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

2-11. You Want a War?

The Cluster works together to take down Sun's brother.

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


THE PLOT:

When Detective Mun attempts to arrest Sun's brother, Joong-Ki (Lee Ki-chan), at the Bak Gala, Joong-Ki shoots the detective and flees. Sun is able to catch up with him, but is unable to make herself take revenge. She escapes - But so does her brother, with the aid of a political figure.

Meanwhile, Kala discovers that her husband is cooperating with a major corruption investigation, and has implicated one of his business associates. A major change occurs in the relationship between Nomi and Amanita. And Lila (Valeria Bilello) returns, taking a particularly vicious revenge against Wolfgang for his refusal to join forces with her...


CHARACTERS:

After his lapse in the previous episode, Will is back to acting as the de facto leader of the group. He halts Sun's blind thirst for vengeance at the gala by pointing out Detective Mun's arrival, and it's his "Get the bastard" that sets the stage for the chase that follows. He is also the architect of the plan to turn the tables on BPO at the end of the episode.

The relationship between Nomi and Amanita has gotten a lot of focus this season, to the extent that I've noted that Amanita feels like an honorary member of the Cluster. Their quiet scene that follows the big action piece brings that thread to its climax for the season, as their relationship undergoes a major shift. As has been true of almost all of their scenes together, it's a very well-turned moment, and Jamie Clayton and Freema Agyeman continue to show an absolutely unforced screen chemistry that really sells the relationship.

As in Season One's finale, every character gets a chance to contribute something to the episode, from Capheus' driving skills to Kala's chemical know-how and observational abilities, to Wolfgang's handiness with violence of pretty much all types. Sun, Will, and Wolfgang are the most prominently featured here, but nobody is forgotten.


THOUGHTS:

"Are you serious? My sister is the fucking Terminator?"

Sun's relentless pursuit of Joong-ki is at the center of a breathtaking action set piece that more or less makes up the first half of this episode. The sequence does not feel like something from a television series. It's more in line with the kind of larger-than-life set piece you would find in the Wachowskis' Matrix movies.

I love the sense of geography to this sequence.  It starts in the lobby of the gala, when Joong-ki shoots the detective and escapes in the chaos. Sun's pursuit of him takes us through the gala to a shootout in a parking garage. From there, we move to a car chase in the streets of South Korea, and finally to a direct, one-on-one confrontation. It's terrifically kinetic and energetic, but it also maintains a strong sense of where the characters are.  This may seem like basic filmmaking competence (and perhaps it is), but it is very refreshing after entirely too many Hollywood action set pieces that have left me wondering when the dust settles: "So how did the characters get here from there?"

The rest of the episode does a good job of keeping the pace going. After the chase, we get a chance to breathe with the Nomi/Amanita scene, and take in some new exposition that was doubtless prepping a Season Three plotline in the scene between Kala and her husband. Then the episode upends expectations during a particularly tender Kala/Wolfgang moment, which kicks us into the final Act.

...And here's where my only issue with the episode is. The last part of the episode remains gripping, but it also feels rushed. Lila takes revenge on Wolfgang and BPO seems to have the Cluster cornered, but Will Has a Plan (TM) - and with almost no transition and frankly too little explanation, the episode ends with the Cluster somehow having turned the tables.  An extra 10 minutes or so was badly needed, so that Will's plan could be a little bit better defines. Yes, I know the very end is meant to be a surprise - But it's a surprise that comes out of nowhere, with not enough planted to even retroactively understand what happened. I'll withdraw this complaint if all is explained at the start of the series finale... But as it stands right now, the entire last bit plays as vaguely incomplete, and represents the one factor costing this episode full marks.

That cliffhanger is a beauty, though. And when the episode ends, I'm left very grateful that I wasn't watching at the time... When this cliffhanger would have been presented by Netflix as the final end of the series, before a fan campaign pushed the company to finance a movie-length finale.

It is clear enough that this series was creatively far from over, but I am glad at least that it was afforded the opportunity of a proper ending - an ending I look forward to watching very soon.


Overall Rating: 9/10.

Previous Episode: If All the World's a Stage, Identity Is Nothing But a Costume
Next Episode: Amor Vincit Omnia



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

2-6. Isolated Above, Connected Below.

Lito delivers a speech, under the watchful eye

of an army of his own distorted reflections.

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


THE PLOT:

Lito, Hernando, and Dani arrive in Sao Paolo, where Lito is startled to learn that he is expected to deliver an address to kick off the parade. He contemplates refusing to speak, but Dani urges him on, telling him how effective he is when he speaks from his heart. At the parade, Lito finds it in himself to deliver a heartfelt speech, earning an enthusiastic response from the enormous crowd, and he pulls Hernando to the stage for their first public kiss.

