S01.E05: Art is Like Religion

[Athena]

 

The Sensates struggle with intensifying connections, which results in some interesting days on set for Lito and a wedding day surprise for Kala.

[in2dust]

I'm bingeing through this way too fast.

 

Kind of confused by how easily Freema's character believes in Nomi's visions but I do like her supportiveness. Now that the apartment has been ransacked it clearer though. Yay, Officer Guy for telling off Nomi's horrible mother.

 

I really enjoyed the conversation between Sun and African Bus Boy. They both seem very ready too give up a lot for their family. The difference obviously that Bus Boy's mother seems like a good person while I have no idea what Sun sees in her family. They suck.

 

Wolfgang and Maybe-Not-A-Bride-Anymore clearly are destined for each other. After that penis close-up you know she is over her fiance. Also I'm super jealous of that spa/swimming pool Wolfgang was in. That looked so beautiful.

 

Not much to say about DJ and Gay Actor. The fighting scene they were shooting was fund and his freak out in the car was interesting but it didn't really do much plotwise.

[Eegah]

I suspected before, but now I'm definitely calling that Lito's film is the Wachowskis taking the absolute piss out of their own work. They've never shown this kind of self-deprecating humor before, and it's a good look for them. I'm really getting the idea that they and JMS are perfect writing partners, balancing out their respective strengths and weaknesses for a product as strong as possible.

[Chaos Theory]

Another really great fight scene.  Finally liked the actor guy (I really do need to learn his name)  and I loved the fight scene with him and the cop (Also need to learn his name)

 

Favorite scenr was between Sun and Van Damme (Notice how I know their names)

 

Although Wolfgang bas a nice package.  At first I thought we would just be getting a butt shot buuuttt then.....

[Uncle Benzene]

I think my favorites right now are Lito, Hernando(?) and Daniela. They're a hoot, and in a show that maintains such a relentlessly "serious" vibe, the little moments of humor are greatly appreciated (and it's usually them providing it.) I love how they seem to be becoming their own little family-by-choice. It's so damn cute.

 

And Lito, specifically, is a freakin' RIOT!

 

Also, absolutely LOVE Sun. I find everything about her and her story appealing.

[dewrays]

Lito is hilarious. I loved the fight sequence in the end. Lito almost made it look like a beautifully choreographed dance sequence.

[90PercentGravity]

So, if sensates hook up, is it sensest?

[thuganomics85]

So, I guess there are places in Europe, where you can swim naked in?  Did not know that.  They sure had fun with only showing Wolfgang's ass, but then he pops into Indian Gal's wedding and bam.  Dick shot.  Yeah, those two are hooking up: either by finally meeting each other, or there is going to be some kind of way to have sex mentally.

 

The Sun and "Van Damme" scene was great.  I really love these two characters, and even though it's frustrating that Sun is willing to do go to jail for her ungrateful family, I like that these two characters both are willing to do what it takes in honor of their mothers.  At least Sun make arraignments for her dog!  I am worried though that things are going to get worse for Van Damme, the more he gets in bed with the criminals.

 

Lito's stuff was mainly fluff, but it was so damn entertaining.  The actor was having a blast in all of those scenes.  He really does have good comedic timing.

 

So, Will's trying to find that witness from the video cam, right?  Was a bit confused about that part.  At least he checked in on Nomi, and set Nomi's mother straight.  Sucks that Nomi and "Martha Jones" place got trashed, but at least they are still supporting one another.  I really hope nothing happens to their relationship (same with Lito and his boyfriend.)

 

DJ Riley and Van Damme were also fun.  Of course, Van Damme would automatically think of Harry Potter, when he finds out he's "in London."  Never change, Van Damme.

Edited June 9, 2015 by thuganomics85

[Sakura12]

I'm really starting to love this show. 

 

I loved that when Wolfgang was swimming they were really trying to not show his front, then BAM dick shot at Kala's wedding. Haha

 

I'm also really love the threesome of Lito, Hernando and Daniella. It does feel like they are on their own show but it is a show I like watching

 

ETA: Van Damme is adorable. 

Edited June 9, 2015 by Sakura12

[Atony]

So, I guess there are places in Europe, where you can swim naked in?  Did not know that

 

Yes, it was a valid point when Wolfgang said Europeans are less uptight about nudity.  If you go to most German spas, people will be swimming, eating, drinking, walking around and socializing all bare as the day they were born (sadly most of them do not look like Wolfgang lol).

 

And yes, I love the way the show hid his penis so you assumed it wouldn't go there, but instead gave the audience the same shock Kala had when you saw him standing their completely nude.  It was hilarious.

