Altered Carbon

• Title: Altered Carbon – Payment Deferred
• wiki: link

Takeshi Kovacs (Anthony Mackie) begins his search for the talented killer he believes to be masquerading in the skin of Quellcrist Falconer (Renée Elise Goldsberry). He’s not the only one looking for Horace Axley’s killer, as the leader of a Protectorate squad (Torben Liebrecht) cuts out local police and assumes command of the investigation which he is certain will tie back to a terrorist plot. Carrera (Liebrecht) has added incentive to investigate the crime as the sleeve he mistakenly believes responsible for the murder is Protectorate property which Kovacs is walking around the city in.

…

Altered Carbon – Payment DeferredRead More »

• Title: Altered Carbon – Phantom Lady
• wiki: link

One of the most intriguing aspects of both the show’s premise and the open-ended Season One finale, is that Altered Carbon can be reset with a new actor and new story whenever necessary (not unlike Doctor Who). 30 years after the events of last season’s finale, “Phantom Lady” opens with Takeshi Kovacs living in the body of a lounge singer waiting for payment. The arrival of a bounty hunter (Simone Missick) working for Horace Axley (Michael Shanks) forces Kovacs back to Harlan’s World in the body of a new sleeve (Anthony Mackie) with a new mystery to solve and a new lead to the whereabouts of Quellcrist Falconer (Renée Elise Goldsberry). The circumstances of Kovacs being reborn in Mackie’s body make sense (even if it leaves questions unanswered about the sleeve he ended Season One in), and the set-up will offer a new mystery to solve, although I’m mixed on the choice to make the new mystery as personal (involving the love of his life) at the outset as last season (which involved his sister).

…

Altered Carbon – Phantom LadyRead More »

• Title: Altered Carbon – The Wrong Man / Man with My Face
• wiki: link
• wiki: link

“The Wrong Man” and “Man with My Face” offer a possible solution to the murder investigation, explain Ortega‘s (Martha Higareda) obsession with Takeshi Kovacs (Joel Kinnaman) along with bringing the man out-of-time face-to-face with himself (so to speak), and wraps up the small arc of Dimi‘s attempts at vengeance. Ortega’s flashbacks fill Kovacs in on her relationship with the man whose body he’s been walking around in since his return to the living. Her life with her former partner and lover not only helps him understand why Ortega is so interested in him but also gives him some context for Dimi’s hatred as well. With everything laid bare, so to speak, the two give in to a mix of feelings for each other as their relationship gets even more complicated. Making good use of actor Matt Biedel, who in the previous episode played a dumb street thug and then Ortega’s grandmother, here his body becomes host to Dimi… at least until he finds one more suited for taking out his revenge.

…

Altered Carbon – The Wrong Man / Man with My FaceRead More »

• Title: Altered Carbon – Fallen Angel / In a Lonely Place
• IMDb: link
• IMDb: link

The second and third episodes of Altered Carbon begin Takeshi Kovacs’ (Joel Kinnaman) investigation into the murder attempt on his employer Laurens Bancroft (James Purefoy). His search for suspects will lead him to an ally of convience in a former soldier (Ato Essandoh) who blames the billionaire for the death of his daughter (Hayley Law). Helping out his new friend (after he broke into his home, threatened him, and beat him up… twice), will get Kovacs in more trouble by the end of the third episode. There’s also the dangling thread of the girl who fell from the sky which currently feels completely superflous, but Ortega’s (Martha Higareda) involvement in hiding the body is an obvious tip that is more going on her than meets the eye. And don’t miss the first appearance of the mysterious ghost walker who spied on Kovacs sleeping with Miriam Bancroft (Kristin Lehman) and seems to have a special interest in the show’s protagonist.

…

Altered Carbon – Fallen Angel / In a Lonely PlaceRead More »