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

2-7. 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

2-4. 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

2-3. Obligate Mutualisms.

Sun escapes from prison.

Running Time: Approx. 51 minutes. Written by: Lana Wachowski, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: Lana Wachowski.


THE PLOT:

After barely surviving a brush with hit men disguised as prison guards, Sun escapes from prison in the company of one of her cellmates, Min-Jung (Yuh-Jung Youn). They hide with Mrs. Cho (Young Lan Lee), an old friend of Min-Jung's.

In Mexico, Lito discovers that the movie studio has pulled its deal with him, citing a "morals clause" in his contract... Even as he, Hernando, and Dani find a new apartment that may now be outside their price range. In Berlin, Wolfgang visits Sebastian (Lars Eidinger), one of the "crime kings" now eyeing the territory once controlled by Sergei. Sebastian has a tempting proposal for Wolfgang - and an even more tempting associate in Lila (Valeria Bilello), who is also a sensate.

Meanwhile, Will arranges an in-person meeting with BPO executive Richard Croome (Clive Wood), under the condition that Whispers be put "on ice" until after their talk. Croome agrees - but Whispers has other plans in mind...


CHARACTERS:

Just before the prison break sequence, there's a lovely moment in which Nomi and Amanita prepare to go out for a "normal" evening. There is something infectiously joyous in their brief moment of relaxation.  When Sun reaches out for help, Amanita doesn't skip a beat before sitting down at her computer to do her part in freeing her. I also love the little button on that scene, as the couple marvels that they just assisted in prison break. "So much for normal," Amanita remarks.

Though most viewers will realize immediately when Will strikes his deal that something is going to go wrong, it is nevertheless nice to see him finally step out into the sun with Riley. Their moment of celebration, shared with the rest of the cluster, is an effective grace note, even if it's clearly just a moment of calm before the next storm.


THOUGHTS:

Another strong installment - I'll be honestly surprised if the series has a weak one left in it, and I'm feeling confident that this is one series that will be free of any true clunkers.

The assault on Sun and her subsequent prison break form the episode's major set piece. As Sun is walked down the prison hallway, she realizes that this is not normal and that she is in trouble. When she reaches out for help, the others fill in details to confirm her worries. Will observes that the guards carry tasers, equipment the other guards have not possessed; Nomi lets her know that the camera is powering down in the room they are taking her to.

The assault is brutal and visceral. As Sun is tasered, then hanged, we see the other sensates physically react. To those around them, it looks as if they are having seizures. I found myself actively wondering if they were about to kill her off (which would be a gutsy move - killing off the most physically capable member of the group). Eventually, with some help from Will and Wolfgang and the timely intervention of Min-Jung, she is able to turn the tables... at which point, Will, Capheus, and Lito take turns using their particular skillsets to make good her escape, with the tone now turning much lighter to allow us to enjoy the relief of her survival. The entire sequence - assault and escape combined - is lengthy, taking up a good percentage of the total running time, and it is spellbinding from start to finish.

Wolfgang's Season Two story continues to develop in the background. The revelation of a sensate who is apparently attached neither to our cluster nor to BPO is an intriguing one, and actress Valeria Bilello makes a striking first impression. Wolfgang is a little too stricken, which I suspect will lead him to consequences down the road.

Narratively, the main thread is again Will's. Through his deal with Croome, he is able to talk to Jonas again. We learn new information as a result, including that the sensate population is increasing worldwide. We also receive additional backstory about Jonas' life with Angelica, and about the gradual disappearnce of Angelica's first cluster. The episode ends with Will's meeting with Croome - at an art gallery, discussing a particular piece, in a direct reflection of Lito's first conversation with Nomi.  There, the piece overlooking the conversation was Diego Rivera's subversive Man, Controller of the Universe, with mention made of Rivera's clashes with J. D. Rockefeller and his belief in artistic freedom; here, it's Rembrandt's The Night Watch, with mention made of the artist's eyes being on the flag, on the "bigger picture."

