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Thursday, April 30, 2020

Altered Carbon Season 2 2020 (Netflix Series)

I was excited to find out that Anthony Mackie would be headlining season 2 of Altered Carbon. It is odd when a show comes back for season 2 with a new lead actor – but in the case of this show where characters come back in different bodies or “Sleeves” it makes sense. His performance in the show was great, unfortunately the story in season 2 just felt uninspired.

Season 1 dropped us into a Blade Runner type future with some people living for generations in new bodies and had some interesting themes. The plot of season 2 just didn’t seem fresh or new in anyway. There were some cool scenes –but as a whole the whole season just feel flat for me. I finished the season – but this was a perfect example of a show that if it was a weekly show I may not have stayed with it. As a short binge watch dumped all at once I worked my way through it quickly.

One of the problems I’ve noticed about several Netflix shows is that you binge them and then generally forget about them. The gap between season 1 of Altered Carbon and season 2 was so long that season 1 pretty much is wiped from your mind by the time season 2 comes out. Even shows that you really like become disposable in a way- because the dump the season and binge watch it model. I’m finding that I enjoy shows like the Mandalorian and Clone Wars much better than Netflix shows. A part of the that is that they are Star Wars and a part of that is that you get to let the episodes sink in and get excited again for the next week. That is badly missing from NETFLIX shows that dump all at once. With shows like Altered Carbon it is binge it and completely forget about it. I don’t think I would have made it through season 2 of LOST in Space if it was a weekly series, so maybe NETFLIX Is getting me to watch shows I wouldn’t normally watch with this dump the season model.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Geek Cred Actor of Actress of the Month #1: Dichen Lachman

You know when you are watching a bunch of cool shows and keep seeing the same actor or actresses over and over again. I decided to start a series for the blog about those actors and actresses. They usually aren't the stars --but you recognize them just the same. I recently watched the cool direct to Netflix series Altered Carbon and one of the main actresses on that series is one of those performers that seems to be in a ton of cool shows in the Sci-Fi genre. After completing Altered Carbon I went back to watching another Sci-Fi show that a co-host of the podcast had recommended The 100. Guess who shows up about half way through the season. Dichen Lachman is developing quite the geek cred resume that when she ever stops acting will keep her busy on the autograph circuit at Cons. Not only was she in Altered Carbons and The 100 -- but also played Skye's mom on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. one of my favorite current network shows. She also appeared previously on another Whedon show, the excellent short lived The Dollhouse which starred Eliza Dushku. She has also appeared on Supergirl for a couple of episodes, The Last Ship for an 8 episode run and Being Human.

So the Actor or Actress of the Month with Geek Cred goes to Dichen Lachman.

Monday, February 19, 2018

Altered Carbon TV Series Review

Altered Carbon is a strange yet intriguing Sci-Fi Series on Netflix. It is set in a future that is visually ripped off from Bladerunner (down to the neon and rain soaked streets) that features a world where consciousness is digitalized and stored in cortial stacks implanted in peoples necks. It allows humans to survive physical death and basically have immortality (if you can afford it that is). It delves into the lose of morality of those who are basically immortal.

The story follows a trained assassin who is downloaded from a prison and is uploaded in a disgraced cops body by some super rich person in order to solve his murder. The TV series basically starts out as a an interesting murder mystery set in this weird future but about 6 or 7 episodes in takes some strange tangents into a much more personal story for the protagonist. I personally wish the story had stuck to the murder mystery roots, but instead it went into a different direction.

It is a visual interesting story series with some really cool Bladerunner style sets that provides some cool action sequences and gratuitous nudity. It is definitely worth a watch for Sci-fi fans and at 10 episodes in length easily binge worthy. I binged it in a weekend. I wouldn't say that it is great, but it was still an enjoyable watch.