@DemhaFeta:

was awful, liked the dudes tho

I wonder if you might not have understood it

.

No I'm sure he understood it. It was absolutely awful. Just like the Matrix movies, Cloud Atlas and Jupiter Ascending.

It's not that you have an understanding of something deep and profound that only a select few are smart enough to fathom. You just have bad taste  ;D

was awful, liked the dudes tho

I wonder if you might not have understood it.

The problem with really good science fiction that, in general, it is not written or produced for the general public.

For example, if you go back and watch some of the best of the original STAR TREK episodes, you find that many were written by science fiction author and that they were, well, thoughtful.

On the other hand, the current STAR TREK movies have been greatly dumbed-down over the decades, something that started during ST:TNG and continued (with a few exceptions) during the various TREK series.  The reason, of course, this was dumb-downed – and producer J.J. Abrams even stated publicly he was doing that -- was to make in reach a "bigger audience" i.e. make more money.

"Sense 8" is a real science fiction series and one that deals with the "soft sciences" -- psychology, sociology, and such.  There is even a philosophy to it -- something that has been removed from the current TREK movies.

Likely, right now, the best "hard sciences" science fiction on television is "The Expanse" based on -- and sticking fairly close to -- a series of hard SF novels of that name.

"Sense 8" is not for everyone -- because it was purposely NOT made for the general public.

. . .

It used to be that watching a movie in a theater was like that. You could show up at any time, begin wherever the movie happened to be at that moment, and sit on through till you had seen it all. Usually, it was that long ago, there was also a second feature and a short subject and/or newsreel and/or cartoon. Today, I read that some US citizen in the greatest and most freest country ever ever ever was arrested for sitting in a movie theater through the long, long break between single title showings and tried to see it a second time. The horror! Sic transit, etc.

Perhaps skipping the first episode or two of Sense8 will provide enough of a running start, just as if you entered a television show in mid season and had to catch up on the characters and unfolding story lines. There are worse fates.

On related topics: Turns out the reichwinge attempt to take over science fiction fandom's venerable and respected Hugo awards was a failure at this year's World Fantasy Convention. Yay.

Also, thanks for the nice photos of some of the Sense8 characters. Perhaps someone will post some of the full-frontal nudes as well, though perhaps it is better to save those visions for those who care about the story and have invested enough time to enjoy seeing major characters (rather than walk-ons or supporting players) show their stuff.

Not that handsome, talented Tom Riley takes it all off in The Da Vinci Code, dammit, though there is other skin on view, but the third and final season of that historical fantasy involving real history and much preposterous mumbo jumbo, will be back 24 October. Not as naked in general as Spartacus was, but once again there is little or no discrimination in terms of the full range of enjoyments on the Kinsey scale. Totally apart from the titillation factor, the socio-political implications are certainly worth supporting and encouraging.

My own belief is that "real men" have sex with anyone who agrees, male or female, and at least with all the women actors and singers coming out as being at least bi or heteroflexible, that trend may be continuing in life as well as in art.

But then, I'm old fashioned enough to notice every time a man on a telly advert has scruff, mustache, or beard, which was not always the norm in the US. And also, I am still struck by noticing in adverts and elsewhere, the number of non-white friends and neighbors hanging out in suburbia just as if society were actually integrated. Mutatis mutandis.

And my favorite scene is duet of Lito and Wolfgang, the fighting and the blowing scene is the best!

There will be no fourth season, but all thirteen episodes of the current third will air.

Fuck you, NBC. Just… fuck you.

(Source: http://deadline.com/2015/06/hannibal-cancelled-3-seasons-nbc-1201451774/; also, other places, just Google "Hannibal".)

I'm trying not to say too much for those who might be interested in seeing it.

I maintain my earlier stance. This show isn't that good. Hopefully the second season—assuming there is one; although, to be fair, the showrunners have planned for it to last five years—will be much more concise and get rid of unnecessary characters and storylines if need be.

One of the reviews here commented that there was nothing science fictional happening.  On the contrary, this is great science fiction.  SF does not need futuristic props or special effects or CGI to make it science fiction.

@bostonpolar:

I'll be blunt and say this:  SENSE8 is not for everyone.  It is for people who can understand and enjoy well-written and deeply thoughtful psychological drama.  It is complex as it is telling 8 different stories that will become one story.  It is not shallow TV.  It isn't "reality" TV.  It is not for people who give up when a series or a show is difficult for them to understand.  It is for people who want to push ahead, to challenge themselves to learn and to understand and grow to be better themselves.  SENSE8 is everything that is NOT what STAR TREK has become.

^ what he said.

I came for the gay, stayed for the plot and characters.

@groovedware:

There is so much television right now I may have to scale back the porn research…

Nonsense. Porn research is terribly crucial for our survival as a species. I have any number of proofs to support this, but they're all a little…sticky. For some reason. So you'll just have to take me at my word.

Also, still haven't watched Sense8's finale, but I'll give it a go tonight.

This!  People say to me "What do you do?" and I usually answer "God's work" because I consider the research I am doing with porn more important than anything else.  Thank you I sleep well tonight.

There is so much television right now I may have to scale back the porn research…

Nonsense. Porn research is terribly crucial for our survival as a species. I have any number of proofs to support this, but they're all a little…sticky. For some reason. So you'll just have to take me at my word.

Also, still haven't watched Sense8's finale, but I'll give it a go tonight.

However, with regards to Sense8, I was working under some misinformation.  I slogged through to episode 3 because I had read that was where it really picked up and the implication was because that was the episode that Tom Tykwer directs but I've just checked and it's actually episode 4 he directs.

There is so much television right now I may have to scale back the porn research…

1st Episode.. I was thinking "What the hell is going on?" It was too confusing for me to maintain my interest, but I watched it slowly and certain parts over again. I figured I would give it another episode.

2nd Episode.. My interest was piqued and I began to follow the storyline easier. When Netflix rolled into the 3rd Episode, I watched.

3rd Episode.. by the end I said "Damn, this show is pretty good."

4th Episode I was hooked. I felt comfortable with what was going on and wanted to know "how far down did the rabbit hole go." I actually cried at certain parts.

I'm starting the 5th episode and I'm excited. If you want to get into this show, my advice is to give it a chance for at least 3 episodes and pay close close attention to whats going on. I didn't on the 1st episode and lost interest. I watched it again slowly and started to build a mild interest. In my opinion it does have enough to be on this site because there's a lot of LGBTQ stuff going on in it (although it's not all LGBTQ).

Episode 1 of Season 3 is still not fully absorbed here and so I have not attempted 2 though it is lurking me like a cannibal who has fed on Spam only.

Although Du Maurier is my brand of smoke she is my 2nd favourite aspect of Hannibal (& Janice Poon's Feeding Hannibal has totally dropped off the list now that she's marketing a book) and all the other aspects combined don't match up to the sound.  Brian Reitzell knows G-d.