Round Two: Sense8

Sense8: Season 1, Episode 2 “I Am Also a We” (B)

This episode was definitely an improvement on the first hour of this series, not enough to confidently say that it will be great but enough for me to decide that it’s worth sticking with, at least for a few weeks. It’s not as much of a mystery as it is a science fiction drama, with Naveen Andrews’ Jonas guiding these eight unconnected people to be able to access their new higher abilities and unlock the potential of what they’ve become. The last scene demonstrated that this show isn’t going to be a slow burn where they gradually start to realize that they’re gifted but that there will be payoff, even if it’s just one major bombshell at a time. It was hard to tell whether Jonas was actually there on his visits in this hour, and for him to show up in the passenger seat of Will’s car was one thing, but Will then unknowingly beaming himself into Jonas’ car was pretty cool and unexpected. The resulting car crash leaves Jonas’ fate unknown, though I suspect that he’ll continue to be a crucial part of the show, even if it’s only in a strictly ethereal sense. Nomi is definitely the show’s most fascinating character in her own right, even before her new abilities. Her mother showing up to the hospital, banishing Amanita, and referring to her as Michael was stifling and unkind, and it was wonderful to learn that Amanita was doing her very best to spirit Nomi out of the hospital and away from a procedure that Jonas suggested was designed to lobotomize her. I imagine that others will be front and center in future episodes, but I sincerely hope that Nomi still manages to play a large part.