******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ******************** #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. *****************************************************************
Just completed binge watching season 2 of "Sense8", the sexually and often erotically themed sci-fi series on Netflix that covers the development of a 'sense cluster' of 8 young adults spread equally around the world (SF, Seoul, Hyderabad, Nairobi, Berlin, Mexico City, Iceland and Chicago) who start 'clustering' that is, realizing they are totally attached at the telepathic level, even able to experience the emotional and physical sensations of the others at will. Thus "Sense 8", the title. The first season introduces use to the characters and, their partners who are not Sense sensitive. This includes a transgender women (as she identifies herself) and her lover; a Chicago cop; a Nairobi bus driver; a gay (though not out as one) actor in Mexico city, etc. The first season shows how they begin to become aware of each other though of course, not quite believing it until the end of the first series. Also revealed, which is very standard fare for this sort of thing, the secret public-private agency hunting down these 'clusters' of people. In fact our 8 member team doesn't even realize there are other clusters out there. At least not until half way through the first season. The series is probably the most beautifully shot television show I've ever scene. Last year when it premiered, it was the first series ever shot in the absolute latest, greatest, HD video. But more importantly it was shot on location...like everywhere the characters reside: Berlin, India, Mexico, etc. It's quite impressive. Important sub themes running throughout the first season and then *increased* in viability are the issue of gay identity and rights and transgender identity and rights. While these a "sub-themes" that play parts of intermediate importance in Season 1, they are elevated, to something of a preachy level, in Season 2, though it still "works" it does become a bit much for this viewer. Though in all cases it is always done well. I highly recommend it if one is a Netflix subscriber. Just a comment on my use of the terms I used: "sexually and often erotically theme sci-fi series". Yes...this is one of the most important parts and themes of this series: the beauty of love as expressed not only through our main characters respect and developing *loyalty* and trust to each other, being able to provide their own skill set to a member of the cluster under duress in any circumstance, but their profound developing love for each other and which is often enough expressed through making love, with their special kind of telepathy. This is all amazingly erotic without at all being exploitative or, IMO, gratuitous. That, for me, is something rare in film and especially television. This is as true for the straight characters as it is for the transgender and gay ones. Given the directors eye for beauty (not so much physically but in one's demeanor and attitudes) combined with the amazing cinematography, I was blown away by the sex scenes in this series. Truly astounding work. _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: http://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
