Only the Wachowskis could be able to end a show with a shot of a used, rainbow colored dildo, still dripping vaginal fluid, followed immediately by a fade to black with the words “For Our Fans” appearing on screen, and somehow illicit a tearful reaction from their audience.
As a fan of the Wachowskis, Sense8 was a show that I’ve been eagerly following since it first released on Netflix. And just to give some brief words about what I’ve thought of the show up to this point, I love it. I really do. It’s everything about the Wachowskis that I enjoy seeing and find refreshing compared to everything out there. It’s optimistic, it explores queer representation in ways mainstream entertainment tends to avoid, it’s super earnest to the point of schmaltziness, it has a dopey sense of humor, and it’s got some kick-ass action.
Although, my one big reservation about the show has always been with the character of Kala (Tina Desai), who is Indian woman, and whenever the show would cut away to whatever she had going on in Mumbai, the writing had a very noticeable dip in quality. Nothing about the way they portrayed Indian culture felt informed or authentic, and it then made me wonder if some of the other cultural stuff in the show in other parts of the world suffered the same way, and I just didn’t know about it. It’s the kind of stuff that indicates a most white writers’ room, and lack of basic consultation from someone who can say what feels more truthful to the character and where they come from. Any scene taking place in India was honestly a bit of a struggle for me, but I was able to power through them because the rest of the show is still really good.
Thankfully, no scenes in India for the big series finale! So, a bit of context, Netflix cancelled the show in January of 2017, which sparked a passionate outcry from the fans, and eventually, it was revealed in June that a final two-hour special will be made to serve as the finale. Cut to one year later, the just over two-and-a-half hour special, “Amor Vincit Omnia,” was released this passed weekend. Something interesting worth noting is that this episode was directed solely by Lana Wachowski, and she co-wrote it with David Mitchell (who wrote the book, Cloud Atlas, which the Wachowskis adapted in collaboration with Tom Tykwer) and Aleksandar Hemon. Both of whom weren’t credited with any previous episodes, since that always went to the Wachowskis and the show’s co-creator, J. Michael Straczynski. Though, it seems like the two authors were brought into the writers’ room for season two.
I’m happy to report that the series finale is just lovely. It’s exactly the kind of send off every fan would want from the show. I mean, sure, it’s got a lot of the same problems that show had. There is some really clunky structuring, long-winded exposition, and the occasionally over plotty storytelling. However, the love for the characters that has always been there remains true here, and that is where I found the most joy watching the show. I find all these characters effortlessly endearing, and it’s so easy for me to root for them. I wish some characters got more to do in the finale, such as Lito (Miguel Ángel Silvestre) and Capheus (Toby Onwumere), but it probably would’ve risked making the finale a tad imbalanced, especially given its already excessive length.
I don’t want to get into too much plot details, since the plotting of this finale feels secondary to the emotional weight and thematic core of the entire show. It’s a show that celebrates love, empathy, human connection, and optimism, and it simply refuses to be subtle about it. Even I’ll admit that once the show delved into the more conspiracy-oriented stuff, I mentally kind of check out because I’m not as interested in that as I am in simply seeing the characters bounce off each other, literally and figuratively. The way action sequences are crafted, utilizing the cast in various locations around the world, and seamlessly editing them together is never not impressive to me.
I don’t really have much else to say. As a fan of the show, it gave me exactly what I wanted. I got to see characters I love for one last time, and I got to see them be happy and loved and appreciated for who they are. There’s a wedding scene in the end that plays out seemingly in real time that, in any other show, I would’ve found infuriatingly indulgent, but here, I didn’t want it to end. It’s sad, but I’m ultimately happy about where it went. Then, you of course have the show ending in an orgy sequence that perfectly encapsulates everything this show is about. The show has admittedly been a bumpy ride, but the technical accomplishments of this show, combined with its absolutely essential messaging, ultimately makes it a ride worth sitting through. Consider checking it out if you haven’t yet. I hope we can see more from the Wachowskis soon.