User reviews

All I have to say, is that season one was much more tightly written. Fewer characters, better director.(s) better cinematography, better camera manipulation? It took me a while to watch season two based off of my trust in those who said it was nothing like season one. But eventually I decided to watch it. I love the lore of altered Carbon, but season two was way more bloated and sort of directorially all over the place. I really can't emphasize the fact that it was such a bloated eight episodes. Which really makes sense when you watch it. But I really do love the first season. It goes down in history as far as on my favorite seasons of any show ever.

A futuristic world of stolen bodies (sleeves) and wins to be made right.

There are many threads to this complex tale, but enjoyable even when I lost the plot (due to ADHD not poor production).

The main characters are a cop with a fiery persona and a newly awakened criminal of epic proportions.

The attention to detail in mortice and world building were fantastic and well thought out.

Fantastic multilingual characters, religion vs science vs justice, fast paced action, humour, mystery and nudity. All the facets you need for dystopia.

The second season didn't rock my boat, but after season one was anything going to stand up? Probably not. Will I watch season three? Absolutely.

By far the best series Netflix had come up with. Absolutely incredible visuals. The story line is deep and grabs you. It's violent and erotic and there are so many levels that makes this show worth watching. If you liked "The Matrix" then you will love this show. First season is the best but the second season is still incredible. The acting is solid and you have to watch each episode or you will miss out on vital keys to the story line. I said it before it is ultra violent and there are some very difficult scenes to watch. You can tell they spent a lot on this and that's why there was no 3rd season. Trust me. Give this show a shot.

First season is great fun. Actors do a great job selling characters, action is fun, atmosphere and aesthetics are top notch.

Second season... Exists. Mackie didn't even bother acting.

WTFH?? I mean it can't have been the lead's salary as I'm sure season's 2 actor, after the "Avenger's" and the other many roles, demands as much, if not more than season's 1 unforgettable run, throughout. So, what happened? Production design, cast, cinematography all seems to be at about the same level, except it's not isn't? Went from iconic to exhausting, and it's definitely not the lead, as he was just in the remake of that awesome 90's PS1 game, in which he was both funny and charming, and was able to carry the series' first season mostly by himself. So, the writing seems to be the most obvious suspect, and most likely guilty party. Also, it seems a gradual decline, as with every episode, it seems and feels to get worse and worse. What a trite conclusion to a story that began with such promise, specially amongst such ordinary, clone-like, series and films, in a whole sea of copycats and unoriginal content. Hopefully one day it'll be resuscitated by the right team.

I am NOT a fan of science fiction, which Altered Carbon is, but I thoroughly enjoyed season one. The main actor was fantastic, the concept was interesting, the images were beautifully done and were a feast for your imagination combining both futuristic concepts while still incorporating retro ideas and images, and the script was such that you were rooting for the protagonist. I loved the idea of the Raven hotel with its Poe A.I. host. Having the A.I./human hate to friendship allowed for some nice growth over the season. Some of the rich vs poor social commentary was interesting and not as trite or black and white as you would expect. This had a everyone roots for the underdog vibe from the get go. I liked that they didn't insult the audience by explaining everything from the onset, it gave your mind things to puzzle out, which kept you engaged. Watch season one, you will not be sorry...even if you are not a sci-fi fan. My 7/10 rating is for season one only...you can stop watching at the end of season one and you will have a nice complete story. (I really wish I had stopped here.) Season Two- If I were rating season two I would give it one star, but only because you can't give negative ratings on IMDb. This was one of the worst things I have seen in the last couple of years and it was particularly disappointing because season one was so good. It really left a bitter taste in your mouth and has tainted to a certain degree how I feel about Altered Carbon all together. The show runners made some horrible choices of actors for season two, I think they were more concerned about checking boxes than actually delivering good content to their audience...which is a shame because they could have probably checked some of those same boxes by making some different choices and delivered a solid good quality show. Instead there was horrible and horribly delivered lines/dialogue by some pretty terrible actors...and clearly not as much energy was put in to plot/story development. The story was not engaging or entertaining...it was a snooze-fest. It also lacked new and interesting images...it didn't even keep the interesting images from season one (which shouldn't have cost them any more money to re-use!). The only thing that I liked from season one that they kept was our hotel Raven...but our poor Poe A.I. Is messed up. The only small glimmer of hope and microscopic light was found in our newly introduced archeologist A.I., but they managed to sour that before the end of season two as well. Please, please do not watch season two. Friends don't let friends watch season two!

