Introduction

The original science fiction work “Sense8” launched by Netflix in the summer of 2015 received quite high reviews, which strengthened the original brand image of Netflix. Sense8 is directed by Lily Wachowski and Lana Wachowski. Breakthrough ideas are also on display in this new work. But in fact, “Sense 8” is not a sci-fi action film like the Matrix, but a sci-fi drama that explores a lot of self-talk. Transgender themes and gender diversity are an important element. Through eight characters scattered around the world, the show presents a collective consciousness and the connection of the emotional world.

Emotional value

This is a geeky work of art and soul, it shows the extreme perception and emotion of everything in the world, and is really not acceptable to the audience. Everyone is more or less suffering from some “autism”, the emergence of wireless communication and the Internet has narrowed the distance between people, but from another level, it has further amplified people’s loneliness. We long for someone to lend us a hand when we are out of reach, and for someone to have faith when we hesitate, because in many cases these longs are not fulfilled. Sense8 helps lonely people achieve this ultimate “delusion.” These 8 unknown young people have become 100% sharing each other’s relatives, friends, and selves through empathy, there is no secret between them, so that emotions have nowhere to hide, and this loneliness finally transforms into a strange power.

Breakthrough sharing concept

Sense8 continues to impact mainstream social culture. There is a famous scene in Sense 8 where the eight main characters share the pleasure of sex through empathy. This kind of “immoral” behavior of multiple people that challenges the traditional concept is shocking to the audience visually. The picture reflects the director’s cognition of different gender identities. In this scene, it seems that there are no men, women or other genders, they are all human beings, they are sharing with each other and feeling happiness with each other. That’s what I think the director is trying to say in this shot. In Sense 8, the director did not shy away from frequent sexual contact and explicit nature. But I don’t think sex is the only or most important theme of the show. The symbolism and nuance of the narrative about sex and gender is the true soul of the show. The friendship of the eight protagonists does not have any attached conditions, they will not have the slightest exclusion or resentment because of each other’s identity, nationality, color, orientation, belief, status, behavior, experience and other differences, which is almost impossible to exist in reality, but in the play to come naturally, is the true sense of no boundaries, the romantic dream of the world.

References

Netflix. (2015）Sense8 | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix. [YouTube video].

Snowlight Productions. (2017）What’s Going On | Sense8. [YouTube video].

Hertoni Sense8. (2017). #34 Hertoni: Hernando + Lito + Dani | Sense8. [YouTube video].

Vassilis Gerasopoulos, SENSE8: ASPIRING FOR ‘A DIFFERENT STORY ABOUT DIFFERENCE’ (Sep 12, 2018). Sense8: Aspiring for ‘A different story about difference’ – MAI: Feminism & Visual Culture (maifeminism.com)

So Mayer, Sense8 and The OA: making the vital connection in alternative science fiction(March 3, 2017). Sense8 and The OA: in alternative science fiction, the vital connection is made | Sight & Sound | BFI

Fandom, Netflix’s Sense8: Otherness Through The Societal Lens(May 20, 2017). Netflix’s Sense8: Otherness Through The Societal Lens – Got Fandom? (northamptonfandom.co.uk)

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