The conversation that ensues hints to schism at BPO, with indications that not all at the organization share the same vision. An intriguing revelation... that segues into yet another of this series' spectacular shock endings.


Overall Rating: 8/10.

Previous Episode: Who Am I?
Next Episode: Polyphony



Review Index

1-11. Just Turn the Wheel and the Future Changes.

Capheus' desperate bid to reclaim his future.

Running Time: Approx. 45 minutes. Written by: The Wachowskis, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: Tom Tykwer.


THE PLOT:

After her blackout at her father's performance, Riley finds herself in a hospital ICU. Yrsa visits her to call her a fool and tell her that she is going to die in this hospital. Meanwhile, Will, Nomi, Amanita, and their hacker friend Bug use their skills to buy time for Riley while they figure out what they will do next.

In Kenya, the day has come - The day Capheus has been ordered to bring Silas' daughter to the Superpower Gang. Having built up his courage by watching Van Damme movies, Capheus delivers the girl not to the gang, but to his friend Jela to protect, with instructions for Jela if he fails to return. Capheus clings to a vain hope that he might yet reason with the gang's leader, but the situation quickly explodes into violence - with Capheus relying on Sun's martial arts skills and Will's police training to keep himself alive, before in the end relying on his own strength and driving skill.

Meawhile, Wolfgang hatches a plan to save Felix from his uncle's wrath, while Sun learns that her last hope of freedom is gone...


CHARACTERS:

The benefit of the slow burn approach this series has taken is that, when an action-heavy episode arrives, even the most over-the-top sequences feel like a reasonable progression of the character's journey. This was true of Wolfgang's rocket launcher pyrotechnics in the previous episode, and it's true of the violent martial arts sequence-turned-car chase that forms the centerpiece of this episode. The sequence itself would be quite at home in a big summer action film - But the time we have spent following Capheus' journey to this point (and following Will and Sun, who aid him) lends the proceedings a certain weight. All the actors are excellent, but special mention should be made for Aml Ameen. He anchors this plot thread, and invests so much honest determination in his character that even when his bus is playing chicken with a villain on a motorcycle, it doesn't feel silly - Or at least, we're too invested in his emotions and well-being to laugh even when it does feel silly.

In the other threads, we see Will mentally perched at Riley's bedside as she lies in the ICU. We sense, as Jonas does, that his only thought is reaching her physically as fast as possible - a determination that could be too easily manipulated by Whispers. Bug proves that his friendship with Nomi is genuine when he delivers the very hacking equipment he sold her earlier, stolen straight from police custody. Wolfgang is pure cold calculation as he prepares to use violence to save his friend, while the normally reserved Sun finally explodes with rage at her situation.


THOUGHTS:

Running a mere 45 minutes, Just Turn the Wheel and the Future Changes is the shortest episode of the season. The reason for that is simple; this episode is the most direct, lean, and fast-paced of the season to this point. After a few quick scenes setting up the state of the ongoing arc, the focus settles on Capheus and his plan to reclaim his life from both Silas and the Superpower Gang. From the moment he drives his bus to the warehouse that is the gang's headquarters, the remainder is basically a straight adrenaline shot.

The episode is directed by Tom Tykwer, who collaborated with the Wachowskis on the (in my opinion) unfairly maligned Cloud Atlas. Though not exactly an action film, that movie did feature a few breathless action set pieces, and that same energy is in evidence during the central part of this episode, the tension and excitement punctuated by moments of startling violence. I also very much appreciate that, while Sun and Will provide their skills to help Capheus survive a seemingly hopeless scenario, the final moments of the action see Capheus relying solely on his own strength and skill set.

Most of the other strands are there only long enough to advance those bits of plot, but I did enjoy Bug's reappearance. Michael X. Sommers' performance is a great deal of fun, the character being convincingly sleazy enough to be instantly identifiable as a criminal, and yet likable enough that you can actually believe Nomi's fondness for him. His dubbing Amanita and Nomi "angels" after Charlie's Angels is an amusing running gag at this point, though it may have the potential to become wearisome if it persists.

