This is the episode where the cheques start coming due. Lito, now he’s publicly out, has a very different career whether he wants it or not. Sun, now she’s publicly out in a very different way, has limited options. Will and Whispers have an odd connection next to the Houses of Parliament, Capheus gets a very odd job offer and Riley and Will decide to fight back.

Other reviewers have criticised this episode as being incoherent and, well, without sounding facetious that’s sort of the point. Sense8 is a show defined by both art and architecture and it builds narrative structures across multiple episodes. It also often builds them within the episode via specific emotional responses; in this case, fear. And what happens when we stare it down.

Lito is scared his career is over and more scared of coming out. Nomi is scared of coming out in the sense of stepping back into the light. Will and Riley have the same problem, although being gifted the bottle of blockers earlier this season helps them immensely. Kala is frightened of questioning her perfect life. Capheus is frightened he may be a leader in his community. Wolfgang is frightened by the discovery he and his cluster aren’t alone. Sun is frightened of getting caught. All of them are terrified of BPO.

So they all set their feet, turn, put their fists up and face it down.

That’s the brilliance of the show, the way it ties eight entirely separate plots together through theme and emotion. What’s been added this year is the welcome sense of urgency for the arc plot. Will and Riley’s new found role as the Cluster’s designated Sarah Connors is a very welcome one and Brian J Smith and Tuppence Middleton are doing brilliant work with their expanded roles. The show is stronger for their presence as the de facto Cluster leaders and stronger still for the newly prominent arc.

But in the end this is a family affair, as it should be. Sun goes to her true home, Kala asks advice of her father, Will and Riley armour up for war as only they can and Lito has the sweetest moment of the season so far. All of which leads to some very surprising guest stars, a moment of pure James Bondian action and a tangible sense of excitement.

Verdict: It’s not the season’s best episode, the apparent death that opens it is especially brushed past, but this is another massively strong entry in Sense8‘s second season. Plus judging by that rave we have more answers on the way… 8/10

Alasdair Stuart