is the New Black (which I’ll also review) coming out on Friday, expect reviews to be extremely scattered. I apologize in advance
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I really didn’t like the Bollywood dance number. Cheesy and unnecessary. We get it, they’re in India
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Great car chase there at the end. Which should come as no surprise; for all its faults, The Matrix Reloaded has a hall of fame car chase
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Great to see Joe Pantoliano show up as Will’s father. Pantoliano was built for this kind of character work
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