Season 1 of Altered Carbon is among the greatest Sci-Fi shows ever created so of course Season 2 wasn't going to be as good but it's still not nearly as bad as some of these reviews are saying. It's just that Season 1 was so incredible that when people compare S2 to it they are of course going to be a little disappointed. If season 1 never happened I think more people would like season 2 but because that first season is so amazing people automatically compare them. Don't. Everything about this show is great...the acting, writing, production, cinematography, etc. Are all as good as it gets. It's really too bad they only did two seasons because it's one of the better sci-fi shows I've ever seen.

First season is very good probably 10/10 after 15 mins you cant stop watching until the end , but the second season is 1/10 after 15 mins you want to stop and forget about it...

They did the series a disservice by miscasting Kovacs in season 2. Anthony Mackie is a great actor in his own right but failed to capture and continue Joel Kinnaman's and Will Yun Lee's take on Takeshi Kovacs. Takeshi is a serious Japanese guy and that didn't translate.

This could have been Anthony's opportunity to show his acting range. All I could think about was his Falcon character in the Marvel movies.

I'm so sad they cancelled the series, I really loved the idea of the immortality of consciousness.

Arguable one of the greatest shows of all time and so little recognition. I wish I understood how shows like this don't gain the views the so deserve. This show takes you places and feel so much more than a production of sets and VFX. The ENTIRE cast delivered, in my opinion, awardable performances. In life we see and experience things that sometimes just manage to harness the "right stuff" and makes your interaction with it a wildly satisfying interaction of emotions and thoughts. I am not quite sure how Season 2 commanded a less rating than Season 1, they were both great, but Season 1 mastered the art of delivering a story and universe in an instant to the viewer. I hope everyone involved in making this production come to life continues to bring magic to Hollywood.

The change in main actor was a big fail. But it's more than that... it's like I am watching a different show, one with a lower production quality all around... I guess the action choreographs are still up there at least, but the lighting, the sets, the acting, some kind of filter or something on the camera, feels like a downgrade... the scenes feel empty and hollow, the dialog lacking... really makes me wonder if so much of the appeal of season one was the main actors... Damn too bad. I was really looking forward to this one. I thought I would be ok with the change in lead... guess I must not be..

Honestly, season 2 feels like I am watching a cliche sci-fi show without any noir/ detective/ dark feels. These are the things that made season 1 great and you guys completely removed them in the followup. Please don't make season 3 if you are going to make it like season 2.

I can't say enough how much I absolutely loved Altered Carbon, especially Season 1! I loved Season one so much I just binged it for the second time recently. I know a lot of people didn't like Season 2 but I didn't think it eas that bad. It's just not close to Season 1. Joel Kinnamon and Martha Higareda were both excellent in that first season. They also had a fantastic supporting cast filled with good actors like James Purefoy, Chris Conner, Will Yun Lee, etc. This is a must watch for any sci-fi fan but even if you're not a big sci-fi fan this show is still worth checking out. Bottom line...is Season 2 as good as 1? Of course not, it would've been nearly impossible, but it's still a decent show worth watching!

Which idiot thought it was a good idea to ditch the actor who carried this series and made it into a success? WTF?!? Joel was and still is perfect for the role! Bring him back ffs!

Season 1 rating: 10 stars Season 2 rating: ugh ...