I love the way the episode ends. Capheus has taken his decisive action, and Wolfgang is about to move forward to his own showdown. But after all the action and violence, and the looming threat of Whispers and his manipulations, we don't end on any of that. Instead, we cut to Sun, talking with Kala from her cell. Her voice is cold, her eyes angry as she puts words to her newfound determination to escape her apparently inescapable fate:

"This is what life is. Fear, rage, desire, love. To stop feeling emotions, to stop wanting to feel them, is to feel death... I take everything I am feeling, everything that matters to me. I push all of it into my fist, and I fight for it."

When the episode cuts to black a second after that declaration, it's honestly a surprise that it ends there - But I can't think of a better place to leave off before the finale.


Overall Rating: 9/10.

Previous Episode; What Is Human?
Next Episode: I Can't Leave Her



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

1-6. Demons.

"And it was at this moment my child walked in

and asked what the people on screen were up to..."

Running Time: Approx. 52 minutes. Written by: The Wachowskis, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: The Wachowskis.


THE PLOT:

Nomi and Amanita visit their apartment and find all of their belongings either gone or ruined. A furious Nomi realizes that the people hunting her will not stop "unless we make them stop." Needing a safe place to stay, Amanita takes Nomi to hide out at the home of her mother (Maximilienne Ewalt) while they figure out their next move.

In London, Riley finds Nyx - the drug dealer her ex-boyfriend attempted to murder - waiting for her. She is able to channel Will's police training to escape, but is left on the run with no safe place to hide. In India, Kala is visited by Wolfgang, who tempts her even as Rajan urges her to complete their interrupted wedding. In Mexico, Lito, Hernando, and Dani are growing increasingly comfortable in their new relationship.

Meanwhile, Capheus' agreement with Silas takes a more serious turn, as the crime lord entrusts him with the protection of his daughter. And Sun confesses to her brother's crimes, only to immediately worry that she has made the worst mistake of her life...


CHARACTERS:

In my last review, I complained that Riley had been pushed so far into the background, she was at risk of becoming entirely redundant. This episode revives her thread in a memorable way. Nyx's interrogation with the plastic bag is allowed to run well past the point of being genuinely uncomfortable to watch, and the performances of Tuppence Middleton and Joseph Mawle are almost too good - As he placed the bag over her head for longer and longer periods, I almost felt like I needed to catch my breath.

Before that scene, Riley and Will share a bit of cross-continental flirtation. These two seem to be developing the same type of bond as Wolfgang and Kala, only they're more cute than carnal. Will tests that they aren't going crazy by plugging his number into her phone and having her call him, then passing the call to his partner, Diego (Ness Bautista) - simple but smart. I also suspect it will be important that Riley now has the means to directly contact Will. Oh, and her flipping from being indignant at Diego describin her as having "a weird accent" to declaring that she likes him when he says, "She sounds hot" is just one of many little bits that make this entire scene adorable.

Riley also seems to be the one of the eight most able/willing to visit the others. Her visit with Will in the first episode was the first direct contact we saw; and while Wolfgang and Kala have been mostly limited to visiting each other, Riley has by the end of this episode had notable interactions with Will, Capheus, and Sun, as well as sharing a smile with Nomi during Episode Four's singalong. She and Capheus are also the only ones we've seen who have neither resisted the visits or questioned their own sanity because of them.

Speaking of Capheus - I love the scene in which he meets Silas' daughter. Critically, we are shown the genuine bond between the crime boss and his cute little girl before Silas explains his love for his daughter, which makes it real in a way that the explanation alone would not accomplish. In a series that's loaded with parallels, the scene establishes yet another one: Even as Capheus makes his choices for his mother, so does Silas for his daughter. In a single scene, a stock gangster character becomes a human being, and also becomes a possible future for Capheus - If he continues on a criminal path, one can easily see the simple but brave bus driver eventually becoming the feared crime boss.

