The story
Eight strangers living in different corners of the world are suddenly, inexplicably connected. As "sensates" they can feel what the others feel, share their skills and step into one another's lives at moments of crisis – a fight in one city, a heartbreak in another. The bond makes them targets for a sinister figure known as Whispers, and the cluster must learn to trust each other to stay alive.
Why it matters
Sense8 showed both the ambition streaming allowed and its limits: a globe-spanning ensemble shot almost entirely on location and praised for its LGBTQ characters, then cancelled because its passionate audience could not cover its costs. Fan campaigns persuaded Netflix to fund a feature-length finale, an early example of viewers winning a proper ending.
Notable facts
- The first season won the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Drama Series. (source)
- It was filmed almost entirely on location in cities around the world. (source)
- Netflix's Ted Sarandos said its audience, though passionate, was not large enough to support its high production costs. (source)
- After #RenewSense8 campaigns, Lana Wachowski announced a finale special in June 2017; it was released a year later. (source)