It's been a while since I've seen a show as
intriguing and gripping as Altered Carbon.
From the promo material I got the sense that it was worth checking out, as I
usually enjoy sci-fi. From the get go it grabbed my attention, and at the end
of the first episode left me longing for more. The premise of the future is
interesting, while not completely new. The city, its dark moods, neon lights,
and pace, somewhat reminded me of Blade
Runner, while the interrogation constructs felt more like The Matrix. Some elements of the sci-fi
world were new, like the Stack and Sleeve concept; but I'll leave that for you
to watch and figure that out.
What differentiates Altered Carbon from several of the other sci-fi action shows is
that its ongoing plot is really quite intricate, and requires some serious
following. It's not necessarily something you can casually multi-task and
watch. While I won't put it at the complexity of say True Detective, its somewhat there in its plot depth. The
individual episodes all work towards creating the bigger picture, while not
really being mini sub-plots like some other shows. As the show kicks off, there are several
backstory aspects that feel like they're missing; but rest assured that over
the course of the season, everything gets covered decisively.
Most actors are new, and surprisingly pretty
decent. The characters develop well with the plot, with the performances doing
apt justice. Even the AI character was likeable. While there is an expected
attraction, leading to a romance between the lead characters, it doesn’t come
across as corny, and serves as an otherwise expected component.
For a sci-fi fan, what Altered Carbon delivers is a well thought out, intricate plot, that
manages to stay mysterious, interesting and entertaining through its 10-episode
length. With a satisfying number of gadgets and tech, coupled with good action,
and supporting visual / sound effects, it makes for a great sci-fi watch;
easily the best on TV right now.
My Recommendation: Kick Ass (Futuristic sci-fi at its very best)
No comments:
Post a Comment