Sense8: Season 2/ Episode 0 "Christmas Special" – Overview/ Review (with Spoilers)

Spoiler Alert: This post may contain spoilers. Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.

Spoiler Alert: This post may contain spoilers. Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.

Overview

Sense8 makes a quick visit to remind us of its existence, recap the state of all the characters, and move the story just enough forward so that it can get you excited for when Season 2 really begins.

Trigger Warning(s):

Gun Violence | Needle Injections

Review (with Spoilers)

Topic 1: Thankful for Associates (Capheus {Toby Onwumere})

Unfortunately for Capheus, the original Van Dam bus explodes. However, thanks to the patronage of Mr. Kabaka {Peter King Mwania}, for all he did in the first season, a new Van Dam bus is gifted on Capheus’ birthday.

Commentary

Capheus’ legend after taking on the Superpower gang is what will be of interest in the coming season. It has inspired the people to perhaps quit their jobs and other crazy nonsense for after telling Jela {Paul Ogola} about Sun taking him over, though more so speaking of her as a spirit, it seems he has spread the word. Leading you to wonder when, or even how, will Kabaka’s enemies strike back? Much less, whether this notoriety may go to Capheus’ head to the point Sun may let him get his ass whooped in lieu of a reality check.

Topic 2: Thankful For Family & Lovers (Lito {Miguel Ángel Silvestre} & Will {Brian J. Smith})

While Will deals with Milton haunting him, and his father, Riley {Tuppence Middleton} tries her best to keep him hidden through continuous shots of drugs. However, like with Angelica {Daryl Hannah}, so it seems, this method can’t work forever. Especially as Milton seems ready to threaten Will’s close ones.

As for Lito? Well, his relationship with Hernando {Alfonso Herrera} is exposed in the worse way possible. With a picture of them having sex. With this, it seems his career is over but with Hernando, Daniela {Eréndira Ibarra}, and his mother {Dolores Heredia} by his side, it seems Lito will survive.

Commentary

I’d be lying to you if I said I remembered Will or Riley’s story at all. Though all things considered, they are the most normal out of everyone. At least if you are used to American media. She is a DJ and he is a cop, they become lovers and while Angelica haunts Will, as does Jonas, Riley is there to make things better. They would as each other’s strength and while a beautiful thing, compared to the diverse depictions of life that the other cast members have, it makes theirs dull and forgettable in comparison.

I mean, just look at Lito’s situation. Granted, coming out and gay characters has been normalized in media. However, one could argue when it comes to Latin men, especially of the masculine variety, there isn’t as much visibility. I mean, if you look hard enough you will surely find quite a few web series, but trying to find a TV series, of this magnitude, featuring a queer Latin man will be quite difficult. So it is quite lovely to see him, Silvestre, sort of balance the masculinity with the femininity. In the sense that we get to see him be emotional, vulnerable, yet still maintain the stereotypical male strength. It is like, through accepting, acknowledging, and verbalizing he is gay, he is now able to tap into the full range of his humanity.

Topic 3: Thankful For Friends (Nomi {Jamie Clayton}, Kala {Tina Desai}, Sun {Doona Bae}, and Wolfgang {Max Riemelt})

Nomi is still on the run, but Agent Bendix {Anthony Cistaro} is hot on her tail. Luckily, Bug {Michael Sommers} provides shelter to Nomi and Amanita {Freema Agyeman} over the Christmas holiday. Thus giving them some time to breathe. Meanwhile, Kala and Wolfgang are still having issues with their attraction to each other. It is especially affecting Kala’s relationship to Rajan {Purab Kohli} who still hasn’t had sex with his wife. To the point, he is asking her mother for advice. Focusing on Wolfgang, it seems a gang war is brewing in Berlin and with Felix {Maximilian Mauff} finally getting out of the hospital, it seems hanging around Wolfgang may send him back.

Thus leaving Sun. Her brother continues to sully her name and even sends people to kill her. Luckily, though, her friends both inside the prison and around the world provide her the support to continue. Just as she continues to support them with her willingness to listen and to kick ass.

Commentary

Is it wrong I completely forgot who Wolfgang was, what he did, who Felix was, until his aunt, mother, or whoever, started talking about the mobster stuff they were involved in? I mean, say what you will, but it does feel the white guys on this show got the blandest of storylines and arguably the actors aren’t given much to not drown in the awesomeness of everyone else. I mean, just take Kala. On top of there not being a huge amount of Indian women on TV, she is this odd mix of tradition and yet being modern. I won’t say it is fear which keeps her from having sex with her husband but the unknowning, the second thoughts due to Wolfgang, and there is something appealing about that.

Though, of course, perhaps the two best characters on the show are the ones who are the most different: Nomi and Sun. As the western world continues to adjust to the idea that gender isn’t Black and White, we see a trans woman in love, have sex, and the trans label, except when other people, her parents, make an issue of it, isn’t that big of a deal. It is something she identifies as, yes, but it isn’t her total being.

Switching to Sun, honestly, how can she not be your favorite character? She can whoop ass, give sex advice to Kala, and have this cute communal relationship with the other women in prison. One which perhaps, like Daniel in Lito’s story, maybe the first taste of what a family is like outside of her sensate siblings. Thus, for those sappy like yours truly, it may make you a bit teary-eyed.

Collected Quote(s)

“Art… is love made public.”

—           “A Christmas Special.” Sense8