Why you should be watching Sense8
Aug. 23rd, 2015 04:05 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pslasherLast weekend I mainlined all of Sense8 on Netflix (I'm not sure if it's anywhere else?) and I LOVED it. Here's why I think you'd love it, too. I've tried not to spoil anything, but there are some well marked additional comments at the bottom of the post that are mildly spoilery.
1. It has multiple canon queer characters (including a trans woman) who remain queer when things are all said and done. They are complex, well-written characters that are allowed to both save the day and have doubts and flaws. One of the writers and directors is a trans woman herself, and apparently she drew heavily on her own personal experiences to write the trans character. I have a lot of faith that they will treat the queer characters well throughout the series, and am very excited to see where they are taken.*
2. It passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors. Like the queer characters, the women are complex and well-written, and they get to save the day.**
3. It is a very sex-positive show. There is a lot of sex shown, and it's on par with the explicit sex you see on Game of Thrones: not to porn levels, but a lot more than you see typically on mainstream tv, including full frontal nudity. There is het, lesbian, and gay sex, a very strong threesome that I think (and hope!!!) will remain a strong canon relationship, and what is essentially an orgy (and a situation that could conceivably happen again). There is also psychic sex, so if that's a kink of yours this is definitely your show. About the only thing we don't get is a BDSM relationship of any type (and I would LOVE to see the show explore that! But that may be asking for too much) Unlike GoT, none of the sex is demeaning, or non-con-ish, or used as a tool for political maneuvering or personal gain. All of it is portrayed positively (often times with strong love), with no slut-shamy attitude to speak of (even when one of the presumably straight boys gets caught up in the orgy).
4. It's a character driven show that explores very in-depth the effects a psychic link would have on people and their lives. It includes the little things that aren't usually dwelled on for tv. It's almost to fanfic levels of exploring the domestic lives of the characters, which is very interesting to me. There is plot, but characterization seems to always be the priority.
5. It's truly a global show. It's shot almost entirely on location in Seoul, Nairobi, Mumbai, Berlin, London, Mexico City, Chicago, San Francisco, and one other location. It is a very multicultural cast, with relatively equal time spent with all the characters. The city and culture of each character permeate the show and make each location feel grounded and somewhere we the audience get to know intimately. The actors used for each country are often well known in their country but not here in the states (Tina Desai, Max Riemelt), so we in the US are introduced to some amazing talent from around the world, which I love.
6. There are excellent action scenes that are shot in a very unique way. I love great action scenes, and there is so much good stuff here. Sense8 is on par with The Matrix for having a visual "look" that is mind-bending, and I love it. Watch the Making of Sense8 on Netflix if you want to see more about the action!
If you are intrigued, here is the trailer, and the character profiles. The profiles are kinda spoilery!
I had seen the name of the series once or twice while browsing Netflix, but had no interest in watching it because the name didn't immediately bring to mind what the show was about. Then I came across Butterfly's gorgeous vid Breathe Me and I felt instantly compelled to watch the series. I am happy to report that the show is just as wonderful as the vid! (the vid is mildly spoilery!)
There are some strong trigger warnings, some of which are spoilers:
Graphic violence, suicide, multiple graphic birth scenes, graphic character death including an infant character, medical horror/torture, mentions of self harm and depression, domestic violence.
Mildly Spoilery Comments Below:
*There is a certain amount of fluidity in the queer cluster characters (how the 8 psychic characters are referred to in the show) - both of them participate in what is essentially an orgy between several of the cluster members, and there is a threesome with one of the queer characters. At the end of it though, they still have their partners and I don't think that will change just because they now suddenly have a psychic link to 7 other people - meaning they aren't going to suddenly turn straight. But I actually really love that fluidity. It feels like the setup for a big polyamorous relationship, and I am hoping so hard that they will actually take it there.
**One of the women is a hacktivist who's knowledge and skills keep them out of trouble and get them out of tight spots, and another is a martial artist who protects and saves some of the characters who aren't fighters, including the men. I love both of these characters and the fact that they are allowed to exist. For the fighter in particular, I'm a huge fan of women characters who are fighters and are also a main character who get to save themselves and the day: Salt, Lucy, Mallory Kane from Haywire, Kate Abbott from Survivor, Zoe Washburn from Firefly (not really a main character but I love her so much), and Black Widow (ditto) are some, but there are sadly very few. But Sun Bak is that character here, and I adore her and loved each time she got to kick ass.
