Today, June 1 — the first day of Pride Month — Netflix announced its decision to cancel its original series, Sense8, after two seasons. The announcement has been met with outrage, multiple petitions (including one that has reached over 100,000 signatures), and open opposition over social media.
Yo @netflix I heard you cancelled @sense8. You really wanna mess with the cluster? #Sense8 pic.twitter.com/1PZiNYOmml
— Raphaella Santoro (@SantoroRapha) June 2, 2017
Netflix wants bold, original and inclusive programming, then cancels #Sense8 – a show that is bold, original, inclusive. Makes no sense.
— Tim Lawson (@timlaw14) June 2, 2017
I thought it was a joke at first. The show, which received critical acclaim for its unadulterated display of diversity in race, culture, gender, and sexual orientation, had its ratings increase significantly between the first and second season (79% in Season 1 to 86% in Season 2 on RottenTomatoes, for example — both seasons considered a significant “fresh” tomato). The choice to end it abruptly leaves me reeling and begging the question: When will television outlets — primetime, digital, or otherwise — recognize the importance of diversity in the 21st century?
Continue reading “Sense8 and the Power of Representation in Television”