Sense8: The Artistic Netflix Success

As one of the earliest Netflix Originals to hit the streaming service, Sense8 was able to take a unique approach to the medium that simply could not be obtained via traditional television. Even with the Wachowski siblings (most famously known for wildly successful films such as The Matrix and V for Vendetta) acting as the primary creative team on the project, this show simply would not have gotten the necessary budget. More than that, it probably wouldn’t have even gotten the green light for production. Sense8 has all of the makings of a fantastic sci-fi series that is doomed to sit on the desk of a Hollywood executive until it loses all relevance.

Thankfully, this story came along at just the right time for its survival. Say what you’d like about Netflix and its counterparts in the streaming wars—there’s absolutely no shortage of questionable business practices there, and you won’t hear any protest to the contrary—but in its early days of original content, the service gave agency to stories that would have otherwise gone unheard. Sense8 is the prime example of what television can do when someone says, “Go ahead. Try something new. Focus on good art, not good money.”

And so they made good art. In a media landscape largely driven by the intensity of plot, the thrill of scandal, or the twist of an ending, Sense8 stands out as a large scale character study that thrives on the human experience. It’s not just a story about the Sensates, but rather a story about all of us.

This is most clearly demonstrated in the uniqueness of each character. The very premise of the show relies on diversity. It is in the blood and bones of the writing. Clusters of Sensates exist globally, meaning that each of these characters has as vastly different background from one another. Gone is the concept of a standard all-white cast, replaced by a beautiful depiction of internationality. People of color exist as a priority, not an afterthought. Their characters are multifaceted and serve a narrative purpose greater than the standard comedic relief or snarky sidekick. 

Sense8 is one of the few pieces of media that considers culture to be the primary source of diversity. These characters aren’t an Americanized white experience disguised as a different skin color—they aren’t some half-baked attempt to get progressiveness points among an audience that demands representation. Characters celebrate their home holidays, they carry their own cultural values, and these ideas conflict with those around them in a way that feels true to life. 

The show does the same with its queer representation, extending beyond the L and the G in LGBTQ+ into a wider view of the spectrum. There’s a strong emphasis on fluidity within both romance and sexuality, which is an idea that gets sorely neglected throughout most media and dramatically underplayed in stories that do touch on it.

While all of this sounds like it should be the standard, the fact of the matter is that it simply isn’t. Sense8 deserves the credit for actually stepping up to the plate and moving media forward to where it’s supposed to be. 

At the same time, the show recognizes that television as a medium relies heavily on the idea of entertainment. In a mainstream capacity, television differs from painting or sculpture and derives from performance. Audiences want to be engaged with. They want to laugh, and cry, and laugh until they cry. Especially now, the emphasis is on holding our attention and making us want to understand. Without entertainment, it doesn’t matter how progressive a show is—no one will watch it. Sense8 does a fantastic job of being both mindful and engaging, which enhances the effectiveness of both sides of that coin.

Unfortunately, the show came to an end quicker than fans anticipated. With such a heavy emphasis on genuine storytelling and a low focus on view-generated revenue, the show couldn’t fund itself. Art is important, but it is rarely sustainable. Sense8 fell victim to the standard. After only two seasons, the show was brought to an end, causing outrage among fans. The service wrapped the series with a feature-length conclusion, but many still feel cheated.