2-12. Amor Vincit Omnia

One last ride for the Cluster...

Running Time: Approx. 151 minutes. Written by: Lana Wachowski, David Mitchell, Aleksander Hemon. Directed by: Lana Wachowski.


THE PLOT:

Wolfgang is now a prisoner of BPO - But Will organized the other sensates into responding forcefully, infiltrating BPO and taking Whispers and Jonas hostage. Now hiding with their prisoners in Paris, the group is organizing an exchange. They know BPO will double-cross them as soon as the exchange is complete, and have a plan to complete the trade and escape.

That plan is threatened by several outside parties. River El-Saadawi (Amira Ghazalla), daughter of BPO co-founder Ruth El-Saadawi, reaches out to the group to tell them that Whispers is the sole pilot for BPO's drone program, and urges them to kill Whispers even at the cost of Wolfgang's life. Other sensate clusters, under the guidance of a woman known only as "The Mother" (Urusla Jones), take direct action to interfere with the exchange.

Meanwhile, BPO turns up the pressure by instigating a purge of known sensates worldwide. Jonas takes advantage of the confusion to escape, leaving Will's cluster to wonder whose side he might be on. And into the chaos strides Lila Facchini (Valeria Bilello), the sensate assassin who turned Wolfgang over to BPO. She appears to be working for them - But she has an agenda all her own, one that will soon put them on a collision course with the mysterious BPO Chairman (Stephen Boxer).


CHARACTERS:

It's the nature of the beast that a movie will have a narrower focus than an ongoing series. I figured relatively early in the series' run that the finale would inevitably center around the BPO arc, meaning that the regulars least involved in the BPO arc - Capheus, Sun, and Lito - end up getting less to do than the other five. Sun at least gets a few good action scenes and a love interest, but Capheus is reduced to little more than the team's designated driver, while Lito is basically comedy relief. Lito's significant others actually get stronger material than him; Hernando's extensive art knowledge helps the group to infiltrate Lila's fortress-like estate, while Dani gets an early confrontation with Whispers that is an absolute showstopper.

For the rest, it's largely business as usual. Will drives the plot, but aside from some interest/jealousy over some of Riley's past contacts, he doesn't get much in the way of character material. Nomi and Amanita provide a few emotional scenes - though for arguably the first time in the series, some of their dialogue (notably an early conversation about Amanita's fantasies about Paris) feels forced and stilted. Wolfgang and Kala probably get the best overall material, each repeatedly showing devotion to the other, and the resolution to the Wolfgang/Kala/Rajan triangle is unexpected but fitting for this series.

Oh, and Bug, whose role has continued to expand throughout the series, gets even more to do here. He proves to be a delight throughout the film, with just enough moments of insight sprinkled between the comedy to keep him from descending into being purely a "joke" character.


A BRIEF REFLECTION ON WHAT WAS LOST:

The BPO plotline itself feels reduced and simplified. Whispers had shown signs of being a potentially fascinating character - Sense8's equivalent of Babylon 5's Bester, a thoroughgoing villain who nevertheless saw himself as serving a greater good. Here, he's just a baddie, whose relatively brief bits of dialogue amount to sadistic threats. He isn't even the main bad guy, being quite literally reduced to a plot device: spending the first half of the episode as our heroes' prisoner before spending the second half as someone else's prisoner.

Then there is the matter of the mysterious BPO Chairman. The Chairman was mentioned multiple times in Season Two, so was always going to emerge as a major villain. I have difficulty believing, however, that had the series played out as originally intended, he would have been such a 2-dimensional figure, an impotent clone of Star Wars' Emperor Palpatine.

Ultimately, as I watched the movie, I felt that something was missing from both characters and the dialogue, and I think that something has a name: J. Michael Straczynski, who co-created the series and co-wrote all the episodes prior to this one. Straczynski has a particular creative voice, often expressed through monologues that are slightly heightened and theatrical but that are nonetheless spellbinding. The absence of that voice leaves a tangible void in this finale - Not in the big action set pieces, but in the quieter character moments. A layer is missing to the dialogue, and I am fairly certain that missing layer is best explained by his absence.


WHAT WAS GOOD, AND EVEN GREAT:

Most of my complaints amount to acknowledging the inevitable: some characters draw the short straw, ongoing plotlines are substantially simplified, and some of the exchanges lack the resonance of the series proper, with dialogue more focused on advancing plot than character. All of these largely fall into the category of "given," since this movie is tasked with closing out a series that was roughly intended to run for three more seasons; per original intent, the last regular episode wouldn't even have been considered the halfway mark!

Accepting those limitations, the movie does a solid job of closing out the BPO storyline in a manner that is largely consistent with what has been learned over the course of the series. I can speculate about where I think the plot might have gone had the series continued... But taking what was made purely on its own terms, the main ongoing plot of the series reaches a satisfying conclusion - with the door left just enough ajar to allow for future seasons or movies, should Netflix prove willing.

The major set pieces, from the botched exchange to the final pursuit of Lila, are uniformly outstanding, conveying intensity and excitement. I'm of two minds regarding a moment in which one of the regulars appears to be killed, only to survive with no apparent ill effects... But another part of me is just as happy for Sense8, a series that has largely embraced compassion and hope as its guiding principles, to embrace a celebratory atmosphere in its finale. Besides, "wringing emotion out of major character death in finale" has become a cliche in itself, so I was not too sad to see it subverted.

