Some sad news rains down on the first day of Pride Month. Earlier today, Netflix announced the cancellation of The Wachowski's Sense8 after its two-season run.
The drama first premiered on Netflix in June 2015, introducing us to eight characters from around the world who are all mentally linked, dealing with their own and then each others' daily lives and the mysterious and dangerous company trying to track them down. It wasn't a perfect show, oftentimes very unstructured, but it was a strong leap towards representation with a diverse cast that even included a trans-actress (Jamie Clayton) playing a trans-character.
Netflix's VP of original content, Cindy Holland, issued a statement today about the cancellation:
"After 23 episodes, 16 cities and 13 countries, the story of the Sense8 cluster is coming to an end. It is everything we and the fans dreamed it would be: bold, emotional, stunning, kick ass, and outright unforgettable. Never has there been a more truly global show with an equally diverse and international cast and crew, which is only mirrored by the connected community of deeply passionate fans all around the world. We thank Lana, Lilly, Joe and Grant for their vision, and the entire cast and crew for their craftmanship and commitment."
No particular reason for its cancellation has been stated but with it being a largely expensive production there could be a multitude of reasons. It does come as a hurtful surprise, however, with it having a much stronger second season and the fact that today is the first day of Pride Month--it all feels like a slap to the face of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Fans are understandably outraged, calling foul on all fronts, making queries as to why other less-than-impacting shows are receiving renewals when Sense8 was just building momentum. Adding fuel to the fire is the cancellation of Baz Luhrmann's The Get Down (also featuring POC's and LGBT+ characters) that was announced just last week after only a single season.
Losing two popular shows that not only represented but celebrated diversity has made the beginning of Pride Month feel a little despairing.
But all is not lost, be loud in your disappointment, make it known that shows like Sense8 and The Get Down, that celebrate love and acceptance despite vast differences, are so vital in moving the world forwards. And then support the shows: raise their numbers, keep them buzzing, let Netflix know that we're not letting go without a fight.
Stay happy my darlings,
~ Tilly ~
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