Altered Carbon -

Premise: “Altered Carbon” is a cyberpunk noir drama set in a futuristic world where consciousness can be transferred between bodies (known as “sleeves”). This technological breakthrough, facilitated by devices called “stacks” implanted in the spinal column, has created a society where the wealthy can essentially live forever by hopping from one sleeve to another. The story revolves around Takeshi Kovacs, a former elite soldier, who is revived in a new sleeve after centuries in storage to solve the apparent suicide of a wealthy man, Laurens Bancroft.

Main Central Characters:

Takeshi Kovacs (Played by Joel Kinnaman in Season 1; Anthony Mackie in Season 2): A former “Envoy” (elite rebel warrior) with a turbulent past, brought back to solve a mystery.
Laurens Bancroft (James Purefoy): An immensely wealthy “Meth” (named after Methuselah, indicating longevity) who hires Kovacs to investigate his own apparent suicide.
Kristin Ortega (Martha Higareda): A police lieutenant with her own connections to Kovacs’ new sleeve and who becomes intricately linked to his investigation.
Poe (Chris Conner): An Artificial Intelligence that manages The Raven Hotel and becomes an ally and friend to Kovacs.

Themes: “Altered Carbon” deeply explores the ramifications of immortality, the value of human life, and the concept of self and identity. It delves into the disparity between classes, highlighting the enormous power imbalance between the immortal rich and the mortal poor. The show is also a meditation on love, loss, memory, and the very essence of humanity in the face of rapid technological advancement.

Critical Consensus Rating: 3.7/5 The series was lauded for its visually arresting cinematography, complex characters, and ambitious narrative. Joel Kinnaman’s performance, in particular, garnered acclaim. However, some critics felt the show was sometimes overindulgent in its violence and could occasionally get convoluted in its plotlines.

TV Parental Guidelines Rating: TV-MA “Altered Carbon” was rated TV-MA because of its intense violence, graphic sexual content, and strong language.

Broadcast Information: “Altered Carbon” aired on Netflix and spanned two seasons from 2018 to 2020.

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