There's an epilogue that runs a little long, and a closing sex scene that - unlike most similar scenes in the series - seems to exist as much to make sure there is a sex scene as to serve any particular character or narrative purpose (though I did find the final shot to be an amusing swipe at those who expressed outrage at the series' very first sexual encounter). Overall, however, Amor Vincit Omnia does an admirable job of wrapping up a complex series. It will never rank among my favorite episodes, simply because of the built-in limitations of the situation. But given what it had to do, it is more successful than it had any right to be and represents a satisfying end to an outstanding series.

Overall Rating: 8/10.

Previous Episode: You Want a War?



Review Index

2-9. What Family Actually Means.

Nomi becomes the focus of unwanted 

attention at her sister's wedding.

Running Time: Approx. 57 minutes. Written by: Lana Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: Lana Wachowski.


THE PLOT:

As the wedding of Nomi's sister approaches, Nomi prepares to act as the Maid of Honor - even as she contends with hostility from her family, particularly her mother (Sandra Fish). With support from both her sister and Amanita, she deals as well with that as is possible... But the dogged Agent Bendix (Anthony Cistaro) remains determined to arrest Nomi, and to do so in the most public way he can.

In Mexico, Dani finds the perfect comeback script for Lito, who continues to despair over the unraveling of his career. Through stubbornness, charm, and a few well-placed lies, she manages to secure him an audition. In Hollywood.

Meanwhile, Capheus discovers that his political opponents have placed a price on his head. Wolfgang continues to evade both Fuchs and the police. And Will receives distressing news about his father (Joe Pantoliano).


CHARACTERS:

Season Two has been a veritable showcase for Jamie Clayton's Nomi, and much of this episode's best material goes to her. Early on, she considers leaving the reception, claiming a headache to avoid speaking in front of her family and their friends.  Then her mother approaches her, acidly suggesting that she do exactly that - Which prompts Amanita to observe that she now has to give the speech.  She does so - with just the right amount of nervousness and defiance. Nomi's hint of self-absoprtion does come through, as the speech is very much centered on herself, but her caring for her sister also shines through as she turns the focus more and more to her sister's kindness.

Freema Agyeman continues to impress as Amanita. When Agent Bendix shows up at the wedding, it doesn't take long for her to realize that in his arrogance he hasn't checked with his superiors about Nomi's current status. She has no way of verifying her suspicion - But she knows Bendix's brand of arrogance very well, and intercedes. She quickly gets the crowd on her side, notably Nomi's father; and while I wouldn't give the scene high marks for realism, it is a definite crowd-pleasing bit, perfectly carried off by Agyeman.

What Family Actually Means also gives Eréndira Ibarra her best scene to date. When a depressed Lito insists that a Hollywood producer would never look at him for the role in Iberian Dreams, Dani responds with swaggering self-confidence. She picks up the phone, asks Lito and Hernando to time her, then proceeds to make a series of calls. She switches from earnest to flirty to disinterested and back again as she talks first to someone connected with the film, then to an entertainment journalist, then back to the first person, weaving a picture of Lito as an in-demand presence who may not even be available to make the film. Before a single hour elapses, she is speaking with the director, who is locking in the audition. Would this really work, let alone in such a short time? I highly doubt it. Does it make for a great scene, not to mention a fantastic acting showcase for Ibarra? You bet.


THOUGHTS:

The BPO plotline moves very much into the background for What Family Actually Means. There are a few developments, as Riley and Diego find the house of the woman who contacted Riley, uncovering the hidden lab where Whispers conducted experiments. But the bulk of the focus is on individual character threads, particularly the Nomi and Lito strands. This is very much a good thing. As I've said before, the BPO plot is effective in giving the show structure and momentum, but it's never been the focus of my interest. The moments that linger in my mind have nothing to do with Evil Corporate Conspiracies, and everything to do with strong character writing.

There is a heightened sense to this episode's "big moments." As I indicated above, the showcase scenes for Amanita and Dani aren't necessarily realistic. Bendix would likely have an officer arrest Amanita for interfering before she got three words out, with the mess untangled by lawyers some time later. Dani would be unlikely to bluff Lito into an audition with just a few phone calls; even if she was able to successfully bring the pieces together, it would be the work of days, not a single hour. But in an episode centered around a wedding, there's something appropriate in the inclusion of semi-operatic set pieces. Both scenes are enormously fun to watch, and it's a treat to see characters who were initially defined in relation to main characters being allowed to fully claim the spotlight.

With so many moments of triumph, it's a given that somebody will receive an emotional smackdown. This time, it's Will, who learns that his father is dying. He isn't able to physically go to him, and has to settle for saying goodbye through Riley. The scene is entirely too relatable to anyone who has ever lost a close family member (which is to say, pretty much anyone over the age of 30), and the performances of Brian J. Smith and Joe Pantoliano sell the emotion beautifully, visually intercutting between the deathbed conversation and the shared memory of a childhood game of catch.

If the episode is a last drawing in of breath before the run up to the finale, then that scene is a perfect moment of stillness before letting it go. A beautifully moving final moment in a thoroughly engaging installment.


Overall Rating: 9/10.

Previous Episode: All I Want Right Now Is One More Bullet
Next Episode: If All the World's a Stage, Identity Is Nothing but a Costume



Review Index

2-8. All I Want Right Now Is One More Bullet.

Wolfgang gets caught in an assassin's trap.

Running Time: Approx. 57 minutes. Written by: Lana Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: Dan Glass.


THE PLOT:

Jonas is alive.

Though the group was certain they had witnessed his death, he reveals that he was saved through the intervention of BPO's Chairman. He is still BPO's prisoner, forced to work with them, but he is alive - and Whispers' position may not be quite so secure as he had believed.

