Sense8

:

Season 1
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Jun 5, 2015
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 873 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 705 out of 873
  2. Mixed: 56 out of 873
  3. Negative: 112 out of 873

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  1. whatiremember
    Mar 6, 2017
    4
    Only got through maybe half of the season and then got bored. I feel like I should have been into this because of the trans characters and other queer characters, but the plot had so much going on I just felt all over the place. There were so many characters all over, and I think what I wanted was to have a deep connection with just one or two of them, not 8. It felt like the show alwaysOnly got through maybe half of the season and then got bored. I feel like I should have been into this because of the trans characters and other queer characters, but the plot had so much going on I just felt all over the place. There were so many characters all over, and I think what I wanted was to have a deep connection with just one or two of them, not 8. It felt like the show always cared about the characters I wasn’t feeling at that moment, so I was getting bored pretty quickly. I feel like I gave up too soon, but I probably won’t try again.

    We started watching this together, over the summer we spent living in the same town. Your bed was bigger and softer and you had an AC. I was living on a hard futon in an attic without a door of my own. So like usual, we stayed at your place. I questioned why I even paid rent. Yeah anyway we started watching this together, and I think you liked it a lot. And I wanted too, as well. But the show felt hype-saturated and slow, stuck within itself. Watching it made me so aware that I couldn’t move. Watching it made me so aware of how beautiful you thought all of this was, how desperately you wanted time to drip by like this—and how terrifying that was to me. By the end of the summer your bed was infested with bedbugs, and I regretted staying over so often.
    Show Rating: 4/10
    Viewing Experience: 4/10    … Expand
  2. michael2030
    Oct 16, 2017
    5
    Certainly one of the most creative shows of its kind but fails to keep interest among average watchers. My whole family likes science fiction and fantasy but everyone one of our eight watchers burned out early in season one. I was the only won who stuck it out looking for value well into season 2.

    After reviewing comments from actors in the press and reports of those who watched the    Certainly one of the most creative shows of its kind but fails to keep interest among average watchers. My whole family likes science fiction and fantasy but everyone one of our eight watchers burned out early in season one. I was the only won who stuck it out looking for value well into season 2.

    After reviewing comments from actors in the press and reports of those who watched the producers and writers work, I would say that the reason this falls short is very simple.

    This product was a LGBT "playground" used as a forum by its writers. These two didn't plan out where they were taking the show or its characters except in the broadest sense. It is clear that none of the characters really were graced with an overall multi-series story line from which to draw motivation. The actors were deprived of really knowing anything from episode to episode and could find themselves showing up to be killed.

    It's the that the Wachowskis didn't really know where they were taking it but rather just looked for ways to explore LGBT themes and showcase various fantasies they wanted to see on TV.

    It is also clear that they had a vision that was very broad, expansive, international, and expensive. And that vision is clear from the exceptional and moving imagery captured worldwide - it conveys a very unique and compelling vision which I'm certain was not random or by accident.

    But that is the driver - a vision of imagery and LGBT situations that would shock and yet convey the writer's reality to the mainstream public. I can't say that for the 90% of the watchers like myself who are just mundane and straight, we took any pleasure or even interest in those parts of the series. Most people said they simply took a break and picked up watching when it appeared to be moving forward.

    It is clear to me that the Wachowskis have a creative vision and are driven to a certain type of product that is not mainstream and is not connected to a large audience but rather a very small and highly specialized audience.

    People who liked LOST will probably do well at least initially - all of our watchers stuck with LOST throughout even though all complained of the slowness, the lack of clear direction, and more. With Sense8 these folks dropped out because not only was it slow to develop, apparently directionless, but also just outright not entertaining enough to hold their shallow and pedestrian tastes for TV action series.    … Expand
  3. georgio
    Jul 4, 2015
    4
    Watched 9 episodes and I will no longer watch this. There is a good potential for this movie, but there are several things that really bother me:

    1. Very slow pace. I am very far into the series and very little happened so far. The main storyline is inching forward ever so slightly, bit the pace is really, really slow. 2. Too many erotic sceens for my taste, but that is probably what    Watched 9 episodes and I will no longer watch this. There is a good potential for this movie, but there are several things that really bother me:

    1. Very slow pace. I am very far into the series and very little happened so far. The main storyline is inching forward ever so slightly, bit the pace is really, really slow.

