Friday, July 10, 2015

Sense 8 Rocks!

It's Netflix only in the US, but Sense 8 is amazing.  It is interesting, expanding, edited beautifully, challenging, fun, sexy, straight, gay, male, female, welcoming and yet intelligent.
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It is not easy to describe, nor do I really want to.
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Eddie and I have been watching an episode a night this week.  I saw episode 1 when he was in Seattle on business and thought, "I have to rewatch this with Ed."  Luckily, he enjoys it too.


It is not science fiction so much, since it is set in today's world.  I guess it would be best though of maybe as psychological fiction.  One of the amazing things is how the story draws you in.  Giving you the lives and stories of 8 different people that somehow begin to share experiences.  You learn a bit about their lives.  The simplest life - the Chicago Cop - provides the best access point.  And Brian J. Smith, who has played a lot of minor roles in minor series, plays the cop great.  You totally get his confusion, desire to help and passion.  Once you hook on to him, a little more backstory is given.  And away you go.
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The people involved don't understand it anymore than you would.
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It has gotten some shit for not being white enough or male enough for sci-fi audiences.  Which should be a plus not a knock.  There are 8 leads, 4 male and 4 female (although 1 of the females is transgender and was once male).  There are two Americans, an Indian, a South Korean, a Mexican, a Kenyan, a German (Russian Mob German) and an Icelandic / English woman.  It is all in English - although not all equally great American English (the Kenyan's could use subtitles sometimes :-).
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And their stories are all over the map - both literally and figuratively.  It also uses two more known stars, Naveen Andrews and Daryl Hannah, as shared experiences / guides.  It is hard to describe, but engrossing.
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And, I LOVE Doona Bea (or Bea Doo-na in Korean).  She was in Cloud Atlas and Jupiter Ascending.  Well, the Wachowskis love her, and it is easy to see why.  She is brooding and sexy and tough.
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It isn't immediate gratification, it is a slow boil.  But really, if that isn't what Netflix is for, what is?
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