When we consider what it means to be human, it all comes down to one thing: we all can make bad choices. We have natural instincts like any other creature. We inherently know what’s right, what’s wrong, and what we should do to survive. Yet we can choose to ignore them. Whether out of fear, greed, or even love and self-sacrifice, we can roundhouse kick logic out the nearest window and make what from an outside perspective is the wrong choice. As the series quickens, many of the Sensates are facing tough choices, but maybe they can help each other make their bad choices the right ones after all.
Episode 10, What is Human? – Wolfgang and Lito help each other to face their problems; Will and Riley enjoy great moments of bonding with their fathers. Kala, Sun, and Capheus all face dilemmas over major decisions in their lives while Whispers try to use Jonas to find the Cluster.
The episode’s central idea of making big decisions is a testament to the heavy character story development of the episodes to date. Many of the stories have simultaneously culminated in a singular dilemma and in each case we’re fully aware and caring about the stakes. The main attention is on the double-teaming of Lito and Wolfgang and both really deliver, but more importantly, do so with a real sense of fun. In both cases, we really know what the outcome will be so the effort goes into relishing the journey. From the moment Steiner makes his subtle threats to sabotage Felix’s healthcare, we know full well that Wolfgang will give up the diamonds. Wolfgang’s planning of the showdown with “vorsprung durch technik” efficiency is excellent (especially the grand finale,) and the showdown does a great job of promoting Lito’s usefulness within the Cluster as he tags in for a crucial acting bluff “Lies are what I do” to turn the tide. By contrast, Lito’s showdown and confrontation are all the more lovable for its sheer ridiculousness in re-enacting one of his movies, from the slow mo tough entrance as Lito burns up Joaquin’s drive way to the sudden lethal villain his opponent becomes. Like with Wolfgang, we always knew Lito would confront Joaquin to get Daniela back and that given acceptance lets us kick back and enjoy the cinematic blend of macho and comedy that ensues. From the moment Lito starts losing, we also know we’ll see Wolfgang or someone else in the Cluster tag in for the win, but it still plays out so well as Lito gets back up for the 2nd round comeback like a real action hero. Lito’s story continues to be most rewarding as we see him have a heartfelt reunion with Hernando. His ultimate message was that being yourself is fighting and sacrificing everything for.
Over the last few episodes, we’ve seen many examples of the characters sharing in each other’s sadness and hardship to help them through it. However, this episode pledges the enjoyable reversal as we seethem increasingly sharing in each other’s happiness. Will’s scene of watching the fireworks on the bay is a great example of this. As he’s suddenly joined by Sun and Capheus, it hits you that these two visitors are really in a prison cell and a slum. Yet in the same way Capheus explains his TV as escapism, they can miraculously leave their gloomier worlds behind for something so wonderful. Sense8 continues to wield it’s soundtrack like a bazooka capable of blowing up any moment to new heights. The electro accompaniment to the fireworks is superb, and the intercutting to Nomi & Amanita’s bedroom explosions feels a nice nod to the infamous Neo/Trinity rave romp from Matrix Reloaded. Yet the audio and visual crescendo come from the climactic shared stroll down memory lane as Riley hearing her father play in concert triggers the unseen memory of her birth which repeats for the entire Cluster. This sequence is up there alongside “What’s Going On?” as the series best to date. Each character reaction in turn immensely powerful as they discover the memory they never knew they had (which of course all happened at the same time all over world, as revealed last episode). The cultural and character diversity is beating at the heart of it from the vast array of locations and circumstances of birth. Many play excellently on their characters, such as Lito’s family all too transfixed by watching a movie but most of all Riley’s father playing for down the phone for her mother for not being there (even if holding the phone to the crowning got a bit weird).
The slower advancing central story has been a bit of a gripe in the past episodes but as the series winds down, it’s oddly feeling less relevant. The individual character arcs have proven so great to watch with their increased Cluster, visiting and sharing elements that we’re not really bothered what the big evil, Whispers, is up to. Though we do still get a few more details as Jonas reveals it’s the Whsipers that have captured him and is trying to use him as a way of finding their Cluster. Will and Jonas’s museum exchange covers some interesting topics as Jonas have always been around but kept a secret by human kind out of fear. If the show gets a second season this could lead to some in joke reveals of famous historical figures actually being Sensates.
