New season, new sleeve.
Season two of Altered Carbon dropped on Netflix this weekend. The series, adapted from Richard Morgan’s book series; exists in a world where people can change their physical bodies to evade death. Due to this, the show has the freedom to change its actors. Which, is exactly what the show did. While Joel Kinnaman played the main character, Takeshi Kovacs, Anthony Mackie took over for season two.
Minor Spoilers
Right away, how did Mackie do? I think good. There was never a point that I felt that Mackie was not Takeshi Kovacs. Despite the fact that Mackie was a different actor that was in season one, he brought his own element to the character. I will admit, I did miss Kinnaman’s sometimes playful take on the character. Mackie was more series, but then again, there was more on the line. Regardless, Mackie was a good choice for a new Kovacs. He was determined, conveyed his emotions properly, had some sweet action sequences, and some very steamy moments.
Where Do We Pick Up From Season One?
Season two takes place on a different planet than the previous season. It’s never outwardly said, but I believe it also is meant to take place thirty years after the events of season one. In case you need a refresher – Takeshi Kovacs found out that his long-lost love (who he thought was dead) was not. Along with his A.I. buddy Poe, who they never really explain how he survived from the events of season one’s finale; they’ve been trekking along in search of Quellcrist Falconer.
This quest brings them to Harlan’s World – Takeshi’s homeworld. On Harlan’s World, we deal with political corruption, unsteady moral values, and the issue of colonialism. Whereas in season one where Takeshi’s past and Quellcrist were “cute” mentions for the amusement of rich people, the mission of the Uprising is very much alive and well on Harlan’s World. As is Quellcrist – much to the surprise of everyone. Once this is discovered, so much happens that it’s a little confusing as to why season two contained two less episodes than season one.
The Pros
Right away, let’s get into what I enjoyed about this season. I enjoyed the question “who is really the enemy here”? Everyone seemed to have their own agenda this season that it made for an interesting storyline. My two biggest pros this season were Chris Conner’s Poe and Simon Missick’s Trepp. Conner is truly the heart of Altered Carbon. The most emotion conveyed by anyone in this season came from Conner. While it may not have truly been explained why Poe survived the end of season one, there are serious and long-lasting ramifications. Poe is dealing with some serious glitches that threaten his very existence. Throughout this, he remained loyal to Takeshi. He put his needs above everyone else and his memories of Lizzie were truly beautiful.
I also loved his relationship with Miss Dig (another A.I.) in this season. My only thing is that I wish that Takeshi had been kinder to Poe and more patient with him, but there is a scene at the end that makes up for it.
Missick plays the bounty hunter Trepp. As someone who was a huge fan of her portrayal of Misty Knight in the Netflix Marvel universe, I was excited to see her in this capacity. I’m happy to say Missick did a great job in portraying a kickass bounty hunter who was both logical and compassionate. One of my favorite things about her storyline was how effortlessly the show portrayed her same-sex relationship and her love for her son.
Another character I really liked, just because we all need a bad guy; was Torben Liebrecht’s Colonel Ivan Carrera. You find out a lot about this character as the season goes on, so I don’t want to give too much away. Carrera was dangerous, frightening, and had his own motivation and reason for becoming emotionally invested in the mission later in the season. Ultimately, I’m not the happiest with where they went with his character at the end, but I regardless loved his performance.
The Cons
My biggest con in this season was Quellcrist. I knew I didn’t particularly like her character in season one and she was highlighted so much more in season two. I know that this is the woman that Takeshi loves. She’s essentially the center of everything in Altered Carbon. The reason for stacks, the reason for the Uprising, and constantly Takeshi’s mission. But, I just couldn’t find myself ever getting behind her. Her extremist mission hasn’t ever been something that was interesting to me, though; I know I am probably in the minority in thinking that way. I supposed I just didn’t like how blindly Takeshi followed her and I really didn’t like the storyline of Takeshi’s sister Reileen being swept under the rug.
The story became somewhat convoluted at the end. Instead of it feeling like an epic climax that is the result of the story being led to that particular moment, it all felt like so much tossed in almost lazily. Perhaps I simply didn’t enjoy how un-focused everything felt, as opposed to season one, which felt a little more polished and cleaner, story-wise. If I’m being honest as well, the “canine DNA” they decided to throw in there was almost laughable and seemed completely unnecessary. Magnet hands were cool though. Will Yun Lee’s Takeshi was also better in season one.
Rating: 3/5
All in all, I did enjoy season one more. The storyline, the world they were on, the chemistry between characters, all felt more organic in season one. But, season two expanded the world more and made me curious for what is going to happen in season three. No one is ever really dead and that opens a lot of doors. Conner and Missick were the best characters, for me; in season two and I do hope there’s a chance to see Missick as Trepp again. Seriously, though; this season’s spotlight character was Poe.
A girl with too many fandoms to count.