Meanwhile, having been dropped by his agent, Lito decides that his career is over and wallows in self-pity and comfort food. But his skills may soon be needed. Sun's brother is soon to attend a function, and Nomi and Amanita have found a way to smuggle Sun in with the help. The catch? She will have to pose as a bartender, which will only be possible if she borrows the skills Lito learned on the set of a previous movie.

Capheus is drawing attention in his bid for public office, but is also drawing a backlash from his opponent, seeking to paint the upstart bus driver as a "thug" who extorts protection money from his neighbors. As Capheus absorbs this, he receives a visit at gunpoint by the leader of the Superpower Gang, who lets him know in no uncertain terms that his life is in danger - but that he also has support in some unexpected places.

Finally, in Berlin, Wolfgang realizes that Lila, the sensate assassin, is planning to play him off against gang leader Sebastian Fuchs (Lars Eidinger) - all to further her dream of transforming Berlin into a haven for sensates. She hopes to enlist Wolfgang to her cause - But will settle for eliminating him to remove the threat he poses!


CHARACTERS:

Nomi is rather adorable in this episode, from accidentally waking Sun and begging her not to hit her to admitting that time zones confuse her to her clutziness in high heels. When Amanita tries to relax her nerves, correctly diagnosing that she's worried about seeing her parents again, Nomi observes that Amanita knows her in ways her Cluster never will.  Speaking of Amanita, at this point she could be considered an honorary member of the Cluster.  When Nomi knocks herself out of action near the end, Amanita effectively fills her role via FaceTime (with an assist from Bug), which ends up working seamlessly.

Lito's self-pity is amusing, and Miguel Angel Silvestre continues to show a genuine knack for comedy. The scene in which he curls up on Sun's bed, clutching a stuffed animal and crying, is genuinely funny, with Sun alternating between exasperation and compassion in her response to him. At the end of the scene, after Sun has spelled out exactly how much worse her situation is than Lito's, he passes her the stuffed animal and grabs another one for himself.

My favorite part of the episode is, of course, the standoff between Wolfgang and Lila at the end. But there's a great character moment before the shooting starts, when Lila tries to persuade him to become a "king" for Berlin. He dismisses that as fantasy, telling her Berliners always ultimately reject would-be kings. When she tells him that he's not like other people, he dismisses her by replying, "You are." The great thing about a character who says little - When he talks, his words are never wasted.


THOUGHTS:

When Jonas returned at the very end of the previous episode, my first thought was that he was another kind of "meat puppet" for Whispers to use to try to ensnare the Cluster. When he coldly referred to Will as "Officer Gorski" at the start of this episode, I was certain my suspicions were about to be confirmed.

Instead, we discover that he is another kind of puppet - kept alive for the benefit of "The Chairman" (whom I do hope we meet before the series ends), as a potential check on Whispers. Later in the episode, Will gets a glimpse of Whispers, hiding with his family in a hotel room. His wife and daughter are losing patience with the disruptions to their lives, and he is losing patience with them, shouting that all he is doing is to "protect this family!" Will realizes that Whispers is just as much a prisoner of circumstance as he is, or as Jonas is.

These revelations are intriguing, likely setting up major plot developments for the finale. The episode also sets up other strands. Kala's husband comes home bleeding, then later takes an angry midnight phone call, both of which he lies about (and not very well, so at least Kala can take comfort in knowing that Rajan is a lousy liar). In the midst of Lito's epic self-pity, Dani and Hernando observe that his Sao Paolo speech has generated a lot of buzz, and that his situation is actually much better than he thinks; it's just that Lito is unable to see this in the midst of his wallowing. And of course, we set up the inevitable conversation between Sun and her brother.  With only a handful of episodes left, I actively hope they don't set up anything else - These strands and the BPO arc are already quite a lot to resolve in the four remaining installments.

In short, this is a transitional episode, carefully moving pieces into place. The kinetic action climax aside, this installment exists to get the characters ready for the season's final Act.  The script offers some amusing bits of comedy alongside several good character exchanges. But transitional episodes never are the ones that leave you breathless, and despite the fantastic final scene, this episode is no exception. It does its job well - But when I think back on this series after completing it, I doubt there is much my mind will cling to from this particular piece.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode; I Have No Room in My Heart for Hate
Next Episode: What Family Actually Means



Review Index

2-7. I Have No Room in My Heart for Hate

The group supports Sun at her parents' graveside.

Running Time: Approx. 67 minutes. Written by: Lana Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: James McTeigue.


THE PLOT:

Riley journeys to Chicago alone for what she hopes will be a meeting with a potential ally - but that Will fears is at least as likely to be a trap set by Whispers. With the rendezvous set in his home town, Will is able to arrange for his old partner, Diego (Ness Bautista), to accompany her - But Diego is still upset with Will for his abrupt disappearance.

Capheus decides to accept the KDRP's offer to run for public office, while Kala discovers that her husband's company is deliberately shipping expired and useless medications to Asia and Africa. Sun has another encounter with the dogged Detective Mun (Sukku Son). Meanwhile, Nomi and Amanita stumble across video from a recent mass shooting - video that points to this shooting being anything but random...


CHARACTERS:

When Capheus tells his mother that he is running for office, she is upset. His father died after becoming involved in local politics, and she worries that her son may suffer the same fate - particularly as Capheus' reasons for wanting to improve his home country so closely mirror her late husband's. Ultimately, she gives Capheus her blessing, but pleads with him to be cautious.

Capheus has probably been mulling that decision since the offer was made, but the final push seems to be Kala's discovery that many of the drugs her pharmaceutical company are sending to Kenya are known to be useless. This isn't much of a revelation - this was all but acknowledged to be the case just two episodes ago. But seeing Rajan shrug this off, dismissing it as "how this business works... We all do it" appalls her, and leaves her questioning her decision to marry him.