Watch season one , watch it or 3 times... its such a great show. Do not watch season 2, its blatantly obvious funding was pulled the main actor cannot carry a show like this it is like watching cardboard... I was so disappointed that they ruined this.

S01 is one of the few series that I had to watch twice. Wow. S02 they tried to improve on perfection and made a heck of a mess.

I dropped my rating from a 9 for season 1 to a 6 for season 2. The story is quite weak compared to season 1 and the acting is notably worse. The fight scenes are boarderline amature at best. The only redeeming character is Poe, he's great.

Season 1 of this is one of the very best science fiction TV series ever. Honestly, season 1 is the spiritual successor to Blade Runner 1984. Its absolutely amazing. Vastly better than the Bladerunner 2049 garbage sequel.

I had massively high hopes for Altered Carbon as a series based on season 1. Unfortunately season 2 was utter crap by comparison. I like Anthony Mackie as Falcon, but he is terrible as Kovacs and the writing of season 2 is garbage.

But still, season 1 by itself is AMAZING and anyone who hasn't watched it should stop what they are doing and immediately watch it. Its fantastic. Just stop after season 1 ends (unfortunately).

Altered Carbon season 1 is the r3eason I kept my Netflix subscription. If they could come out with something this good just once every year I'd keep it. But they haven't since this. I sadly hope they will make a season 3 and it will be more like season 1 but I'm probably delusional at this point (sadly). If they made a new series of this that was even remotely as good as season 1 I'd love it and stay. Hell, frankly, I'd pay $250 to have a UHD copy of Altered Carbon Season 1 permanently. But sadly my hope is nearly dead in Netflix and I'm very close to cancelling after having been a member for ~20 years.

Season 1 was excellent. While it had its flaws, the story was interesting and the world was immersive. Season 2 is just boring. There's no real coherent story of any interest and the visuals, while decent, are nothing compared to season 1. It's as if most things are shot in different small rooms or outside with a color tinted lens. I found myself falling asleep, having to force myself to rewatch scenes so I knew what was happening...all while not really caring about the story at all. The writing in season 2 is just awful. I love sci-fi and hope this is picked up for a 3rd season, but only if they do it right. If they're going to just string together another boring, incoherent story, they might as well not bother continuing the series.

I'm reviewing Season One. Season Two might as well be dead to me.

I'm a long-life, lifelong sci-fi fan. This (S01) is one of the best Sci-Fi shows I've ever seen.

Once you get your head around the premise behind the show (the swapable bodies thing), it's what they DO with it that makes this show so awesome. The ambience, the tech, the concepts, the quality of the acting, the beautiful sets and visuals they're all first class.

Then you get to the plotting, scheming and mystery solving which add a dimension of cool and clever to the pretty visuals.

The portrayal of the many important characters, their personalities, aspirations and motivations, not just Kinnnaman as Kovacs, sets the calibre of the show so high it's almost a bar which other sci-fi shows should aspire to reach.

It's a true masterpiece of science fiction.

The second season takes a nosedive in the opposite directions.

It's abysmal.

It would seem that neither the Director, Producer, script writer nor any of the actors in the second season saw any reason to make the second season have any tangible connection to the first.

How can they NOT understand the concept that if you effectively transplant the mind of a man into another body he's going to be the exact same person... in another body ???! He doesn't undergo a body language and personality transformation into someone completely not him. Within seconds.

I don't know whether to blame terrible directing, terrible scriptwriting or terrible acting or a combination thereof, but the second season is just awful. Somebody made a horrendous mistake with the second season.

The first season was so superb it deserves somebody COMPETENT re-doing the second season so we can all forget that the Mackie abomination version even exists and maybe even move on to further seasons.

The first season had everything.

A unique story with likable characters for the most part.

Good looking leads and good action sequences.

Left only a little to be desired from it.

The second season I could not even finish.

It has a weak story line But my main issue is the switch for takeshi.

Joel Kinnaman played him well (at least for my tastes) he gave him a very particular attitude.

