Sense8 Season 1 TV Review

Sense8 (2015-)

Created by:  Lilly Wachowski
Starring:  Aml Ameen, Doona Bae, Jamie Clayton, Tuppence Middleton, Naveen Andrews, Daryl Hannah

Sense8 - If you can get through the first half it turns into a pretty solid show.

Plot:
This original Netflix sci-fi thriller was created by the Wachowskis. Eight people from around the world are telepathically linked.

Verdict:
Sense8 has a great concept which leads to some surreal and engrossing scenes, but it lacks focus. The first half of the season introduces the concept over and over and lacks a destination. Finally at half way through we get into a little bit of plot and the show finds its legs. With a plot in place I hope season two has a focus and an end goal. It reminds me slightly of Heroes. The first half is a skip, the second half isn't bad.
It depends.


Recap
It starts with telepathy and people psychically linked. The characters get over the shock of moving in and out of each others thoughts rather quickly.
I could forgive the first episode for being heavy on character setup and not having a plot, but after a few episodes of that  I wanted something to happen. What is the point of this show?
I kept hoping for something to happen. With all of these characters, the show just treads water.
The fight choreography is really well done as it seamlessly switches between two characters in the same fight. Since they can inhabit each others thoughts, fights can quickly change direction, for better or worse. This group can't control their telepathy yet. As slick as some of the editing is, it doesn't make up for the lack of plot.
It takes until episode four before we get a hint of what's going on. There are multiple groups of eight that share a psychic bond. If you're hoping to find out more about that in season one, you'll be disappointed.
I want to like this show, and I like the concept but it has no direction. It juxtaposes characters in each others lives, hoping we won't notice there is yet to be a plot. Episode six includes a full blown orgy between the eight, and then in episode seven it begins the plot. Episode eight introduces a villain and they actually have a reason to interact with each other to win fights and share information as they track down the big bad.
It maintains a certain amount of tension. Will one of the sensates appear to win the fight? Who will it be?
This group of eight all shard the same birth date and year. I get the concept of seeing each of the sensates being born during they recital, but it was too graphic. In episode ten, I saw not one but two crowning babies. Why? Come on! Did I mention we also get to see a c-section? Some things are better left to the imagination.
This show follows the Netflix template of starting incredibly slow. I guess it's a test for the real fans to see who sticks with the show. The final episode, twelve, is easily the best. All of the characters come together in a daring rescue.
This reminds me of Heroes, with a group of characters inexplicably linked. While the first season of Heroes was solid and then it devolved to nonsense, I'm hoping Sense8's meandering first season continues the plot threads introduced towards the end for a focused season two.