THOUGHTS:

The Kala/Rajan scene ties closely to one of the series' main themes, of the evils of dividing people based on difference. Rajan justifies an outright murderous business practice as reasonable, because the drugs are sent to "faraway places." He adds that "we would never risk the lives of our own people," making explicit the separation - He will take care of his countrymen, people like him, but is less scrupulous when it comes to others. Much like the difficulties Lito is now experiencing with his career, now that his agents and former colleagues see him as "one of those people," rather than someone like them. Or Sun, who had to continue to train in secret because her father disapproved of her fighting - not just because she was a girl who was fighting boys, but because she committed the unpardonable sin of being too good at it - Too "different." Just as all of the sensates are "different" from "regular people" - and therefore, to be feared.

The parallels are on the nose, but still quite effective. Less effective are some of the on-the-nose moments specific to just this episode. Amanita's "fathers," a group of former Black Panthers, debate the role of toxic masculinity in mass shootings, with one of them outright stating that "violence has a gender." We're clearly meant to approve that comment, as Nomi instantly turns to Amanita to whisper to her how much she loves her dads. Later, Sun has an effective moment at her parents' graves, where the rest of the cluster gathers to support her. But first we get a rather forced flashback to her mother expressing her pride at her daughter's fearlessness and joy that "your life will not be like mine."

The dialogue in both of these scenes feels artificial, and these moments are why this episode earns my lowest score since the second season opener. It's not that Sense8 has never been heavy-handed... But it's rarely felt manufactured, and in this episode, in these moments, that is exactly the feeling I come away with.

Mind you, there's still plenty to enjoy.  Once the forced flashback is over, the verbal and physical sparring between Sun and the detective pull me right back in. I also thoroughly enjoyed the believable character banter amongst Will, Riley, and Diego, along with the almost Hitchcockian scene in which Riley revisits (for the first time, in person) the church in which Angelica killed herself.

But in a series that rarely missteps, and even more rarely delivers scenes that feel "false," those moments throw me out of the drama just a bit. Hopefully, those couple of iffy scenes will prove to be an anomaly in an otherwise excellent series.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: Isolated Above, Connected Below
Next Episode: All I Want Right Now Is One More Bullet



Review Index

2-5. Fear Never Fixed Anything.

At an underground performance, Riley makes a plea...

Running Time: Approx. 52 minutes. Written by: Lana Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: James McTeigue.


THE PLOT:

Jonas is dead. He visited the Cluster one last time, to say goodbye, before being strapped down to a gurney for surgery - which would either have killed him or left him in a vegetative state. After a follow-up visit from Whispers, who gloats that the group's exposure of his BPO rival has put him in his most powerful and secure position ever, Will decides that he has had enough of running and hiding. "Whispers has turned me into a fugitive - He's got me acting like one and thinking like one. I'm not; I'm a cop. A fugitive runs because he's alone; a cop knows he's not... Why does BPO have so many resources? It has to be because there is a lot more of us out there than we thought. We need to find them!"

Even as Will and Riley prepare to reach out to other sensates through a concert, the others' individual complications continue. Kala's father butts heads with Rajan's father over politics, while Capheus' television interview results in an offer to run for office. Lito is frustrated at the terrible roles now being offered to him, while Nomi is given the opportunity to electronically erase her entire existence. Meanhwile, Sun prepares to go to war with her brother, declaring to her old sensei: "I have no plan. I have an enemy - And I won't stop until he's dead, or I am."


CHARACTERS:

In the previous episode, Kala told Wolfgang that she wasn't sure she really was a good person. Her conversation with her father in this episode continues that thread, as she expresses worry that if she pursues her own happiness, it will be at the cost of disappointing and hurting others.  Meanwhile, her husband has been consistently presented by the series as a basically good and decent man - However, in this episode, we see that he is completely unconcerned when Kala informs him of inconsistencies in the quality of drugs they are shipping abroad. He tells her that all that matters is that they ship, and all but says that she shouldn't worry her pretty little head about it. Of course, we've already seen the results of low-quality medication in Capheus' thread last season, in all of his efforts to find reliable medication for her, so the series has already shown us the human cost of Rajan's attitude.

Last season, Lito observed that "You can't be an actor and get the parts I want and be gay." That prophecy seemed proved true in Who Am I?, when several members of the audience laughed during his kiss of the female lead. It is borne out again here, as he finds he is only being offered offensively stereotypical roles. Indulging in a bout of self-pity, Lito soundly rejects the idea of accepting an invitation to act as grand master of Sao Paulo Gay Pride Parade, scoffing at the thought of the roles he would be offered after that. But, thanks to his connection with Nomi, he is able to witness a showing of one of his old films in San Francisco - the film playing to a large and appreciative audience. Reconnecting with the bartender with whom he had shared a kiss last season, he learns that he inspired the man to propose to his now-husband. "Courage is contagious," Capheus observes - and by the episode's end Lito is clearly reconsidering the Pride invitation.


THOUGHTS:

I strongly suspect that Kala's pharmaceutical company is linked to BPO. We see links to other strands already: In Polyphony, Rajan's business partner indicated that he missed their wedding because of "business in Seoul" - business to do with Sun's brother, perhaps? At the very least, it's a lot of coincidences.

An amusing note is struck by Nomi's meeting with the contact Bug refers to as "The Guy." A member of what is obviously intended to be Anonymous, "The Guy" meets Nomi at a screening of one of Lito's films. He appears in full costume, as "V" from V for Vendetta - an amusing nod, as that movie was directed by this episode's director, James McTeigue.

