Written by: Kevin Berge
Waking up to find out I was in Blade Runner would be a mixed experience for me. (Image Courtesy of: youtube.com)
Quick Take: Altered Carbon Season 1 is a fun but flawed experience that cannot live up to its opening half with a wild and mishandled third act. Overly violent and sexualized, it is a story only for those looking for extremely mature science fiction that may not satisfy even that audience fully.
***This is a spoiler-free review of the first season of Altered Carbon, exploring what makes it unique. Anyone can read ahead whether they have seen the show yet or not as long as they are all right with knowing the show's basic set-up.***
When I first saw previews for Altered Carbon, I was already hooked. I was willing to take it even if it was only all right because it looked cool, stylish, and fun with a great concept and strong cast. By the end of the first episode, I was convinced this was a ride worth taking.
In fact, I was pretty fully on board with the series through its first six episodes. Unfortunately, this series stumbles when it matters most. That's not to say the series is bad but just that it leaves too much on the table. It wastes incredible potential to become fairly messy sci-fi.
Altered Carbon begins with Takeshi Kovacs, a criminal (Byron Mann) who has been awakened in a new body (Joel Kinnaman) to solve his employer Laurens Bancroft's (James Purefoy) murder in the year 2384 where the wealthy elite can live forever by implanting their consciousness into new bodies.
Not certain of the situation he has stepped into having been gone for 250 years, he must find his place and work with and around police investigator Kristin Ortega (Martha Higareda) to get the job done as the mystery grows more and more complicated.
The world of this series is heavily reminiscent of Blade Runner (though that's not uncommon of futuristic science fiction). The streets are narrow and grimy. The world is almost always shrouded in darkness. It may be the future, but it hardly feels like anyone's found the answer to true happiness.
This is all right because the show itself can be fun with his darkness. This show is drenched in its own violence and sexuality to the point that it doesn't matter. This is good because it is absurd fun, but it is bad because it nullifies moments that try to make the violence and sexuality mean more.
When I first saw previews for Altered Carbon, I was already hooked. I was willing to take it even if it was only all right because it looked cool, stylish, and fun with a great concept and strong cast. By the end of the first episode, I was convinced this was a ride worth taking.
In fact, I was pretty fully on board with the series through its first six episodes. Unfortunately, this series stumbles when it matters most. That's not to say the series is bad but just that it leaves too much on the table. It wastes incredible potential to become fairly messy sci-fi.
Altered Carbon begins with Takeshi Kovacs, a criminal (Byron Mann) who has been awakened in a new body (Joel Kinnaman) to solve his employer Laurens Bancroft's (James Purefoy) murder in the year 2384 where the wealthy elite can live forever by implanting their consciousness into new bodies.
Not certain of the situation he has stepped into having been gone for 250 years, he must find his place and work with and around police investigator Kristin Ortega (Martha Higareda) to get the job done as the mystery grows more and more complicated.
The world of this series is heavily reminiscent of Blade Runner (though that's not uncommon of futuristic science fiction). The streets are narrow and grimy. The world is almost always shrouded in darkness. It may be the future, but it hardly feels like anyone's found the answer to true happiness.
This is all right because the show itself can be fun with his darkness. This show is drenched in its own violence and sexuality to the point that it doesn't matter. This is good because it is absurd fun, but it is bad because it nullifies moments that try to make the violence and sexuality mean more.
This whole project seems like some kind of commentary on the white-washing scandal in Ghost in the Shell. (Image Courtesy of: themarysue.com)
This is a world where people can always die and come right back. Therefore, there's no consequences for those in the high class. While the audience grows attached to seeing Kinnaman as Kovacs, there's not too much at stake if he dies. He can just be brought right back. Bodies have been turned into commodities.
To the story's credit, this is an intriguing idea well worth exploring in science fiction. Based on Richard K. Morgan's Phillip-K.-Dick-award-winning 2003 book, there's some strong relevant commentary here, but it's not as brilliantly told as it often feels the series wants it to seem.
The use of voice-overs gets a bit tedious, and the way some lesser characters talk can grow tiresome. Despite playing smart, the narrative can jump wildly even skip around enough to create plot holes. This especially becomes apparent in the series' third act which is a mess.
After building up good faith with some great storytelling and character building in the first half of the series, Altered Carbon loses itself in the final act. There's too much going on feels emotionally exploitative. The essence of the conflict is a jumbled half concept.
Still, I enjoyed my time with the show in its first season. Kinnaman (The Killing) is phenomenal in the lead role, and he and Will Yun Lee (Witchblade) do a great job selling that they are the same person in different timelines. Most of the rest of the cast are solid and capable with a few other smaller roles that stood out by the end.
I wanted Altered Carbon to be better, but I can settle for what was presented. I may revisit the show in time with the knowledge of how things shape up and have even more fun with the series. This isn't a series for everyone, but genre fans should find enough to enjoy.
To the story's credit, this is an intriguing idea well worth exploring in science fiction. Based on Richard K. Morgan's Phillip-K.-Dick-award-winning 2003 book, there's some strong relevant commentary here, but it's not as brilliantly told as it often feels the series wants it to seem.
The use of voice-overs gets a bit tedious, and the way some lesser characters talk can grow tiresome. Despite playing smart, the narrative can jump wildly even skip around enough to create plot holes. This especially becomes apparent in the series' third act which is a mess.
After building up good faith with some great storytelling and character building in the first half of the series, Altered Carbon loses itself in the final act. There's too much going on feels emotionally exploitative. The essence of the conflict is a jumbled half concept.
Still, I enjoyed my time with the show in its first season. Kinnaman (The Killing) is phenomenal in the lead role, and he and Will Yun Lee (Witchblade) do a great job selling that they are the same person in different timelines. Most of the rest of the cast are solid and capable with a few other smaller roles that stood out by the end.
I wanted Altered Carbon to be better, but I can settle for what was presented. I may revisit the show in time with the knowledge of how things shape up and have even more fun with the series. This isn't a series for everyone, but genre fans should find enough to enjoy.
