Netflix may not realize it, but it’s in desperate need of diversity.
Enter Sense8, its newest sci-fi series, brought to us by the creators of the Matrix, Cloud Atlas, and V for Vendetta. It follows eight strangers from around the world (Mexico City, Nairobi, Mumbai, Reykjavik, Seoul, Berlin, Chicago, and San Francisco) who are more than telepathically linked. They have the ability to share skills (combat, driving, creating chemical concoctions), thoughts, emotions, time and space. As Season 1 progresses, the characters become more aware of their connections and help each other defeat their respective enemies — while fighting for their collective survival.
From its plot to its stylistic elements, Sense8 is a perfect blend of X-Men and Heroes. That fusion alone should be enough to draw sci-fi, fantasy, and comic book fans. But the ratings are subpar and Netflix has yet to announce the show’s renewal. During a recent Wired roundtable podcast, sci-fi authors argued the show may be too diverse, or “radical,” for viewers and critics used to cisgender, straight, white males (CSWMs). It’s a fair point, but also an argument that can easily be flipped on its head: diversity is exactly what Netflix needs right now, and Sense8 is the key.
The 8+ trailers leading up to the release date showcased four women, two queer couples, and four people of color living in different countries. Netflix was transparent about the characters and vision of the series early on. Yes the trailers were shrouded in mystery, but from them it was easy to tell that the series is not for people who only want to see CSWMs. It’s premised on diversity and transcontinental connections.
And diversity is actually more of an asset than a hindrance. For instance, women are now the face of “geek fandom,” which covers science fiction, fantasy, comic books, manga, etc. African-Americans watch more TV than any other race demographic. Latino/as are a driving force at the box office.
So why not tap into an audience that’s desperate for more pop culture representation and focus less on what one target demographic wants? Though much riskier than cutting the series altogether, doing so can be beneficial for two main reasons: Netflix’s profit and brand-building.
Despite what TV Editor Nellie Andreeva postulated in a Deadline article entitled Pilots 2015: The Year of Ethnic Castings — About Time or Too Much of Good Thing?, diversity of all kinds is lucrative for networks who invest in it. Shows featuring people of color, including Jane the Virgin, Blackish, Fresh Off the Boat, and Empire (which shattered records), proved tremendously successful for the CW and ABC. Shows with LGBT characters — Cucumber, the Fosters, Glee, Looking, the Flash, Pretty Little Liars — have also become fan favorites. And for years, dramas with dynamic female leads — the Good Wife, Mad Men, Orphan Black, all of the Shondaland shows — have carried the prestige drama category.
Why has this happened? Because people who don’t fit the CSWM mold finally see themselves represented and have become more invested in what’s happening onscreen. Sense8 has as many people of color as whites, as many queer people as cis, straight people, and as many women as men. And for a company that’s actively trying to distinguish itself from competitors like Hulu and Amazon (which produced the breakout hit Transparent), it’s a goldmine that can attract a diverse audience and expand its brand tremendously. Orange Is the New Black is the only other series on the streaming service that holds a candle to Sense8 in terms of equal representation — and it’s been a breakout hit. Much of that success has to do with a diverse cast as well as subversive storylines and character development.
The Wired podcast also mentions that Sense8 does have stereotypical characters, including an Asian woman who does martial arts and a Kenyan man whose mom is dying of AIDS, but those individuals become more complex with each episode. Netflix should capitalize on character nuance to cultivate an audience who appreciates and craves it. And let’s not forget that, across the board, the sci-fi genre is in desperate need of diversification. Netflix is in the perfect position to take the lead and tap into the sci-fi world as well.
To date, the majority of Netflix’s original shows (House of Cards, Daredevil, Bloodline, Lilyhammer, and Marco Polo) feature CSWM leads and/or actors. So why not reframe its publicity and give Sense8 another season? Instead of marketing the show as the Wachowski siblings’ first foray into television, why not promote the show as a multicultural trailblazer?