I loved the callbacks to Season One in the latter part of this episode. Lito revisits the bar and orders "tequilas cubed," to share with the other sensates as they summon courage before Riley's concert. When Riley calls out for other sensates to show themselves, she summons them by playing a remix of - what else? - What's Up?, whose performance in Episode Four marked the moment the eight collectively linked for the first time. That first performance marked, in effect, the series' first Act change; I think this second performance marks the next one.

The concert proves an exhilerating set piece. Not in a traditional way - There's not much in the way of action, the crowd disappearing as soon as they learn the police are on their way. But as the music comes up, and Riley appears on stage, flanked by the other sensates, it feels very much like a "hero moment." As Riley speaks into the microphone, the camera is tight on her face, brightly illuminated by the stage lights. Her plea - that "as long as we're together, I know that there's nothing we can't do" - feels as if she is coaxing the hidden sensates out into the open. And as the music comes up, we see them, the camera picking them out of the partying crowd.

"This was careless, Will," Whispers says, seeming genuinely disappointed at this act of defiance. But Will is no longer acting like a fugitive, and he is even more defiant in his response:

"No. This was amazing."

It was probably a little bit of both - But it certainly looks positioned to open up new avenues for the story, and I'm enjoying the idea of the eight going more on the offense in their fight against BPO.

Besides, what's to dislike about seeing Doctor Who's Sylvester McCoy popping up at a rave in Radagast beard, looking aghast before crying out profanities and fleeing in terror?


Overall Rating: 10/10.

Previous Episode: Polyphony
Next Episode: Isolated Above, Connected Below



Review Index

2-4. Polyphony.

Jonas has grave news for the cluster.

Running Time: Approx. 58 minutes. Written by: Lana Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: James McTeigue.


THE PLOT:

Will's meeting with the BPO executive all too predictably turns out to be a trap. Fortunately, the cluster was prepared, and Will is able to escape. They are also now in possession of two resources they did not previously have: the knowledge that some of BPO's executives do not agree with the hunting of sensates, and the "blockers" used by Whispers to cut off the connection to other sensates. Riley has a contact who knows a chemical engineer, and he is able to study the pills - with Kala looking invisibly over his shoulder the entire time.

Kala and Capheus experience different types of unrest in their home countries. Kala is made the target of religious protesters' anger at her temple, which has now been transformed by new laws banning "idolatry." Capheus finds himself in the center of a protest about water prices, which have risen to a level that many people cannot afford. "Water is life," Capheus argues - and, when he is caught on camera defusing a potentially violent situation, he finds himself the subject of a local television interview.

In Mexico, Lito interviews the father of one of the members of Angelica's first cluster - a journalist who had interviewed Lito at the start of his career, and who disappeared in Chicago in pursuit of "the story of the century." Meanwhile, Sun's refuge comes to an abrupt end when the police knock on the door of the woman hiding her...


CHARACTERS:

One aspect of this series that I truly appreciate is that I actually believe in all of the relationships. That's quite rare - It is very common in films and television to have to nod your head and squint past screen couples who don't really fit together. All of the couples in this show work: Wolfgang and Kala, Will and Riley, Lito and Hernando, and Nomi and Amanita. Nomi and Amanita have been particularly strong this season, and this episode sees a highly effective moment with them at the center. As Amanita dodges over-persistent FBI agent Bendix on her motorcycle, Nomi is left to worry helplessly. Amanita's not a sensate, so Nomi can't simply look in on her - She's just left to wait and wonder, her anxiety further stoked as she experiences the potential for violence in the protests affecting Capheus and Kala. It's a startlingly suspenseful scene, and I found myself sharing in Nomi's relief when Amanita arrives safely.

Sun's friendship with Min-Jung is also well portrayed, and the two share a nice moment as the older woman reflects on Sun's character. She observes that for all of Sun's strength, she has a kind heart. "It was what made me like you the moment we met," she tells Sun. "Part of me wants you to find your brother and make him pay for what he has done... Whatever you do, child, do not let it be at the cost of your beautiful heart."


THOUGHTS:

After I finished this episode, a horrible thought occurred to me: I am now two-thirds of the way through this series. There are only eight installments remaining (admittedly, the last of those a very long installment, but still...). That is starting to make me quite sad. Not only do I love this series, but it is so clear that there is much more to explore with these characters and this concept, far more than can adequately be explored in seven episodes and a feature-length wrap-up.

The least of those is the BPO plot.  The conspiracy thriller story provides a narrative skeleton for this series, something to create incident and bring the characters together in focused moments - But as much as it makes for effective cliffhangers and set pieces, the real hook of the series for me lies with the characters and their individual stories. I like some better than others, of course - I will never care about Kala's husband and father-in-law no matter how much the show might want me to, and her scenes with the cluster are easily more enjoyable than the ones focused on her marriage - but all of the characters come across as credible. Even Sun, who is perhaps a little too capable at times, has an emotional vulnerability that offsets her "action hero" persona.

Speaking of action heroes... I rather like that Riley's friends joke about Lito's "cheesy" movies, much to his chagrin. First: Based on what we've seen of them, Lito's movies are cheesy, and there is merit in him recognizing that. It's also amusing when he self-deprecatingly echoes that criticism a few scenes later, to the father of the missing journalist. Which provides an opening for the older man to reject that dismissal, telling Lito: "You underestimate yourself."

The roles are being mixed more and more as the series goes on. Lito, who was the most disconnected from the cluster for most of the first season, has now become the go-to person whenever some convincing falsehoods are needed. But the last part of this episode sees him acting as an investigator, and - even accounting for prompts from the cluster - doing a genuinely competent job.