    2. Too many erotic sceens for my taste, but that is probably what is to be expected

    3. There ere 7 seprarate personal stories with multiple characters and I do not really see where they are going. Starting 4th episode I found some stories uninteresting and found myself skipping all of them.

    There are some personal arcs that didn't move an inch. Hindu girl started the show with doubts about her wedding and 9 episodes into the show she is almost in the same state. The mexican actor is going through some personal love crisis that for me also does not move anywhere. The only interesting story arcs for me are that of the Korean girl and Kenyan guy. That is not enough for me to keep watching.    … Expand
  4. ceissman
    Jun 17, 2015
    6
    First of all, this show is beautiful to look at and the cast is refreshingly diverse in race and nationality as well as in lifestyle. The quality of the writing is above typical network television. There are alot of problems though. I did watch it all, if that says anything.
    Initially I thought i was going to love the show. It was so beautiful to look at that I figured some of the early    First of all, this show is beautiful to look at and the cast is refreshingly diverse in race and nationality as well as in lifestyle. The quality of the writing is above typical network television. There are alot of problems though. I did watch it all, if that says anything.
    Initially I thought i was going to love the show. It was so beautiful to look at that I figured some of the early narrative incoherence intentional. Unfortunately incoherence ebbs and flows in and out of each story line. Characters sometimes act irrationally or recklessly for no reason to keep the narrative moving. It seems they had an idea for the narrative framework, wanted to get from A to B with the main plots and ended up forcing a bit too much.
    There are a bunch of things that are just a little dumb. I found myself thinking 'if they had just asked someone if this made sense, the answer would have been no'.
    Just not good enough but it does contain elements that could easily make a great season 2    … Expand
  5. SwegJuce
    Jun 27, 2015
    5
    It does have entertaining parts but too much of it is just boring and slow. The thing is, it's not slow because it needs to be for story telling purposes, it's simply slow for no reason. A lot of times the character development is minimal and the little "action" there is, is quite lame.
  6. mrmonster
    Jan 4, 2016
    4
    Honestly, I think the Wacowskis career is over. They had the awesome Matrix trilogy, but they don't have anything else. Sense8 was a disappointment to me; it had an okay premise, but it completely failed to deliver. Also, I get that Lana Wacowski is a transgender, but did they have to have such a huge LGBT sub plot in this show?
  7. WildOrangutan
    Jun 8, 2015
    5
    If you are looking for drama and romance, you will like the show.

    If you are in it for for Sci-Fi, you will be horribly disappointed. There is so little sci-fi involved, that I even wonder why imdb labels it as such.