THOUGHTS:

Well, after the previous episode's pause for breath, I think we're officially getting on with it. Demons is again terrific, well-paced and turning successfully from charming character comedy to white-knuckled tension to eroticism without skipping a beat.

The decision in Episodes Two and Three to slow down and focus on some of the individual threads is now paying dividends. The last few episodes have been able to skip across all eight members of this "cluster" with absolute comfort, and with each episode we're left feeling like we know these eight (and the people in their orbits) just a little bit more. Amanita's mother is a good addition to the San Francisco strand, and it is refreshing to see a television show where a parent is absolutely accepting of their LGBT child and her partner - which at the same time makes a good counterpoint to Nomi's mother, who is anything but accepting of her.

Of course, just as it would be ridiculous to talk about Episode Four without mentioning the singalong, it would be equally ridiculous to discuss this episode without mentioning the sex scene. This is basically the singalong's erotic counterpoint. Lito and Hernando begin having sex at the same time as Nomi and Amanita, while Will lifts weights and Wolfgang basically relaxes in his comfortable nudity in a swimming pool. Soon we are moving among all of these characters, mixing them in with the partners from the other segments. Some react (Will is definitely startled; Wolfgang seems to be musing something along the lines of, "It must be Thursday"), others don't even seem to notice, but it all builds to a striking artistic tableaux.

The episode ends with several characters contemplating what they're going to do next; and since we seem to be at the point where events are starting to move more quickly, my guess is it won't be long before we find out.


Rating: 9/10.

Previous Episode: Art Is Like Religion
Next Episode: W. W. N. Double-D?



Review Index

1-5. Art Is Like Religion

Capheus and Sun hold a 

conversation across two continents.

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


THE PLOT:

After escaping from the hospital, Nomi and Amanita seek refuge from friends, even as Nomi wonders whether Dr. Metzger might have been right. Amanita rejects that, instead insisting that something else is going on, and that they need to find out what.

In Germany, Wolfgang is summoned by his uncle, Sergei (Sylvester Groth) - the father of the man whose big score Wolfgang stole. Sergei is suspicious of Wolfgang, largely because the safe containing the diamonds was not blown, but cracked - despite being an uncrackable safe. When Felix makes light of the conversation, Wolfgang upbraids him, telling him that Sergei is no fool and is certainly having them watched.

Meanwhile, Sun and Capheus wrestle with difficult decisons; Lito finds his acting career complicated as he keeps sharing flashes of the others' lives; and the day of Kala's wedding finally arrives.


CHARACTERS:

To no one's surprise, Capheus' errand for Silas becomes more complicated than advertised. He is ambushed by members of the Superpower Gang, out for revenge. This time, he is not able to call on Sun for help and ends up in the dirt with Silas' package stolen. But even on his own, Capheus is not about to let go of the chance to get good medication for his mother. He chases the gang back to their base, smashes the back window of the car containing the bag, and runs for dear life. He may not have martial arts skills of his own, but his determination is unwavering, and Silas is suitably impressed.

The strongest parallels drawn are between Capheus and Sun. Both are faced with a choice between preservation of self and of family. For Capheus, the decision is easy. He has a loving mother, who has provided companionship, support, and a role model his entire life. For Sun, it's much more difficult. "My question is, am I the person who wants to see my brother punished, who wants to watch the business my father built be destroyed? Or am I the person who wants to save them, who will go to prison for them, even though they have been cruel to me for my entire life?"

Meanwhile, the bond between Wolfgang and Kala continues to be emphasized. Not that it stops Kala from moving forward with her wedding - After all, from her perspective, Wolfgang appears to be just "the singing man in (her) dream." She is not about to upend all her family's hopes and preparations based on a dream. At least, not until she is confronted with him, literally standing naked in front of her, demanding to know why she is marrying a man she does not love.