As per usual, the episode ends on a strong, in this case rather gruesome, note. But at this point, I'm dreading this series' ever-advancing end more than any of BPO's shenanigans.

Oh, a final note: I have so fully accepted Toby Onwumere's Capheus that I didn't even remember until after the episode's end that he wasn't the original actor.


Overall Rating: 9/10.

Previous Episode: Obligate Mutualisms
Next Episode: Fear Never Fixed Anything



Review Index

2-1. Happy F*cking New Year.

Amanita and Nomi, ready for the holidays.

Running Time: Approx. 120 minutes. Written by: Lana Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: Lana Wachowski.


THE PLOT:

Will and Riley have escaped from BPO, but not without a cost: Whispers (Terrence Mann) was able to look Will in the eye, and now he can visit Will wherever he goes - which means he can potentially use Will to track down the others. Riley is countering that by giving Will regular heroin injections to shut down the psychic link, but it's clear that this is a temporary solution. And with Whispers making contact with Will's father, whose health is deteriorating without his son there to take care of him, Will may need to act sooner rather than later.

Meanwhile, the photos of Lito and Hernando go public, leaving Lito "watching (his) career die in real time." Sun finds her life in prison growing more precarious. Amanita fends off the persistent Agent Bendix (Anthony Cistaro) who is certain she knows more about Nomi's whereabouts than she's saying. Kala's honeymoon with Rajan proves less than ideal, while Capheus' friends and community show their appreciation for his recent actions.

In Berlin, Wolfgang discovers that killing Sergei has opened up a power vacuum in the criminal underworld. Rival crime families are on the brink of war - a war he might prevent if he takes his uncle's place as one of Berlin's four criminal kings!


CHARACTERS:

OK, just how cool is Hernando? He's in mid-lecture in his art appreciation class when the pictures of him and Lito hit the Internet. A smugly homophobic student is all too happy to share, and the picture goes up on the screen. And Hernando... literally turns it into a teaching moment. He doesn't miss a step as he answers Mr. Smug's challenge, "Is this art?" and quickly gets the entire class laughing with him and laughing at the homophobic student who thought he was going to come out of this as The Big Man (TM).

Meanwhile, I have come to the conclusion that I am never going to care about the endless running subplot involving Kala and Rajan's marriage. By this point, it seems evident enough that Rajan is a genuinely nice guy, and that I was wrong when I thought I picked up on something sinister in his possessiveness. But I don't care about him, not even a little bit. I don't care about his and Kala's sex life, or lack thereof, though I'll admit that his injury in this episode gave me a simultaneously laugh and wince. I don't care about him in any way, not even enough to dislike him, and the thread involving him remains my least favorite part of the show - Though Kala and actress Tina Desai absolutely sparkle when playing opposite Max Riemelt's Wolfgang, with the scene in the snow late in this episode a particularly charming highlight.


THE CAPHEUS RECAST

Happy F*cking New Year sees the debut of Toby Onwumere as Capheus. A fairly minor amount of Internet research reveals that Aml Ameen's departure was abrupt, occurring in mid-production after a period of creative disagreement with Lana Wachowski. Additional information varies, and I doubt the full truth will ever be made public knowledge. Suffice to say, while I normally prefer shows write out a character rather than recast - In this case, with production already underway, I doubt there was any viable alternative.

I do regard it as unfortunate. Capheus started as a nonentity in the first couple episodes, but he rapidly became one of my favorite characters, and Ameen's performance had a lot to do with that. This episode is fairly Capheus-light, so I will wait to form an opinion on Onwumere. He does perfectly well with his material in this episode, so I suspect all will be well... But he is a much larger and more imposing physical presence, and he doesn't convey quite the same sense of innocence, so it will definitely be an adjustment.


THOUGHTS:

This episode dropped during the almost two-year gap between seasons, airing as a Christmas special about six months before the rest of the second season launched on Netflix. It's a lengthy episode, running about two hours, and serves to catch us up with the eight leads while at the same time setting up the threads that will run through this season.

As a series, Sense8 has leaned heavily into the notion that family isn't just decided by birth - That we form our own families based on the connections we make with others. That theme is abundantly visible in this episode. At one point, Nomi receives a message from her sister, asking her to act as Maid of Honor at her wedding. Nomi remarks to Amanita that if she went, her parents would be the very first people to turn her in as a fugitive; by contrast, Nomi and Amanita form a sibling-like connection with Bug, who is genuinely touched when they invite him to share their Christmas plans.

Lito, Hernando, and Dani already have been acting as a sort of family unit, with Dani tearfully admitting that this Christmas, shared with them and with Lito's mother (Dolores Heredia), is the happiest she can recall. Wolfgang is far more connected to Felix than to any of the members of his murderous extended family, and Sun is treated as family by her cellmates who tell her, "Welcome home," when she is finally released from solitary confinement.

Ultimately, I don't have very much more to say about Happy F*cking New Year. It does its job, setting various threads in motion: Lito's now-open sexuality, Wolfgang being called on to become a crime boss, whether he wants to or not, the FBI agent pursuing Nomi and Amanita, and of course Whispers' pursuit of Will. There are some very strong scenes, from a shared birthday celebration to an effective rendition of Hallejulah as the eight celebrate Christmas. And Terrence Mann continues to be a wonderfully creepy presence as Whispers, sinister even when being superficially friendly to Will's father.

What it lacks is the momentum Season One had built by its final episodes. This episode is effectively a new start, establishing the characters' new situations for future developments. It is absorbing, because by this point we are so absorbed by the lives of these characters that it would be interesting just to watch them navigate their most ordinary respective days. But it's definitely less compelling than the series' very best - More of a foundation for developments to come than a gripping piece in its own right.