Edited June 9, 2015 by Atony

[ottoDbusdriver]

Sucks that Nomi and "Martha Jones" place got trashed, but at least they are still supporting one another.

 

I'm curious "who" trashed their apartment -- the cops ? Dr. Mengele ... err, Metzger ?  Nomi's shitmother (TM Helena on 'Orphan Black') ?  And what were they looking for ?

[DrLar]

Are the Mexicans doing a threesome by definition or she just sleeps on the same bed?  (I want to see some of that action, specially Daniela, she has a hot bod)

She did mention she likes gay porn, my guess is she just watches them? they won't see to be shy about it..

 

The shooting scene straight from The Matrix movie LOL

 

I'm also wondering, real penis or prosthetic? (on Spartacus they were prosthetic)

[Atony]

I'm also wondering, real penis or prosthetic? (on Spartacus they were prosthetic)

 

The actor, Max Riemalt, I know from a german move Freier Fall (worth watching, good movie and he is terrific) where he also did full frontal nudity.  I have not compared the two nude scenes side by side lol, but I would assume that was him.

[dewrays]

" I see you villain. I see you villain , with your big fucking villain mustache ."

 

"I see you. You  tacky, cheap weaved plastic titted whore.

 

"She is not crying , the same way, I AM NOT SCREAMING ."

 

I love you Lito.

[tennisgurl]

This show really does keep getting better and better. I cant even decide who my favorite character is, I love them all so much. I think its Lito right now though. He cracks me up. Followed by Sun probably. I love her story, even if her loser family does not deserve her awesomeness. 

 

Whats Going On is still stuck in my head. I said heeeeeeeyaaaaaa. 

 

Sun`s dog is extremely cute, by the way. 

 

I also love hearing the gang speak their native, non English languages sometimes. 

[snakenax]

 

I'm also wondering, real penis or prosthetic? (on Spartacus they were prosthetic)

Real, prosthetic penises don't hold up to close up(the two times a prosthetic are used in Spartacus were both long shots and were well.. pretty obviously fake even then due to sheer size). Plus his actor has done a lot of nudity, including frontal, before(Lito's actor has too, which is why i'm surprised he never goes beyond side view on the show given how heavily it objectifies him and how much the show enjoys reversing the usual gendered nature of nudity on premier cable type series)

Edited June 13, 2015 by snakenax

[jhlipton]

Kind of confused by how easily Freema's character believes in Nomi's visions but I do like her supportiveness. 

 

 

I think that 'Netta is going on the theory this if "shit!mother says 'X', 'NOT x" must be correct.  Since Nomi's mom says she needs the operation, it's a very safe bet toi say she doesn't.  That said,, they are in the most LGBT-friendly city in America -- there are a bunch of places they could go that would protect Nomi, and the press would roast her mother so bad she'd have to flee out of Cali.  (And good riddance!)

 

I'm also really love the threesome of Lito, Hernando and Daniella. It does feel like they are on their own show but it is a show I like watching

 

Both Hernando and Lito seem very gay, so I'm assuming that Daniella is getting off by watching them fuck. And then it's Everybody Cuddle Time!

[OoogleEyes]

Lito channeling Sun's PMS was hysterical!

Edited July 5, 2015 by OoogleEyes

[DropTheSoap]

i like that Martha Jones mentioned The Lexington. A lesbian bar in SF gentrified out of existence.

[ahisma]

Damn, I miss The Lex. The hottest bartender worked there on Wednesday nights.

[Anela]

I'm glad that I stuck with this show. It really didn't grab me at first.

[jhlipton]

I'm glad that I stuck with this show. It really didn't grab me at first.

 

It does take a while to build, but amply pays that patience.

[shrewd.buddha]

We are watching two episodes at a time  - which is making it difficult to distinguish any one episode from another. Eight separate stories is a lot to juggle, along with the over-arching story with Naveen Andrews' character. Was there a reason to have titles for the episodes? None of the single shows seem to have a unifying theme or plot or resolution. 

 

Thoughts at this point:

  There does not seem to be any reason that these particular eight people are connected. There does not appear to be any rhyme or reason why any two characters 'connect' at any particular time. I do appreciate how difficult it must have been to coordinate the actors and locations for some of the scenes. 

  It reminds me of shows written by Tim Kring (Heroes, Numbers, Dig) : international characters in  global settings whose stories and lives begin to intersect. All of those had an interesting premise but poor conclusion. 

   So far it seems as if almost all the women characters (even Daryl Hannah) are victims or suffering from cultural suppression. Most of the men, I think, appear to be more 'in charge' of their lives. Not sure if that was intentional or coincidence. 