THOUGHTS:

The scene between Capheus and Sun is the episode's best moment. The two characters, initially the series' most neglected, have become among the series' strongest. The parallels between the open young man and the closed off businesswoman are skillfully established, and the situation of each speaks to that of the other. A nice touch is that we see the scene from two perspectives: From one angle, we are in Nairobi, the two actors bathed in warm sunlight. From another angle, we are in Seoul, the light much colder to match the city around them. The intercutting is so skillful, you don't even consciously register it at first. That blending of settings within a single, relatively simple conversation is the exact type of thing that sets this series apart.

The Capheus and Sun material is quite gripping overall, as we watch both characters being drawn down dark paths for entirely understandable reasons. Unfortunately, the rest of this episode is far less gripping. I noted in my review of What's Going On? that the end of that episode felt like the end of the series' First Act. That makes this episode the beginning of Act Two, and it largely feels like the show is pausing for breath before moving forward.

For the most part, the episode is just re-establishing the regulars. We see Will getting chewed out by his supervisor for ignoring chain of command in his attempts to see Jonas (note: This is entirely reasonable from his supervisor's point of view, and in fact it's a fairly mild verbal reprimand). Nomi and Amanita are hiding, and currently have no plan beyond Amanita's determination to find out exactly what is happening.

Lito is still trying to carry on with his movie star career, in scenes that are mostly played for laughs... Though I'll admit that some of these bits are funny, particularly as he tries to deal with the sensation of Sun's period and bursts into tears while doing a scene, then later shouts at traffic such ineffective invectives as: "I see you, villain, with your villain mustache!" Meanwhile, Tuppence Middleton's Riley, who received a great deal of attention in the premiere, has now spent four episodes pushed so firmly into the background that she's in danger of vanishing altogether.

The final major strand is Kala's wedding, and that subplot gets more screen time than in previous installments. However, I must confess that as of this point, her wedding is the thread that I'm least invested in. After five episodes of "I don't love him, but I'm marrying him anyway, unless I don't," I'm more than ready for her to just get on with it one way or another.

Ultimately, Art Is Like Religion is my least favorite episode since the first one, lacking much in the way of excitement or even strong character drama. As I've indicated, I think it's a deliberate pause for breath before getting on with the next Major Plot and Character Turns... But it's still noticeably less gripping than the preceding entries.


Rating: 6/10.

Previous Episode: What's Going On?
Next Episode: Demons



Review Index

1-4. What's Going On?

Wolfgang and Kala share a moment.

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


THE PLOT:

Sun finally is able to see her father, Kang Dae (Kyong Young Lee), and informs him that "the auditors already know." Her brother, Joong-Ki (Lee Ki-chan) has been embezzling money, too incompetently to even properly cover his tracks. "Someone is going to jail for it," Sun tells her father - And since her father has rarely so much as acknowledged her existence, the company will be better able to survive the scandal if she goes to prison, while her brother remains free.

In Kenya, Capheus' star has risen after his beating of the Superpower Gang. His bus is full of passengers now, all of them eager to travel on the safest bus around. But his actions have caught the eye of crime lord Silas Kabaka (Peter King Nzioki). Silas has an offer for Capheus - and he knows exactly the enticement the young man won't be able to refuse...

In Germany, Wolfgang and Felix decide to celebrate their caper with an expensive night on the town. In India, Kala draws nearer to the date of her wedding to Rajan (Purab Kohli), a man who is seemingly perfect in every way but for whom she feels nothing. In Chicago, Will manages to get some answers from Jonas, through unexpected means.

Meanwhile, in San Francisco, Nomi is being prepped for surgery, with no apparent hope of escape or rescue...


CHARACTERS:

Thus far, I haven't really mentioned Tina Desai's Kala in these reviews. She has not been the focus of a single episode, the plot of her unwanted wedding running very much in the background. In this episode, Rajan, her seemingly perfect fiancé, is very insistent that he wants to exchange rings as part of their ceremony.

