This past weekend I indulged in the Netflix sci-fi show, Sense8 and I was not disappointed. A few weeks back when the show was first released, I watched the first episode and was a bit put off. After seeing more and more things about it online my interest was sparked once again and this time I fell in love. There are a lot of things to love about this show- the breathtaking cinematography, the storylines, the characters (especially the characters for me, okay, these characters are MY CHILDREN). And of course some of my favorite moments occur when the characters “sensate.”
These moments are when one or multiple of the characters in this “sensate” cluster appear in another character’s world. The characters interact and often help each other deal with their present situations, each relaying wisdom or skills. Here are a few of my favorite moments between characters Capheus, Kala, Wolfgang, Will, Nomi, Riley, Lito and Sun- in no particular order:
1. KalaIsTheBomb.com
In the penultimate episode of the season, Wolfgang traps himself in a room as an angry mob squad tries to kill him for attempting to murder their leader, Steiner’s father and Wolfgang’s uncle. Wolfgang “calls” on a worried Kala (because they are Frank Ocean “Thinkin Bout You” in l o v e with each other, *heart in eyes emoji*). She creates a bomb based on her knowledge of chemical reactions and spices and saves Wolfgang’s l i f e. Like saving his life, it must be love. Overall, it’s a pretty BOMB moment if I do say so myself.
2. Fast and Furious: A Capheus Car Chase
When BPO shows up to take Nomi in for whatever they want to do to sensates (like what you even doing @Whispers), Nomi needs to escape quickly. Will and Sun help her escape Amanita’s mother’s home, Nomi instinctually jumps into an unlocked car. There’s only one problem…she can’t drive. But Capheus, bus driver and action movie buff, “sensates” to the rescue. He drives them through an intense car chase and it’s pretty awesome. Even if it didn’t work out as perfect as the movies according to Capheus.
3. Lito, little liar
Wolfgang is up against his rival, a whiny SOB Steiner who already hurt Wolfie’s BFF (so many acronyms OMG) and our Wolfie is severely outnumbered. After being kicked to the ground, Wolfgang lays a couple of feet too far from the underside of his car, where a weapon is discreetly hidden. Lito “sensates” to the scene and comes up with a plan. He uses his acting abilities to lie to Steiner, a lie that entertains and distracts Steiner so much that Wolfie is able to reach his weapon. Wolfgang manages to shoot most of Steiner’s squad and even has time to pull out a bazooka from the trunk of the car (how #casual). By the end, Lito is highly impressed and thoroughly pumped. And who couldn’t relate, our boy Wolfie came through with the sickest going away for Steiner (rest in peace, motherf***er!!!!).
4. Good grief
Riley returns home to Iceland despite reliving a painful experiences. She mourns the death of her family at the site of their graves. Capheus appears and the two have a conversation about grieving. Capheus relates a story about his baby sister, who was taken to an orphanage because his mother could not provide food for the baby. He calls it a death, despite his sister not actually being dead and he says that in a way her “death” to him was a good thing. It’s one of the quieter “sensate” moment that adds a powerful statement on what life and death mean even outside of the weird unreal, un-life-like things that are happening in their lives.
5. Who Invited the Devil to my Wedding
The first real “sensate” moment between ~lovers~ (cue my endless sighing because they. need. to. be. together.) Wolfgang and Kala occurs during Kala’s wedding to a man she is kinda sorta like completely not in love with. Wolfgang, who is actually at a bath house in Berlin, appears in the aisle as Kala rounds another circle during her wedding ceremony. Wolfgang astutely asks why she is marrying a man she doesn’t love. The only thing is…he’s butt. azz. nekkid. A fact that makes Kala faint, on site.
6. I want to be Sun Bak’s fists
Not going to lie, it’s really hard to narrow down the best badass moments of Sun Bak. She constantly comes through for her cluster whenever they need a fighting hand. However, her fighting performance at the BPO research facility in the finale stands out in my mind. Will cautiously laments that six guards are too many for him to fight when a pumped up Sun Bak “sensates” to the scene. “Only six?” she scoffs. And she gets down to ass kicking business and it’s awesome.
7. Nomi Knows it All
Nomi “sensates” to a very sad and pensive Lito as he sits in the Diego Rivera Museum. Lito reflects on his relationship with Hernando, how he feels about his career and where the relationship went wrong as Hernando has just broken up with him. Lito is nervous about how his relationship with Hernando and his attraction and love for men will affect his career. Nomi, based on her own experiences of pretending to be someone she was not, asks him what he wants from his life. She tells him “…the violence that I realized was unforgivable is the violence that we do to ourselves when we’re too afraid to be who we really are.” Her words are powerful and raw, and probably make for one of the most beautifully written scenes on the show.
8. EmotionaLito
Lito’s first experience with his cluster includes a day in which he feels all of Sun’s period pain. Lito cries on set for no reason, complains of feeling bloated and having abdominal pains, calls Hernando in a frenzy and cusses out the drivers in a traffic heavy journey home. He is an absolute mess which is undercut by scenes of Sun living her life without all the drama Lito goes through. These scenes are easily one of the more hilarious and playful moments of the first season. And if EmotionaLito™ doesn’t make you laugh, you’re probably an emotionless Whisper (yeah, I said it).
Of course I have a ton of other moments that I found very special but alas I didn’t want to list them all (I could seriously go on 5ever). Bottom line, if you have not already seen Sense8, go sit down and binge your heart out. And if you have seen it, what were some of your favorite cluster moments?
season two onward, A Different World became a show that depicted diverse characters navigating the world in a way that was daring for a show during it’s time. The show tackled issues that weren’t dare touched on it’s wholesome parent show (The Cosby Show is surely revolutionary for other reasons) and issues that were considered touchy in real life. This why A Different World is so important to pay attention to now.
As I come to think of it, the topics that were addressed on this show are important and remain relevant in today. I have lived through similar events that have occurred since A Different World’s run from 1987 to 1993. A Different World was revolutionary; could you imagine a network show today addressing all of these issues (and in any case, network show with characters that look like this)? A Different World is an important show to pay attention to now to really get a feel for what television was and how television can influence and comment on real world issues. It might serve all fans of television and those who aspire to be a part of the television industry to look back on A Different World and delve into how the show was able to portray stories and characters respectably and realistically; with these observations there could be hope that television in the future could snag a few tips from ADW.
While Debbie Allen always seems enthusiastic to reboot A Different World, nothing has recently materialized. 2015 would be a great time to continue the legacy of television with social and entertainment purposes. The events of today are missing the fresh, honest and often hilarious voice of a narrative television show like ADW and there would be no complaints from me if one day soon, a reboot were to get the green light. But until then, remember that there are so many reasons to spend the time to acquaint yourself with this show, and I will be right along with you with many a fantasy of being a student at Hillman College.
Nikki Knows It All 