Although the buzz surrounding Netflix's latest original series Sense8 has been rather quiet, especially with Orange Is The New Black returning to the service next week, the Wachowskis-led series certainly deserves some attention.
Sense8 is science fiction at its heart, but also tells the compelling stories of eight strangers who suddenly find their minds connected. Although its overall story is about the evolution of human abilities, Sense8's smaller plots revolve around the human condition.
So why should you watch Sense8? We've put together a list of our top five reasons of why this series is worthy of your Netflix list.
Sense8 offers an original story
Let's face it: originality in Hollywood is a lost art. It seems that every movie, TV show and even video game is a sequel, reboot or based on something that came prior, so original is a breath of fresh air. Sense8 has an original plot that we haven't really seen before, and while it stumbles at points, it's worth watching just for that.
The idea of people being connected through their thoughts and emotions is unique, and the way that the series displays these characters and their interactions is completely new.
The series has great lead and supporting characters
A series is only as good as its lead characters, and Sense8 has some great characters that are not just well-written, but also well-acted. The series features some standout performances by actors we haven't really seen before, too, including Miguel ángel Silvestre, Tuppence Middleton, Doona Bae, Jamie Clayton, Tina Desai, Brian J. Smith and Max Riemalt.
These actors step into the roles of some very complicated characters: one is a gay man in the closet, one is a woman living in a man's world, one is a transgender, one is a police officer and several come from rough neighborhoods and criminal backgrounds.
However, it's not just the leads that make the series good: the supporting characters (and the actors who portray them) are equally as interesting, from Freema Agyeman's Amanita to Erindira Ibarra's Daniella to Anupum Kher's Manendra Rasal. These characters are just as fascinating as those who possess the sensate abilities.
Also, if you couldn't tell from that list of actors, the cast is immensely diverse, coming from all over the world. This is unlike anything we've really seen from a TV series before.
There's a government conspiracy
Anything involving a conspiracy always makes for interesting TV, and Sense8 has one of its own. There's something out there trying to destroy those who possess the sensate abilities and at this point, you're not really sure who the good and bad guys really are. It's a mystery beyond Nancy Drew proportions (a fictional character mentioned during the show) and our lead characters soon learn that they can't trust everyone who knows about their existence.
It's relevant and topical
This isn't just a series about a sci-fi premise. This is also a series about individual characters who have complex lives. There's a transgender person who's finally embracing who she is. There's a gay actor who's afraid to come out for fear of ruining his career. There's a young man living in Nairobi who must turn to crime to get the medicine he needs for his ailing mother.
Each character has a relevant and timely storyline and Sense8 delves into those characters as much as it does its science fiction roots.
The series has Andy & Lana Wachowski and J. Michael Straczynski as its writers
Sense8 has a powerhouse of a writing team, including the Wachowskis, responsible for The Matrix film trilogy and the creator of Babylon 5, J. Michael Straczynski. All three come with a good background in science fiction, and together, they make the perfect writing team for a series that isn't just science fiction, but also a statement about the modern-day world.
These three know how to tell a story and start it out slow, with the first two episodes building into the revelations that begin revealing themselves by episode three. However, you never quite know what's completely going on until the end (and obviously, you'll still have questions), but the writing is so solid that you get easily carried along for the ride.
Photo Credit: Netflix
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