Overall Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: I Can't Leave Her
Next Episode: Who Am I?



Review Index

1-12. I Can't Leave Her

Riley relives the worst day of her life.

Running Time: Approx. 55 minutes. Written by: The Wachowskis, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: The Wachowskis.


THE PLOT:

Riley is now in BPO's clutches, a prisoner at their facility in Iceland. Fortunately for all of the cluster, she remains unconscious; Whispers is unable to use her to locate the others until she wakes up - leaving Will and the others a narrow window to attempt a rescue. Nomi and Amanita frantically hack their way through BPO's security measures, while Will acts as an avatar for the members of the cluster to utilize their skills to locate and free Riley.

But Whispers knows Will is coming, and has a few surprises of his own in store...


CHARACTERS:

Riley spends this episode trapped. Not merely in BPO, but worse - reliving the most horrible hours of her life: The car crash that killed her husband, followed in rapid succession by the birth and death of her baby girl. Even after Will manages to wake her, she remains a prisoner of those memories - so much so, that she seriously considers dying rather than continuing to carry her grief. Fortunately, Will matches that grief with sheer stubbornness. Even faced with a hopeless situation, he refuses to give up, believing that there must be a better solution than the one Angelica pursued.

The rest of the ensemble is in support mode, but every character gets his or her moment. Kala's skills as a chemist save Wolfgang in the first half of the episode, then help Will to save Riley in the second half. Kala also gets a close-up look at the violence that is part and parcel of Wolfgang's life, with him even declaring himself to be a "monster." Lito, who a few episodes back cursed himself by crying, "All I do is lie," now gets to put those very skills to good use. Sun continues to make Rambo look like Strawberry Shortcake (actually, one of the few criticisms I have is that Sun is so hyper-capable that she's become the default solution to anything that can be solved with fighting skills), while Capheus gets an amusing bit in securing a getaway vehicle. Meanwhile, Nomi and Amanita are a pure delight providing tech support and occasional wry commentary.


THOUGHTS:

Though this series always looks more like a movie than a television show, the location shots of Iceland in this episode are breathtaking.  From the barren winter that Riley confronts on the worst day of her life, to the single highway that is both Will's approach and escape from BPO, to the final shot of the entire group on a ship at sea - This episode looks absolutely incredible.

Throughout the season, Sense8 has gradually increased the degree to which the main characters interact. The first direct interactions were conversations: Will and Riley in the first episode, Nomi and Jonas in the second. Then we see the characters borrowing each other's skills: Capheus drawing on Will's police training and Sun's martial arts skills, Nomi doing the same to escape first from the hospital and then from Whispers, Wolfgang using Lito's skill at lying and Lito using Wolfgang's fighting and endurance abilities to defeat Joaquim. Those moments have become more and more complex as the season has gone on, with an increasing number of characters involved in these interactions - as in Nomi's escape from Whispers or Capheus' confrontation with the Superpower Gang.

It all builds to this episode, in which Will draws on the abilities of all six of his fellows to rescue Riley. At each step, Will encounters an obstacle that he himself could not clear, but that another member of the cluster can. The resulting sequence moves from suspenseful to startlingly funny to occasionally surprising - And just as it seems the abilities of the cluster are going to allow Will to get through with relative ease, Whispers throws a curveball with a single glance.

Though the rescue makes a strong climax to the season, plenty of plot threads are left dangling for Season Two. Sun is still in prison for her brother's crime; Capheus may want to return to his old life, but it seems very unlikely that he will be able to; Wolfgang's moment of violence seems poised to push Kala into a marriage she doesn't really want, and at the same time has pushed Wolfgang into a more nihilistic emotional space. Not to mention that Whispers is still hunting Will and Riley, and Will's solution in this episode seems like a very temporary one.

The final shot - in which we at last see all eight of them together, enjoying their moment of triumph, however fleeting it may be - is a wonderfully satisfying visual. But all the nagging threads mean that it leaves plenty of compulsion to dive straight into the next season - Which I am greatly looking forward to.


Overall Rating: 10/10.

Previous Episode: Just Turn the Wheel and the Future Changes
Next Episode: Happy F*cking New Year



Review Index

1-8. We Will All Be Judged by the Courage of Our Hearts.

Hernando is troubled by Lito's recent decisions.

Running Time: Approx. 50 minutes. Written by: The Wachowskis, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: Dan Glass.


THE PLOT:

Nomi is forced to go on the run when Whispers arrives, flanked by police with a warrant to search the home of Amanita's mother and to take into custody anyone who interferes. Nomi is cornered, but is able to channel Will's police knowledge, Sun's martial arts skills, and Capheus' driving abilities to escape.

Meanwhile, Sun protects Soon-Ji from her bully, who then makes the mistake of attempting to pick a fight with Sun in the Yard. It does not go well for the other prisoner, but Sun is both wounded and taken to solitary confinement. Wolfgang watches over Felix in the hospital, blaming himself for the attack. And Lito learns that Dani has bought Joaquim's silence... but only by agreeing to marry him, which does not sit well with Hernando.

In Kenya, Capheus decides he must break ties with Silas. But he soon discovers that this is not so easily accomplished...


CHARACTERS:

A strong episode for the regulars' significant others. When Whispers comes to her mother's house, Amanita insists on staying behind to buy more time for Nomi's escape. Meanwhile, when Lito is too willing to go along with Dani's decision to return to Joaquim, even after seeing Dani's black eye, Hernando decides he has had enough. "I can't be with someone who will allow someone else to be hurt in order to protect their career," he tells Lito, and walks away without a single glance back - something which has to be at least as difficult for him as for Lito.