 

Currently the runaway Indian Bride story is not very satisfying. But I tend to get annoyed at characters that refuse to be honest about their feelings - especially when the other party does not appear to be a bad person or unreasonable. And Wolfgang the German thief was never portrayed as the type of person who would care whether or not someone was in love when they married. (Maybe the Indian bride-to-be should have considered how many marriages end in divorce regardless of how the couple felt about one another when they got married.) 

[myril]

We are watching two episodes at a time  - which is making it difficult to distinguish any one episode from another. Eight separate stories is a lot to juggle, along with the over-arching story with Naveen Andrews' character. Was there a reason to have titles for the episodes? None of the single shows seem to have a unifying theme or plot or resolution.

 

Tip:  Look at it more as a movie novel served in 12 chapters. The titles have to do something with what you get to see in an episode, but it's not plain obviously every time.  But seemingly out of place episode titles is not an invention of this show. No, the episodes have no resolution at the end, it's a constantly ongoing story. As suggested, don't look it in an episodic way.

 

 

 

Thoughts at this point:

  There does not seem to be any reason that these particular eight people are connected. There does not appear to be any rhyme or reason why any two characters 'connect' at any particular time. I do appreciate how difficult it must have been to coordinate the actors and locations for some of the scenes.

 

There is always a reason why and when two or more of the sensates connect. Tip: Look at emotional states they are in, at thoughts they might have, at needs, similarities. It can be a bit of a puzzle, but to me that was one of the intriguing sides of this show and reason to rewatch it more than once, to discover all the details, how and why connections happen for example. As in a musical, orchestral work, I think, they worked with themes, motifs, contrapunctus.

Yes it was sure not easy to keep track and ensure continuity. They didn't film chronologically (that I think would have been an unresolvable nightmare) but filmed all scenes at one location, then moved on to the next location, meaning that between the different shots for the connection scenes weeks, months could go by. And great editing was done. You should watch the documentary, the making of after you've seen all episodes, it's on Netflix.

 

 

Currently the runaway Indian Bride story is not very satisfying. But I tend to get annoyed at characters that refuse to be honest about their feelings - especially when the other party does not appear to be a bad person or unreasonable. And Wolfgang the German thief was never portrayed as the type of person who would care whether or not someone was in love when they married. (Maybe the Indian bride-to-be should have considered how many marriages end in divorce regardless of how the couple felt about one another when they got married.)

 

I wouldn't call it runaway Indian Bride story. Kala is struggling with traditions, her respect and love for family, being a  young, well educated and rather independent woman in a certain cultural context. She is not on the run, and it's open if she ever will be because of the marriage. Kala is struggling how to bring conflicting feelings and believes in balance. Think she saw Wolfgang at first as spiritual challenge, I am not sure how much she by now realized how much of a real person he isl. Kala might not big romantically love Rajan, and know that, but neither would I say that she has no feelings for Rajan. True love is in some cultures still not a requirement for marriage, marriage is a partnership to build and create a family and secure status and living. An idea that might sound to people socialized in modern Western cultures, where true love has been overly romanticized, even appalling and disrespectful particular to women, because mostly men seem to win with such marriage concept. I think though it's a more complex matter. Concerning being honest about her feelings to Rajan, I can only say: keep watching.

[ElectricBoogaloo]

Sun and Lito touching fingers like ET was hilarious!

I love how calmly Riley and Capheus reacted when they met. In the previous episode, Will said he could feel how cold it was in Jonah's cell (and he touched the wall), but this time we got to see Capheus drinking some of Riley's tea which was interesting.

I'm glad he realized that his Van Damme fighting skills came from somewhere else, but I wish he didn't think that they would just come back if he called to the Jean Claude Korean lady because it made him overly confident. I'm so worried that he's going to get his ass kicked (or killed).

I liked that after Sun dropped her hostility, she and Capheus were able to talk about their problems. Unfortunately, I was disappointed that this resulted in Sun feeling that she had to keep her promise to her mother. It was sad to see both Sun and Kala sacrificing their own happiness in order to make their families happy. It was even worse knowing that Kala's mother was so supportive of her daughter being the first in their family to (allegedly) marry for love.

Man, I need to try shahi tukda. That looked delicious!

Ha, I loved Lito's crazy over the top shoot out. I was also cracking up earlier when he was whimpering about Sun's cramps to Hernando. I thought it was hilarious when he kept trying to accommodate whatever she said. "I'm standing next to a Korean lady who's crying." "I'm not crying." "I'm standing next to a Korean lady who's not crying."