    Show starts telling story really slow, so I recommend you stick with it for a few episodes.
  8. Phoxly
    Jun 12, 2015
    5
    Lots of sex, very little plot.
    The story is interesting, and the direction it's taking is engaging, but it's all overshadowed by an abundance of sex and pointless nudity. I'm not someone who typically get irritated by sex, but holy crap. This show loves it's pointless sex scenes. Not to mention the incredibly creative plot is ignored almost the entire first season. In fact, the main plot    Lots of sex, very little plot.
    The story is interesting, and the direction it's taking is engaging, but it's all overshadowed by an abundance of sex and pointless nudity. I'm not someone who typically get irritated by sex, but holy crap. This show loves it's pointless sex scenes. Not to mention the incredibly creative plot is ignored almost the entire first season. In fact, the main plot was only mentioned a few times within the first four hours of the show's episodes.
    There is huge potential here, but they need to start focusing on the incredible plot instead of the horny cast.    … Expand
  9. djryang
    Jun 18, 2015
    5
    Had a lot going for it. Great locations and cultures as well as interesting concept. The use of English through out is ridiculous. Also I find the Nomi character to be some sort of personal extension of the Lana Wachowski. Hugh plot holes in later episodes. Too many pointless sex scenes that don't add anything to the story. The whole flash back sequence of the car accident is so absurd.Had a lot going for it. Great locations and cultures as well as interesting concept. The use of English through out is ridiculous. Also I find the Nomi character to be some sort of personal extension of the Lana Wachowski. Hugh plot holes in later episodes. Too many pointless sex scenes that don't add anything to the story. The whole flash back sequence of the car accident is so absurd. Again i feel the Wachowski's are using great visuals and concepts with poorly written scripts.… Expand
  10. gunshlong
    Jun 16, 2015
    6
    I really don't know what to think at this point, I feel that there are multiple people like me out there who want to know how the show improves; or if it does at all. I am four episodes in and am struggling to go any further, people keep saying to "give it time", I just don't know if I can. The biggest turn away for me is the force that LGBT struggles are thrown at you. I am a bigI really don't know what to think at this point, I feel that there are multiple people like me out there who want to know how the show improves; or if it does at all. I am four episodes in and am struggling to go any further, people keep saying to "give it time", I just don't know if I can. The biggest turn away for me is the force that LGBT struggles are thrown at you. I am a big supporter of equality, yet Sense8 takes it a tad too far.
    I feel that the Wachowski's have bitten off more than they could chew, with this many storylines that need to eventually interlock, you never really have any progression in each episode. Not as much as you would like is all I'm saying.    … Expand
  11. Daniel_Daniel
    Jun 12, 2015
    6
    The idea is brilliant, somewhat like the Original Matrix. The development not so much, somewhat like the sequels of Matrix. After watching all the very slow paced 12 episodes, you will get the impression it could have been done in 6. And much better, if they didn't waste time with so many useless shots and so many sex scenes, particularly gay sex. By the way, this is a "special feature" ofThe idea is brilliant, somewhat like the Original Matrix. The development not so much, somewhat like the sequels of Matrix. After watching all the very slow paced 12 episodes, you will get the impression it could have been done in 6. And much better, if they didn't waste time with so many useless shots and so many sex scenes, particularly gay sex. By the way, this is a "special feature" of this show: almost explicit gay sex. Not sure what they were thinking when they included this, but it almost ruined the experience for me and I am sure it will ruin it for lots of people.… Expand
  12. justsumnerd
    Jun 11, 2015
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A truly remarkable story of the human condition. However I personally feel that it is more a story of the film makers experiences with transition then it is about the characters of the film. That being said despite the creators own overwhelming and continuous presence throughout the film.

    I deeply enjoyed the cinematography, dialogue and plot. I only hope that in the next season we feel less of the filmmakers personal journey and more of the characters own personality shine through.

    My favorite character is Lito I find his personal struggles with career and sexuality believable and wonderful. I see the obvious likeness to Antonio Banderas. But as a character he is extremely interesting.

    I also really enjoy the Korean sister & Nirobi driver. So touching and wonderful.

    Can't wait till the second season.    … Expand
  13. AnotherCritic
    Jun 12, 2015
    4
    My Initial impression of this show aside from the slow pace / confusing characterization / weak plot is that I am the target of a propaganda machine.
    Now I don't mind the sex scenes nor the tempo but I do mind the persisting impression that I am the target of the Trans Washowski's efforts to make me live his/her life experience. Since this is not my choice in the first place, I feel    My Initial impression of this show aside from the slow pace / confusing characterization / weak plot is that I am the target of a propaganda machine.
    Now I don't mind the sex scenes nor the tempo but I do mind the persisting impression that I am the target of the Trans Washowski's efforts to make me live his/her life experience. Since this is not my choice in the first place, I feel unconnected to this production and its values. It seems that it is using the same process and methods used by countless extremists : us good - them bad! they are pushing it a bit too hard.
    As a fan of Bab5, I was excited to see that J. Michael Strazynski was involved as well as the Washowski siblings who after all gave us The Matrix. Unfortunately, these icons of SciFi have made a very weak product on that front. Not recommended to SciFi lovers, but maybe to social activists.
    I will attempt to finish episode 2.... (yes it was that bad for me)... and see if I can digest a bit more...    … Expand
  14. CBebop4Ever
    Jun 24, 2015
    5
    Sense8 was built upon the premise of getting into the stories of the characters' lives, even postponing the core concept of the show for this purpose. The problem is that the characters fit very nicely into stereotypes, removing much of the reason for caring about their stories. The result is that much of the audience ends up feeling bored.