An extended flashback sequence details Wolfgang's childhood bond with Felix, and helps make Felix into a much stronger character in the process (the child actors in these scenes are excellent). Meanwhile, the help Sun gives to Soon-Ji earns her the appreciation of her cellmates. When she needs allies, she will have them - Something that will almost certainly be important quite soon. Will's Fox Mulder-like investigation has eaten up all the goodwill he earned from arresting Jonas, and now appears likely to derail his career.

Finally, Capheus' desire to return to his previous, simpler life ends with a harsh wake-up call; he appears to have no way to protect both his mother and Jela, whose life is on the brink of falling apart without the bus job, despite the money Capheus has given him. Given a choice between his mother and his friendship, it's obvious what choice Capheus will end up making - his mother is basically his berserk button, after all. But at this stage, it's hard to see a convincingly happy ending to this story.


THOUGHTS:

We Will All Be Judged by the Courage of Our Hearts is the first episode of the series which felt more devoted to plot than character. There are still strong character moments, particularly for Amanita and Hernando, but for the first time the emphasis has shifted to moving the story forward.

That results in an episode that's less instrinsically memorable than What's Going On? or Demons, but the hour moves along rapidly. Every thread advances, some significantly, and the sense of threads coming together is ever stronger. The episode has a strong set piece in Nomi's escape, which utilizes half of the regulars and shows off how formidable these skills can make an otherwise ordinary person, and it ends with me actively anticipating what will happen next.

For all the fun of that action scene, however, the part of the episode most likely to stick in my memory is the extended flashback to Wolfgang's childhood friendship with Felix. Chiron Elias Krase and Lenius Jung are terrific as the young versions of these characters, and both are similar enough in appearance that we never doubt that we're watching the same people as in the present day. In previous episodes, I'll admit to sometimes wondering why Wolfgang hangs around with Felix, whose lack of impulse control seems like a liability. After watching the flashbacks, I like Felix a lot more as a character, and now fully buy into the friendship they share.

Overall, another good episode, with some strong scenes and fine moments. The focus here may be to move the plot forward, but that doesn't come at the expense of the characters - And the 50 minute running time passes quickly.


Rating: 8/10.

Previous Episode: W. W. N. Double-D?
Next Episode: Death Doesn't Let You Say Goodbye



Review Index

1-7. W. W. N. Double-D?

Capheus cheers up Riley.

Running Time: Approx. 55 minutes. Written by: The Wachowskis, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: James McTeigue.


THE PLOT:

Nomi makes contact with Bug (Michael X. Sommers), an old hacker friend for whom she once took the fall. He is able to provide equipment that allows them to track down Dr. Metzger and clone his phone. Nomi copies his contacts and emails, but decides that isn't enough - She needs to get into his apartment. "If these people know who I am, then we need to start figuring out who they are!"

Meanwhile, Will makes real progress in his investigation of the night of Angelica's death. Sun begins her sentence, and discovers that one of her new friends, Soo-Jin (Sara Sohn), is being bullied by another prisoner. Lito, Hernando, and Dani return from a night out to find Joaquim waiting for them - and though drunk, Joaquin leaves with information that could destroy their arrangement. Riley returns to Iceland, to the home of her father (Kristján Kristjánsson). Kala and Wolfgang continue to visit each other, and Wolfgang resolves to take a trip to India as soon as possible.

But that may not be soon enough, as Wolfgang's recent burglary begins closing in on him...


CHARACTERS:

Nomi and Amanita are tremendous fun to watch in this episode. Jamie Clayton and Freema Agyeman share a natural onscreen chemistry, which makes them very appealing as a couple, and a Nancy Drew comparison drew a genuine laugh from me - followed by rapid unease, as it became clear that these two are in very far over their heads.

Capheus and Riley share a nice moment on a plane, as he cheers her up with his wonder at flying "above the clouds." We also see Riley's genuine bond with her father, as she enjoys listening to him play the piano or chatting with him while eating pancakes. Her face darkens noticeably, however, when he mentions a "Sven" who is looking forward to seeing her again.

We once again see the softer side of Silas, who is the perfect father as he surprises his little girl with a birthday party. He tells Capheus that his love for his daughter is not a weakness, but a strength. But don't get too comfortable... Because this is instantly followed up by an explicit reminder of how dangerous and ruthless Silas is, a demonstration that leaves Capheus suitably shaken.


THOUGHTS:

For most of its running time, W. W. N. Double-D? feels more sprightly and light-hearted than previous entries. Capheus cheers up Riley, Sun's cellmates turn out to be friendly instead of the collection of prison gang clichés we are led to expect, and Nomi and Amanita make for an engaging pair of investigators.

That tone is maintained long enough to lull is into a sense of security... Just in time to take that false security and beat us over the head with it. Silas' moment of shocking violence kicks off a series of reversals: From Capheus' appalled expression at the end of that scene, to Wolfgang discovering that he is now definitely in danger, to the end shock that greets Nomi and Amanita's investigations into Dr. Metzger. The tone goes very dark, very fast - And each shock manages to outdo the one before it.

There is a definite sense of threads starting to come together. Nomi and Amanita discover that Metzger plans a trip to Chicago - where Will is starting to make headway in uncovering The Evil Conspiracy. Both Will and Nomi see the mysterious "Whispers" (Terrence Mann) - one through a visit, the other in a photograph. Though not all the strands are connected yet (Lito has yet to significantly brush up against any of the other seven, for example), it is feeling more and more like a story that's coming gradually together.


Rating: 8/10.

Previous Episode: Demons
Next Episode: We Will All Be Judged by the Courage of Our Hearts




Review Index