1. It has multiple canon queer characters (including a trans woman) who remain queer when things are all said and done. They are complex, well-written characters that are allowed to both save the day and have doubts and flaws. One of the writers and directors is a trans woman herself, and apparently she drew heavily on her own personal experiences to write the trans character. I have a lot of faith that they will treat the queer characters well throughout the series, and am very excited to see where they are taken.*
2. It passes the Bechdel Test with flying colors. Like the queer characters, the women are complex and well-written, and they get to save the day.**
3. It is a very sex-positive show. There is a lot of sex shown, and it's on par with the explicit sex you see on Game of Thrones: not to porn levels, but a lot more than you see typically on mainstream tv, including full frontal nudity. There is het, lesbian, and gay sex, a very strong threesome that I think (and hope!!!) will remain a strong canon relationship, and what is essentially an orgy (and a situation that could conceivably happen again). There is also psychic sex, so if that's a kink of yours this is definitely your show. About the only thing we don't get is a BDSM relationship of any type (and I would LOVE to see the show explore that! But that may be asking for too much) Unlike GoT, none of the sex is demeaning, or non-con-ish, or used as a tool for political maneuvering or personal gain. All of it is portrayed positively (often times with strong love), with no slut-shamy attitude to speak of (even when one of the presumably straight boys gets caught up in the orgy).
4. It's a character driven show that explores very in-depth the effects a psychic link would have on people and their lives. It includes the little things that aren't usually dwelled on for tv. It's almost to fanfic levels of exploring the domestic lives of the characters, which is very interesting to me. There is plot, but characterization seems to always be the priority.
5. It's truly a global show. It's shot almost entirely on location in Seoul, Nairobi, Mumbai, Berlin, London, Mexico City, Chicago, San Francisco, and one other location. It is a very multicultural cast, with relatively equal time spent with all the characters. The city and culture of each character permeate the show and make each location feel grounded and somewhere we the audience get to know intimately. The actors used for each country are often well known in their country but not here in the states (Tina Desai, Max Riemelt), so we in the US are introduced to some amazing talent from around the world, which I love.
6. There are excellent action scenes that are shot in a very unique way. I love great action scenes, and there is so much good stuff here. Sense8 is on par with The Matrix for having a visual "look" that is mind-bending, and I love it. Watch the Making of Sense8 on Netflix if you want to see more about the action!
If you are intrigued, here is the trailer, and the character profiles. The profiles are kinda spoilery!
I had seen the name of the series once or twice while browsing Netflix, but had no interest in watching it because the name didn't immediately bring to mind what the show was about. Then I came across Butterfly's gorgeous vid Breathe Me and I felt instantly compelled to watch the series. I am happy to report that the show is just as wonderful as the vid! (the vid is mildly spoilery!)
There are some strong trigger warnings, some of which are spoilers:
Graphic violence, suicide, multiple graphic birth scenes, graphic character death including an infant character, medical horror/torture, mentions of self harm and depression, domestic violence.
Mildly Spoilery Comments Below:
*There is a certain amount of fluidity in the queer cluster characters (how the 8 psychic characters are referred to in the show) - both of them participate in what is essentially an orgy between several of the cluster members, and there is a threesome with one of the queer characters. At the end of it though, they still have their partners and I don't think that will change just because they now suddenly have a psychic link to 7 other people - meaning they aren't going to suddenly turn straight. But I actually really love that fluidity. It feels like the setup for a big polyamorous relationship, and I am hoping so hard that they will actually take it there.
**One of the women is a hacktivist who's knowledge and skills keep them out of trouble and get them out of tight spots, and another is a martial artist who protects and saves some of the characters who aren't fighters, including the men. I love both of these characters and the fact that they are allowed to exist. For the fighter in particular, I'm a huge fan of women characters who are fighters and are also a main character who get to save themselves and the day: Salt, Lucy, Mallory Kane from Haywire, Kate Abbott from Survivor, Zoe Washburn from Firefly (not really a main character but I love her so much), and Black Widow (ditto) are some, but there are sadly very few. But Sun Bak is that character here, and I adore her and loved each time she got to kick ass.