    This show starts very slow but eventually    Sense8 was built upon the premise of getting into the stories of the characters' lives, even postponing the core concept of the show for this purpose. The problem is that the characters fit very nicely into stereotypes, removing much of the reason for caring about their stories. The result is that much of the audience ends up feeling bored.

    This show starts very slow but eventually becomes very intriguing and even addictive. The biggest problem is the disjointed nature of the storytelling from trying to tell eight very different stories at the same time. While this concept can hypothetically work, it honestly isn't dealt with very well. Most of the time, the stories seem a bit boring. A standard in most entertainment is to reduce down the content to only the most important elements for the basic concept the entertainment was founded on while including some that are necessary for establishing a feeling and such. Sense8 seems to ignore this, injecting large amounts of filler, as it would be described in most other entertainment. That filler seems to be the majority of the storytelling, occasionally showing critically important or super fun content. Add to that the fact that eight very different stories are being told, and the audience tends to lose interest in the big mix of all that is going on.

    Another problem is that the characters whose minds are connected don't actually talk to each other very much until maybe half way through the first season. Apparently, they are figuring out that they are connected to other real people. What is confusing is the utter lack of conversation with each other. After all, the characters sometimes say that they hear the thoughts of eight other people in their heads. If they can hear their thoughts and figure out who they are from seeing their lives as portrayed inside their heads, wouldn't they then be able to realize that they should talk to these people? Even if the logic of the writing is done so that the characters simply don't have time for conversation since they are simply responding to emergencies, conversations make good writing. It is simply maddening to wait around during so many episodes for conversations to finally start between them. This makes the story crawl along, simply getting the audience acquainted with the characters' separate stories. When the show needs to get the audience addicted, it wastes time with filler, even leaving out conversations that very much need to happen. One such time strangely left one character without much help, despite plenty of other characters receiving exactly the help they needed to avoid disaster. All this character needed was to have some helpful conversations with a few people since some of them even had experience with the problem. It simply seemed to be a plot device to get that character to a specific place in their story, instead of following the obvious logic that most of the characters would have reacted very emotionally to the situation, encouraging a different result.

    One more problem is related to the entertainment value of the show. Some of the characters just seem to be poor choices as heroes in a team. Sure, the characters are intended to be completely random within the story itself, but the creators of the show chose them for entertaining reasons. Unfortunately, many of them seem to be almost pointless or just unnecessary, given that someone else could easily do the same job. One example is the actor. His only real skill that he can offer the group is lying. He can be a smooth talker with girls, but it's hardly a priceless ability, especially considering that the thief could easily be a skilled liar, too. There was even a scene where the actor had to lie for the thief because he couldn't think of anything. What sort of thief is a poor liar? Another character with this problem of seeming to be useless as a hero is the DJ from London. She is very skilled at making beautiful music, as heard in the episode that introduced her, but we don't hear any of it after that. Otherwise, she's just a damsel in distress.

    The final problem that I want to discuss is the sexual content. This series is pornographic. It includes very sexual scenes with both full nudity and actual sex. There is even a full orgy. What is strange is that the only romantic relationships that exist between the main characters during the majority of the first season is between gay people. What are the odds that the only people who are already in love and having sex are gay? Not only that, but there are two couples: one for each gender/sex. The whole show starts to feel very one-sided toward homosexuality, instead of balancing it with heterosexuality rather equally. I don't like to see porn in shows, but I especially dislike seeing only gay porn without any balance at all.