However in the second season. The new takeshi plays that character far off from how Joel did it.

I understand the desire to switch actors since it's the type of show you can do that. But you can't flip their characters personality so fast. From the moment I watched season 2 he didn't act like takeshi once.

That's not how one should to it. You switch bodies not minds. And no time past from season 1 to 2. Not enough for any personality change.

I'm not sure how they could have him audition and pick him for this role.

Did they not even require him to watch the previous season?

Did mackie take it upon himself to change the character and make it his own or did the directors?

Either way it was a terrible idea.

Watch season one. Skip season two.

I suggest if a third season is coming find a way to bring Joel back to save it. - or hire someone similar to play Takeshi the way he did.

3* goes to Season 2!!! AC first season was 11/10! The best in the past decade! And I was waiting so badly and so long for season 2, but after watching it, I'm so disappointed!!! Season 1 with Kinnaman and Purefoy and that fantastic world and flawless script was the best ever. Netflix really made it, probably on real cost!

But season 2 is a budget, boring, childish story. And without Kinnamann and originals script writers it is only 2/10!!!

I haven't read the novel upon which this show is based, so I can't comment on whether or not this is a faithful adaptation; I am, however, a huge fan of the sci-fi subgenre commonly known as "cyberpunk" (in case you're not familiar with the term, think of films/stories set in an urban, dystopian high-tech future like 'Blade Runner', 'Akira', 'Ghost In The Shell', 'Strange Days' or 'The Matrix' and you get the idea), and as such I can absolutely testify to the fact that 'Altered Carbon' is one impressive looking example of that particular brand of science fiction.

What stands out right from the start is the worldbuilding. Many of the characters have complicated backstories that are crucial to the plot, and the rich history of their world is equally important, but what this series does remarkably well is show rather than tell. Instead of relying on lengthy monologues for exposition which have a tendency to weigh a story down and make the narrative lose momentum, we get the clues we need via flashbacks or just by seeing and learning about this world through the eyes of the protagonists. And what a world it is: the production values are insane, especially considering this is a TV show. There is so much eye candy for a sci-fi nerd like me; nearly every shot is packed with such an abundance of visual information that I had to hit pause several times to take it all in.

But the world of 'Altered Carbon' isn't just "decorated" with visual effects and future tech to make it look cool (though it DOES look very cool); everything we see has a function and is there for a reason. It feels real and has that "lived-in" look that even big-budget Hollywood productions rarely get right. What I should probably also mention is that this is a hard R-rated show (if this were a feature film, it would actually perhaps be closer to a NC-17 than an R) which doesn't hold back in terms of sex and violence. Also, if you're not familiar with the genre or used to a more straight forward narrative where everything is explained to you, 'Altered Carbon' may initially feel a bit confusing or even overwhelming, because you're being thrown head first into a strange new world where you - like the protagonist - have to process an overload of information in order to get a sense of orientation. Stick with it though, and things will start to become clearer.

As for the plot itself, I won't give anything away here; it's enough to know that it starts with the protagonist being brought back from "retirement" to solve a murder mystery. But unlike the grand daddy of all cyberpunk films, 'Blade Runner', this has less of a brooding, "noir" vibe to it; instead it's an action-heavy, at times pulpy but very densely plotted story with lots of colorful characters and so much going on that it doesn't drag for a second.

To sum it all up: for sci-fi and cyberpunk fans this show is a must; for all other carbon-based life-forms, well, it may not be an "altering" experience, and it certainly isn't perfect, but if you don't give up after the first couple of episodes you could be in for a nice surprise. 8 stars out of 10 from me.

Favorite TV-Shows reviewed: imdb.com/list/ls075552387/

Favorite films: IMDb.com/list/mkjOKvqlSBs/

Lesser-Known Masterpieces: imdb.com/list/ls070242495/

Favorite Low-Budget and B-Movies: imdb.com/list/ls054808375/