Overall this was the greatest episode of the show to date combining all of the show’s best attributes, using them in more innovative ways as escalation of the character’s powers continues. Will and Riley’s romance is still continuing nicely despite the prior warnings. We could still do with a clearer arrow pointing towards the conclusion. Obviously, Whsipers will find at least some of them but we’d still like more clues as to why he wants to. Whatever Human is, Sense8 is pretty darn great.
Episode 11, Just Turn the Wheel and the Future Changes – Capheus makes his decision about handing Amunita over to the Superpower gang and faces the consequences; Riley wakes up in hospital while Will and Nomi work to stop her being discovered, but it’s all in vein when Jonas reveals the Whispers knows about her.
Following on from last episode’s examination of choices, this penultimate episode examines consequences and just how quickly everything can change. Some of this comes from the fall out of the last episode. Although Wolfgang was the last man standing form the diamond exchange he knows full well that higher levels of the criminal family will still come after him and anyone he cares about. There’s a good logical flow to his actions as he gets Felix to safety before any of the threats to his medication come true. The breakout scenes have a nice few laughs to them; from the Home Alone worthy tool box hit to the obligatory alias used for Felix. They also serve as a fitting catalyst for the relations between Wolfgang and Kala. Their physical attraction has been clear from the early stages while their feelings towards each other have slowly progressed. Under the threat of imminent death it feels perfectly natural for Kala to make a Hail Mary l-word play. She knows as well as he does that it won’t stop him confronting the big boss, but when facing certain death, having something worth living for can make all the difference. Although it’s the one-man Van Damme himself, Capheus, that best demonstrates this when he quite literally rides into the mouth of death. His confrontation with The Superpower Gang makes for excellent action set piece as Sun gets warehouse full of henchmen to take out her rage on. There’s some good influences from The Raid films such as Sun (and Capheus) warming up on the hard prison wall until they bleed and of course, the machete gang fighting that ensues. The vehicle chase elements add a great extra dimension and also let Capheus stay in the driving seat as the Cluster wheel man of choice to make the end result feel more like his victory than someone else’s. The long running Van Damme joke has given us several fantastic moments over the series but climactic “bus kick” beats them all to a pulp. It’s the kind of beautifully bonkers moment that could only come from the minds of The Wachowskis and will have you laughing and cheering in equal magnitude.
In her own story, Sun is keen to make some consequences for her brother. The way she quickly see’s through his story is a great compliment to her character. As she’s been regularly kicking arse on multiple continents, the temptation is there to overlook her sharp mind and business finesse. Quickly seeing how her brother conveniently benefits from the events very adeptly reminds us that Sun is more than the go-to fighter of the Cluster. It also paints a new coat of interest on her story now that her dangling “get of jail free card” has been yanked back again. Her rash impulse towards her brother feels a little out of character but the cowardly little scrotum deserves so much that we can let that slide. Kala also finds a few unexpected consequences to her recent events. The “will they, won’t they” of her marriage to Rajan has lost its dramatic edge now that she’s clearly being paired with Wolfgang, but the episode plays off this well by implicating an ulterior motive for Rajan’s affections. This combined with her encounter from the fanatics at the temple builds good ground for Kala to leave her existing life behind, just as Wolfgang is doing with his, so this Indian/German pairing can start a new life together elsewhere. Will’s interjection over Kala’s temple troubles also heightens the feel of the Cluster circling the wagons. Will even vocalizes it before assisting Capheus, “Nobody’s about to die”. It signifies the Cluster transitioning from experiencing their connection to living it. For better or worse, they have each other’s backs.
The final scenes of the Whispers manipulating Jonas have a good creepiness to them and set up a finale confrontation over Riley’s fate; though it’s good to see that will not be the entire focus of the final episode. While initially, we wanted to see the Cluster members uniting in real life for a big climax, the show’s unique setup has shown it just doesn’t need that to deliver. This allows the focus to stay broad and deliver multiple big endings for the price of one. Some stories, like Capheus and Lito’s feel completed for the season but Wolfgang and Kala’s look set to hang in the balance away from Riley, Will, and Nomi in Iceland, while Sun feels like she has a prison break in her. These last two episodes have really hit home why Sense8 has been such a unique and rewarding viewing experience. However it ends, it’s already been worth the journey.