Netflix’s 2-Part Cyberpunk Series Is One Of Its Best

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Netflix boasts a strong selection of sci-fi shows, including hits like Dark, Arcane, Black Mirror, Love, Death + Robots, and Stranger Things, as well as older favorites such as Lost. Among these, Altered Carbon, a two-season series, stands out as one of the best cyberpunk shows available on the platform. Netflix has also explored the cyberpunk genre with the animated series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners.

If you’re looking for a great cyberpunk show on Netflix, Altered Carbon is the one to watch. While it’s based on Richard K. Morgan’s novels and was unfortunately canceled after just two seasons, it still delivers a fantastic, almost complete story. Even though it didn’t get to finish the book series, Altered Carbon is a must-see for any fan of the genre.

Altered Carbon Is A Nearly Perfect Cyberpunk Show

Okay, let me tell you, if you’re a cyberpunk fan, Altered Carbon is a must-see. It’s one of the strongest entries I’ve seen in a while. The premise is wild: in the future, you can digitize your mind and move it into a new body – essentially achieving immortality, if you have the cash. And that’s where the story really shines. It uses this high-tech concept to deliver some seriously sharp social commentary, which is exactly what good cyberpunk should be doing.

The series Altered Carbon centers on Takeshi Kovacs, a skilled operative who is revived after being held for centuries and placed in a new body. He’s tasked with investigating the attempted murder of Laurens Bancroft, a remarkably wealthy and effectively immortal man. Altered Carbon uses its futuristic technology to create a compelling and unpredictable noir-style murder mystery.

Altered Carbon stands out as something special, but it also delivers everything fans love about cyberpunk. Think classic rainy, neon-lit cities, impressive technology, and even an AI inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. Beyond the visuals, the show tells a genuinely touching story about Takeshi, all set within this stunning, yet bleak, future world.

Altered Carbon Has 2 Great Performances From Joel Kinnaman & Anthony Mackie

The sci-fi show Altered Carbon has a fascinating premise: people can move their minds into new bodies. This allowed both Joel Kinnaman and Anthony Mackie to deliver standout performances as the same character, Takeshi Kovacs – Kinnaman in season one and Mackie in season two. While other actors have also played Takeshi, Kinnaman and Mackie particularly excelled in the role.

Because of how the show Altered Carbon worked, both Kinnaman and Mackie inherited a character, Takeshi Kovacs, who was already established. They needed to honor his core personality while also showing how inhabiting a new body influenced his actions. It was a very challenging role, but both actors delivered outstanding performances.

In the first season of Altered Carbon, Joel Kinnaman portrayed Takeshi Kovacs as a highly skilled rebel brought back to life after 200 years. He convincingly shows Tak’s disorientation and reluctance to adjust to this new world, delivering a consistently captivating and melancholic performance. For season 2, Anthony Mackie takes on the role, playing an older, more optimistic Tak in a new body, and seamlessly continues Kinnaman’s portrayal.

Altered Carbon Season 2 Is Underrated

The biggest criticism of Altered Carbon is that its second season doesn’t live up to the first, but that criticism is probably too harsh. While most people consider season 2 a significant drop in quality, it’s actually better than it gets credit for. I personally prefer the first season, but the second season still has plenty to offer. If you didn’t compare it to the exceptional first season, it would be a solid, enjoyable cyberpunk series.

Season 2 of Altered Carbon showcases a strong performance by Anthony Mackie and explores Takeshi’s current life in more detail. It also builds on intriguing ideas from the first season, such as the decline of Poe and the vulnerabilities of Kovacs’ body. Although the main mystery isn’t quite as compelling as in season 1, Altered Carbon remains a fantastic cyberpunk show with plenty to enjoy.

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2026-02-26 01:28