Sense8 Season 2 Review
Returning for Sense8 season 2 on May 5 might be disorienting, coming nearly two years after season 1 was released on Netflix, if it weren’t for the Christmas special, an early airing of the first two hours that became available on December 23, 2016. However, because that double episode had trouble finding an anchor, being separated from the rest of the season by over four months itself, there might be some trepidation returning to the show after so long. Will it live up to its stellar first season? Will the luster have come off of the innovative filming style, switching seamlessly between characters on multiple continents? This is true, in fact, despite the fact that one of the characters has a new look. Having introduced Toby Onwumere as Capheus in the Christmas special with a tongue-in-cheek reference to his new face, the new actor integrates perfectly with the established group. He brings the same optimistic joy to the character who appreciates life despite an impoverished existence in Kenya, and Capheus shares a particularly inspirational speech with Lito while both are being interviewed about controversies in their past. Although his individual story takes awhile to get going, Capheus goes down quite an unpredictable path in season 2 while still serving as getaway driver for the cluster during a particularly exciting escape. Another new character outside of the group that really adds to the underlying conspiracy tale involving Whispers and BPO this season is Bug, played by Michael X. Sommers. Bug’s assistance as a computer expert not only provides a different angle to Nomi’s hacking sequences; he also provides welcome comic relief as he becomes more and more deeply involved in the story of the “homo sensorium.” He’s like the awkward, nerdy counterpoint to Amanita’s more confident support, and his enjoyment of the mission he’s been drawn into is infectious. And speaking of Will, his decision to keep himself in a drug-induced haze to keep Whispers at bay made the situation for his character and the larger cluster seem hopeless, especially in the Christmas special. Just as Agent Bendix keeps Nomi caged, Will is unable to leave Riley’s care for fear of being captured, killed, or lobotomized. The drama that unfolds — in quite surprising ways as it turns out — as Whispers tries to find where Will is hiding while Will uses his investigative powers to ferret out Whispers is a highlight of the opening episodes and leads to some fascinating places throughout season 2. The motivations for BPO and the nature of homo sensorium aren’t the only new tricks up Sense8’s sleeve. Viewers should also be prepared to find out more about Jonas’ origins as well as details about how his cluster was hunted down by Whispers. And guess what else? There are plenty of other clusters out there that we haven’t even met yet! That’s about to change in season 2 as well, and the results add real depth to the already rich tapestry of the show. With eight main characters, there are always going to be moments when a particular thread is muted or underserved. Riley in particular takes awhile to establish her own storyline. Some might argue that Tuppence Middleton as Riley and Doona Bae as Sun are the acting MVPs of the cast, especially when tears are called for, and while Sun gets a great storyline with plenty of action sequences, Riley, whose arc had just gotten interesting in the waning moments of season 1, takes a few episodes to diverge from the role of Will’s caretaker. In the end, Sense8 season 2 keeps everything that made its first season successful and takes it up a notch. While some may find the LGBT message heavy-handed, it honestly works perfectly with a story that includes characters from almost every continent — how else to communicate a message of global inclusiveness through the evolution of the species? Far from unrealistically seeking to buy the world a Coke, Sense8 instead tells a story of what would happen if our minds were linked and we could no longer lie. If words bring war, then it’s appropriate that Sense8 uses its artistic visuals and immersive storytelling instead to weave a compelling tale with such heartfelt meaning behind it. Sense8 season 2 arrives on Netflix in its entirety on May 5, 2017.