    Despite these complaints, I did enjoy much of the storytelling. The whole show is rather slow to begin with, but the stories become enticing and addictive during the second half.    … Expand
  15. Knighthawk81
    Jun 5, 2015
    5
    The Wachowskis are known for their innovative storytelling and visual style. But if you took the original "Matrix" film out of their resume, it would be a mixed bag. That's certainly true of the pilot for "Sense8," which touches on familiar tropes from their recent work, intimates there's a large, inter-connected framework, but never really provides any concrete answers or direction in itsThe Wachowskis are known for their innovative storytelling and visual style. But if you took the original "Matrix" film out of their resume, it would be a mixed bag. That's certainly true of the pilot for "Sense8," which touches on familiar tropes from their recent work, intimates there's a large, inter-connected framework, but never really provides any concrete answers or direction in its 66-minutes. Maybe this will be a good show, and it's certainly original, but you can't glean much from this hot mess of a pilot.… Expand
  16. BogKid
    Jun 5, 2015
    5
    I have seen only the first episode of "Sense8". Now I know that it is a bit unfair to review a show from such limited exposure, but I also feel that it is valid since those viewers who do not like the first episode are unlikely to continue farther into the series. I am close to being in that group.

    The first episode was one long, long teaser letting you try to find out what the heck    I have seen only the first episode of "Sense8". Now I know that it is a bit unfair to review a show from such limited exposure, but I also feel that it is valid since those viewers who do not like the first episode are unlikely to continue farther into the series. I am close to being in that group.

    The first episode was one long, long teaser letting you try to find out what the heck is going on here. OK, it becomes somewhat clear that there is a psychic connection among these eight people and Darryl Hanna's character is the connection. I really don't need "obvious" in my TV (or download) shows, but this first episode carried obscurity a bit too far. I will go on, hoping this begins to make some sense(8) and I will carefully up-date my comments after I've given the show a fair trial.    … Expand
  17. OscarTheGrouch
    Dec 8, 2015
    6
    I started fast forwarding after the 2nd episode. It's not a bad show, but it's not really meant for me.

    The sci-fi aspect of Sense8 is what made me watch it. However despite it starting the series very much so with said premise, it mostly turns into a 'soap opera' afterwards making the actors' personal lives the main story. With the 'shocking' sex scenes (are sex scenes really shocking    I started fast forwarding after the 2nd episode. It's not a bad show, but it's not really meant for me.

    The sci-fi aspect of Sense8 is what made me watch it. However despite it starting the series very much so with said premise, it mostly turns into a 'soap opera' afterwards making the actors' personal lives the main story. With the 'shocking' sex scenes (are sex scenes really shocking any more these days?) to go along with it. Mainly ignoring the most interesting thing about the series.

    Granted, I stopped watching after a couple of episodes. Maybe it delves moreso in the actual storyline later on. I just didn't want to go through so many imo unintersting hours, to be able to see a few actual interesting minutes. Because that's what happened when I watched the first few episodes of Sense8.    … Expand
  18. MrRan
    Jun 5, 2015
    5
    OMG ... what is this show.. The very 10 minutes were so good, I was hooked... then, every second after that was straight awful. God awful.. There was no focus.
  19. Maladroit
    Jun 7, 2015
    5
    Dreadfully slow, with sprints of incoherent storytelling. We have the Mexico storyline, poorly acted and out of place and then the San Francisco one that just heightens what is left of any potential for the show. It is well filmed and given the locations makes it more intriguing, but not by much.
  20. Krypto_Dogg
    Sep 28, 2015
    6
    This is not a great show, to say so is an objective lie. I was entertained however. I just kept watching and suddenly, it was like "I get it" without really getting it. I'm not a prude whatsoever, I'm not homophobic whatsoever, but I don't really agree with mashing or taping sexuality onto a story or movie makes it "edgy." This could have been a good story with 100% of the sex andThis is not a great show, to say so is an objective lie. I was entertained however. I just kept watching and suddenly, it was like "I get it" without really getting it. I'm not a prude whatsoever, I'm not homophobic whatsoever, but I don't really agree with mashing or taping sexuality onto a story or movie makes it "edgy." This could have been a good story with 100% of the sex and sexuality parts of it removed. In most places across the globe since sex is a private thing and for the most part devoid of thought and conversation, it will never serve to advance a fiction story. Kissing and fading to black is fine. Heck, even lying in bed naked talking is fine. If you're a believe in nothing belongs in a story that doesn't advance a character or plot, sex scenes never serve to do this and rarely do, even when they're enjoyable. I can always watch porn for those things. Heck, why don't Hollywood movie directors try their hand at porn every once in a while if they want to make sex beautiful?

