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sprocketI watched Sense8, to no one's surprise.
For people who missed my incoherent acquisition of a clue, Sense8 is about eight people across the world who become psychically linked, for Reasons. And by "reasons" I mean "the Wachowskis and Straczynski and the go-to interests of that trio." Between the Wachowskis and JMS, there's brilliant visuals and lots of fight scenes and multiepisode plot arcs and dialog with the subtlety of a brick between the eyes.
I can take or leave half the shippiness the show is pushing. I'm not thrilled with Kala and Wolfgang, or Will and Riley, because it's... just... so... boring. That screen time could be used for much more interesting explorations of the sensate's experiences. I'm way more invested in the existing relationships. (If anything breaks up Nomi and Amanita, other than Amanita's bodily assumption into Heaven, I am going to be so very done with this show.) Lito coming out is a little... 90s? But the show sells Lito/Hernando so hard, I'm not sure I care. Lito/Hernando is awesome. And I love Daniela! I love the way the actress plays her as so bubbly and sincere!
And that's what I want: more screen time for a greater diversity of friendships and mentoring and figuring out how to be a person. You all have no idea how much I love Nomi and Sun and Will busting out past the cops in 1x08. Or how badly I pine for Kala to unleash some fake science that's the keystone of any fix for Will's little Whispers problem. I want all the Kala and Sun, except when I want all Capheus all the time.
I'm curious how well Sense8 will be able to keep up the eight character stories. It's a big ensemble to juggle in a mere twelve episodes, especially since the characters are spread across eight international locations with their non-overlapping sets of friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances. Do I sense JMS sticking some trap doors in a plot arc? I hope I do.
There's stuff that's less awesome. I'm a little judgy about Nomi and Riley getting threatened with lobotomies and asphyxiation, but I will also note Capheus gets beaten to a pulp, so I might be excessively sensitive to the suffering of women in this show. And this is not, how to say this? It's not a subtle show. I'm also not a fan of Byron Redux, uh, I mean Jonas. And the two minute credit scene is pretty, but really long, especially when you're watching multiple episodes back to back.
This is not perfect, but I enjoyed the first season. Sense8 focuses on threats from outside the cluster, rather than considering the conflicts that might rise from eight people being thrown into each others' lives and heads. The sensates really roll with the punches of the dub-con psychic link shenanigans we know and love and sometimes wrestle with in fandom. It's not bad, it's just a choice. The story is painted in broad strokes and bright contrasts: the factions are clear, the themes are set out with all the nuance of a floodlamp.
On a really shallow note, I love playing the location game with the San Francisco scenes.
For people who missed my incoherent acquisition of a clue, Sense8 is about eight people across the world who become psychically linked, for Reasons. And by "reasons" I mean "the Wachowskis and Straczynski and the go-to interests of that trio." Between the Wachowskis and JMS, there's brilliant visuals and lots of fight scenes and multiepisode plot arcs and dialog with the subtlety of a brick between the eyes.
I can take or leave half the shippiness the show is pushing. I'm not thrilled with Kala and Wolfgang, or Will and Riley, because it's... just... so... boring. That screen time could be used for much more interesting explorations of the sensate's experiences. I'm way more invested in the existing relationships. (If anything breaks up Nomi and Amanita, other than Amanita's bodily assumption into Heaven, I am going to be so very done with this show.) Lito coming out is a little... 90s? But the show sells Lito/Hernando so hard, I'm not sure I care. Lito/Hernando is awesome. And I love Daniela! I love the way the actress plays her as so bubbly and sincere!
And that's what I want: more screen time for a greater diversity of friendships and mentoring and figuring out how to be a person. You all have no idea how much I love Nomi and Sun and Will busting out past the cops in 1x08. Or how badly I pine for Kala to unleash some fake science that's the keystone of any fix for Will's little Whispers problem. I want all the Kala and Sun, except when I want all Capheus all the time.
I'm curious how well Sense8 will be able to keep up the eight character stories. It's a big ensemble to juggle in a mere twelve episodes, especially since the characters are spread across eight international locations with their non-overlapping sets of friends, family, coworkers, and acquaintances. Do I sense JMS sticking some trap doors in a plot arc? I hope I do.
There's stuff that's less awesome. I'm a little judgy about Nomi and Riley getting threatened with lobotomies and asphyxiation, but I will also note Capheus gets beaten to a pulp, so I might be excessively sensitive to the suffering of women in this show. And this is not, how to say this? It's not a subtle show. I'm also not a fan of Byron Redux, uh, I mean Jonas. And the two minute credit scene is pretty, but really long, especially when you're watching multiple episodes back to back.
This is not perfect, but I enjoyed the first season. Sense8 focuses on threats from outside the cluster, rather than considering the conflicts that might rise from eight people being thrown into each others' lives and heads. The sensates really roll with the punches of the dub-con psychic link shenanigans we know and love and sometimes wrestle with in fandom. It's not bad, it's just a choice. The story is painted in broad strokes and bright contrasts: the factions are clear, the themes are set out with all the nuance of a floodlamp.
On a really shallow note, I love playing the location game with the San Francisco scenes.
no subject
on 2015-06-18 08:50 pm (UTC)More when I get back from a weekend trip.
no subject
on 2015-06-19 04:32 am (UTC)