Now free of the various BOLOs and arrest warrants she's been evading, Nomi takes her sister up on the offer to act as Maid of Honor at her wedding - only to discover that Angelica's cabin, where she spent time with Jonas and her original cluster, is within easy driving distance. Meanwhile, Riley makes contact with two different sensates who attended her rave, neither of whom trust that she isn't a BPO spy. She works hard to gain the trust of a shrewd Scotsman who refers to himself only as "The Old Man of Hoy" (Sylvester McCoy), who has firsthand information about BPO and its founding...


CHARACTERS:

When Nomi learns that her parents have described her as a narcissist, she worries to Amanita that there might be truth to that. Narcissism seems an unduly harsh diagnosis - we've seen her show concern for others - but there certainly may be some self-absorption; note that she ignores a request her sister is about to make in order to track down Angelica's cabin (which, while valuable, does not at that moment seem urgent).

Riley appears on track to become this cluster's Angelica, and the episode ends with Will clearly worried about her following too closely in their "mother's" footsteps. Her intentions are nothing but good - But from what we've seen of the flashbacks, the same was true of Angelica. Riley does share a charming scene with The Old Man of Hoy near the episode's end, but she is perhaps a bit too quick to trust that he is only what he seems to be.

The episode's showstopping scene is Lito's speech at the Gay Pride Parade. This is one of those moments of pure cinema that reminds the viewer of the Wachowskis' background as directors of Event Pictures. Shot on location at the actual Sao Paolo Gay Pride Parade, we see Lito on stage, backed by a screen that reflects his image from multiple angles. When he speaks, the projected image lags, echoing his words even as he moves to the next statement. The effect is not unlike a speech given in a Hall of Mirrors.

The multiple reflections are appropriate, a visual manifestation of the pretenses Lito has maintained for his career. "All of my life, I've had to pretend to be something I wasn't... Admitting that I am different and refusing to pretend to be something I am not may cost me a career of pretending to be things that I am not." For the first time, he recognizes the absurdity of that, and it seems to free him as he repeatedly calls out, "I am a gay man!" before finally calling Hernando to share the stage with him. It's a stunning scene from start to finish, and Miguel Angel Silvestre is fantastic - not just when delivering the speech, but also in navigating the complex emotions leading into and out of it.


THOUGHTS:

I admit, when I first heard about a series from the Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski, I had some hesitation over how that collaboration would look, how those very different voices could possibly meld together. It turns out, they are perfect balances for one another. Sense8 marries the Wachowskis' boundless ambition and dynamic sense of the visual with Straczynski's narrative discipline. That discipline keeps the narrative grounded and moving forward, making sure it doesn't spin out of control like, say, Jupiter Ascending; the cinematic visuals and boundless ambition keep the show from becoming dry or stale, or from disappearing into the theatrical speeches JMS loves so much.

I love those speeches too, by the way, and the treatment of the monologues in this series vs. JMS' Babylon 5 makes for a fascinating contrast. In Babylon 5, a show whose grand ambitions belied its minimal budget, the monologues were very theatrical in nature. Sometimes donwright minimalist - On more than one occasion in that series, the speaker would talk against a plain background. In Sense8, the same sort of speech is treated cinematically, with no expense spared to complement the words with something visual that will enhance or contrast the words themselves. Both approaches are effective - I still love Babylon 5, and could happily pass time watching a video of G'Kar speeches. But it is intriguing to compare them, to see how one behaves much like a staged production while the other behaves as a blockbuster movie.

The Lito speech is the episode's emotional high point, but it's far from the only great moment. I thoroughly enjoyed Riley's interactions with the other sensates, who have survived largely through paranoia. Puck (Kick Gurry), the chemist who helped Riley analyze the blockers, is one of them; he points out that Riley's actions are exactly what he would expect of a BPO double agent (when he's not making sexual advances, at least). The sensates survive either by working with BPO or by hiding, with neither option offering a secure future.

Tuppence Middleton and Sylvester McCoy share an engaging screen chemistry, and their scenes together are terrific. Their longest interaction opens with some verbal fencing, as both have secured themselves in unidentifiable locations before speaking. The Old Man mocks the warehouse where she and Will are hiding as offering "all the amenities of a prison." When she visits him at his location, which is little more than a sealed box that he has a labeled a "speakeasy," she turns those words back on him by observing that his setup has "all the amenities of a coffin."

The episode ends with another strong set piece, as The Old Man of Hoy initiates a worldwide search for Whispers' location, brought to life in a succession of visuals that mirror the series' hypnotic credits sequence. He delivers the information as quickly and efficiently as performing a Google search.

The episode ends with the BPO plot moving forward another inch, and with the promise of potential progress but also potential danger if the next lead is followed. Which is to say, yet another episode ending that actively encourages the viewer to skip straight to the next installment... Of which there are sadly now only six remaining.


Overall Rating: 10/10.

Previous Episode: Fear Never Fixed Anything
Next Episode: I Have No Room in My Heart for Hate



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

2-2. Who Am I?

Whispers closes in on Will... or does he?

Running Time: Approx. 55 minutes. Written by: Lana Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: Lana Wachowski.