"Married men in India don't wear rings. There is nothing to show their commitment. That is why I want one... I want the whole world to know I'm bound to this woman." His vehemence makes this statement feel a bit possessive, even sinister. This may be unintentional, and Rajan could well end up being the very nice guy he seems - But this is the first time I've actively felt something "off" about him. Meanwhile, a showstopping scene late in the episode emphasizes a connection between Kala and Wolfgang, visually establishing them as the very type of couple Rajan wants Kala and himself to be.

For his part, Wolfgang allows Felix to drag him along on a night of profligate spending. The entire time I was watching this strand, I was shaking my head; after snatching a heist out from under the nose of a dangerous criminal, surely the last thing you should do is draw attention to a sudden cash intake. There are no consequences in this episode, but I would be actively surprised if this night on the twon didn't come back to haunt both Wolfgang and Felix in the fairly near future.

Finally, this episode gives us a lot of time with Sun. Having established much of her personality in the previous installment, we now learn bits of her backstory. Rejected by her father in favor of her weaker and stupider brother, she has built up resentment toward them both - But also feels the weight of family obligation, something drilled into her by her late mother (Hye-Hwa Kim).


THOUGHTS:

What's Going On? is the best episode of the series to this point, and is the episode that inspired me to write these reviews instead of just watching the show (as I had originally intended). It is the first episode to offer a payoff to previously building threads. The scene between Will and Jonas provides a few answers, along with some helpful terminology - The eight main characters form a "cluster," able to share each others' lives and borrow skills. Jonas tells Will that he now has "seven other selves" - That the eight are no longer truly separate individuals, but rather parts of a whole (much like each of the eight threads is part of the whole that is this series).

This is the first episode since Limbic Resonance in which every one of the regulars gets at least one good scene. It's a noticeable contrast with that first episode.  Then, we knew none of the characters, so moving constantly from one to another was distancing - We were barely getting a chance to know one person before being introduced to the next. After the steady character building of Episodes 2 and 3, this episode is able to move from one character to the next without it being jarring or confusing. Since all strands are advanced, or at least touched on, What's Going On? goes by remarkably quickly.


WHAT'S UP?: MUSIC AND JAILBREAKS

Near the end of the episode is a purely cinematic sequence that I can't imagine working as well in another context. At the end of Wolfgang's night of excess, he and Felix end up singing karaoke... very, very badly. Wolfgang is ready to walk away from the stage, when the song, What's Up? by Four Non-Blondes comes on - at the exact same moment that Riley, in London, pulls up that song on her personal playlist. The song gets an enthusiastic reaction from Wolfgang's audience, and at the same time he is hearing it through Riley's headphones. So he sings. And we transition among all eight of the characters, each singing along with Wolfgang. Some of them start to visualize the others - Wolfgang and Kala definitely see each other, and sing to each other with broad smiles on their faces.

It's impossible to do the scene justice in a narrative description - Suffice to say, it is three glorious minutes in which the actors, the editing, the overall context of the story at this point, and the song itself fuse into something greater than the sum of those parts. It is, in a word, breathtaking.

And is followed up by the long-awaited rescue of Nomi from the hospital, with the assistance of Will, who takes control of her body long enough to free her from her restraints. She is able to make it to the hospital lobby, where Amanita, pretending to be a nurse, ferries her out of the building to a taxi.

With that running plot thread ended, and particularly punctuated by the previous musical set piece, it feels very much like an End of Act One. We've met all the characters. We know their basic situations. The Evil Conspiracy has at a minimum identified Nomi, who may now be free but will likely have to run fast and hide well to stay free. And both we and Will have at least some comprehension of the eight's abilities.

The episode ends with Nomi, still reciting the lyrics to the song, suddenly asking in all seriousness:

"What's going on?"


Rating: 10/10. Builds on the previous installments to deliver a truly great hour of television; the first episode to show that this series can truly be something special.


Previous Episode; Smart Money Is on the Skinny Bitch
Next Episode: Art Is Like Religion



Review Index

1-3. Smart Money Is on the Skinny Bitch.

