Sense8 defines itself as a show about the interconnectedness of things and people. The cast have talked about how each one of the cities is a character in its own right and, as several reviewers have pointed out, that’s not been as prominent so far this season. Berlin in particular hasn’t registered particularly strongly and that’s damaged the Wolfgang/Lila plot a little.

This episode, the show shifts focus to place again. With Riley returning to Chicago on Hoy’s instructions, she of course asks Diego for help. Will’s old partner, D was one of the absolute highlights of the first series. Cheerfully sweary, remarkably sensible and fundamentally decent, his interaction with Riley and, at one remove, Will is very sweet, very funny and moves the plot along beautifully. Plus those Malts really do look good.

Elsewhere, Nairobi also gets plenty to do as we get a lovely sequence with Capheus and his mum. The closeness the pair have is still present but this is very much the home element of Capheus’ plot and it’s starting to change. He’s a fascinating character in a fascinating cast, a man who is both childlike in his enthusiasm and joy and resolutely worldly. This scene with mum, not to mention just what she’s been doing herself grounds him, expands his character and continues to make Nairobi one of the most interesting locations.

But this is a Sun episode when it comes down to it. There’s a season highlight moment where she visits her parents’ shrine and does the one thing Sun never does; admits she has no idea what to do. If she kills her brother, she’s killed her brother. If she doesn’t, he’s got away with murder. The memory of her mother consoling her after losing a fight is the show at its best; sweet, heartfelt and touching. Likewise the way the other Cluster members counsel her as best they can. My favourite moment is when she has Will and Wolfgang on either side of her. The embodiment of the law and the embodiment of criminality and neither of them have a clear answer. Sun is in an impossibly hard situation and all the Cluster can do is be there for her, at least for now.

And then there’s the fight.

Detective Mun has been a delight, largely because he’s written and played like a man who has seen every cop action movie and is unironically delighted that he gets to live them now. He’s charming and funny, clearly whip smart, painfully honest and gets his ass so so kicked this episode. The fight he has with Sun is a conversation; two people clearly very attracted to one another but who are at odds through no fault of their own. This is them reaching an understanding; a partnership that isn’t quite a partnership yet but is definitely of equals. It’s funny and playful and nasty and hopeful. Sun isn’t alone. Better still, her biggest ally outside the Cluster is the man chasing her.

Verdict: An episode with a different focus but no less strong, this is another great entry in the powerhouse second season Sense 8 is having. The show’s focus keeps shifting, its scope keeps growing and so far not a single ball has been dropped. 9/10

Alasdair Stuart