    Not sure if another season needs to exist as it is. I'd pull it a bit more down to Earth and make the plot and story more concrete and maybe it can work. I'm not sure if vagueness and mystery can carry a show on throughout the years.    … Expand
  21. StuckOnReviews
    Jun 7, 2015
    6
    What a compelling show. Absolutely terrific. ....well kinda, it is sorta weird and uncomfortable it has a lot of lesbian and gay scenes especially for the first episode. I really think this is one of the best Wachowski creation since The Matrix. The show focuses on different things such as politics, gender, sexuality, identity, and religion. If I was you I would give it a shot, thisWhat a compelling show. Absolutely terrific. ....well kinda, it is sorta weird and uncomfortable it has a lot of lesbian and gay scenes especially for the first episode. I really think this is one of the best Wachowski creation since The Matrix. The show focuses on different things such as politics, gender, sexuality, identity, and religion. If I was you I would give it a shot, this has a good chance of making it.… Expand
  22. marcjs28
    Jun 6, 2015
    6
    Well, it could have been better, less gay scenes and more action, but oh well, this is the way the wind blew in this series I guess.

    Now the artsy stuff, it needs to be toned down if they make a second season, because it really takes away from the story by trying to convey so much with just scenic vistas, facial expressions, and the situations of people with all the slow motion    Well, it could have been better, less gay scenes and more action, but oh well, this is the way the wind blew in this series I guess.

    Now the artsy stuff, it needs to be toned down if they make a second season, because it really takes away from the story by trying to convey so much with just scenic vistas, facial expressions, and the situations of people with all the slow motion displays.

    And the villain, ok, that looked like a grandpa from Connecticut or some professor trying to be break-bad all of a sudden, (Paging Walter White, Paging Heisenberg....). Just come on, gives us a super villain, hell my in-laws are better villains than that guy.

    But overall, I think it has promise, hopefully the 2nd season will be better.    … Expand
  23. DrexlerN7
    Apr 25, 2018
    4
    Nothing more than gay soft porn with a plot. The sex scenes do not drive the story forward.

    The show is for degenerates and nothing more
  24. justinhenderson
    Jan 13, 2017
    5
    90% whining 10% story. The story part is entertaining though. I have only seen season one. Could do with a lot less banter. Characters over developed. Way too much filler crap. Would have made a great three part movie or something along those lines if it could be condensed.
  25. Felindie
    Jul 15, 2019
    5
    So overrated, the plot is boring, the acting is weak, i don´t see nothing special here.

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015
47
#47 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. The Atlantic
    Reviewed by: David Sims
    May 9, 2017
    80
    It can lead to indulgent storytelling, but in the case of a series like Sense8, real artistry, too.
    Read full review
  2. Vox.com
    Reviewed by: Emily VanDerWerff
    Jun 11, 2015
    70
    Sense8 is a show forever trapped between two things--its core artistic impulses and its need to over-explain everything that happens within its confines. That makes it at once beautiful and maddening, either a complete travesty or a whacked-out masterpiece--and sometimes both in the same scene.
    Read full review
  3. Reason.com
    Reviewed by: Glenn Garvin
    Jun 5, 2015
    70
    The ultimate paradox of Sense8 is that it can give away so little about its ultimate destination in three hours of screen time, and still be seductive enough to make hour four an attractive proposition.
    Read full review
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