Altered Carbon

:

Season 2
  • Network: Netflix
  • Series Premiere Date: Feb 2, 2018
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
3.7

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 142 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 142
  2. Mixed: 30 out of 142
  3. Negative: 81 out of 142

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User Reviews

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  1. viroodiem
    Mar 7, 2020
    6
    Definitely a step backwards.

    The second season kicks itself off with a huge mistake. With basically two years since the last season, there should have been a season 1 recap built into the first episode. While that is not a fatal flaw, it is indicative of the problems that the season faces. The entire premise was always one that was convoluted by its very nature. Characters popping    Definitely a step backwards.

    The second season kicks itself off with a huge mistake. With basically two years since the last season, there should have been a season 1 recap built into the first episode. While that is not a fatal flaw, it is indicative of the problems that the season faces.

    The entire premise was always one that was convoluted by its very nature. Characters popping back and forth between actors is ambitious but its implementation is questionable and season 2 illustrates why.

    It takes a special kind of actor to be able to pull off multi character acting in the same show (think Tatiana Maslany in Orphan Black) and while the actors in this show are decent actors, none of them are that level of chameleon actor to pull these types of characters off.

    Beyond that, everything looks much more generic this season. As if the budget for the second season was dramatically reduced. Which with how well received the first season was, there is no excuse for that.

    The writing also took a bit of a hit this time. Becoming much more sci fi trope-y than the first season. Pushing toward the dreaded Firefly effect of being a sci fi show where everyone is a bad ass in their own right which is not only been dull since it first started emerging, in recent media its been done to death.

    The upside is that the narrative in this season did a better job at fleshing out the world and history, it was still drip fed and not really all that intriguing.

    So definitely a step backwards, but did some positive world building that can be improved upon IF it manages to eek out a third season which at this point does seem questionable.    … Expand
  2. AWESOM-0
    Feb 29, 2020
    4
    Disappointing. I like the casting and I’m a fan of mackie and lee, but man its sad to see a good novel lose its way. It’s not all the fault of this season, I think some of the errors they made during season one has come back to bite them in the ass. It went from being a blade runnerish novel to a silly action/adventure.
  3. AthanasiosT
    Apr 4, 2020
    5
    Not as good as season 1. Nice production and cyberpunk atmosphere, but lacked in story and acting. With such abrupt changes between seasons, I always get the feeling that the show's writers changed. It's a shame, because the 1st season was very promising.
  4. ozymandias79
    Mar 3, 2020
    5
    Backing up the first season was always going to be difficult, but damn, talk about dropping the ball. They probably shouldn't have blown half the budget on the Avenger (he was awful btw). Bad acting, predicable story line, almost non-existent special effects. Bring back the people responsible for the first epic series, because season 2 was average!
  5. Willar
    Mar 1, 2020
    5
    I was a big fan of the first season but this is a backwards step. The casting, in general, isn't great but mainly it is just Mackie. He is just a boring actor.
  6. thelettere
    Mar 12, 2020
    6
    I'm a sucker for sci-fi, particularly sci-fi that explores issues in non-idiotic ways. Altered Carbon is the rare show that accomplishes this - yes, including in this second season.

    I definitely missed the actor from season 1, and was skeptical about Mackie - but he won me over. He's not terribly charismatic and the humor was definitely not there like the first season, but he was solid    I'm a sucker for sci-fi, particularly sci-fi that explores issues in non-idiotic ways. Altered Carbon is the rare show that accomplishes this - yes, including in this second season.

    I definitely missed the actor from season 1, and was skeptical about Mackie - but he won me over. He's not terribly charismatic and the humor was definitely not there like the first season, but he was solid and toed the line between being convincingly tough and also capable of displaying emotion that conveys to the viewer. I found him watchable and was rooting for him - so he did his job.

    The writing, while rarely brilliant, was never stupid - something one cannot say about something like 99% of sci-fi shows. So that's a big win. And at moments it gets close to poignant.

    I do need to watch season 1 again for comparison to see if I agree with the consensus here about a drop in quality. But I do remember the last episode being so dumb I stopped watching it - which didn't happen here. So while it perhaps does not quite reach the heights of season 1, it also doesn't descend to the same depths.

    Edit: just watched season 1 again. Can confirm there is a definitive drop in the quality of the cinematography, and a slight one for the writing. In contrast season 2 comes off like a WB show, as other reviewers have noted. So not a great look, but still watchable.    … Expand
  7. Voodoo123
    Mar 15, 2020
    6
    Acs2 is not as bold as season one, a more restrained approach to the scope of the plot has some benefits but ultimately I felt less emotionally connected to the characters and the screenplay seemed bareboned stood next to the complex weave of dialogue in s1. Mackie does ok here but his takeshi plays it more cool and serious so seems less desperate snarky and vulnerable which is something IAcs2 is not as bold as season one, a more restrained approach to the scope of the plot has some benefits but ultimately I felt less emotionally connected to the characters and the screenplay seemed bareboned stood next to the complex weave of dialogue in s1. Mackie does ok here but his takeshi plays it more cool and serious so seems less desperate snarky and vulnerable which is something I miss from kinneman's version (which brought a much needed sense of balanced humanity to this ridiculously op character!). Overall this was an entertaining if less memorable trip this time around.… Expand
  8. Dubeau
    Mar 1, 2020
    6
    AC Season 2 has a story which is in continuity with the first season (somewhat). The story about the AI Poe and Digg are the most interesting and touching. But the scifi aspects of the show is almost non present. All the fight scenes are in the dark. Where is the daylight filming in this movie ? There is no detective work here. It's just a military drama with some bits of politics. TheAC Season 2 has a story which is in continuity with the first season (somewhat). The story about the AI Poe and Digg are the most interesting and touching. But the scifi aspects of the show is almost non present. All the fight scenes are in the dark. Where is the daylight filming in this movie ? There is no detective work here. It's just a military drama with some bits of politics. The actors are believable, nothing more. I did like the AI acting, they were very special in their delivery. All the undergrounds and dark filming was just a poor choice. I give it 65%. Technically worst in filming with a story that could have more potential.… Expand
  9. Jagen
    Sep 28, 2022
    5
    A real disappointment after the previous generally good season. I liked the change of cast to fit the transhuman theme, but poor writing really let the season down.

Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Most Discussed TV Season of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
65

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Salon
    Reviewed by: Melanie McFarland
    Feb 28, 2020
    60
    Missick's addition to the cast changes up the chemistry in good ways, mostly owing to the actor's winning persona and its great fit with Mackie's Kovacs. ... The story itself its somewhat downgraded from a provocative examination of the role mortality plays in defining our humanity to a soap opera with a whole lot of gratuitous punching, kicking, and bleeding – much of it occurring in the premiere.
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  2. IndieWire
    Reviewed by: Ben Travers
    Feb 27, 2020
    67
    The distinct episodes help keep viewers invested when “Altered Carbon” goes too heavy on diegetic mumbo jumbo or changes its own rules to set up silly twists.
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  3. Consequence
    Reviewed by: Clint Worthington
    Feb 27, 2020
    67
    The philosophical underpinnings of a show about revenge, redemption, and the little tragedies that come from solving mortality, often give way to schlocky action and slick neon-soaked production design. But under Schapker’s direction, and a new cast comprised chiefly of extremely charismatic actors of color, Altered Carbon may have just found a way to cheat its own death.
    Read full review
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