THE PLOT:

Lito's movie has its premiere. Since Lito's secret is now officially public knowledge, he decides to bring Hernando, as well as Dani. Some of the public is demonstrably supportive - But Lito observes that the movie's poster does all it can to downplay his presence, while a reporter eagerly ambushes him for his sexuality and for "lying to (his) fans." Capheus also deals with a potentially hostile journalist, who resents the "Van Damn" for glorifying "white courage," though she proves more persuadable.

Will is in decline, as the constant drugs that diminish Whispers' link take their toll on his health despite the group's best efforts. He continues to pursue the opportunities of that link, trying to glean information about his tormenter's identity and location, with Nomi and Amanita following up on every clue he finds. Whispers is fully aware of Will's attempts to monitor him, however, and prepares to turn the tables...


CHARACTERS:

As the series goes along, the sensates are working more and more as a unit. Early in the episode, Lito and Capheus find themselves simultaneously talking to journalists who are determined to make them look either hypocrital or foolish. Their replies intertwine, and bring in the others, basically smashing their experiences together into a single, heartfelt reply, that also gives the episode its title: "Who am I? Do you mean where I'm from? What I one day might become? What I do? What I've done? What I dream? ...I guess who I am is exactly the same as who you are. Not better than, not less than. Because there is no one who has been or will ever be exactly the same as either you or me." Rapid-fire editing has all eight speaking at various points, their words overlapping each other and in some cases anticipating each other, as quick cuts of some particularly memorable moments play over the speech. It's a breathtaking moment - and not the episode's only one.

The eight also work together to try to help Will. Kala's pharmaceutical expertise helps Riley maintain his health (or at least, slow down his decline) even as she keeps him drugged. Nomi and Amanita follow up on every clue Will gleans about Whispers, while Bug tries to hack into BPO's servers (thus far, without success). Meanwhile, Riley shows herself to be wilier than anticipated. A memorable scene sees Whispers laying out for Will just how in over his head he is, and just how close BPO are to tracking him down... Only for the very next scene to reveal that some of Whispers' moves have been anticipated.


THOUGHTS:

Lito observed back in Season One that he couldn't be both openly gay and a star of the kind of ultra-macho action movies that have been his trade. The scene at his movie premiere shows how prophetic that statement was. When the scene comes up in which he dramatically declares, "We will all be judged by the courage of our hearts!", followed by his melodramatic kiss of his leading lady, the audience... giggles. Not all of the audience, or even most (which is a nice touch), but enough to show that many of his accustomed viewers will no longer take him seriously in the roles he's been playing.

It isn't all doom and gloom - He clearly does well dealing with the journalist's attempted ambush, and we see some enthusiastic fans showing their acceptance of him on his way in. His career isn't likely to be over... But it will need to evolve, with him taking different types of roles - Which honestly, might prove more rewarding in the long run. I suspect that's where his career arc is heading, though time will tell if it's able to advance to that point given the show's pPreremature cancellation.

Lito doesn't appear to convince the journalist who confronted him, but Capheus fares a lot better. Not only does his sincerity transform Zakia (Mumbi Maina) from critic to supporter, she comes back later to invite him to lunch, leading to another heartfelt scene in which she is impressed by his optimism in the face of adversity. While I still occasionally find myself mentally inserting Aml Ameen into some of these moments, Toby Onwumere is growing on me; I'm confident in another episode or two, my brain will fully accept him as Capheus.

Will's strand is the dominant one of the episode, and his confrontations with Whispers stand alongside the interview scene as particularly memorable moments. Will might be constantly drugged up, and in visible physical decline, but he remains determined to find a way to turn the tables on his tormenter. There's a scene in which first Will, then Whispers, deconstruct what each man can deduce about the other's location based on the glimpses of their respective surroundings. Each man is intelligent, and each is given a moment in which he seems to have the upper hand... Only for that moment of strength to be taken away again.

I will also note that the more we see of Terrence Mann's Whispers, the more impressed I become with the performance. At this point, he's more than a mere creepy presence - He's emerging into a fascinating character in his own right.

The episode ends on a particularly strong note, making it an effort of willpower not to just move onto the next installment.  From the very beginning, this series has demonstrated its mastery of the art of the cliffhanger, and I imagine that many viewers just binged the season in a single weekend when it originally dropped.


Overall Rating: 8/10.

Previous Episode: Happy F*cking New Year
Next Episode: Obligate Mutualisms



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

Sense8 Review Index

Christmas Special
Original Release Date: Dec. 23, 2016
2-1. Happy F*cking New Year

Season Two
Original Release Date: May 5, 2017
2-2. Who Am I?

2-3. Obligate Mutualisms

2-4. Polyphony

2-5. Fear Never Fixed Anything

2-6. Isolated Above, Connected Below

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

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

2-9. What Family Actually Means

2-10. If All the World's a Stage, Identity Is Nothing but a Costume

2-11. You Want a War?

Finale
Original Release Date: June 8, 2018
2-12. Amor Vincit Omnia


Previous Season: Season One