Sun displays her martial arts skills, not aware

 that she's about to fight two battles at once.

Running Time: Approx. 48 minutes. Written by: The Wachowskis, J. Michael Straczynski. Directed by: The Wachowskis.


THE PLOT:

Will is a hero after successfully arresting Jonas, but his injuries landed him in the hospital. When he insists on leaving, it's over the protests of the attending nurse, who talks about "unusual brain activity." Will tries to see Jonas, but his newfound status is not enough for the FBI to agree to that, and he is left wondering if he truly did the right thing.

In Korea, Sun is frustrated with attempts to contact her father regarding business irregularities. She relieves her anger by entering a kickboxing match. When her opponent objects to fighting a young woman, the referee smirks at him, telling him that "the smart money" is not on him, but on Sun.

In Nairobi, Capheus prevails on his friend, Jela (Paul Ogola) to help him buy AIDS medicine for his dying mother (Chichi Seii). Thanks to Jela's bartering skills, he is able to obtain some from a drug dealer... But when his bus is robbed by thugs calling themselves "the Superpower Gang," the drugs are stolen - leading him to desperate action to try to recover them, unwittingly pulling Sun and Will into his fight!

All the while, Nomi's surgery looms ever closer, with escape seeming like an impossibility...


CHARACTERS:

Up to this point, Sun and Capheus have been the least developed of the regulars. The first episode gave them arguably the least to do of all the characters, and the second episode all but ignored them. This installment is tasked with rectifying that, turning them from the sketchiest of sketches into proper characters. It does the job well, and does it in different ways.

Capheus is more or less of an "Everyman" character. He's a bus driver trying to earn enough money to get by while caring for his mother.  He's an open character, so we learn this fairly openly. He talks with his friend about his childhood wish to be "a zebra," while he flashes back to watching zebras with his mother. His main actions of the episode are focused first on getting drugs his mother needs, then on recovering them. There's no mystery, because he's a man with nothing to hide (so far).

Sun is a closed character. She speaks little, and has no interest in revealing herself to others. Instead, we learn about her by watching her in action - Listening to, and dodging, a banker's messages. Curtly attempting to see her father, then taking out her anger at being refused by destroying the smug secretary's desk. The fight at the end, in a ring where she seems to feel more sense of belonging than in her office. We don't know what drives her yet, but we can see her personality - Not in words, but in actions.

The episode also touches base with the other threads. Lito is drawn into an uncomfortable meeting with Joaquin (Raúl Méndez), Dani's criminal ex-boyfriend, the conversation ending in a way that indicates all is far from settled. Riley, barely seen in the previous episode, is given a bit more backstory, as she talks with two friends about her childhood in Iceland and her relationship with her father (an actual positive relationship! ...He'll probably die soon). So even as the focus of the episode narrows to just a few characters, we see the other threads inching forward as well.


THOUGHTS:

Smart Money Is on the Skinny Bitch more or less replicates the formula of the previous episode, building up the characters while also managing to move forward in both subtle and overt ways.

This becomes the first installment to end not on a cliffhanger, but instead on a revelation: In urgent need, Capheus is able to draw on Sun's martial arts skills and Will's police training to face down the street gang. His bus is named after martial arts star Jean Claude Van Damme, and a woman on his bus watches the fight and admiringly comments that "he really is Van Damme!"

It's a strong action set piece, in no small part because the show has so steadily built to this point. We don't know exactly why the three are able to share in the fight, but we have seen enough flashes of each of them experiencing the others' lives that we understand what is occurring without having to be told. The resulting action is clean, well-shot, and effective, and ends the episode with us comprehending why someone might consider these people either dangerous or worthy subjects for experiments - The array of skills any of them can tap into would potentially make James Bond look like a Smurf.

Beyond that, this is another solid chapter, in a show that's becoming progressively more involving as it goes along.


Rating: 7/10.

Previous Episode: I Am Also a We
Next Episode: What's Going On?



Review Index