When I first watched the show, I rated it a 10. I found it unique, beautifully filmed, and so...human. You witness all these different people learning about each other and aiding in each other's struggles using their individual strengths. The sense of empathy amidst the topical struggles they faced was inspiring. Even into Season 2, which took a long time to come out, I deeply cared about these characters.
Why dock 2 stars?
1. It was confusing, honestly. Sometimes sci-fi shows can do that; they introduce complex issues and throw on layers and flashbacks to make the story more "realistic" and "interesting," I'm guessing. I didn't quite process everything until Season 2, meaning most of Season 1 left me wondering what exactly was going on.
2. I get the point of the sex scenes. Sex is part of being human. The sensates experience extra pleasure during sex due to their connection. However, it did become a little much.
3. After reading the reviews here, I suddenly recalled that yes, each character arc was permeated with stereotypes. I won't repeat what the other reviews said, but essentially, the show fronts as being novel and groundbreaking while falling on certain tropes. That stuff did feel overextended in Season 2. I will concede that putting them all together in a single show is still distinctive, and I personally haven't watched many movies or shows with trans women, Indian women, gay Mexicans, or Asian women battling a patriarchal society.
Because the show tells the story of 8 people, I sometimes wish there was more dialogue and further exploration of the cultural significance and societal pressures for some of the characters. Regardless, my rating is mostly based on how I felt watching the show, and the verdict is that I felt that many groups were represented, I liked the concept and overall story, and I came away feeling fulfilled.
